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Preparing North cape

Feel like going

January 2003. France begins to be a bit to tight for my travel wishes. I already rode all regions of France, maybe excepted Vendée. But this is not an ideal holiday goal. So I start looking at my new adventures field : Europe. I'm searching for a destination with touristic interest, beautiful landscapes, quiet and safe. So I begin to have a look on Scotland, and then I think that I could go from Scotland to Norway by boat, and, after a few researches on the net, it seems self evident that the most amzing 'reasonnable' bike adventure is going to North Cape. Symbolic because it's the northernmost point of Europe, crossing polar circle in the most beautiful landscapes of the old continent. Sure, one day I'll go there.

January 2005. Two years after, I haven't found the moment with holidays and money in the same time. But for summer 2005, all lights are green, so I begin to plan my trip.

Roadbook

I planned it with the help of two motorcycle travellers who went there and published their story on the internet: nomadd et chtite motarde. The waypoints quickly became self-evident : Amsterdam, Norway fjords, Lofoten Islands, North Cape, Lapland, and the thousand lakes area in Finland. At the beginning I considered to maybe come back through Baltic countries, but it makes a long way and seems less easy for camping, so, final road book is the following :

Accomodations

No hesitation, I will sleep in campings, because of low cost and flexibility. So I begin to wonder if I need to book my nights. Whatever the sources, I always get the same answer : no need to book any camping in Scandinavia. You'll see it by yourself reading my travel pages. Please note that all camping are very well fitted (kitchen washing machine), very clean and really really quiet. You are far away from mediterranean august camping atmosphere....No problem either to find them, there are some everywhere, even every 10 km in the mountains. You can find them thanks to the help of map Michelin 711 Scandinavia-Finland. Theiy are indicated by a little icon.

Ferries

You will see reading travel pages that it is necessary to use boats many times. I won't tell here about little ferries just crossing fjords : you just have ride onboard and to pay your ticket. For other crossings overseas, I decided to book using ferrie search engine belvedair . You will find an interactive map of all ferries links in Europe. Just click on your link and you'll see all ccompanies doing it.

Finally, I could have not booked any ferrie at all, especially so early. But I felt less stressed about it.

Moteur ferries belvedair

Get the bike ready

On your way, you don't especially feel like doing servicing with reindders all around, or to learn how to tell 'tire' in finnish. So, let's carefully prepare the bike, do all necessary servicing and spare parts change before you go. Then, let's set up luggages and you are ready to go.

Do not forget anything

You can have a look at the travel tips section, here shall you get all necessary informations.

And now, let's go !!