It should have been a dry ride under blue skies with less than 50% cloud coverage but on the return I still got hit by some rain-hail mixture and blowing winds on the top of the Brønnøysund Bridge.
Nevertheless, this sniff tour brought me out to some gravel roads on different islands at the outskirts of the city.
Fellow sailors are passing through with short overnight stays, mostly heading north. Numbers still very low.
Fair winds…
It was time to move on and we have now arrived in Brønnøysund, at the southern edge of Helgeland. The weather remains very much in seasonal spring mode with a speed of change, that makes planning obsolete at any given point in time. Need to get on the bike. Nice city, not too crowded. Pool position. A bit like Sønderborg/DK.
Fair winds…
PS: WordPress is playing a bit dirty at the moment.
Heavy clouds with sunny spells and a wind chill factor resulting at -4°C felt temperature took us around a loop at Dønna Island. While the headwind is biting straight into the face, keeping the body warm in the following tailwind adds to the challenge due to minimal paddling efforts needed. Not the perfect mix, but as a volunteer there is no room to complain at all. No rain, hail, snow!
Apple sour-creme cake brought the final reward, besides oxygen & a hot shower.
Norwegian spring season!
Fair winds…
Weather and some commitments allowing us to hang around in Sandnessjøen a bit longer than planned. Gale & Hail working hand in hand leaving some icing sugar on the mountains. Norway and its two best known seasons – summer or winter.
Luckily, a short window for a bike ride.
Fair winds…
The conditions were still too good for me not to go for another bike ride today. At the southern tip of Alsta Island are some historical landmarks, namely Alstahaug Chruch and Kongshaugen Burial Mound. While the first one dates back to the Middle Ages, the latter one originates from the Iron Age It is not fully clear what the burial mound contains as it has not been excavated to date. Interesting read.
My return trip was supported by a bus as I failed to get a nasty puncture fixed with the tools at hand.
Fair winds…
Today’s ride was dominated by gravel, as planned with the help of Komoot. I expected a few challenging stretches and was prepared to hike the bike now and then. As the hikes were rather short and only now and then, it gave the whole trip a new perspective, especially as it opens the door to explore even more divers scenery and landscape during the hikes. It did not only cover the range from forest to fjell but also took me to a popular picnic/beach stop and the community operated well protected outdoor seabathing area.
More gravel days to be planned.
Fair winds…
The ferry connection to Bjørn on Dønna Island worked perfectly for me leaving enough time to explore the nothern part of this quite long-stretched island. It is very different to the southern part, which has significant steeper mountains resulting in less opportunities for farming and agricultural activities. It is therefore not a surprise that the nothern part is much more populated.
A naturally beautiful area with lovely Norwegians and high standard of living.
A gale passing through tomorrow will allow us for a lazy Sunday, still under the sun. Some rest is also needed now.
Fair winds…
Another day, where Bike-Life-Balance® will end up in well-being, reduces stress and sustains fitness.
At the time, scenery and surroundings will put you in Biking-Meditation-Mode®, you are done, lost in flow.
The biking weather window remains open for a couple of more days, only limit might be some forecasted gusting winds. Let’s see. The body can take it.
Three more of Helgeland’s islands: Inhabited, busy, each with its own focus but all share in common the beauty.
Fair winds…
The ferry network drives the planning and offered a four island bike ride through the heart of Helgeland, under amazing conditions.
Sven the Swede reminded me during our chat, that it does not always present itself like today – they also get weather! In any case, the smile on his face revealed, that he is more than happy to call this place home, thanks to his Norwegian wife.
I reminded myself – wherever you are, that is where you be – and paddeled on to take in as many impressions as I could on the rest of my tour.
Fair winds…
I believe Helgeland will need to accept us a bit longer as originally planned and Sandnessjøen is a good centrally located and connected spot to explore the surroundings a bit further.
One of the attractions in Helgeland is the Seven Sisters Mountain Range. We have seen it from distant seas before but today was high time for a bikeride along the foot of this massive fairy-tale telling ridge. As the saying goes, it’s formed by the sun and some ignorant horny Trolls going behind the sisters.
Perfect terrain for the Chiru X-Root.
Fair winds…
Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén