After an interesting night (with three others in the cabin and them coming in at different time3), I got up at about 0630, had a shower (at least it was bigger than in a train), dressed and was down for breakfast just after 0700. Slight problem – breakfast was not on until 0730. However, the early crew whiled the time away and we were in as soon as it opened.
The selection was up to the standard of all the others, but naturally they have to carry the food, so some was prepared earlier or carried frozen, so there were differences. As I didn’t have access to my suitcase, no VEGEMITE on toast for me! I had to make do with bacon and scrambled eggs, cereal and bread with ham and cheese.
After, I was able to take photos as we entered Helsinki. I had someone point out the fort and the path we took to the terminal. I also met some of the volunteer firemen from last night – a few sore heads!
We were all down at the Information Desk at the appointed time and slowly trooped off and very soon we were on the bus but now with a local Helsinki guide. She took us (on the bus) to different places, including the city streets and shops, our hotel, the beach (small, but sufficient), a monument to Sibelius, the Rock Church and many other sights including markets, squares and parks. After what seemed like a few minutes but was really nearly three hours we stopped at the Senate Square and most of us went for a walking exploration of whatever interested us within the city area. A few went straight back to the hotel with the luggage.
It was amazing running into various ones of the forty of us (well, thirty-nine others) at different spots around the town. What made sightseeing in some spots so hard was the number of cruise ships in town (apparently this is the last day of the season) and so tourist buses were everywhere. I had a look down the main shopping street, around the corner (a few names and places tickled my fancy, as I thought they were out of place) and along to the market place near the quay. Here I saw an interesting interchange where a customer was trying to taste berries, the man didn’t mind but the woman on the stall came along saying, “No, no!” and waving her finger. I also saw a “statue” and gave him some Swedish coins (as did another from the tour) and he bowed, I took a photo and he was so gracious I gave him a koala pin. Then I got engaged in conversation with a Finnish lady with an English accent, but she had lived in England for a few years.
I walked back to the Senate Square, and had a look in the cathedral there, then we all caught the bus back to the hotel. Here we got our keys (and I got my Internet card) and went up to rooms, so I checked my mail (a little), posted a blog (okay), processed my photos from yesterday (okay) and tried to upload them to Flickr. Alas, it kept stalling on the first one. Time after time I tried, but no luck. Eventually I gave up and had a shower and changed, and went down for our final meeting at 1830. Here we got arrangements for tomorrow (for me easy, I stay another night) and then said farewell to all others on the trip as some are leaving early, some are leaving at different times and some of us will be departing at odd times to different places.
I went back up, wrote this up (even though I’m probably going out for a little after) and posted it. I will keep trying with the photos!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
30 August
Again the usual routine, with minor exceptions.
As breakfast wasn’t until 0700, I rose at 0630 and found that the washing had not dried overnight, despite trying to turn the heat up (it didn’t go up). I tried drying the socks with the hair dryer, but no luck. It was out with another set and shower and dress, and down for breakfast at 0703. The distinction is important today as there were about five already down before me, an unusual occurrence.
Again breakfast was a sumptuous affair, but this time (for the first time while away), the bread I toasted had mould. But, as Meatloaf would say, “Two out of three ain’t bad” so I ended up with toast and Vegemite without the penicillin. About 0730, hordes arrived. The hotel is quite large and on the outskirts of Stockholm, so there aren’t the city noises (traffic, carousers, etc.) but the city is reached quickly by subway or train. It seems to be a popular choice for tours and airline staff.
We all left the hotel, with our luggage packed away, by 0845. Peter, my seat companion, is due to fly out this afternoon, so his luggage was packed out the outside (for a quick getaway). We headed into the city and stopped at the city hall for a tour, with our guide from last night (Elizabeth). As we left the bus, the railings were covered with CITY HALL stickers – from previous tours, for as we found out, we all got one before we could tour the building.
The tour itself was good but the Blue Room, large in size, was well and truly beaten by the Gold Room. The wall is covered with mosaics in mainly gold composite glass. It was breathtaking, and to know that the Nobel Prize ceremonies took place there added to the grandeur.
All headed back to the bus for a drive around and seeing the parts of the town which were old workers’ areas and are now highly prized to live in (but can’t really be altered), outdoor elevators, parks, statues and buildings. We ended up at the Wasa Museum and had a chance to look at the ship, which sailed about ten minutes and then was on the ocean floor for hundreds of years before being raised and restored (with less then optimal success). It was a huge ship and extremely ornate. Even with the guide and a film, there was more than we could see in the time we had, and so we left still wanting more.
The bus dropped us at the square in front of the palace and we had about ninety minutes free (except for Peter, who with wheeled luggage was walking over cobblestones to get to the station). I could have walked up and down the pedestrian mall, with the shops, but instead looked at what was around to see. I ended up in the Armoury Museum in the Royal Palace, where there was a range of clothing, armaments, armour, horse armour and dress and royal coaches. These really looked like the Cinderella type and included sleds. The museum also had a play and learn area for young children, where one boy was trying armour on and his sister was trying out for ABBA.
Back on the bus at 1500 and we all headed for the ferry. We arrived with no delay (even though there had been streets closed off during the day, they were open by then). After leaving the bus with our handbags (well, hand luggage), we got our tickets for the ferry and for breakfast the next morning. After a short wait, we got onto the ferry, found our cabins and headed out to explore the ferry and then be out on deck to watch the departure. For those interested, the ferry is the MS Silja Serenade, 203 metres long, 31.5 metres wide and a draught of 7.1 metres. Tonnage quoted by volume is 58 400 tonnes and speed was 23 knots. There were a maximum of 2852 passengers and up to 450 cars.
Being on deck was no hardship as the ship sailed out at 1655 and there were very nice views of the archipelago for the next four or so hours. I wandered around, took some photos, chatted and ended up in conversation with one fellow from a group of six volunteer Finnish firemen who had won the trip in a fire-fighting contest. He was an Estonian diesel mechanic who now lives in Helsinki. I finally found out the advantages of common rail diesel injection (which couldn’t really happen until piezo-electric control of injection) and a lot more about European cars and trucks.
Finally I went to bed about 2130. I was in a cabin of four; Ed, Brian and Charles (and of course, me). I was the second to bed (top bunk) and apparently ended up being the quietest – all the others (I am told) snored very loudly, but I was listening to the iPod to drown out such noise.
As breakfast wasn’t until 0700, I rose at 0630 and found that the washing had not dried overnight, despite trying to turn the heat up (it didn’t go up). I tried drying the socks with the hair dryer, but no luck. It was out with another set and shower and dress, and down for breakfast at 0703. The distinction is important today as there were about five already down before me, an unusual occurrence.
Again breakfast was a sumptuous affair, but this time (for the first time while away), the bread I toasted had mould. But, as Meatloaf would say, “Two out of three ain’t bad” so I ended up with toast and Vegemite without the penicillin. About 0730, hordes arrived. The hotel is quite large and on the outskirts of Stockholm, so there aren’t the city noises (traffic, carousers, etc.) but the city is reached quickly by subway or train. It seems to be a popular choice for tours and airline staff.
We all left the hotel, with our luggage packed away, by 0845. Peter, my seat companion, is due to fly out this afternoon, so his luggage was packed out the outside (for a quick getaway). We headed into the city and stopped at the city hall for a tour, with our guide from last night (Elizabeth). As we left the bus, the railings were covered with CITY HALL stickers – from previous tours, for as we found out, we all got one before we could tour the building.
The tour itself was good but the Blue Room, large in size, was well and truly beaten by the Gold Room. The wall is covered with mosaics in mainly gold composite glass. It was breathtaking, and to know that the Nobel Prize ceremonies took place there added to the grandeur.
All headed back to the bus for a drive around and seeing the parts of the town which were old workers’ areas and are now highly prized to live in (but can’t really be altered), outdoor elevators, parks, statues and buildings. We ended up at the Wasa Museum and had a chance to look at the ship, which sailed about ten minutes and then was on the ocean floor for hundreds of years before being raised and restored (with less then optimal success). It was a huge ship and extremely ornate. Even with the guide and a film, there was more than we could see in the time we had, and so we left still wanting more.
The bus dropped us at the square in front of the palace and we had about ninety minutes free (except for Peter, who with wheeled luggage was walking over cobblestones to get to the station). I could have walked up and down the pedestrian mall, with the shops, but instead looked at what was around to see. I ended up in the Armoury Museum in the Royal Palace, where there was a range of clothing, armaments, armour, horse armour and dress and royal coaches. These really looked like the Cinderella type and included sleds. The museum also had a play and learn area for young children, where one boy was trying armour on and his sister was trying out for ABBA.
Back on the bus at 1500 and we all headed for the ferry. We arrived with no delay (even though there had been streets closed off during the day, they were open by then). After leaving the bus with our handbags (well, hand luggage), we got our tickets for the ferry and for breakfast the next morning. After a short wait, we got onto the ferry, found our cabins and headed out to explore the ferry and then be out on deck to watch the departure. For those interested, the ferry is the MS Silja Serenade, 203 metres long, 31.5 metres wide and a draught of 7.1 metres. Tonnage quoted by volume is 58 400 tonnes and speed was 23 knots. There were a maximum of 2852 passengers and up to 450 cars.
Being on deck was no hardship as the ship sailed out at 1655 and there were very nice views of the archipelago for the next four or so hours. I wandered around, took some photos, chatted and ended up in conversation with one fellow from a group of six volunteer Finnish firemen who had won the trip in a fire-fighting contest. He was an Estonian diesel mechanic who now lives in Helsinki. I finally found out the advantages of common rail diesel injection (which couldn’t really happen until piezo-electric control of injection) and a lot more about European cars and trucks.
Finally I went to bed about 2130. I was in a cabin of four; Ed, Brian and Charles (and of course, me). I was the second to bed (top bunk) and apparently ended up being the quietest – all the others (I am told) snored very loudly, but I was listening to the iPod to drown out such noise.
Friday, August 29, 2008
29 August
After the usual rising at just after 0600, I was down for breakfast at just after 0630. The breakfast room was either a ballroom in a past life or was recreated as one, beautifully decorated and evoking memories of grand dances. The usual crew were down early and there was a toaster, so I was in business. Large breakfasts are taking their toll and I am slowing down and eating less during the rest of the day. I’m not sure whether I can still tighten my belt to the same notch.
After that it was pack up and put the suitcase out. The advantage of eating early for me is I can pack my Vegemite and toothbrush in the suitcase that way – if I eat later, I have to have my suitcase out before I get back from breakfast and so have to tote the Vegemite and toothbrush with me (which adds over a kilogram to my pack).
I checked my email, etc., and then packed up in the room. Heading down into the lobby I returned my keys and looked at the art there in a new light as a couple were examining the pictures and the price list for them, deciding whether or not to take any home. All thoughts of becoming an art magnate disappeared once I saw the prices and, with all the others, I headed out to board the bus.
We headed out of Fulan and were headed to Uppsala (yet another spelling mistake I have to correct).
We stopped at a small place for a break (toilet and drink) and had an opportunity to photograph a large horse. Those of you with keen eyesight may notice, in the third such photo, an amazing juxtaposition.
After a short while we were back on the road again and heading to Uppsala. This is really a university town with a lot of history and so we stopped from 1155 until 1330. There was a cathedral (very good, and very colourful and containing many precious items), a museum (which I heard later wasn’t that good, so I don’t feel I missed out), an observatory (which I ran out of time to see), a main street, pedestrian mall and river which were very interesting, an artistic display in a yard (excellent) and some quirky road signs. All in all, another few hours would not have gone astray.
We were all ready to go at the appointed time and headed straight into Stockholm. We arrived before the traffic was too bad and were into the hotel before 1500. Unfortunately this time our luggage was very slow, so while I wanted to do the washing (so it would dry overnight) I had to do the photos and their processing while I waited. By 1530 the luggage arrived and so I settled down to do three lots of washing. By 1605 I had finished, so it was a quick email and photo upload and then the bus took most of us for a guided walk around the old Stockholm and then a dinner in a cellar.
The walk was very interesting, giving illuminating views of what were otherwise just street scenes. The streets were so narrow that we all had to move over to let bicycles through and the guide had to move on before talking about houses which were still occupied. I’m afraid many of the buildings would not pass our current building regulations.
After we finished that, and were at our dinner, I sat with Peter (my seat companion) and a couple from India and we all had an interesting conversation about how what we thought and reality were so different. By 2030 we were al ready to go (the restaurant probably had other bookings) so we were back into the bus and back to the hotel by 2100. I checked the washing (shirts nearly dry, as were pyjamas, but the underwear was all still saturated) and did the rest of the photos and wrote this up and then collapsed into bed.
