Kids on Holiday, Pt. 2: June 27th – June 29th, 2023

Back on the bus! This one from Alta was little bit busier but bikes still fit! We got off in Storslett to bike a big hill. That one was tough, but we were rewarded with our first view of the Lyngen alps. This view made me need to sing some hymns. I’ve sung Catherine McAuley’s Suscipe more times on this trip than I have since being at Mercy. We managed to find a campsite with this view. Got Ben to take a creek bath with me. It was cold so it was more of a creek squeak. Which was fine as we needed to be quick to hide from the bugs.

Nice views during the bus ride to Storslett

Repacking in Storslett after the bus. This whole country looks like Glacier National Park.

Pretty flowers by our campsite

Our first views of the Lyngen Alps as we approach on the highway

The next morning we got to roll down hill to Olderdalen. Amazing views, beautiful coastline. We got on our first ferry. As cyclists we don’t have to pay and we get to skip the line…but there are also no ferry workers around to ask “what’s the procedure” but thankfully a trio of speedy boys showed up all in lycra and big padded pants. Cool, we will follow them! But Susan Anxiety strikes - they took too long so we got in line first. Then ok we go before the cars…oOh no Up down left right! AHHH! Speedy boys go up follow the speedy boys! Great we are on the ferry. Now Ben has to prop his bike up on the railing. Finger’s crossed it doesn’t tip over. We hang out on deck in the wind and stare at the pretty scenery.

View of the Lyngen Alps from the seaside

Susan looking cute

Panaroma at the dock for the ferry in Olderdalen

Ben on the ferry

On the other side in Lyngseidet we started with a little hill and then we were mostly on the coast line (fjordline?) right through the middle of the Lyngen Alps. We rode to Svensby which has a super cute café to catch another ferry. No speedy boys in sight but we are pros now and go straight up. We even checked out the inside of the boat this time. Bathrooms on ferries – very nice.

Susan swingin' in Lyngen

Did we mention that this place is freakin' beautfiul??

Obligatory low-quality selfie

Cutting through the Lyngen Alps - the views are still superb

Made it to Breivikeidet and rolled along looking for campsites. A lot of maybe here? Nope house. Maybe here? Nope construction. Fishing access? Sure! And then the bugs came. No hot dinner for us. We hid in the tent and ate cheese sandwiches. Hurray for ost! A man walked his dog seemingly unaware of the swarm. The next morning, we had cookies for breakfast and cold soaked tea. We packed up as quickly as possible and fled the mosquitos. We made some personal speed records that morning. We made it to the coast which we now know is sanctuary. There are no bugs on the coast.

Epic bike photo #2, in Breivikeidet

Selfie at the harbor in Breivikeidet

Hiding from the mosquitoes at camp. I count 22 gathered on the tent in this photo; can you spot them all?

Our bike path put us on the E8 heading into Tromsø. Busiest section of rode we have been on thus far. It was very stressful, but quickly there was a little sign sending us onto a quieter rode past a minizoo. We rode downhill to the coast and plopped at the bus stop to cook what would have been yesterday’s dinner. We were surrounded by wildflowers and as we were packing up an old Norwegian couple out for a bike ride stopped to chat with us. On our 7th day of living outside we were very excited to pack up from lunch and finish the ride to stay with our friends in Tromsø.

Looking back at the Lyngen Alps

Enjoying what should have been our dinner for lunch at a random bus stop. Maybe looking a little homeless but it was a lovely day!