On the road

It was very light in our room which meant we had trouble falling asleep. We still managed to get up early the next day though and after another good breakfast overlooking the fjord we left Narvik to continue on the E6 ever northwards. We hope to reach Alta in Finnmark, the most northerly, easterly, largest and remote, many would also say most inhospitable, region in Norway. 



Along this stretch is also where most of Norway’s army barracks are. Leaving Narvik, we drove past countless memorials and museums commemorating the fighting and it was only the long road ahead which prevented us from stopping off to have a look. The tall mountain ridges and the fjord valleys up from Narvik saw some of fiercest fighting in Norway during WW2. In the first fjord upon leaving Narvik is where the last four battleships of WW2 were sunk; three German and one British. 

Getting higher up in the desolate mountain plateau we saw a sign for an Arctic zoo, but AH was outnumbered 3 to 1 to go there and so we carried on. Further on we stopped at Heia where there was a Sami lavo (Sami version of Red Indian tipi) selling Sami artefacts, as well as meat, dried cod and reindeer hearts. A separate lavo sold reindeer soup, cooked over open fire, but we opted for just a cup of coffee instead. 

 Coming down from the mountains we reached Nordkjordsbotn where we passed a large stone along the road where all passers by write their name. But we didn’t get that opportunity however since our English driver just zoomed past!

We had a little stop at a cafe that only sold stockfish (dried cod). This is not just popular up here in the north, but is exported as far away as countries in South America. It is also much used in Portugal in the dish Bacalao. Up in northern Norway kids eat it as candy instead of chocolate they like it so much.

For company along the road we now had the majestic Lyngsalpene (Lyngs alps) alongside us across the fjord. They are the largest mountain chain in North Norway and host a few glaciers.