GROOT ON ROUTE: Update from Tromso.

August has arrived and I find myself alone in Tromso, North Norway.
What, alone, has Pop finally come to her senses and left you? No, fortunately she is still in a delusional state. The reason is a sad one, Steve Poppy's brother has had a bad motorcycle accident and is in intensive care at Bristol Hospital. Pop has flown back for a few days. Latest news is that he is making slow, small improvements. Hopes and thoughts going out to Steve, get better soon.

Steve & Pop

So until Pop flies back I am camped just outside Tromso, a big town, built on an island, still north of the Artic Circle.
Since the last post we have made our way here from Nordkapp, via Hammerfest, Alta and some stunning scenery. The drive takes you around the coast, hugging fiords or following rivers. Mountains abound, many still with snow on them. Waterfalls seem to be everywhere, the snow is constantly melting, the water in the rivers, fiords and along the coast is so clear.

Hammerfest was the first decent sized town we saw since leaving Sweden. It touts itself as the most northern town, population of 10,000. Though as you travel south every larger town claims the same statistic! Hammerfest was interesting, the Royal and Ancient Polar bear Society, and great cultural centre (where we went to the movies, in English with Norwegian subtitles) and great Reindeer steaks. All this topped of by a great campsite next to a lake. Liked hammerfest, would recommend.

Strange follies

Lots of interesting churches.

Another cracking scenery filled drive (get the feeling Norway is going to provide one of those every day😀) took us to Alta, an even bigger town (20,000 and also laying claim to largest northern city). The main tourist highlights here were the Alta museum with its rock carvings, and the Alta canyon. We hit both, with mixed results.
The museum and the rock carvings were good. The rock carvings were made between 6000BC and a few hundred AD. Some had been painted in, which made them easier to see but this practice has been stopped. A good exhibition on the local wildlife and area rounded of a full day, and as a bonus we camped in the museum carpark (with about half a dozen others).

Rock carvings.

Protect the innocent.

The next day we went to walk to the Alta canyon. A good drive up a gravel track brought us to a small carpark where we spied a GB plate. Douglas and Christine, 2 Brits long terming in their van came and said hi, and after a chat we decided to do the walk together. A good 12km round trip, crossing a couple of rivers, took us to the deepest canyon in Northern Europe. Fantastic views and well worth the sometimes boggy walk. Downside, bitten to hell, and spent the best part of a week itching like hell.

Alta Canyon.

A few days of driving through yet more great scenery, we came to Tromso. (Pop; 67000) Built on an island, within a bay of islands, it is a great spot. Modern, friendly and off course pricy. Most interesting thing, to me at least, is that they have tunnelled through the large hill that forms the island, and as you drive through you come to roundabouts! not just one but three or four, each with three or four exits, amazing.

Built all in wood.

The local cathedral.

Anyway since dropping Pop of at airport i've been cycling around, sorting out the van and chilling'. Going to pick Pop up today and then head for the Lofoten Islands and a long meander south. More pics and news later.