Tomorrow we look at the new Stockholm (and for some, shop until dropping) and then board the ferry to travel overnight to Helsinki.
After that it was pack up and put the suitcase out. The advantage of eating early for me is I can pack my Vegemite and toothbrush in the suitcase that way – if I eat later, I have to have my suitcase out before I get back from breakfast and so have to tote the Vegemite and toothbrush with me (which adds over a kilogram to my pack).
I checked my email, etc., and then packed up in the room. Heading down into the lobby I returned my keys and looked at the art there in a new light as a couple were examining the pictures and the price list for them, deciding whether or not to take any home. All thoughts of becoming an art magnate disappeared once I saw the prices and, with all the others, I headed out to board the bus.
We headed out of Fulan and were headed to Uppsala (yet another spelling mistake I have to correct).
We stopped at a small place for a break (toilet and drink) and had an opportunity to photograph a large horse. Those of you with keen eyesight may notice, in the third such photo, an amazing juxtaposition.
After a short while we were back on the road again and heading to Uppsala. This is really a university town with a lot of history and so we stopped from 1155 until 1330. There was a cathedral (very good, and very colourful and containing many precious items), a museum (which I heard later wasn’t that good, so I don’t feel I missed out), an observatory (which I ran out of time to see), a main street, pedestrian mall and river which were very interesting, an artistic display in a yard (excellent) and some quirky road signs. All in all, another few hours would not have gone astray.
We were all ready to go at the appointed time and headed straight into Stockholm. We arrived before the traffic was too bad and were into the hotel before 1500. Unfortunately this time our luggage was very slow, so while I wanted to do the washing (so it would dry overnight) I had to do the photos and their processing while I waited. By 1530 the luggage arrived and so I settled down to do three lots of washing. By 1605 I had finished, so it was a quick email and photo upload and then the bus took most of us for a guided walk around the old Stockholm and then a dinner in a cellar.
The walk was very interesting, giving illuminating views of what were otherwise just street scenes. The streets were so narrow that we all had to move over to let bicycles through and the guide had to move on before talking about houses which were still occupied. I’m afraid many of the buildings would not pass our current building regulations.
After we finished that, and were at our dinner, I sat with Peter (my seat companion) and a couple from India and we all had an interesting conversation about how what we thought and reality were so different. By 2030 we were al ready to go (the restaurant probably had other bookings) so we were back into the bus and back to the hotel by 2100. I checked the washing (shirts nearly dry, as were pyjamas, but the underwear was all still saturated) and did the rest of the photos and wrote this up and then collapsed into bed.
Tomorrow we look at the new Stockholm (and for some, shop until dropping) and then board the ferry to travel overnight to Helsinki.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
28 August
Before I start today, a most sincere apology. In both this blog for yesterday and in the photos posted on Flickr, I misspelt Røros as Røson. I will fix that up as soon as possible.
I woke at the normal (for me) time of about 0530 having been woken up by rain during the night. However, as we weren’t leaving until 9 and breakfast didn’t start until 0700, I cribbed a bit of time until 0630 and then rose, performed my normal (for being on tour) ablutions and was in for breakfast promptly at 0700. The normal crew were there on time and again we had a wonderful choice for breakfast, EXCEPT no TOAST!
After traversing the temptations of too much food, I returned, finished packing my suitcase and put that out. I tried for more Internet, but for some reason the cards were all timed out, so I couldn’t check email. I went to the entertainment area and looked around and chatted, then went outside for some fresh air before getting into the bus and off at exactly 0900. Jerome, our Director, must love us because we are always on time and no-one has managed to get lost, even for a short time.
We headed off into Sweden, and immediately after we entered we had a brief stop at 1030 for toilets (not many) and some shopping (we are all becoming supermarket junkies, and can even spot the specials within a few seconds of entering). Here I managed to score a baguette which was as close to French as I have had outside France!
We then kept on going until nearly 1400 when we stopped for a very late lunch in Mora. During a good look around I saw a pedestrian mall, a great little lake, some wonderful buildings, nice trains (electric and diesel) and many wonderful flowers and statues. We had been dropped beside a wonderful church which, upon further investigation, was OPEN! While looking around inside, the organist arrived – she was practising for a funeral tomorrow and had to play “Imagine”, “Tears from Heaven” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”. Fortunately we were able to hear some music before we left.
After leaving, we headed out into what would be the suburbs to visit a horse factory (wooden horses). We saw the whole process, from cutting the blanks from Swedish pine (NOT Norwegian), shaping them by hand (normally done as piece work in homes) and then finishing and painting them. After, we found another maker, same surname, had a factory opposite. After this we travelled on until we reached our hotel in Falun about 1720. Here our luggage was at the rooms with us, even with us all arriving at the same time. After a quick walk around the town I went back to the hotel and was told that the Internet in the room wasn’t working so I did some email checking from the lobby.
At 1900 we all headed in for what proved to be a most hilarious meal and by 2100 I was back in my room processing photos and writing. I can’t tell you all of what happened in the conversations and actions, but I can tell you that it is not necessarily the young ones who play up.
Some observations about Norway: beautiful scenery, uncrowded areas and roads, wonderful and friendly people and a different view around each corner. If we had taken twenty days, we still would have been pleased at the amount to see.
Fjords were scenic and economically important. Cost of living is really high, but houses can be reasonably priced (but not in large cities). Forests have very shallow-rooted trees and contain a moss which looks like miniature flowers, and the reindeer love finding and eating it during winter, taking it as a real treat. They paw the snow out of the way, and warmer days during winter means the snow melts and refreezes, so the reindeer can’t smash the ice to get to it. Forests are well maintained, there are many weekend and summer cabins, a lot (like ordinary houses) with soil and grass on the roof for great insulation and there are many streams and rivers which provide great salmon fishing.
I woke at the normal (for me) time of about 0530 having been woken up by rain during the night. However, as we weren’t leaving until 9 and breakfast didn’t start until 0700, I cribbed a bit of time until 0630 and then rose, performed my normal (for being on tour) ablutions and was in for breakfast promptly at 0700. The normal crew were there on time and again we had a wonderful choice for breakfast, EXCEPT no TOAST!
After traversing the temptations of too much food, I returned, finished packing my suitcase and put that out. I tried for more Internet, but for some reason the cards were all timed out, so I couldn’t check email. I went to the entertainment area and looked around and chatted, then went outside for some fresh air before getting into the bus and off at exactly 0900. Jerome, our Director, must love us because we are always on time and no-one has managed to get lost, even for a short time.
We headed off into Sweden, and immediately after we entered we had a brief stop at 1030 for toilets (not many) and some shopping (we are all becoming supermarket junkies, and can even spot the specials within a few seconds of entering). Here I managed to score a baguette which was as close to French as I have had outside France!
We then kept on going until nearly 1400 when we stopped for a very late lunch in Mora. During a good look around I saw a pedestrian mall, a great little lake, some wonderful buildings, nice trains (electric and diesel) and many wonderful flowers and statues. We had been dropped beside a wonderful church which, upon further investigation, was OPEN! While looking around inside, the organist arrived – she was practising for a funeral tomorrow and had to play “Imagine”, “Tears from Heaven” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”. Fortunately we were able to hear some music before we left.
After leaving, we headed out into what would be the suburbs to visit a horse factory (wooden horses). We saw the whole process, from cutting the blanks from Swedish pine (NOT Norwegian), shaping them by hand (normally done as piece work in homes) and then finishing and painting them. After, we found another maker, same surname, had a factory opposite. After this we travelled on until we reached our hotel in Falun about 1720. Here our luggage was at the rooms with us, even with us all arriving at the same time. After a quick walk around the town I went back to the hotel and was told that the Internet in the room wasn’t working so I did some email checking from the lobby.
At 1900 we all headed in for what proved to be a most hilarious meal and by 2100 I was back in my room processing photos and writing. I can’t tell you all of what happened in the conversations and actions, but I can tell you that it is not necessarily the young ones who play up.
Some observations about Norway: beautiful scenery, uncrowded areas and roads, wonderful and friendly people and a different view around each corner. If we had taken twenty days, we still would have been pleased at the amount to see.
Fjords were scenic and economically important. Cost of living is really high, but houses can be reasonably priced (but not in large cities). Forests have very shallow-rooted trees and contain a moss which looks like miniature flowers, and the reindeer love finding and eating it during winter, taking it as a real treat. They paw the snow out of the way, and warmer days during winter means the snow melts and refreezes, so the reindeer can’t smash the ice to get to it. Forests are well maintained, there are many weekend and summer cabins, a lot (like ordinary houses) with soil and grass on the roof for great insulation and there are many streams and rivers which provide great salmon fishing.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
27 August
Unfortunately for me we had a later start today – I say unfortunate because I am now nearly set in my ways and, even when I have set the alarm in the mobile, I still wake well before it. So after being away at 0530, I finally got up at 0620 after snoozing on the alarm.
Now, dear reader, you may want to omit reading the next section.
I prepared by taking my dried washing from the bathroom into the bedroom. I pulled a sock from the rail. The rail rotated. The other sock …, well, do I need to say more than the toilet lid was up and the rails were right over the top? After washing and rinsing it again, it was, of course, wet, so had to be packed as such.
I couldn’t understand why there was a floor squeegee in the shower. However, after my shower, the floor was awash with over a centimetre of water. I had to grab everything, into the bedroom and dry off in there. Even when I squeegeed the floor, I couldn’t get in without leaving wet shoe marks on the floor of the bedroom.
I was out by 7 and down to breakfast. I FOUND A TOASTER! Breakfast was again a sumptuous affair but including Vegemite on toast this time.
I was up to finish and pack my Vegemite in the case, put it out and then cleaned my teeth. In the intervening two minutes the case went, so the tooth material had to go with me again.
I did a little look around the street we were staying in, but it wasn’t worth going for a long walk, so I looked around the hotel a little more and then it was time to get on the bus.
WE had a local tour guide so we went through the town (the town had been burjed down and was rebuilt with wider streets and no wooden houses taller than two stories), the old town (still with wooden houses because it was outside the “city”), the port (with submarine pens from WWII now being used to store other things), the old fort (with both old cannon and new ones (used for ceremonial occasions) and then a scenic view over the city, the river and the island (which had a monastery, then a prison, but is now for tourists). After, we finished up at the cathedral, where we entered the church for a guided tour (different guide).
The explanation was interesting, but in common with many others, after paying an admission fee there is no photography of any kind allowed. We did hear of the origins, the changes and the recent history of the church. Then a few of use went up the 172 steps (even though I counted 170 only) to the edge of the steeple. The path is narrow, very steep and badly lit in places, but the view at the top is worthwhile.
Then it was down to the town, a walk around, a little lunch (Burger King is here in Trondheim) and it was back to the bus by 1340. While walking around I was struck by the number (not a number) of the population with blonde hair. I also ran across a few students in kilts.
We then set off towards our evening stop at Røros. We climbed from the coast, beside a river, right up the ranges and through a few flatter areas. There were quite a few crops which had been harvested and then used for silage, as well as cows, horses and sheep. Typically the population lives in the valleys, on the coast in the fjords or on the flatter areas and plateaux.
We called into to see another stave church, but it was also closed! This wasn’t a real one, but had been created as a replica in the original style and method.
When we arrived at Røros we had over an hour to look at the old cottages, which are UNESCO listed, and other parts of the town. Within the local shopping centre man of us used up our Norwegian change as we will be in Sweden tomorrow.
We got picked up by our bus at the train station and then it was to the hotel. Our luggage had been unloaded while we were walking, so after our room allocation we were off, unpacked and got ready for tea. For me, however, it was check Internet access, then download photos from the camera and charge its batteries, process the photos (copy them into a “Raw” folder where a pristine copy is left, and into a “Day” folder where they are named and rotated before resizing them to upload to Flickr) and then off for dinner at 1900.
The meal was very good and too much for me – I had to give up defeated (perhaps rewaisted would be more apt) and then rturned to my room about 2000.
I tried the Internet access cards and couldn’t get on, so restated my browser and got on WITHOUT the card. The photos were uploaded, the sock hung up to dry, I wrote my blog and I’ll try to get to sleep early to finish throwing off this bad cold/infected throat I picked up. I had to use Repsils as there are no Strepsils in Norway, and have Fishermen’s Friends as a backup.
Now to rest (after I send my emails and post this!).
Now, dear reader, you may want to omit reading the next section.
I prepared by taking my dried washing from the bathroom into the bedroom. I pulled a sock from the rail. The rail rotated. The other sock …, well, do I need to say more than the toilet lid was up and the rails were right over the top? After washing and rinsing it again, it was, of course, wet, so had to be packed as such.
