After I picked up my new Snowline Pro Spikes in town, we headed out into the country for a snowshoe walk, our first ever. Reaching the track, spikes got replaced with the snowshoes.
The sun of the solar noon is now sitting at max 2° above the horizon providing an overall lenght of the day at around 3.5 hours. Not much but by all means good enough to check the beauty of Lofoten from an additional angle.
No disappointment. Time well spent.
Tons of pixels under Komoot.
Fair winds…
It was time to pick up some ski equipment as it keeps snowing at minus degrees and cross country tracks are getting prepared. While Susan took the bus oneway to Kabelvåg and walked back, I preferred the bike; not being the only crazy biker out there!
Bua Vågan allowed us to borrow snow shoes and a full set of cross country skiing equipment, which puts my ambition, “Bike to Ski”, in close reach.
We got home before the sunset, happy and excited with the booty we made.
Although the vision of the “Barn-Unge-Aktivitet“ (Children-Youth-Activity) foundation focuses on slighly younger generation, there was more than enough equipment available to keep best-age-generation active as well. Piles of all sorts of winter shoes above 43 size…
If it keeps snowing, we might need the snow shoes for grocery shopping soon.
The next days will be interesting…
Fair winds…
Winter-Wonder-Land developed further over the last few days with temperatures down to -4° celsius. Continuous snow removal with heavy machninery is ongoing taking the once crystal white feathers out of town dumping it somewhere nearby into the sea. Roads remain compacted, icy and slippery. Majority of pavements the same.
Solar noon was at 11:46am today with the sun reaching its maximum of 3° above the horizon, still providing significant daylight, I think.
Today’s average low biking speed of 9.7 km/h is caused by some snow stops paired with plenty of photo stops. Total duration of the trip was just below 2 hours gross in relation to the recoreded net moving time of 1:11 hours. It can be a challenge to keep feet and fingers warm under these conditions. Training ongoing.
The reward comes with another Lofoten-Light-Show. Southerly directions dominated by a low band of very heavy dark clouds while the northerner sky shows illuminated milky clouds with blue patches. Impressive contrast.
All pain forgotten! More snow expected.
Fair winds…
It was our first Polar Low passing through, which entertained us the rest of the week. A weather phenomenon also know as the Arctic Hurricane, interesting & fascinating, new to us. Unlike hurricanes, they do not get named and have a much shorter lifespan. Nevertheless, they have a brutal aspect in its erratic behaviour. Finally it passed Lofoten with some distance but clearly demonstrated its impact in a manner comfortable to us newbies. A good start into the winter.
Despite the fact, that winter is officially still more than a month away, we feel, that our third season in the Lofoten is in full swing with the arrival of this Polar Low during the week.
Biking was not advisable under these conditions but we took the opportunity for walks within the surrounding area. Although the sun is now only getting up to a maximum of 3° above the horizon, it has not lost any power to put the scenery into a remarkable perspective, during the 4 hours daylight left.
Fair winds…
We were gifted with more large snow flakes late last evening adding another 10cm of snow to the solid baselayer from the previous day. The old slushy snow has become solid ice as the temperature dropped just below freezing.
I was keen to go for another test and familiarisation ride to understand limits, technically, physically, mentally. There is a cycle track from Svolvær to neighbouring village Kabelvåg along the E10, which gets cleared by the community services.
The Conti Spike 240 gave no reason for concerns, even on glazy ice it provides very good grip. It does hardly clog up under dominated snow and allows not only steeper uphill sections but also out of the saddle sprints without slippage or loosing traction. Obviously there is a limit to all but in this case the limit on the tyre sits in hitting grooves in the direction of rolling. It becomes a riks if they are unvisible and/or unexpected. While the tyre rolls fast, there is a slightest imbalance, which needs to be worked on.
Vintervann, pure luxury, no hardship. The best comes at the end. Bike wash with warm water next to the boat, same time unfreezing my hands…even a shower would be in reach! One at a time, we still got the sauna/gym subscriptions.
Not trusting the weather forecast blindly, more snow can be expected.
Fair winds…
It was high time to get the studded tyres mounted as the flakes kept hovering down from the sky. There was even a window for the sky to break up just before lunch, which made a short test ride possible. Still some sun left.
The grip of the tyre gives good confidence on the snow although I would prefer a wider version but the current limitation is set by the Roval SLX24 700C rims. Unfortunately I do not have my second wheelset (650B) onboard at the moment. Nevertheless, the winter biking season has started now in a somehow different world.
Fair winds…
A Polar Low, originating from the Barents Sea, passing through this week bringing some more brightness in into our short days. Life between the modern Svolvær towards our westerly starboard side and the traditional Rorbuers at our easterly looking portside will now take partly place under cover.
I sense, that our Boating & Biking Adventures have reached another milestone, just not sure, if it’s the end or the beginning, or the beginning of the end. In any case we tend to believe we are in the right place at the right time…surrounded by magical moments.
Fair winds…
Might become the only day with sunshine this week but overall we shall not complain. The upcoming full moon brings not only a fresh gale along but also plenty of rain over the next two days. Cosy days under deck! Well, it can change quickly…as it did often recently…not so much the wind but the sun/cloud/rain pattern. However, whatever, the window was open and Kalle was calling again…
I knew it will be a foot-wet hike after a tailwind-dry ride up to Kalle Vestre, where Titti was left behind in the trees and I pranced my way towards the lake. With the sun at 7° max above the horizon now, I still got some rays of sun directed towards the sweetwater pond panoramicly embedded by Vågakallen.
I made my way along the edge of the biothope towards the mountain’s ridge through some rough, rocky, slippery, wet,..terrain until I got a free view from the trees. Same lake, different perspective. Unfortunately no eagles today.
On my way back, the sky cleared even further and frozen toes by now got forgotten over profound impressions gathered during the return ride.
It just doesn’t stop.
Fair winds…
The rest of the week kept inviting us for more outdoor activities – namely kayaking and biking. Very little rain, no gales for a while but chilly temperatures. We stayed within the harbour boundaries as there was some old going swell outside in the Vestfjorden.
The Kabelvåg plaines remain my personal little gallaxy. The landscape is simply breathtaking and the distance about right to push my limits in terms of cold weather biking. Despite temperatures above freezing, we had some ground frost, which required additional attention. I have to praise the S-Works Tracer tyre again providing good grip even at these borderline conditions. Nevertheless a pair of studded tyres have arrived and shall be mounted soon to remain safe in the saddle through the winter.
Fair winds…
There was some sun promised, so we had to swap the gym with outdoor activities. Susan preferred to take the Sherpa Stairs to get a good bird view over Svolvær. I gave the Sykkel Interval Group under firm command of Hanna a miss and jumped on my real titanium beauty for a spinning to Henningsvær.
It is amazing, knowing that the sun will soon be gone for a while, how focused someone can be to maximize capturing the same. There is more sun promised this week including instant changes.
Fair winds…
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