S*d it, I'm off! (1 Viewer)

ceejayt

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Hardly been anywhere since March, wake up every day and stare at the motorhome as I piddle around in the garden etc.

Thought about doing the NC500 but from what I see, busy, overcrowded and the locals not too happy with the visitors.

So, decision made, Covid or no Covid, I am going to head off next week, 10th September, to Tromso in Norway hoping to catch the Northern Lights and tick it off my bucket list.

Going solo and plan on using the tunnel to Calias. Any advice on routes, ferries etc gratefully received. I just want to get some fresh air, walk, take lots of photos and feel part of the human race again.

C
 

PJGWiltshire

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Go up through Sweden (Better Roads ) then cross into Norway at the top. That way you only have to go on the slow road through Norway once. Plenty of LPG, water and waste locations available. Get to the Lofton Islands ( South of Tromso ) apparently the Northern lights are amazing from there. On our bucket list to get back there and do the double. (Have been there for midnight sun want to experience the dark Winter. Probably not with the MH though)

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Feb 24, 2013
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Did Norway in 2017, arrived at Narvik today three years ago 👍

biggest cost that caught us out was crossing from Denmark via the Orensund crossing, that was bad enough if prepaid (think it was £50 each way) but nobody mentioned another bridge you have to use to get there costing the same again

half price if pre booked via auto toll transponder which also covered Norway, loads of small tolls there

but none of it mattered when we had aurora sightings 7 nights running 😁👍

hope you get lucky
 
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Feb 24, 2013
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Go up through Sweden (Better Roads ) then cross into Norway at the top. That way you only have to go on the slow road through Norway once. Plenty of LPG, water and waste locations available. Get to the Lofton Islands ( South of Tromso ) apparently the Northern lights are amazing from there. On our bucket list to get back there and do the double. (Have been there for midnight sun want to experience the dark Winter. Probably not with the MH though)

Only caveat I would add to this, we did the reverse so we could come home quicker, it will take twice as long to come back down through Norway compared to the relatively boring drive through Sweden
 

PJGWiltshire

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Its funny how things come up. Sat last night merging and sorting loads and loads of pics of our travels over the last five years. Norway just made us both say "We must go back soon" Norway is probably the only country we have truly said 'we loved it'

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PJGWiltshire

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Only caveat I would add to this, we did the reverse so we could come home quicker, it will take twice as long to come back down through Norway compared to the relatively boring drive through Sweden
Either way, advice would be Don't do Norway both ways as you may get stuck there for the Winter
 
Feb 24, 2013
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We were told you need to be well well on way south by end of September or you might not get out till spring
 
Jun 25, 2013
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Ok toll bridge expensive but what a feat of engineering , just bite the bullet grand scheme of things not too dear ? Just add it to fuel costs .

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PJGWiltshire

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We were told you need to be well well on way south by end of September or you might not get out till spring

Well on that info, Ceejayt would have to get his peddle to the metal to get up there by late September. I would need a good 7 - 10 days to get up to the top end of Sweden without 400 mile a day drives. Then the slow run down should just make it.
 
Jan 22, 2013
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Snow chains and winter tyres will probably be needed just in case of a early winter,
Done it years ago and loved it, take your own booze it’s extremely expensive, like wise food so carry as much
As you can,
 
Jun 25, 2013
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Inland rte in Sweden is more interesting than E4 . 400 mls a day ????

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ceejayt

ceejayt

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Well on that info, Ceejayt would have to get his peddle to the metal to get up there by late September. I would need a good 7 - 10 days to get up to the top end of Sweden without 400 mile a day drives. Then the slow run down should just make it.
Dead right - just been planning it out - 10 days from here in York - plan to leave September 10th - Eurotunnel and then up through Sweden and across. Going solo as I don't mind the driving but SWMBO would hate it and is happy to stay at home.
 
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ceejayt

ceejayt

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Snow chains and winter tyres will probably be needed just in case of a early winter,
Done it years ago and loved it, take your own booze it’s extremely expensive, like wise food so carry as much
As you can,
Got the snow chains - checked the September weather - average low is just 5 degrees - guess I will have to come back the way I went but I sort of would love to come back through Finland - will take much longer but would be good
 
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ceejayt

ceejayt

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Route and mileage going up....

Longest driving day 311 miles and a couple of 5 hour plus days

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Rachelc

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Route and mileage going up....

Longest driving day 311 miles and a couple of 5 hour plus days

Looks good, which way do you think you'll come back? I'm quite interested in a similar journey.
 
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ceejayt

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Just investigating coming back via Finland to Helsinki, ferry and then through Poland and back - longer journey but stuff to do. Might extend the trip to 4 to 5 weeks in total
 

Rachelc

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I’ve travelled in winters through Norway, December & January.

never had any issues.

Sprinter RWD twin wheel running on Winter tyres.
Was that with snow and ice on the ground and did you set off with winter tyres or change them en route?
 
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Was that with snow and ice on the ground and did you set off with winter tyres or change them en route?

Set off with winter tyres.

Went from Sanded iced roads
To cleared roads
Compacted snow
Deep snow and any combination of the above.

you can go from an instant from a wide twin lane road to a single track with vehicles coming straight on.

first time we went. We only had all season tyres but stayed below arctic circle. Winter tyres oddly, are not mandatory in Norway
 
Feb 24, 2013
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Just investigating coming back via Finland to Helsinki, ferry and then through Poland and back - longer journey but stuff to do. Might extend the trip to 4 to 5 weeks in total

we took 5 weeks and really did it at a gallop, rushed to Norway to comply with dog import regs, got there in 5 days, then slowed down a lot, max 100 miles a day, to Narvik then a week on Lofoton Isles.

I remember programming my sat nag for home while parked in A the furthest point away. Forget the exact mileage but it was close to 3000 and we had 11 days to get Bev back to work. 300 miles a day is not fun 10 days on the trot , but Sweden is so boring to drive on the main roads at least it was easy to make progress 👍

it must add quite a few more miles coming round via Poland but avoids the hefty tolls 👍

have fun 👍 don’t try and do too many miles

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jumartoo

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We've been twice (and a bit) to Norway and won't go again by motorhome. We do, though, have (quite) a few Norwegian friends, and if "invited" we'll go to visit them 👍

Lovely country, but a long way to get there, and very expensive (except for motorhome parking).
 
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ceejayt

ceejayt

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So, back through Finland - trip is 5600miles roughly - can be done in a month but 6 weeks allows for breaks and sightseeing - due to Covid I won't be going to any indoor attractions/museums etc. This will be a sightseeing trip only (hate museums anyway).
 
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ceejayt

ceejayt

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Anybody tell me what automatic toll wotsits it would be handy to have or are essential - countries are France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Anything I can sort in advance or do I need to do as I enter the country?

Thanks

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Riverbankannie

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We have stayed on the convenient stellplatz at Lübeck media. Lovely town, do get some marzipan treats. Like most German parking machines you need coins, 10 euros when we were there (free Sunday nights). Try and collect euro coins with spending any so you have plenty. Luckily for us a nice Dutch couple let us raid their dashboard pot!

Set up your phone (or take other music media) to help with the long drives through Sweden where the empty roads lined by trees can be boring.
 
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That's the spirit. Just love the positive attitude. Have a great time.

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Oct 25, 2016
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Lots but slow learner.
Well Jel. One day maybe inshallah.
Have a great one and no doubt you will keep us posted.
 

Brockley

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Hope it goes well and just hope whatever France is about to announce tomorrow won’t delay things for you.

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