Day 06 – Tour de Finnmark 2016: Seljenes – Honningsvåg – Knivskjelodden

Tour de Finnmark 2016

As I’m writing this the time here is 3 a.m., but I don’t care. Today I’ve reached for the first time in my life the northernmost point of Europe, so I don’t care when I’m going to sleep, I’ll wake up later tomorrow. Tonight, tomorrow, the sun has been shining continuously, who keeps track of the time?

The northernmost point in Europe accessible by land is not North Cape (read below). In any case, to get there you have first to get to an island, which is connected to the mainland through an almost 7 km tunnel that goes over 200 metres below the sea. You can imagine how it feels doing it by bicycle. I had to stop at the bottom for a bit, although being in a tunnel with a bike makes you hate all the motorised vehicles for the awful sound they make. You don’t notice it from inside a vehicle, believe me.

Anyway, this day has been a combo of cycling – uphill and downhill in tunnels and open air – and hiking, ending with over 100 km by bike and about 10 km hiking. Not an easy day: finally headwind came in all its majesty and slowed down my speed of at least 10 km/h. Even because the road wasn’t one of the flattest one.

A reminder to all those who would like to go to North Cape by bike: once you reach Honnisvåg – the last village at 30 km from North Cape – you haven’t seen a real uphill yet. The last 30 km are the toll you have to pay in sweat to get to the top of Europe. It becomes clear that the road was built just to let tourist admire the northernmost place of Europe, as it cuts the island going over at least four mountains. That’s really the first time I’ve seen hairpin bends during my tour, and actually in all Scandinavia for that matter. Reaching North Cape is like cycling on the Alps. For only 30 km, but you’ll feel it.

Actually you’ll feel it just for a moment and then you must forget it, because just before North Cape you also have to hike another 10 km. The reason is given in the following picture:

Proof that North Cape is not the northernmost point of Europe. The real one is a few km on the left
Proof that North Cape is not the northernmost point of Europe. The real one is a few km on the left

See North Cape? Well, if you look at its left you will notice a dotted line leading to a place easy to remember, as it is called Knivskjelodden. Well, THAT is really the top of Europe, being 1,5 km farther north than North Cape. The reason why is not mentioned too much is because you cannot reach it by car, nor by bicycle, it’s a 10 km path full of stones. It reminded me of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia, although those mountains are much higher and steeper.

Furthermore, reaching Knivskjelodden gives also the best view of the rock upon which North Cape is placed. So everybody wishing to reach the top of Europe, take some good hiking shoes with you. You might be rewarded by the midnight sun and you can leave your name in the book placed in the northernmost point. I know, you have to sweat a bit to get there, but it’s just 10 km. Which means another 10 km to get back, although in my case I took the tent with me. I’ll sleep here, on the real top, tomorrow I’ll visit the tourist top. Tonight instead I’ll sleep in a cozy gulf with the sound of a creek on the left, and the Arctic Sea on the right. Good night!

Entering the municipality of Nordkapp
Entering the municipality of Nordkapp
The weather didn't look that promising, but at the end it was just two drops of rain
The weather didn’t look that promising, but at the end it was just two drops of rain
Almost 7 km in a tunnel that goes over 200 m below the sea sounds like a plan
Almost 7 km in a tunnel that goes over 200 m below the sea sounds like a plan
That's how the tunnel looks like at the very bottom
That’s how the tunnel looks like at the very bottom
After the tunnel have to admit it was nice to breath some fresh air
After the tunnel have to admit it was nice to breath some fresh air
The list climbs before the end if the road. Can you see the bus on the top?
The list climbs before the end if the road. Can you see the bus on the top?
As usual, you can't beat the scenery, can you
As usual, you can’t beat the scenery, can you
Metamophosis is taking place: cycling Raffa becoming hiking Raffa
Metamophosis is taking place: cycling Raffa becoming hiking Raffa
The bike is going to have a rest for a while
The bike is going to have a rest for a while
Metamorphosis completed!
Metamorphosis completed!
Although there are no written signs on the path. you can't really get lost
Although there are no written signs on the path. you can’t really get lost
North Cape just behind me
North Cape just behind me
A better view of North Cape enlightened by the sunset
A better view of North Cape enlightened by the sunset
Here's the place where I'm going to sleep tonight
Here’s the place where I’m going to sleep tonight
Closer look to North Cape with a lot of people admiring the sunset
Closer look to North Cape with a lot of people admiring the sunset
Yeah, just behind me, a bit farther south, stands North Cape
Yeah, just behind me, a bit farther south, stands North Cape
Reindeers wondering what the hell am I posing for
Reindeers wondering what the hell am I posing for
At 71° 11' 08'', Knivskjelodden is the northermost point of Europe reachable by land
At 71° 11′ 08”, Knivskjelodden is the northermost point of Europe reachable by land
And althought cloudy, I managed to see the sun rise a bit after midnight
And althought cloudy, I managed to see the sun rise a bit after midnight
That's my tent in the warm (ehm...) sun!
That’s my tent in the warm (ehm…) sun!
And that's my shadow, just to give you an idea
And that’s my shadow, just to give you an idea

Day 06 – Tour de Finnmark 2016: Seljenes – Honningsvåg – Knivskjelodden
Cycling distance: 109 km
Cycling time: 7 h 44 m
Hiking distance: approx. 9 km
Hiking time: 1 h 45 m

3 comments

  2. L’ho chiusa, ma non era legata a nulla, visto che ‘un c’è neanche alberi. Le borse le avevo fatte passare attraverso il cavo del lucchetto. Comunque ‘un c’è davvero nessuno quassù, eh.

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