I couldn’t understand why there was a floor squeegee in the shower. However, after my shower, the floor was awash with over a centimetre of water. I had to grab everything, into the bedroom and dry off in there. Even when I squeegeed the floor, I couldn’t get in without leaving wet shoe marks on the floor of the bedroom.
I was out by 7 and down to breakfast. I FOUND A TOASTER! Breakfast was again a sumptuous affair but including Vegemite on toast this time.
I was up to finish and pack my Vegemite in the case, put it out and then cleaned my teeth. In the intervening two minutes the case went, so the tooth material had to go with me again.
I did a little look around the street we were staying in, but it wasn’t worth going for a long walk, so I looked around the hotel a little more and then it was time to get on the bus.
WE had a local tour guide so we went through the town (the town had been burjed down and was rebuilt with wider streets and no wooden houses taller than two stories), the old town (still with wooden houses because it was outside the “city”), the port (with submarine pens from WWII now being used to store other things), the old fort (with both old cannon and new ones (used for ceremonial occasions) and then a scenic view over the city, the river and the island (which had a monastery, then a prison, but is now for tourists). After, we finished up at the cathedral, where we entered the church for a guided tour (different guide).
The explanation was interesting, but in common with many others, after paying an admission fee there is no photography of any kind allowed. We did hear of the origins, the changes and the recent history of the church. Then a few of use went up the 172 steps (even though I counted 170 only) to the edge of the steeple. The path is narrow, very steep and badly lit in places, but the view at the top is worthwhile.
Then it was down to the town, a walk around, a little lunch (Burger King is here in Trondheim) and it was back to the bus by 1340. While walking around I was struck by the number (not a number) of the population with blonde hair. I also ran across a few students in kilts.
We then set off towards our evening stop at Røros. We climbed from the coast, beside a river, right up the ranges and through a few flatter areas. There were quite a few crops which had been harvested and then used for silage, as well as cows, horses and sheep. Typically the population lives in the valleys, on the coast in the fjords or on the flatter areas and plateaux.
We called into to see another stave church, but it was also closed! This wasn’t a real one, but had been created as a replica in the original style and method.
When we arrived at Røros we had over an hour to look at the old cottages, which are UNESCO listed, and other parts of the town. Within the local shopping centre man of us used up our Norwegian change as we will be in Sweden tomorrow.
We got picked up by our bus at the train station and then it was to the hotel. Our luggage had been unloaded while we were walking, so after our room allocation we were off, unpacked and got ready for tea. For me, however, it was check Internet access, then download photos from the camera and charge its batteries, process the photos (copy them into a “Raw” folder where a pristine copy is left, and into a “Day” folder where they are named and rotated before resizing them to upload to Flickr) and then off for dinner at 1900.
The meal was very good and too much for me – I had to give up defeated (perhaps rewaisted would be more apt) and then rturned to my room about 2000.
I tried the Internet access cards and couldn’t get on, so restated my browser and got on WITHOUT the card. The photos were uploaded, the sock hung up to dry, I wrote my blog and I’ll try to get to sleep early to finish throwing off this bad cold/infected throat I picked up. I had to use Repsils as there are no Strepsils in Norway, and have Fishermen’s Friends as a backup.
Now to rest (after I send my emails and post this!).
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
26 August
I woke at 0600, rose and prepared for breakfast. I was at breakfast for the appointed 0700 and after yet another great breakfast (but NO toast), a look at hunting rifles and Lions paraphernalia, we were off. However, as I had to use my extension lead and I still had my electricals on after the luggage went out at 0700, I now had to pack the Vegemite and the extension lead in my backpack. It’s getting heavier!
We left promptly at 0800 and headed south yet again and, after an hour or so stopped at the Dolstad church. Here we found that “Peace” in Norwegian is “Fred” – otherwise we would have believed that there were many burials of people called Fred.
We stopped for morning tea at a little restaurant by a waterfall. Here I succumbed to temptation and bought a “SuperMoose”. He will fit at the moment but if I get anything more, I’ll have to post him home.
We then continued on with an overcast sky and the weather eventually turned to rain. We stopped at a town called Grong for lunch. I had to get some aspirin (sore throat – was I talking too much? – NEVER!). In the pharmacy the assistant recognised my Australian accent – because she watched Home and Away, Police Rescue and McCleod’s Daughters.
We headed off after that, inexorably, still southwards on the E-6. We stopped in the afternoon in another town and found we had hit civilisation – a McDonald’s! Here I came across an Opel Omega 2 litre 16V – which is almost identical to a Holden Commodore. There’s a photo of it.
We finally arrived at Trondheim not long after 1700. After getting our rooms (and our luggage – if you want it quick, grab it in the lobby after it’s come off the bus) I headed off into the town. I was with an American lady (still looking for a American socket to European plug) and we found some very helpful policemen who told us where a store stocking them would be. I headed off down there, found it and … they were out of stock! It was a scenic walk there and a much more scenic walk on the way back , along and across the river.
I returned for dinner at 1900 and sat with a couple from Fern Tree Gully. During dinner we had a good chat about teaching and touring Britain. After that I returned to my (not so lonely) writer’s garret (well, I am on the second level (second floor here) up to do get my blog up-to-date and to post my photos.
The weather was cooler today and there was rain at times, but not enough to dampen spirits (only outer clothes. Fortunately my sore throat seems to be getting better.
At 2130 I decided to hit the hay and let nature finish repairing my throat.
We left promptly at 0800 and headed south yet again and, after an hour or so stopped at the Dolstad church. Here we found that “Peace” in Norwegian is “Fred” – otherwise we would have believed that there were many burials of people called Fred.
We stopped for morning tea at a little restaurant by a waterfall. Here I succumbed to temptation and bought a “SuperMoose”. He will fit at the moment but if I get anything more, I’ll have to post him home.
We then continued on with an overcast sky and the weather eventually turned to rain. We stopped at a town called Grong for lunch. I had to get some aspirin (sore throat – was I talking too much? – NEVER!). In the pharmacy the assistant recognised my Australian accent – because she watched Home and Away, Police Rescue and McCleod’s Daughters.
We headed off after that, inexorably, still southwards on the E-6. We stopped in the afternoon in another town and found we had hit civilisation – a McDonald’s! Here I came across an Opel Omega 2 litre 16V – which is almost identical to a Holden Commodore. There’s a photo of it.
We finally arrived at Trondheim not long after 1700. After getting our rooms (and our luggage – if you want it quick, grab it in the lobby after it’s come off the bus) I headed off into the town. I was with an American lady (still looking for a American socket to European plug) and we found some very helpful policemen who told us where a store stocking them would be. I headed off down there, found it and … they were out of stock! It was a scenic walk there and a much more scenic walk on the way back , along and across the river.
I returned for dinner at 1900 and sat with a couple from Fern Tree Gully. During dinner we had a good chat about teaching and touring Britain. After that I returned to my (not so lonely) writer’s garret (well, I am on the second level (second floor here) up to do get my blog up-to-date and to post my photos.
The weather was cooler today and there was rain at times, but not enough to dampen spirits (only outer clothes. Fortunately my sore throat seems to be getting better.
At 2130 I decided to hit the hay and let nature finish repairing my throat.
Monday, August 25, 2008
25 August
After a night when I thought I had come down with some terrible illness, I found out that the central heating had been full on all night! Twice I had woken in a hot sweat and gone back to sleep, but I had to have the window closed because of the noise of the local boy racers and I didn’t realise that the radiator was full on.
Finally I was up at about 0545 and went for my shower. This was an interesting experience as the shower door was two glass halves which met okay in the centre but gapped at the floor. I had put a bathmat out and had to hang it up to avoid flooding it. I ended up finishing drying in the room because of the flooded floor (but fortunately it dried while I was at breakfast).
I headed down a little too early for breakfast but ended up chatted to other like-minded people in the lobby. Breakfast commenced at exactly 0700 and was a very good selection but not quite to the standard set by the others. After half an hour (and NO toast for my Vegemite) I went back up and finished, put my bag out and then fiddled with the computer a little more before heading down to the bus for 0800. At the bus it was just a matter of putting the backpack on and then walking down to the museum. Normally this doesn’t open until far later, but it opened for us and we had a DVD presentation on the actions of WWII which took place in the local fjord. It was very interesting and so was the look through the museum after. However, after the Somme, I am nearly warred out, so there are few photos from there.
Then we headed onto the bus and set off for the ferry crossing on the E-6, the main road we are heading south on. The ferry was at Skarberget and again because of our promptness, we stopped for a photo time on the side of a fjord. We arrived at the ferry on time, but … the ferry didn’t! We arrived at 1100 for the departure at 1110, and we could see the ferry out in the fjord but it wasn’t going anywhere. By 1145 there were rumblings about going via the eight hour inland route through Sweden, but by 1200 the ferry finally arrived and we were soon on. The twenty-five minute scheduled service was a little quicker and after a very pleasant trip (more good photos!) we were on our way.
We made good time and arrived at Sorfold about 1330. Here the service was good, including free checking of email (none for me, no-one loves me!), reasonably priced food and a wonderful view of a waterfall and a fjord. There was also part of a tunnel excavated during WWII. We were off about 1420 and soon left the fjords behind and went on the plateau. Here we crossed the Arctic Circle again and got stamps to say so in our passports – you can check! I’m not sitting at home making this all up!
After a quick look around (it’s toilets, food, souvenirs and then looking at displays or the outside for most) we were back on the bus for the last run of the day into Mo I Rama.
We arrived about 1850 and were quickly into our rooms. Another chap and I grabbed our luggage so we could settle in quickly. I charged a set f batteries for another fellow on the bus and went for a walk while that was happening. I got a drink and some fruit at the local supermarket, as well as some Strepsils for a nagging cough I have developed (and made worse by the lack of good sleep last night) – but here they are called Repsils!
Back in the hotel I put my batteries on to charge from the GPS, took the photos from the memory card onto the laptop (and the hard drive), processed those and posted them. At the same time I did my bulk email (so many there are actually two mailing lists) and wrote this blog, while also doing the washing at the same time. I must remember to dry my clothes with the hair dryer if they are still damp in the morning.
Now it’s time to head off to bed!
Finally I was up at about 0545 and went for my shower. This was an interesting experience as the shower door was two glass halves which met okay in the centre but gapped at the floor. I had put a bathmat out and had to hang it up to avoid flooding it. I ended up finishing drying in the room because of the flooded floor (but fortunately it dried while I was at breakfast).
I headed down a little too early for breakfast but ended up chatted to other like-minded people in the lobby. Breakfast commenced at exactly 0700 and was a very good selection but not quite to the standard set by the others. After half an hour (and NO toast for my Vegemite) I went back up and finished, put my bag out and then fiddled with the computer a little more before heading down to the bus for 0800. At the bus it was just a matter of putting the backpack on and then walking down to the museum. Normally this doesn’t open until far later, but it opened for us and we had a DVD presentation on the actions of WWII which took place in the local fjord. It was very interesting and so was the look through the museum after. However, after the Somme, I am nearly warred out, so there are few photos from there.
Then we headed onto the bus and set off for the ferry crossing on the E-6, the main road we are heading south on. The ferry was at Skarberget and again because of our promptness, we stopped for a photo time on the side of a fjord. We arrived at the ferry on time, but … the ferry didn’t! We arrived at 1100 for the departure at 1110, and we could see the ferry out in the fjord but it wasn’t going anywhere. By 1145 there were rumblings about going via the eight hour inland route through Sweden, but by 1200 the ferry finally arrived and we were soon on. The twenty-five minute scheduled service was a little quicker and after a very pleasant trip (more good photos!) we were on our way.
We made good time and arrived at Sorfold about 1330. Here the service was good, including free checking of email (none for me, no-one loves me!), reasonably priced food and a wonderful view of a waterfall and a fjord. There was also part of a tunnel excavated during WWII. We were off about 1420 and soon left the fjords behind and went on the plateau. Here we crossed the Arctic Circle again and got stamps to say so in our passports – you can check! I’m not sitting at home making this all up!
After a quick look around (it’s toilets, food, souvenirs and then looking at displays or the outside for most) we were back on the bus for the last run of the day into Mo I Rama.
We arrived about 1850 and were quickly into our rooms. Another chap and I grabbed our luggage so we could settle in quickly. I charged a set f batteries for another fellow on the bus and went for a walk while that was happening. I got a drink and some fruit at the local supermarket, as well as some Strepsils for a nagging cough I have developed (and made worse by the lack of good sleep last night) – but here they are called Repsils!
Back in the hotel I put my batteries on to charge from the GPS, took the photos from the memory card onto the laptop (and the hard drive), processed those and posted them. At the same time I did my bulk email (so many there are actually two mailing lists) and wrote this blog, while also doing the washing at the same time. I must remember to dry my clothes with the hair dryer if they are still damp in the morning.
