127km covered
Cycling time 6hr24
19.7kmph average speed
57.8kmph max speed
Odometer 419km
Weather - overcast, rainy patches, slight headwind
Terrain - long climb out of Alta (another 8% incline) through gorge with numerous waterfalls (scenic highlight of the day), second half of journey through rolling hills up on moutain plateau - finally some decent cycling terrain!!!
Aiming for an early start after our first night in the tent, we set off around 7am with a big day ahead of us. Spirits were high - we'd had our first rest day, slept fairly well (Phil and Ali anyway), the weather forecast was in our favour and we had sponge cake for breakfast - what more could three girls ask for?!?! A few things apparently....
1. Rain set in quickly and was on and off for most of the day - costume changes exceeded 15 over the course of the day.
2. We soon realised the foolishness of our choice of breakfast food, finding we had to stop for sandwiches after less than 15km to refuel...won't be trying that again!!! (We bought museli in Kautokeino, despite staying in a hotel that night should we find ourselves in similar circumstances again...). We did have a lovely little coffee and cake stop at the only "town" on the way...consisting of the cafe, a souvenir shop and a few huts for guests to sleep in...interesting what constitutes a town in Norway....
3. Those mosquitoes mentioned earlier just wouldn't give up!!! Our route followed the Alta river, and the large areas of water combined with higher temperatures meant the bugs were out in force!!! Poor Hazel.... whilst Ali and Phil had a few obligatory red spots, Hazel erupted into red welts covering her legs, as well as a nasty bite on her eyelid, which seemed uncontrollable despite the best efforts of Field Hospital. By the time we arrived in Kautokeino, a town of 2000 inhabitants, it was clear that a campsite would not be an option and we booked into the only hotel in town (breakfast included of course!!!). Unfotunately there was little to be done - even after anti-histimines, anti-inflammatories and the various creams we're carrying, the "burning legs" just wouldn't be tamed. This led to a sleepless night for both Ali and Hazel sleeping on the closely positioned twin beds, as Hazel spent most of the night thrashing about wrapped in a wet towel in a desperate attempt to ease the itching, whilst Phil managed to pass out on the foldout bed for almost 10hrs of much needed sleep!!
We did attempt to blog that night, but after a dinner of two-minute noodles in the hotel room, and the obligatory endless tea and coffee (luckily with a kettle in out room), we were past the point of tired - the early start and high kms had taken their toll, and it was lights out before 9pm!
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