Safe Return Doubtful

57 miles (91 km) – Total so far: 230 miles (370 km)

I ate dinner with Annette, the Norwegian girl who had been cycling two weeks from North Cape. She was finished and keen for some celebration. The restaurant at the campsite was excellent. Campsites are expensive as I knew. Partly though because they include wifi and showers. This in the oldest campsite in Lofoten and the owner proudly told us its history over a coffee this morning while we waited out the rain. They farm sheep also, and the landlady manages to play the tuba competitively.

So the rain finally did stop. I had needed to step outside the tent at 2 am and it was blue sky, the first since Saturday. Addresses on this road are “MidnightSun Avenue”.

After a second coffee I was away continuing to ride the wonderful road into Svolvaer. For the last 10 kilometres though it joins the E10, and with much better weather the camper vans are out in numbers. The road was busy.

After sourcing and fitting a new back rack (the old one was just about to shear in two) onwards south westerly into still a stiff breeze, and still on the E10. There’s a cycle lane for probably a third of it and it’s coastal hilly, very up and down, and still the tremendous mountains curtailing the road. After CX it is possible to take the small 888 along the south coast, and suddenly the riding changes as there are so few vehicles in the road. A meandering 30 km to Storfjord where there’s a decent campground, if not a little pricey at £20. I needed some laundry though as with everything wet for 4 days things get smellier than usual.

Distance 56.7 miles Time left. 10:10 am Time arrived 5:15 pm Time riding 5 hours 7 minutes Height gained 3097 feet