Now it’s time to head off to bed!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
24 August
I woke about 0430 after the last day of having to be up early and then couldn’t get back to sleep. Finally I rose about 0545 and prepared myself for the day and was then down for breakfast at 0630 (as we had checked with the very friendly and jovial staff the night before). There was one lady also down at that time, so we started breakfast and a few others drifted down. The majority arrived at 0700, the time given to us (but not correctly).
Breakfast could have been a large and leisurely affair, with cereals, fruit, yoghurt, milk, bread (but no toast!), cheese, sliced meats, baked beans, egg and bacon, scrambled eggs, orange and apple juice and variations on these. Some managed to last an hour eating, but I could only last just over half an hour.
The porter was efficient at getting the bags down and after I had put mine out at 0730, it was already in the bus by 0745. I finished packing my backpack and was down to the bus at 0745 and put my pack into the front seat, behind the driver (our assigned seat for the day).
We set off at 0800 as everyone was prompt and headed down the E-6 towards our final destination for the day, Narvik. Along the way we stopped a few times at different places. The first was a little centre, Gildetun. This was really a hotel/motel and cafeteria, but the exterior toilets were locked and there was only one of each interior toilet. The cook didn’t really want to open up, so although the view was fantastic and the local Sami salesman eager and friendly (complimentary kiss with each purchase), it didn’t create the right impression.
We then went on and stopped at a little ferry port for photos, as now the guide has realised that there isn’t anyone who creates a problem by being late, so we are given more latitude than most groups – this is good for us, and especially for Keith (my seatmate) and me as the reflections on the front screen became greater as the day went on (as the sun became brighter and we were headed southwards into it), as did the number of bugs who committed suicide on the screen.
We stopped for lunch in a little town (Nordkjosbotn) and here, while ordering a hamburger, chips and a coke, I was asked by an Italian touring in a car with the family where the bank was. I explained as it was Sunday, there was only the ATM available, but of course, as he was on holidays, he had lost track of the actual weekday that it was. Then I found out he had lived in Greensborough in Melbourne for six months and knew Werribee quite well – a really small world. Discussing that with another member of the tour, I found she had been with a couple I knew from Wycheproof on an earlier tour – again a small world, as she gave me the first name and I supplied the surname.
Here we also had a major disappointment. One of our number had taken the advice that the rivers had salmon in them literally, but after three quarters of an hour, no salmon and a very empty stomach.
We were soon back on the road and called into the falls (more correctly cascades or rapids) at Malselvfossen. Although the water level was down because we were at the end of summer, they were still a very impressive sight.
Then we were into the last leg of our day, with a scenic entry to Narvik. We arrived about 1745 and were quickly into rooms, but then a few of us headed off to the cableway up the hill behind Narvik. The walk to get there was quite steep, but allowed a good view of parts of the town (and the locals knew we were Australians visiting as I kept saying “G’day” to any I met). At the chairlift we soon got our tickets (just over A$20 return) and Keith and I were off and up. At the top the view was great, with the setting sun giving reflections off the fjord and boats travelling on the fjord exhibiting wakes nearly the width of the fjord. Just to give an idea, a beer was just under A$25 and a hamburger around A$28. Come to Norway prepared!
We eventually headed off down the hill on the cable-car, but some others were a little more adventurous (not any of our group) and they went down the hill on mountain bikes – here a real and apt description. Brakes which were effective were the main order of the day.
Then it was back to the hotel (and we left a very confused young local who smiled at us and got a G’day back and still probably doesn’t realise what it means. Then I processed the photos (not all of them are properly framed and some may be blurred, but that adds to the atmosphere and you can just imagine that you are in the bus with us) and then finally got to bed at after 2250. At least I left the clothes from last night out to finish drying and I managed to charge all three sets of batteries for the camera.
Phew! Quite a day!
Breakfast could have been a large and leisurely affair, with cereals, fruit, yoghurt, milk, bread (but no toast!), cheese, sliced meats, baked beans, egg and bacon, scrambled eggs, orange and apple juice and variations on these. Some managed to last an hour eating, but I could only last just over half an hour.
The porter was efficient at getting the bags down and after I had put mine out at 0730, it was already in the bus by 0745. I finished packing my backpack and was down to the bus at 0745 and put my pack into the front seat, behind the driver (our assigned seat for the day).
We set off at 0800 as everyone was prompt and headed down the E-6 towards our final destination for the day, Narvik. Along the way we stopped a few times at different places. The first was a little centre, Gildetun. This was really a hotel/motel and cafeteria, but the exterior toilets were locked and there was only one of each interior toilet. The cook didn’t really want to open up, so although the view was fantastic and the local Sami salesman eager and friendly (complimentary kiss with each purchase), it didn’t create the right impression.
We then went on and stopped at a little ferry port for photos, as now the guide has realised that there isn’t anyone who creates a problem by being late, so we are given more latitude than most groups – this is good for us, and especially for Keith (my seatmate) and me as the reflections on the front screen became greater as the day went on (as the sun became brighter and we were headed southwards into it), as did the number of bugs who committed suicide on the screen.
We stopped for lunch in a little town (Nordkjosbotn) and here, while ordering a hamburger, chips and a coke, I was asked by an Italian touring in a car with the family where the bank was. I explained as it was Sunday, there was only the ATM available, but of course, as he was on holidays, he had lost track of the actual weekday that it was. Then I found out he had lived in Greensborough in Melbourne for six months and knew Werribee quite well – a really small world. Discussing that with another member of the tour, I found she had been with a couple I knew from Wycheproof on an earlier tour – again a small world, as she gave me the first name and I supplied the surname.
Here we also had a major disappointment. One of our number had taken the advice that the rivers had salmon in them literally, but after three quarters of an hour, no salmon and a very empty stomach.
We were soon back on the road and called into the falls (more correctly cascades or rapids) at Malselvfossen. Although the water level was down because we were at the end of summer, they were still a very impressive sight.
Then we were into the last leg of our day, with a scenic entry to Narvik. We arrived about 1745 and were quickly into rooms, but then a few of us headed off to the cableway up the hill behind Narvik. The walk to get there was quite steep, but allowed a good view of parts of the town (and the locals knew we were Australians visiting as I kept saying “G’day” to any I met). At the chairlift we soon got our tickets (just over A$20 return) and Keith and I were off and up. At the top the view was great, with the setting sun giving reflections off the fjord and boats travelling on the fjord exhibiting wakes nearly the width of the fjord. Just to give an idea, a beer was just under A$25 and a hamburger around A$28. Come to Norway prepared!
We eventually headed off down the hill on the cable-car, but some others were a little more adventurous (not any of our group) and they went down the hill on mountain bikes – here a real and apt description. Brakes which were effective were the main order of the day.
Then it was back to the hotel (and we left a very confused young local who smiled at us and got a G’day back and still probably doesn’t realise what it means. Then I processed the photos (not all of them are properly framed and some may be blurred, but that adds to the atmosphere and you can just imagine that you are in the bus with us) and then finally got to bed at after 2250. At least I left the clothes from last night out to finish drying and I managed to charge all three sets of batteries for the camera.
Phew! Quite a day!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
23 August
I woke at 0400 to see the morning sun streaming through the window. So I did the only thing I could and rolled over and woke again at 0450, when it was time to get up. Organising clothes and packing for the day took a few minutes so the wake-up call arrived before I got into the shower.
All was ready by 0520 so the suitcase went out and I went down.
Nearly all were there; we got our instructions and our box breakfast and went outside. Alas, for the first time, we were missing two – the two youngest on the tour! They did arrive in a short time, fortunately still within the allocated time. We all walked to the bus (some put bags on there instead of taking them on the ferry) and then to the ferry (if I say it was only three hundred metres in total, does it seem less of an effort?). After a short wait we got our tickets and boarded the ferry. By about 0620 the ferry was on its way. I had already had breakfast (three slices of bread, slices of cheese and two different types of meat) and had explored parts of the ferry (quite small compared to the ones from Germany to Denmark, and the Tasmanian ferries, but quite large given the size of the town we came from) by the time we left the dock.
The ferry seemed very lightly loaded and so we were spread all around. The “sundeck” would have been sunny if there was any sun and the ship’s wheel would have seemed useful if it was actually connected to anything. It was a chance to sit, relax, do my blog writing from yesterday, read a little of the Lonely Planet guide on Scandinavia and compare it to what I had already seen, chat to a few more members of the tour and look at the scenery. Surprisingly along the way I saw … the SUN! Alas it was only briefly, but it was visible.
Later in the morning the ship seemed to become busier. It was the tourists already on the boat who had now got up out of bed. They had been on since Bergen an some were from England and others were from Europe (and least some from Germany, because they were the nationalities I was chatting to. Then, at about 1115, the all-too-brief ferry experience was over. We all huddled around the disembarkation point as we had to be scanned upon leaving the ferry at Hammerfest. Our group headed back to our bus while others headed off on tour buses or on foot to explore the town. We just left items on the bus and had an hour to have lunch and explore. With some others I wandered along to fiind something to eat and see a little of the town at the same time. Hammerfest is the site of a large LNG installation.
The town was setting up for some festival, with a tented enclosure capable of seating a few hundred at a time, at least five barbecues and a lot of sauce! There was a large stage with dancers rehearsing and another for a band. After wandering around I got a drink and bread rolls at a supermarket (nok27,50, compared to nok36 for just a drink on the ferry) and took some photos around the main square. Time vanished quickly and so it was back to the bus for our trip to Alta and our stop for the night.
We had to cross from an island back onto the mainland so it was through another tunnel before we could do that. After, we travelled along one fjord, over the central plateau and back to a river and fjord at Alta. The drive was two hours and the scenery changed from bare rock with occasional grass cover (and plenty of reindeer, even whole herds at some places) through to forest with mountain streams and plenty of holiday houses, then through to the plateau with no trees, little settlement and only scatters Sami houses. But in what seemed like no time at all, but really the whole two hours, we descended into Alta. Here the vegetation was thicker, the trees were taller, the river wider and a considerable settlement of nearly 10 000. We went straight to the museum where we set off on a short hike to see rock carvings. Our local guide (who I found out after was a graduated secondary school student who was planning on studying medicine in Spain in a Norwegian Private University) went into great detail in explaining the rock carvings, They had been done between 6 500 and 5 000 BC at the upper level and 5 500 and 4 000 BC at the lower level. They were reflections of the way of life at the time, perhaps with a religious and communicative purpose. As well as showing the relationship between different animals and the peoples, it also showed the relative places and numbers of men and women in ship crews (see if you can tell that there were two men and one woman on each ship).
After, I went over the museum which, while being small, did cover the local area admirably. It says a lot that one document covering mining in the 1830s made the comment that the visit “… was admirable because of the fine tea and the misses with the low-cut necks on the dresses …” – perhaps more than anything else that human nature has not changed very much in two hundred years.
It was back on the bus and to the hotel. Although it was the same chain as last night, the service and surroundings were a lot better. I settled in my room and processed and uploaded all my photos for the past few days and yesterday’s blog before going down for tea at 1900. The food and the company was very enjoyable and it wasn’t until nearly 2100 that I returned to finish today’s blog, do my washing (yesterday and today), post the blog and then retire to sleep, perhaps to catch up on what I may have missed out this morning.
The mobile is on to charge, as is the laptop.
All was ready by 0520 so the suitcase went out and I went down.
Nearly all were there; we got our instructions and our box breakfast and went outside. Alas, for the first time, we were missing two – the two youngest on the tour! They did arrive in a short time, fortunately still within the allocated time. We all walked to the bus (some put bags on there instead of taking them on the ferry) and then to the ferry (if I say it was only three hundred metres in total, does it seem less of an effort?). After a short wait we got our tickets and boarded the ferry. By about 0620 the ferry was on its way. I had already had breakfast (three slices of bread, slices of cheese and two different types of meat) and had explored parts of the ferry (quite small compared to the ones from Germany to Denmark, and the Tasmanian ferries, but quite large given the size of the town we came from) by the time we left the dock.
The ferry seemed very lightly loaded and so we were spread all around. The “sundeck” would have been sunny if there was any sun and the ship’s wheel would have seemed useful if it was actually connected to anything. It was a chance to sit, relax, do my blog writing from yesterday, read a little of the Lonely Planet guide on Scandinavia and compare it to what I had already seen, chat to a few more members of the tour and look at the scenery. Surprisingly along the way I saw … the SUN! Alas it was only briefly, but it was visible.
