Sunny cycling to Jokkmokk

A short 95km ride today. Sunny, no wind, no traffic, just me and a billion mosquitos. It's starting to get a bit wilder and more deserted, I only passed one village today. Luckily for me they have a hydroelectric power station that offer guided tours, brilliant, I love big machines and heavy industry.
Tomorrow's destination is Moskosel, 110km of nothing until I reach the smallest village you can imagine.

Finally, the sky is blue

No wind, 16 degrees and no traffic at all, fantastic conditions.

Paul H, I'm just rolling into zone 7.

Restday is over

I've had a very restful day. The visit to the mine was followed by a short cycle ride to see a physiotherapist. Not that anything was very wrong, more a precautionary visit. I had a rather painful massage of thighs and calfs, who knew so much power could be produced by a fairly small girl? The end result was very good, legs feel perfectly ok. I also got some valuable advice on stretching, thank you Tiina for all your help.

Jokkmokk next!

Underground

The picture is taken 1050 meters below ground, 434 meters below sea level, in the mine in Malmberget. It was a very good tour, loads of big noisy machines and a good history lesson.

View from B&B

Mountain Dundret. From its top you can see an eleventh of Sweden.

On my way down in the mine, we are going down 1050 meters underground!!!!!

Forgot to say

Tomorrow will be a rest day. That was always the idea and after today I feel I'm worth it. A visit to the mine is on the agenda.

Vittangi

105km, ~65 miles. No rain today, still wind against but not as strong as yesterday. Quiet hilly all the way. The sun came out the last 15 miles.
I'm now in a small cabin at Vittangi camping, it's a beautiful place next to a big river. Everyone like it, especially the mozzies.

Kind people in Övre Soppero

I managed to mis-calculate my food intake today. This family saved my day by inviting for lunch. Thank you very much! I was about to fall over when I met you.

My first reindeer

and it's dead

Just south of Idivuoma.

Welcome to mosquito land

Made it to Karesuando, just

111km, ~70 miles. Rain the first 60 miles, VERY hard wind against me for most of the day. Up and down and up again all the way, knackered square. Amazing scenery though, snow covered mountains, a big river, many lakes and low (thus not sheltering from the wind) birches that just got their leaves last week.
Not many pictures because of the rain.
Bike having a rest.
Coming back to Sweden, I almost hugged the sign.

Treriksröset!!!!!

It took 53 hours to get there from my house but finally I'm there. Time to head south.

It's raining.....

Proper walking boots are to heavy to bring on a bike. Plastic bags and trainers will have to do.

Midnight sun

This picture was taken at midnight. Amazing, it's full daylight outside.

Kilpisjärvi, at last

A three bus ride took me to Karesuando, almost as far north as you can go on public roads in Sweden and certainly as far north you can go and still continue somewhere. In Karesuando I was met by Elli-Marja, the fastest taxi driver this side of the arctic circle, 45 minutes and 110 kilometres later we were in Kilpisjärvi, Finland.
A couple of pictures
The hotel I'm staying in with a 1000m mountain behind it.
A view across the lake, the mountain is Pältsan, 1445m high. As you can see spring hasn't made it there yet. Tomorrow I'm crossing the lake (in a boat) in my search of the end of the civilised world.
A picture of the main road, very busy 24/7.

I'm now off for a well deserved sauna.

For you train spotters

The strongest engine in the world (or so they say) hauling iron ore from Kiruna to the harbour in Narvik, Norway.

Sight seeing in Kiruna

Town hall with a very cool clock tower.
The church which will be moved to a new place within the next 15-20 years. The whole town will be moved due to the massive mining going on underneath.
One of the mines, Loussavaara

Brrrrrrrrrrr

Kiruna

Me and my bike have both made it to the cold North. 8 degrees and the wind from the North, brrr.

There is a festival in town, loads of people and music. Not for me though, I didn't bring my hat and gloves...

Stockholm, Arlanda Airport

I did think several times, "it'd be brilliant if I could bring less than 10kgs of stuff". Success!!!
Now four hours wait for connecting flight to Kiruna.