Later in the morning the ship seemed to become busier. It was the tourists already on the boat who had now got up out of bed. They had been on since Bergen an some were from England and others were from Europe (and least some from Germany, because they were the nationalities I was chatting to. Then, at about 1115, the all-too-brief ferry experience was over. We all huddled around the disembarkation point as we had to be scanned upon leaving the ferry at Hammerfest. Our group headed back to our bus while others headed off on tour buses or on foot to explore the town. We just left items on the bus and had an hour to have lunch and explore. With some others I wandered along to fiind something to eat and see a little of the town at the same time. Hammerfest is the site of a large LNG installation.
The town was setting up for some festival, with a tented enclosure capable of seating a few hundred at a time, at least five barbecues and a lot of sauce! There was a large stage with dancers rehearsing and another for a band. After wandering around I got a drink and bread rolls at a supermarket (nok27,50, compared to nok36 for just a drink on the ferry) and took some photos around the main square. Time vanished quickly and so it was back to the bus for our trip to Alta and our stop for the night.
We had to cross from an island back onto the mainland so it was through another tunnel before we could do that. After, we travelled along one fjord, over the central plateau and back to a river and fjord at Alta. The drive was two hours and the scenery changed from bare rock with occasional grass cover (and plenty of reindeer, even whole herds at some places) through to forest with mountain streams and plenty of holiday houses, then through to the plateau with no trees, little settlement and only scatters Sami houses. But in what seemed like no time at all, but really the whole two hours, we descended into Alta. Here the vegetation was thicker, the trees were taller, the river wider and a considerable settlement of nearly 10 000. We went straight to the museum where we set off on a short hike to see rock carvings. Our local guide (who I found out after was a graduated secondary school student who was planning on studying medicine in Spain in a Norwegian Private University) went into great detail in explaining the rock carvings, They had been done between 6 500 and 5 000 BC at the upper level and 5 500 and 4 000 BC at the lower level. They were reflections of the way of life at the time, perhaps with a religious and communicative purpose. As well as showing the relationship between different animals and the peoples, it also showed the relative places and numbers of men and women in ship crews (see if you can tell that there were two men and one woman on each ship).
After, I went over the museum which, while being small, did cover the local area admirably. It says a lot that one document covering mining in the 1830s made the comment that the visit “… was admirable because of the fine tea and the misses with the low-cut necks on the dresses …” – perhaps more than anything else that human nature has not changed very much in two hundred years.
It was back on the bus and to the hotel. Although it was the same chain as last night, the service and surroundings were a lot better. I settled in my room and processed and uploaded all my photos for the past few days and yesterday’s blog before going down for tea at 1900. The food and the company was very enjoyable and it wasn’t until nearly 2100 that I returned to finish today’s blog, do my washing (yesterday and today), post the blog and then retire to sleep, perhaps to catch up on what I may have missed out this morning.
The mobile is on to charge, as is the laptop.
22 August
Ah, dear, reader, the problems of going into holiday mode. I have switched off and so this blog comes a day late, hoping I can remember.
The morning started at Saariselka, with an excellent buffet breakfast after morning preparations, which now include putting the suitcase out for the porter. There was a very wide range of food available, but not quite to the standard of the Japanese hotels (but then again the cost is considerably less). After stocking up for the majority of the day, I returned to my room to pack the Vegemite in the backpack (yes, I could have toast with Vegemite). Then, after a short wander around the front area, it was onto the bus.
We were scheduled to have only a few stops during the day. We were off by 0800 and settled into our seats and ready for sightseeing. I chatted to Keith in the breaks between commentary by Jerome. We headed north through Ivalo and Inari (and I was grateful we passed through them, as I’ll be back there in a week or so) until we got to Karasjok. Along the way there were a lot of children riding to school on bicycles. We stopped at 0930 Norwegian time to look through a Sapmi display area and village and then to have a (very early) lunch break.
After seeing where the Sapmi have their parliament while some on the bus hit the ATM for Norwegian cash, we arrived at the (theme) park and went almost straight into a short introduction of the Lapp life and then a multimedia presentation on the changes that modern living have made to the Sammi (Lapp) way of life. Most of us walked around the village area, which had examples of different accommodations used at different times of the year (and they look very much like the structures used by native American Indians). After that it was having the lunches which we had (which varied from licorice for me through to complete picnic lunches brought along by others) with us, a drink from the kiosk and a chat before we got back on the bus.
We then headed north again and stopped for a quick photo opportunity along the way until we paused at Russenes for another food and toilet stop (these become quite important when everyone is eating and drinking along the way). Along the way we saw miniature dolphins frolicking in the fjord.
Here there was another tourist bus in, which had also come from Rovaniemi, and had Italian tourists on board. Some I recognised from the airport in Helsinki, as they had taken the same flight up to Rovaniemi. Outside we saw a caravan park (not too different from anywhere else), a child washing his bike with a hose (oh to have so much water!), the fjord and flowers. We had been driving along beside the fjord for quite a few hours and seeing many reindeer (and the bus had to pull up a number of times – apparently they are not like sheep and you can’t just drive slowly through them).
The day had been overcast with a few glimpses of sun, but the temperature was in the low to middle tens. We left the mainland and went onto an island, which is where the town of Honningsvag is, by going through a seven kilometre long tunnel (which had an horrific toll!).
We arrived at Honningsvag about 1520 and pushed straight on to North Cape (like John O’Groats) the reputed but not actual northernmost point of Europe. On the way there were breaks in the sky but by the time we arrived there was a solid mist cover (just like in Cornwall, where at Perranporth all I could see was the mist). We all trotted out to experience if not to see the area. I was unsure of the accuracy of the claim of the latitude, as my GPS showed it was 70°10’15’’ and not 20” as claimed. The view was, well, limited, but the experience was unique, so we all photographed ourselves at the marker (and I photographed a Slovenian family there, for them). After that, we say a dramatic short film of the North Cape area on six screens covering just over 180°. There was a lower viewing area, but the view was limited by mist here too. Along the subterranean path there was a small Thai museum (not a tie museum!) and a chapel.
We were back on the bus by 1705 and headed back to Honningsvag. The mist on the road made for slow travel, with cyclists, cars, reindeer and mobile homes adding to the narrow and winding road. We were in by 1800 at the Rica Hotel, got our room allocations, found our rooms (and some were not happy campers, so there were quite a few room changes) and settled in (even though the luggage was slow arriving). I got an internet card and found I had to be in the lobby for it to work (and there’s another story after that). As there was fair time until dinner (at 1945), I went for a walk past the quay, along the entry road to the town and up to the fish drying racks. On the way back I was walking at a brisk six kilometres per hour but was left in the dust of a local girl who was powerwalking along the footpath.
Back at the hotel we had dinner in the restaurant – the first thing was the entrée was salmon, but that was soon fixed up, and then the problem was getting through the amount of food. Fortunately as it was a buffet, we could only blame ourselves. Dinner was over by 2100 so I went back and processed my photos and then went to the lobby – and could not log on. A lot of the hotels, for some reason, only permit one logon per visit. In future I will make sure I have everything ready to go before I establish my connection. At 2215 I gave up and went back to my room, got everything ready for the morning and then went to sleep.
The morning started at Saariselka, with an excellent buffet breakfast after morning preparations, which now include putting the suitcase out for the porter. There was a very wide range of food available, but not quite to the standard of the Japanese hotels (but then again the cost is considerably less). After stocking up for the majority of the day, I returned to my room to pack the Vegemite in the backpack (yes, I could have toast with Vegemite). Then, after a short wander around the front area, it was onto the bus.
We were scheduled to have only a few stops during the day. We were off by 0800 and settled into our seats and ready for sightseeing. I chatted to Keith in the breaks between commentary by Jerome. We headed north through Ivalo and Inari (and I was grateful we passed through them, as I’ll be back there in a week or so) until we got to Karasjok. Along the way there were a lot of children riding to school on bicycles. We stopped at 0930 Norwegian time to look through a Sapmi display area and village and then to have a (very early) lunch break.
After seeing where the Sapmi have their parliament while some on the bus hit the ATM for Norwegian cash, we arrived at the (theme) park and went almost straight into a short introduction of the Lapp life and then a multimedia presentation on the changes that modern living have made to the Sammi (Lapp) way of life. Most of us walked around the village area, which had examples of different accommodations used at different times of the year (and they look very much like the structures used by native American Indians). After that it was having the lunches which we had (which varied from licorice for me through to complete picnic lunches brought along by others) with us, a drink from the kiosk and a chat before we got back on the bus.
We then headed north again and stopped for a quick photo opportunity along the way until we paused at Russenes for another food and toilet stop (these become quite important when everyone is eating and drinking along the way). Along the way we saw miniature dolphins frolicking in the fjord.
Here there was another tourist bus in, which had also come from Rovaniemi, and had Italian tourists on board. Some I recognised from the airport in Helsinki, as they had taken the same flight up to Rovaniemi. Outside we saw a caravan park (not too different from anywhere else), a child washing his bike with a hose (oh to have so much water!), the fjord and flowers. We had been driving along beside the fjord for quite a few hours and seeing many reindeer (and the bus had to pull up a number of times – apparently they are not like sheep and you can’t just drive slowly through them).
The day had been overcast with a few glimpses of sun, but the temperature was in the low to middle tens. We left the mainland and went onto an island, which is where the town of Honningsvag is, by going through a seven kilometre long tunnel (which had an horrific toll!).
We arrived at Honningsvag about 1520 and pushed straight on to North Cape (like John O’Groats) the reputed but not actual northernmost point of Europe. On the way there were breaks in the sky but by the time we arrived there was a solid mist cover (just like in Cornwall, where at Perranporth all I could see was the mist). We all trotted out to experience if not to see the area. I was unsure of the accuracy of the claim of the latitude, as my GPS showed it was 70°10’15’’ and not 20” as claimed. The view was, well, limited, but the experience was unique, so we all photographed ourselves at the marker (and I photographed a Slovenian family there, for them). After that, we say a dramatic short film of the North Cape area on six screens covering just over 180°. There was a lower viewing area, but the view was limited by mist here too. Along the subterranean path there was a small Thai museum (not a tie museum!) and a chapel.
We were back on the bus by 1705 and headed back to Honningsvag. The mist on the road made for slow travel, with cyclists, cars, reindeer and mobile homes adding to the narrow and winding road. We were in by 1800 at the Rica Hotel, got our room allocations, found our rooms (and some were not happy campers, so there were quite a few room changes) and settled in (even though the luggage was slow arriving). I got an internet card and found I had to be in the lobby for it to work (and there’s another story after that). As there was fair time until dinner (at 1945), I went for a walk past the quay, along the entry road to the town and up to the fish drying racks. On the way back I was walking at a brisk six kilometres per hour but was left in the dust of a local girl who was powerwalking along the footpath.
Back at the hotel we had dinner in the restaurant – the first thing was the entrée was salmon, but that was soon fixed up, and then the problem was getting through the amount of food. Fortunately as it was a buffet, we could only blame ourselves. Dinner was over by 2100 so I went back and processed my photos and then went to the lobby – and could not log on. A lot of the hotels, for some reason, only permit one logon per visit. In future I will make sure I have everything ready to go before I establish my connection. At 2215 I gave up and went back to my room, got everything ready for the morning and then went to sleep.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
21 August
Now I think I’m into a pattern: wake at 6, organise, shower, dress, breakfast, repack suitcase, suitcase out, finish organization and write up blog, pack backpack and then wait in the lobby and write up paper diary. I just have to make sure it works!
Today we leave Rovaniemi.
We set off at 9, amazingly because EVERYONE was on time. We headed out going north and very quickly arrived at Santa Claus Village. Here we were allocated one hour and fifteen minutes and I blew half an hour in filling out forms for some young people to get Santa letters. My credit card got hot paying for it.
After that it was a quick look around. The Arctic Circle marker, according to my GPS, is out by one second – you can see it next to the line (but I don’t know if you can read the display). Santa’s shop, Santa, all the other shops and the other attractions all got cursory looks (except for the important place when travelling – the gents’) and very soon it was back onto the bus and off we went.
Just before midday we got to Sodankyla where we stopped to look at a very old wooden church. It was surrounded by a fence to keep the animals out (unlike in Perth, at Pinaroo, where the wildlife lives inside and you can’t use fresh flowers as the kangaroos eat them!) and quite nice inside. However the church wasn’t open, so we only admired the outside. Back on the bus, others had had a different show as there were three inebriated Finns in the little park next door and some were seeing if they could still ride their bikes (just) while others just relived themselves to the amusement of the women on the bus.
We headed into the town for lunch. This involved a drive of about eight hundred metres and we saw the commercial centre as we went past. Some had sandwiches at the place we stopped, but others (including me) went back to the supermarket and got various goodies there to eat and drink. I had mine on the way back, but the plastic bags supplied for carrying (no, I didn’t have my GREEN bags with me – even though mine are red) were too weak and I ended up carrying things, while walking and drinking.
Back at base while finishing off and waiting, I got into discussion with a lady from South Africa. She is the only one from South Africa on the tour, and we had an interesting time talking about driving in remote areas and zoos.
Back on the bus and sitting with Keith (now my buddy for the trip), we headed off to Tankavaara. Along the way it showered, but in general the weather was fine and warm, reaching up to 18°C. Along the way we saw a lot of reindeer, many houses and farms (and a lot of holiday houses) and many lakes. The general scenery was light forest (pine, birch and occasionally spruce) with meadows spread sparsely along the way, occasional peat bogs and many lakes (small through to huge). The roads were in good condition and there was little traffic.
At Tankavaara we went to a Gold-mining museum which not only had information on gold rushes in the local area but also those through the rest of the world. Australia featured in two displays, one in an alcove and one on a pinboard. I couldn’t resist and left them a koala stickpin to put with them, so if anyone visits this museum in the future, look on the pinboard display to see if the koala appears (it’s opal on gold, about one centimetre high). After a good look around we headed off for our resting place for the night, at Saariselka. We drove straight through the town to a scenic lookout on the other side, from where we could see the town and also through to Russia.
Back in the town we got off at the Holiday Club and got allocated our rooms. As soon as I got to mine I set up the laptop and found Internet access was FREE! I got on line and then my suitcase appeared (I find it hard that a porter brings my suitcase to the room – and will pick it up in the morning). I processed the photos from today, then went to upload them. There is no such thing as a free lunch, so access was slow. I walked down to the supermarket and had a look around before coming back and finding that the photos were still uploading. When they finished, we all headed off for tea.
That was included today, and was a buffet, so I made up for the nights we will not have. I sat with the tour leader for the other group (now included in ours) and we chatted about seeing places and the way we coped with travel and its restrictions. Most seem to find it hard to realise that I post this, and the photos, each night when I can, and she was fascinated with where I will be going after. The conversation continued on our way back and then I finished writing this, did my washing (I’m keeping up with it at the moment, but may wash my trousers in a capital when I see a laundrette) and then headed off to bed as we leave at 8 tomorrow morning. This isn’t too bad as we leave at 5:30 the day after! Stay tuned to see how I cope.
I was interested to see that visits to my Flickr site have increased dramatically in the last few days, now I’m posting new photos.
Today we leave Rovaniemi.
We set off at 9, amazingly because EVERYONE was on time. We headed out going north and very quickly arrived at Santa Claus Village. Here we were allocated one hour and fifteen minutes and I blew half an hour in filling out forms for some young people to get Santa letters. My credit card got hot paying for it.
After that it was a quick look around. The Arctic Circle marker, according to my GPS, is out by one second – you can see it next to the line (but I don’t know if you can read the display). Santa’s shop, Santa, all the other shops and the other attractions all got cursory looks (except for the important place when travelling – the gents’) and very soon it was back onto the bus and off we went.
Just before midday we got to Sodankyla where we stopped to look at a very old wooden church. It was surrounded by a fence to keep the animals out (unlike in Perth, at Pinaroo, where the wildlife lives inside and you can’t use fresh flowers as the kangaroos eat them!) and quite nice inside. However the church wasn’t open, so we only admired the outside. Back on the bus, others had had a different show as there were three inebriated Finns in the little park next door and some were seeing if they could still ride their bikes (just) while others just relived themselves to the amusement of the women on the bus.
We headed into the town for lunch. This involved a drive of about eight hundred metres and we saw the commercial centre as we went past. Some had sandwiches at the place we stopped, but others (including me) went back to the supermarket and got various goodies there to eat and drink. I had mine on the way back, but the plastic bags supplied for carrying (no, I didn’t have my GREEN bags with me – even though mine are red) were too weak and I ended up carrying things, while walking and drinking.
Back at base while finishing off and waiting, I got into discussion with a lady from South Africa. She is the only one from South Africa on the tour, and we had an interesting time talking about driving in remote areas and zoos.
Back on the bus and sitting with Keith (now my buddy for the trip), we headed off to Tankavaara. Along the way it showered, but in general the weather was fine and warm, reaching up to 18°C. Along the way we saw a lot of reindeer, many houses and farms (and a lot of holiday houses) and many lakes. The general scenery was light forest (pine, birch and occasionally spruce) with meadows spread sparsely along the way, occasional peat bogs and many lakes (small through to huge). The roads were in good condition and there was little traffic.
At Tankavaara we went to a Gold-mining museum which not only had information on gold rushes in the local area but also those through the rest of the world. Australia featured in two displays, one in an alcove and one on a pinboard. I couldn’t resist and left them a koala stickpin to put with them, so if anyone visits this museum in the future, look on the pinboard display to see if the koala appears (it’s opal on gold, about one centimetre high). After a good look around we headed off for our resting place for the night, at Saariselka. We drove straight through the town to a scenic lookout on the other side, from where we could see the town and also through to Russia.
Back in the town we got off at the Holiday Club and got allocated our rooms. As soon as I got to mine I set up the laptop and found Internet access was FREE! I got on line and then my suitcase appeared (I find it hard that a porter brings my suitcase to the room – and will pick it up in the morning). I processed the photos from today, then went to upload them. There is no such thing as a free lunch, so access was slow. I walked down to the supermarket and had a look around before coming back and finding that the photos were still uploading. When they finished, we all headed off for tea.
That was included today, and was a buffet, so I made up for the nights we will not have. I sat with the tour leader for the other group (now included in ours) and we chatted about seeing places and the way we coped with travel and its restrictions. Most seem to find it hard to realise that I post this, and the photos, each night when I can, and she was fascinated with where I will be going after. The conversation continued on our way back and then I finished writing this, did my washing (I’m keeping up with it at the moment, but may wash my trousers in a capital when I see a laundrette) and then headed off to bed as we leave at 8 tomorrow morning. This isn’t too bad as we leave at 5:30 the day after! Stay tuned to see how I cope.
I was interested to see that visits to my Flickr site have increased dramatically in the last few days, now I’m posting new photos.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
20 August
First day – and after thinking I was so tired, I woke at 0520 and couldn’t get back to sleep. I gave up at 0545 and went to check my email. I hadn’t been able to log out and just put the laptop to sleep, but my time mounted on and now I was out of time – and so couldn’t log on. My first experience of this, so I’ll have to find out why. Instead I wrote up yesterday’s blog, while it was fresh in my mind. I have to establish a routine and this will be harder as my time is currently running to someone else’s timetable.
At 0630 I showered and dressed for breakfast and then, after a false start of forgetting my Vegemite (how could I?), I ended up down for breakfast a few moments after 7 and there were already others there – but none from this tour. Breakfast offered a wide selection, including - many different types of bread, toasters, waffle irons – meat balls, bacon, baked beans, scrambled eggs – ham, herring and a few other meats – a wide range of at least five cereals – fresh fruit, yoghurt – tea, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, water. I started off with toast (and Vegemite of course) and worked my way through as much as I could, having regard to cholesterol and sugar levels. A lady from the group which was joining ours arrived and sat down with me. Over the next few minutes, more arrived – some from that group and some from those who were in last night. The group flew to Tokyo, then Copenhagen, then Helsinki and finally came up by train last night and arrived at 2300. They all know each other but I suppose it won’t take that long to work out who’s who. Wendy is their tour leader.
I went back to my room and found how to dial out from Finland (00) and tried to ring Fran, but of course got the answering machine as she had already left for work. I then sent a text message for Wendy, who wanted to get in touch with her husband. It’s interesting to see the spread of technology – a few are using mobile phones or phone cards while others get rung at the hotel desk, quite a few use email and others, normally like me, wouldn’t get in touch at all (too much to do!). I checked my email at the lobby laptop (none – no-one loves me!) and then put everything together in my room and was down for 0835 for the morning tour.
The bus was in at 0845 and we started getting on just after. I saw another on his own, who I had already seen when we got our rooms last night, and we agreed to share a seat. He is Keith, from Sydney, who had a typesetting/publishing company. We chatted a little, the last on the tour rolled up (just in the nick of time, at 0900) and we set off with our local guide.
After introductions, we got a little rundown on Finland, its geography and history and then the town of Rovanieme in particular. We stopped at a large Lutheran church, which had a war cemetery next to it. The church, like all the town, had been rebuilt after WW2 and had a noted history. At this stage it was drizzling. Back on the bus, we headed off to the winter sports area, even though the ski slides are still used in summer (slippery plastic). Then we headed through a suburb which is constructed with traditional guidelines – only certain colours and types of construction. It wasn’t too long before, at 1050, we were back at the hotel.
I picked up a town map, found out where the museum and McDonald’s were, and headed off on foot. I had already got my GPS out (remember that’s the hand-held Magellan unit, not the SatNav for the car) and marked the hotel, so I wouldn’t get lost while walking. I went down to the river, then followed it around towards the museum. Along the way was a family (mum, dad, one little girl, one dog and one very young puppy) and the puppy wasn’t too interested in walking. I found out it was only eight weeks old and they had only had it for a few days. I was impressed by the parents’ command of English. After saying goodbye to them, I came across a most remarkable area, with large troughs, what looked like a big processing table with a press and many frames. After accosting an older couple (again walking dogs) I found out it was where people could wash mats and hang them to dry.
I continued on and found myself seeing the museum but not being able to get to it. After a short-cut through undergrowth and a crossing of a highway, I found the front and was in. €12 later I was seeing the exhibits in the museum (although I only had to hand money over, I still got answered in English (the mark of “English Speaker” is still branded on my forehead).
There were many interesting bits and some excellent displays. The Northern Lights, where observers reclined on mattresses to watch, was a bit of a catch – too easy to suddenly fall asleep. I kept running into more people from the tour, even if I didn’t directly recognise them. I had a chat with an attendant about the relative dangers of moose in Finland and camels in Australia for traffic accidents – I think the moose win out!
I walked back to the hotel via McDonald’s and got some photos. I detoured through a supermarket to get something for lunch and emergency supplies for the next few days and ran into two girls from the tour. One was from Canada (Toronto) and was surprised that I knew about and had visited Port Hope. The other was from Kalgoorlie (originally Melbourne) and was working in mining. It seems planning for the next few days and getting a cheaper lunch was on a few minds. Then I saw some more just outside. I didn’t see any Australian fruit on the shelves.
I went back to the hotel (this is all within a few hundred metres, so it’s only about three minutes) and then couldn’t resist going to and having something in McDonald’s and photographing the interior (I figure if I buy something they can’t complain – but I didn’t see any WiFi signs!). On the way back it showered, so I called into another shopping centre (for a small town they sure have a lot of shops) and, after a look around, I tried to order at Hessburger, but the girl at the counter just said, “Do you want a chocolate milkshake?”, so I gave up and accepted it.
Outside, but on the first floor (second here) was a little playground, entirely roped in, with safety instructions in ENGLISH!
I gave up, went back and wrote up my diary, processed photos (I have flattened one set of batteries for four hundred photos) and wrote this blog. I have to be ready to go out for dinner at 1845 where I shall eat Bambi (after having killed her in France).
At 1830 I went down to the lobby, chatted with those there and at 1840 the bus arrived. By 1845 we were all on and, after a short drive we were at a hotel to have our dinner. I was sitting with the two teachers and there was a family from Sydney opposite. With a menu of wine or beer, sweet pumpkin soup with pine nuts, salmon or reindeer (and there is a picture of the reindeer dish in the pictures for today) and then chocolate cake with strawberry and cream (no typo, I did say strawberry) followed by tea or coffee, we all had an enjoyable evening. To finish it off we went to the roof and photographed the scenery, including the town, before being driven back to the hotel to sleep before Sergeant Schultz (sorry, Jerome) will wake us for a 0745 call to put our luggage out for 0800 and we depart at 0900. I have a long list to send Santa postcards too, so I might blow my credit limit this month!
Now to finish, upload this and the photos and then to sleep.
At 0630 I showered and dressed for breakfast and then, after a false start of forgetting my Vegemite (how could I?), I ended up down for breakfast a few moments after 7 and there were already others there – but none from this tour. Breakfast offered a wide selection, including - many different types of bread, toasters, waffle irons – meat balls, bacon, baked beans, scrambled eggs – ham, herring and a few other meats – a wide range of at least five cereals – fresh fruit, yoghurt – tea, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, water. I started off with toast (and Vegemite of course) and worked my way through as much as I could, having regard to cholesterol and sugar levels. A lady from the group which was joining ours arrived and sat down with me. Over the next few minutes, more arrived – some from that group and some from those who were in last night. The group flew to Tokyo, then Copenhagen, then Helsinki and finally came up by train last night and arrived at 2300. They all know each other but I suppose it won’t take that long to work out who’s who. Wendy is their tour leader.
I went back to my room and found how to dial out from Finland (00) and tried to ring Fran, but of course got the answering machine as she had already left for work. I then sent a text message for Wendy, who wanted to get in touch with her husband. It’s interesting to see the spread of technology – a few are using mobile phones or phone cards while others get rung at the hotel desk, quite a few use email and others, normally like me, wouldn’t get in touch at all (too much to do!). I checked my email at the lobby laptop (none – no-one loves me!) and then put everything together in my room and was down for 0835 for the morning tour.
The bus was in at 0845 and we started getting on just after. I saw another on his own, who I had already seen when we got our rooms last night, and we agreed to share a seat. He is Keith, from Sydney, who had a typesetting/publishing company. We chatted a little, the last on the tour rolled up (just in the nick of time, at 0900) and we set off with our local guide.
After introductions, we got a little rundown on Finland, its geography and history and then the town of Rovanieme in particular. We stopped at a large Lutheran church, which had a war cemetery next to it. The church, like all the town, had been rebuilt after WW2 and had a noted history. At this stage it was drizzling. Back on the bus, we headed off to the winter sports area, even though the ski slides are still used in summer (slippery plastic). Then we headed through a suburb which is constructed with traditional guidelines – only certain colours and types of construction. It wasn’t too long before, at 1050, we were back at the hotel.
I picked up a town map, found out where the museum and McDonald’s were, and headed off on foot. I had already got my GPS out (remember that’s the hand-held Magellan unit, not the SatNav for the car) and marked the hotel, so I wouldn’t get lost while walking. I went down to the river, then followed it around towards the museum. Along the way was a family (mum, dad, one little girl, one dog and one very young puppy) and the puppy wasn’t too interested in walking. I found out it was only eight weeks old and they had only had it for a few days. I was impressed by the parents’ command of English. After saying goodbye to them, I came across a most remarkable area, with large troughs, what looked like a big processing table with a press and many frames. After accosting an older couple (again walking dogs) I found out it was where people could wash mats and hang them to dry.
I continued on and found myself seeing the museum but not being able to get to it. After a short-cut through undergrowth and a crossing of a highway, I found the front and was in. €12 later I was seeing the exhibits in the museum (although I only had to hand money over, I still got answered in English (the mark of “English Speaker” is still branded on my forehead).
There were many interesting bits and some excellent displays. The Northern Lights, where observers reclined on mattresses to watch, was a bit of a catch – too easy to suddenly fall asleep. I kept running into more people from the tour, even if I didn’t directly recognise them. I had a chat with an attendant about the relative dangers of moose in Finland and camels in Australia for traffic accidents – I think the moose win out!
I walked back to the hotel via McDonald’s and got some photos. I detoured through a supermarket to get something for lunch and emergency supplies for the next few days and ran into two girls from the tour. One was from Canada (Toronto) and was surprised that I knew about and had visited Port Hope. The other was from Kalgoorlie (originally Melbourne) and was working in mining. It seems planning for the next few days and getting a cheaper lunch was on a few minds. Then I saw some more just outside. I didn’t see any Australian fruit on the shelves.
I went back to the hotel (this is all within a few hundred metres, so it’s only about three minutes) and then couldn’t resist going to and having something in McDonald’s and photographing the interior (I figure if I buy something they can’t complain – but I didn’t see any WiFi signs!). On the way back it showered, so I called into another shopping centre (for a small town they sure have a lot of shops) and, after a look around, I tried to order at Hessburger, but the girl at the counter just said, “Do you want a chocolate milkshake?”, so I gave up and accepted it.
Outside, but on the first floor (second here) was a little playground, entirely roped in, with safety instructions in ENGLISH!
I gave up, went back and wrote up my diary, processed photos (I have flattened one set of batteries for four hundred photos) and wrote this blog. I have to be ready to go out for dinner at 1845 where I shall eat Bambi (after having killed her in France).
At 1830 I went down to the lobby, chatted with those there and at 1840 the bus arrived. By 1845 we were all on and, after a short drive we were at a hotel to have our dinner. I was sitting with the two teachers and there was a family from Sydney opposite. With a menu of wine or beer, sweet pumpkin soup with pine nuts, salmon or reindeer (and there is a picture of the reindeer dish in the pictures for today) and then chocolate cake with strawberry and cream (no typo, I did say strawberry) followed by tea or coffee, we all had an enjoyable evening. To finish it off we went to the roof and photographed the scenery, including the town, before being driven back to the hotel to sleep before Sergeant Schultz (sorry, Jerome) will wake us for a 0745 call to put our luggage out for 0800 and we depart at 0900. I have a long list to send Santa postcards too, so I might blow my credit limit this month!
Now to finish, upload this and the photos and then to sleep.
19 August
Once on the flight, in darkness, I thought, “Ah, at last I can get some sleep!” No sooner had I dozed off then along came more food. However by now I had resolved to eat only the best of what was offered, which goes against all my training and upbringing. After that, it was off to sleep at about 2000 Frankfurt time. And if you thought, dear reader, that I was about to get a good sleep, you were in error, for at 0300 on came the lights and yet another meal was served. After that, the lights stayed on so it was difficult to do more than doze.
With good flight conditions, we landed at Frankfurt on time. The short views from the air over the Ukraine and the Czech republic were very good, even though the light was not good and there was a lot of cloud. Similarly, coming in Germany, the views reminded me so much of the Europe I had driven through only a few months ago.
On the ground in Frankfurt I had to take the shuttle (automated tramway) to the next terminal to find my connecting flight to Helsinki. Passport control was very perfunctory, even using my Australian passport. I found both the gate and the check-in area, but it was so early I went to explore the airport a little. I found a McDonald’s (“Ah, I thought, free WiFi!” Alas, it was not to be – T had the airport covered.) and had a little to tide away the time. Back in the area waiting for check-in I caught up with a couple from Cairns who had just finished some European tours. After a longish chat the check-ins opened, up I went – and the counter staff’s printer wouldn’t print the boarding pass!. Side shuffle to another counter and all was correct. With no luggage (that was being sent straight through) it was quick and painless. Not so the security check. My medicines worried the scanner operator, so off to a side room I had to go. I looked around for cameras in case I was going to end up on “Border Security” here or overseas. No such things were visible, the staff swiped my tablets and put the swiped card through a sensor. No reaction, so I could go. The staff thought I was American, so I set them straight on that and then chatted for a few minutes about Australia before they went back to work and I went on.
I met up with the Australian couple again while we waited for the lounge to be ready. They had been florists, but had retired and moved into Atherton. We covered a lot of topics, including travelling and care of the elderly. The lounge opened at 0930, in we went and I spied power points, so set the laptop to charge and started setting up photos. On the TV there was a program about Coober Pedy – halfway across the world to see things from home! At 1030 we boarded and at 1100 we were off. Because of time differences, with a two hour flight, we landed at 1200. Again, cloud was the feature seen out the window.
At Helsinki Airport (quite small, but very busy) I collected my suitcase. I helped a young Japanese girl who was unsure where to collect her suitcase. She was from Dallas, having just finished a degree there before having a celebratory cruise and then returning home to Tokyo.
Once I got my luggage, it was off to find where to board my fourth and final plane. I checked the luggage in, got a slip for that but no boarding pass – Rafferty’s Rules for seats. Off the that lounge I went, found a seat, took some photos and then walked around a bit. A novel change!
At 1540 a girl went over to our counter and picked up the microphone. Everyone stood and headed for places in a queue so I did the same – false alarm! Fifteen minutes later we were called and on we went. I was able to sit at the pointy end for once – but no difference!
During the flight I shared the row with a grandmother and granddaughter from Yorkshire who were also going on a tour. Although they described it differently, I thought it must have been the same one as there isn’t a great deal of tourist activity around here. After a very short flight we landed at Rovanieme and were greeted with all the kitsch you could expect from a small place trying to survive from tourism. While waiting for the bags to come I met up with two other Australians – also on this tour, also teachers. We shared a cab into town and got to the hotel at 6. While checking in we met the tour Director (Jerome, French). Once checked in I headed up, had a shower and changed. What a relief!
At 1900 we had a meeting. There will be about 43 on the tour (very large) and we got told what we had to do (be punctual), what we could do (other tours, eating, accommodation, money) and then we departed. Most on the tour are Australian, but there are a smattering of others. My first experience of this.
Once back in my room I checked my email, processed my photos and after some writing, went to sleep (at last!).
With good flight conditions, we landed at Frankfurt on time. The short views from the air over the Ukraine and the Czech republic were very good, even though the light was not good and there was a lot of cloud. Similarly, coming in Germany, the views reminded me so much of the Europe I had driven through only a few months ago.
On the ground in Frankfurt I had to take the shuttle (automated tramway) to the next terminal to find my connecting flight to Helsinki. Passport control was very perfunctory, even using my Australian passport. I found both the gate and the check-in area, but it was so early I went to explore the airport a little. I found a McDonald’s (“Ah, I thought, free WiFi!” Alas, it was not to be – T had the airport covered.) and had a little to tide away the time. Back in the area waiting for check-in I caught up with a couple from Cairns who had just finished some European tours. After a longish chat the check-ins opened, up I went – and the counter staff’s printer wouldn’t print the boarding pass!. Side shuffle to another counter and all was correct. With no luggage (that was being sent straight through) it was quick and painless. Not so the security check. My medicines worried the scanner operator, so off to a side room I had to go. I looked around for cameras in case I was going to end up on “Border Security” here or overseas. No such things were visible, the staff swiped my tablets and put the swiped card through a sensor. No reaction, so I could go. The staff thought I was American, so I set them straight on that and then chatted for a few minutes about Australia before they went back to work and I went on.
I met up with the Australian couple again while we waited for the lounge to be ready. They had been florists, but had retired and moved into Atherton. We covered a lot of topics, including travelling and care of the elderly. The lounge opened at 0930, in we went and I spied power points, so set the laptop to charge and started setting up photos. On the TV there was a program about Coober Pedy – halfway across the world to see things from home! At 1030 we boarded and at 1100 we were off. Because of time differences, with a two hour flight, we landed at 1200. Again, cloud was the feature seen out the window.
At Helsinki Airport (quite small, but very busy) I collected my suitcase. I helped a young Japanese girl who was unsure where to collect her suitcase. She was from Dallas, having just finished a degree there before having a celebratory cruise and then returning home to Tokyo.
Once I got my luggage, it was off to find where to board my fourth and final plane. I checked the luggage in, got a slip for that but no boarding pass – Rafferty’s Rules for seats. Off the that lounge I went, found a seat, took some photos and then walked around a bit. A novel change!
At 1540 a girl went over to our counter and picked up the microphone. Everyone stood and headed for places in a queue so I did the same – false alarm! Fifteen minutes later we were called and on we went. I was able to sit at the pointy end for once – but no difference!
During the flight I shared the row with a grandmother and granddaughter from Yorkshire who were also going on a tour. Although they described it differently, I thought it must have been the same one as there isn’t a great deal of tourist activity around here. After a very short flight we landed at Rovanieme and were greeted with all the kitsch you could expect from a small place trying to survive from tourism. While waiting for the bags to come I met up with two other Australians – also on this tour, also teachers. We shared a cab into town and got to the hotel at 6. While checking in we met the tour Director (Jerome, French). Once checked in I headed up, had a shower and changed. What a relief!
At 1900 we had a meeting. There will be about 43 on the tour (very large) and we got told what we had to do (be punctual), what we could do (other tours, eating, accommodation, money) and then we departed. Most on the tour are Australian, but there are a smattering of others. My first experience of this.
Once back in my room I checked my email, processed my photos and after some writing, went to sleep (at last!).
Sunday, August 17, 2008
17 August
Crunch time has come!
After starting to wash, prepare and pack, and making sure I had plenty of time, etc., everything which could go wrong, did.
Firstly, my jacket would not dry – and I can’t put it through the dryer, so I had to have the heater full on in the house, then in the car. Now, just thirty-five hours after coming out of the machine, it’s dry.
Secondly, a printing job which I had arranged to do for Lions started off well and then collapsed, as the printers would not work for me. The inkjet required the cartridges to be topped up, printed a brilliant test page but would not print text well. Then the laser needed the cartridges to be changed, but refused to let the computer control it so I could get to the cartridges to put the new ones in. After five hours, I finally got it to allow me to change the cartridges (all four!) and then print the work.
Thirdly, all my careful planning of times and supplies within the house came to naught when I ran out of some things (not worth buying more) and then had too much of others, so I will have to get rid of them tomorrow morning.
Finally, by six, I had finished that, so I put DOUG away and finished packing (though I will check again tomorrow morning), so I had some tea and then went to have an early night – I will be flying on four sectors tomorrow and the day after, so I want as much sleep as I can get.
I am sure my luggage gets under the limit, so I will check again tomorrow morning before I leave. I get 7 kg for my backpack, 20 kg for my suitcase, a laptop bag – from National Geographic, as I can’t carry my usual one, and my camera. I have to get used to toting it again.
Naturally other things are “interesting”, so I am keeping my eyes on the situation for each country I will be going through. I have a list of recipients for “Santa” postcards and all my adaptors and some guide books to take with me.
My biggest concern at the moment is how well I will fit into the tour groups on the four tours included in what I’m doing. The independent parts don’t worry me, as I am sure even if what I want to do doesn’t happen, something good and interesting will.
Now to sleep.
After starting to wash, prepare and pack, and making sure I had plenty of time, etc., everything which could go wrong, did.
Firstly, my jacket would not dry – and I can’t put it through the dryer, so I had to have the heater full on in the house, then in the car. Now, just thirty-five hours after coming out of the machine, it’s dry.
Secondly, a printing job which I had arranged to do for Lions started off well and then collapsed, as the printers would not work for me. The inkjet required the cartridges to be topped up, printed a brilliant test page but would not print text well. Then the laser needed the cartridges to be changed, but refused to let the computer control it so I could get to the cartridges to put the new ones in. After five hours, I finally got it to allow me to change the cartridges (all four!) and then print the work.
Thirdly, all my careful planning of times and supplies within the house came to naught when I ran out of some things (not worth buying more) and then had too much of others, so I will have to get rid of them tomorrow morning.
Finally, by six, I had finished that, so I put DOUG away and finished packing (though I will check again tomorrow morning), so I had some tea and then went to have an early night – I will be flying on four sectors tomorrow and the day after, so I want as much sleep as I can get.
I am sure my luggage gets under the limit, so I will check again tomorrow morning before I leave. I get 7 kg for my backpack, 20 kg for my suitcase, a laptop bag – from National Geographic, as I can’t carry my usual one, and my camera. I have to get used to toting it again.
Naturally other things are “interesting”, so I am keeping my eyes on the situation for each country I will be going through. I have a list of recipients for “Santa” postcards and all my adaptors and some guide books to take with me.
My biggest concern at the moment is how well I will fit into the tour groups on the four tours included in what I’m doing. The independent parts don’t worry me, as I am sure even if what I want to do doesn’t happen, something good and interesting will.
Now to sleep.
Friday, August 15, 2008
15 August
Things are getting closer and it's starting to get exciting again.
I completed my bookings for Christmas (on 27th December Fran and I will be off to New Zealand for about 17 days).
After visiting the Blood Bank for the last time for a few months (I'll be back for another platelet donation on 17 November) and then heading out to Passport Travel, I picked up my passport (with quite a few visas, so now it is worth keeping), Cosmos Tour booklets and a lot of e-tickets, a very detailed itinerary and a few other things. The second half of my world touring is very close.
I have a new suitcase to use (one of a set, so I will have a backup) and have to now check my packing list, do the washing (I broke in a few pairs of identical socks to wear so hopefully this time I won't get holes in them while away and have new trousers to wear) and then pack everything up. I have to print off some Weerama material and leave that to be posted out while I'm away. I have to fix up DOUG and his battery, put him in the garage and have him suitable to be left while I'm away. ARTIE doesn't flatten his battery, so he requires less preparation. He needs new tyres, but he will get them after I return (sitting a few months on the one spot is not the best for them).
After my first jaunt, I will have the laptop, travel documents, electrical gear, medicines, test kit, camera, paper diary and two changes of clothes in the pack. The suitcase will have the other clothes (including singlets this time because they are the best for maintaining body temperature, cleaning gear (for me, shoes and camera) and little else. I have to make sure it's well under 20 kg and the pack is under 7 kg. With four flights on the first day, if I can't move it easily, I'm in trouble. With changing between plane, tour on bus, tour on ship, bus, flight, bus, train, boat, train, train, plane, buses, train, train, plane, tour, plane, tour and then two planes to get home, it's not as simple as putting it into a car for around a month or two.
This whole time will also be learning experience for me, and I hope an enjoyable one.
My next post will be on Sunday and then, while I will write each day and prepare photos, they'll be uploaded as and when I can. For any adults reading this (or any of my "babies"), if you would like someone to receive a postcard from Santa at his workshop in Lappland, you'll have to send me the name(s) and address(es) by email (and preferably before Monday morning so I can be sure of receiving it).
Off to sleep now to clear my head before starting all this stuff on Saturday.
I completed my bookings for Christmas (on 27th December Fran and I will be off to New Zealand for about 17 days).
After visiting the Blood Bank for the last time for a few months (I'll be back for another platelet donation on 17 November) and then heading out to Passport Travel, I picked up my passport (with quite a few visas, so now it is worth keeping), Cosmos Tour booklets and a lot of e-tickets, a very detailed itinerary and a few other things. The second half of my world touring is very close.
I have a new suitcase to use (one of a set, so I will have a backup) and have to now check my packing list, do the washing (I broke in a few pairs of identical socks to wear so hopefully this time I won't get holes in them while away and have new trousers to wear) and then pack everything up. I have to print off some Weerama material and leave that to be posted out while I'm away. I have to fix up DOUG and his battery, put him in the garage and have him suitable to be left while I'm away. ARTIE doesn't flatten his battery, so he requires less preparation. He needs new tyres, but he will get them after I return (sitting a few months on the one spot is not the best for them).
After my first jaunt, I will have the laptop, travel documents, electrical gear, medicines, test kit, camera, paper diary and two changes of clothes in the pack. The suitcase will have the other clothes (including singlets this time because they are the best for maintaining body temperature, cleaning gear (for me, shoes and camera) and little else. I have to make sure it's well under 20 kg and the pack is under 7 kg. With four flights on the first day, if I can't move it easily, I'm in trouble. With changing between plane, tour on bus, tour on ship, bus, flight, bus, train, boat, train, train, plane, buses, train, train, plane, tour, plane, tour and then two planes to get home, it's not as simple as putting it into a car for around a month or two.
This whole time will also be learning experience for me, and I hope an enjoyable one.
My next post will be on Sunday and then, while I will write each day and prepare photos, they'll be uploaded as and when I can. For any adults reading this (or any of my "babies"), if you would like someone to receive a postcard from Santa at his workshop in Lappland, you'll have to send me the name(s) and address(es) by email (and preferably before Monday morning so I can be sure of receiving it).
Off to sleep now to clear my head before starting all this stuff on Saturday.
Monday, August 11, 2008
12 August
Before I start on anything else, I regret to say that the son of an ex-student and a friend passed away on Sunday 10 August. Mitchell Harrower died in the morning after protracted loss of function caused by his Neumann-Pick Type C disease. He had been on morphine and oxygen for a time and finally lost his fight to live. His funeral will be on Thursday afternoon.
I hope all details of my travel for the next section have been successfully concluded. I have to drop out to Passport Travel to get my passport with its visas and all my other travel documents on Friday, start packing (and checking and checking) and finish all my other arrangements. I will email out all the details to those of you on my mailing list before I leave. I have already got my small change to arrive in countries with, a new suitcase (the zip on my current one expired as I left the airport and I hoped that I didn't have to open anything as I wouldn't be able to close it again (I didn't) and just have to finalise things by the weekend.
One highlight (I hope) will be visiting Santa's factory. From here I will post cards to children and expect they will be received with lots of enthusiasm (and around Christmas, if I can arrange it).
I was able to drive over to Perth and catch up with relatives and friends there. It was great to be driving DOUG again and wonderful to effortlessly chew up the 2600 km between Adelaide and Perth in short shrift. Perhaps the best aspect was seeing so much water in WA with many watercourses running at full capacity (but they need to for a much longer time to restore anything like normaliity). Back home I picked up ARTIE after warranty work was completed on the gearbox (very hard to select first gear occasionally) and now have to run in the gearbox linkage again. I also have to re-register DOUG 2 before I leave as his falls due while I am away.
I still have no idea of Internet access while I am away, but will write each evening and process photos, then see how things are. Some of the places I am going to have the reputation of being either slow to adapt to technological change or have restricted access, so it's most likely that some periods will be blank and then there will be a rush when I can publish.
I'll post again over the weekend and give a progress report.
I hope all details of my travel for the next section have been successfully concluded. I have to drop out to Passport Travel to get my passport with its visas and all my other travel documents on Friday, start packing (and checking and checking) and finish all my other arrangements. I will email out all the details to those of you on my mailing list before I leave. I have already got my small change to arrive in countries with, a new suitcase (the zip on my current one expired as I left the airport and I hoped that I didn't have to open anything as I wouldn't be able to close it again (I didn't) and just have to finalise things by the weekend.
One highlight (I hope) will be visiting Santa's factory. From here I will post cards to children and expect they will be received with lots of enthusiasm (and around Christmas, if I can arrange it).
I was able to drive over to Perth and catch up with relatives and friends there. It was great to be driving DOUG again and wonderful to effortlessly chew up the 2600 km between Adelaide and Perth in short shrift. Perhaps the best aspect was seeing so much water in WA with many watercourses running at full capacity (but they need to for a much longer time to restore anything like normaliity). Back home I picked up ARTIE after warranty work was completed on the gearbox (very hard to select first gear occasionally) and now have to run in the gearbox linkage again. I also have to re-register DOUG 2 before I leave as his falls due while I am away.
I still have no idea of Internet access while I am away, but will write each evening and process photos, then see how things are. Some of the places I am going to have the reputation of being either slow to adapt to technological change or have restricted access, so it's most likely that some periods will be blank and then there will be a rush when I can publish.
I'll post again over the weekend and give a progress report.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
July/August
After some time at home and a short trip to Adelaide, I went over to Adelaide and then Perth.
I arrived in Adelaide on Friday 18th August and attended an installation for my youngest nephew on the Saturday night.
I left for Perth on the Monday morning and arrived late Tuesday afternoon. There were few kangaroos on the road so I drove most of the night.
In Perth I stayed with a friend in Carine, Elizabeth, and spent most of the time taking my aunt out, though I was able to catch up with friends from my parents' time and some of mine. We were able to catch up with all my aunt's friends, even one who had got "lost" by virtue of entering a home without any of her friends knowing (but her family knew, as they got her in there). The only problem was the weather was showery most of the time, but this was good as the dams have started to fill and the watercourses are beginning to run.
I left Perth on the following Wednesday morning, fully intending to stop all along the way and take photographs for the school at Villers-Bretonneaux but the rain followed me over. It did not cease until the WA-SA border. One good thing was very few kangaroos on the road, but I couldn't get any good photographs, so I continued to drive (stopped to try to sleep, but couldn't). As I arrived near the border early in the morning, the 'cheap' petrol stations were closed. I had to pay A$2.02 a litre at the Border Village.
I arrived back in Adelaide in the late afternoon, after 2679 kilometres and 26 hours of driving (at the speed limit, 110 most of the way) but a total elapsed time of 34 hours, with an indicated economy of 7.9 litres / 100 km (about 12 km/l or 33 mpg).
I arrived in Adelaide on Friday 18th August and attended an installation for my youngest nephew on the Saturday night.
I left for Perth on the Monday morning and arrived late Tuesday afternoon. There were few kangaroos on the road so I drove most of the night.
In Perth I stayed with a friend in Carine, Elizabeth, and spent most of the time taking my aunt out, though I was able to catch up with friends from my parents' time and some of mine. We were able to catch up with all my aunt's friends, even one who had got "lost" by virtue of entering a home without any of her friends knowing (but her family knew, as they got her in there). The only problem was the weather was showery most of the time, but this was good as the dams have started to fill and the watercourses are beginning to run.
I left Perth on the following Wednesday morning, fully intending to stop all along the way and take photographs for the school at Villers-Bretonneaux but the rain followed me over. It did not cease until the WA-SA border. One good thing was very few kangaroos on the road, but I couldn't get any good photographs, so I continued to drive (stopped to try to sleep, but couldn't). As I arrived near the border early in the morning, the 'cheap' petrol stations were closed. I had to pay A$2.02 a litre at the Border Village.
I arrived back in Adelaide in the late afternoon, after 2679 kilometres and 26 hours of driving (at the speed limit, 110 most of the way) but a total elapsed time of 34 hours, with an indicated economy of 7.9 litres / 100 km (about 12 km/l or 33 mpg).
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