miketomcat Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 theres a group of nutters from the shires going to norway on the 31st march returning to uk 13th april we're planning to drive to tromso to see the northern lights via nord kapp if its open. we will be camping for the most part so a little chilly temps for that time are about the same as mid winter here. it's likely to be a round trip of about 3000 miles mainly road miles but bear in mind there should be a lot of snow around. costs are approx but its £430 for the ferry fuel is about the same as here food is slightly more and beer is extorsionate sorry chaps, so all in 2 people in one truck it's looking to be about £1500-£2000. if your interested let me know we've got 3 definates and 2 maybes would like to have a max of 6 trucks. come on you know you want to!!!! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul64 Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 theres a group of nutters from the shires going to norway on the 31st march returning to uk 13th april we're planning to drive to tromso to see the northern lights via nord kapp if its open. we will be camping for the most part so a little chilly temps for that time are about the same as mid winter here. it's likely to be a round trip of about 3000 miles mainly road miles but bear in mind there should be a lot of snow around. costs are approx but its £430 for the ferry fuel is about the same as here food is slightly more and beer is extorsionate sorry chaps, so all in 2 people in one truck it's looking to be about £1500-£2000. if your interested let me know we've got 3 definates and 2 maybes would like to have a max of 6 trucks. come on you know you want to!!!! mike Get your ferry to Hamburg so you can stock up on cheap quality German beer. I went at a similar time of year, but to Swedish Lapland. Drove to Halmstad, then caught a 24 hour train via Gothenberg. Stayed in a mountain lodge within the arctic circle. Skidoos, huskies and ice fishing. It was great, you will love it. Temps will be a bit lower at night than you are expecting! If there are a few of you together, you will be able to rent rooms at mountain stations with bunks, similar to hostels. It was so cold in March you were not allowed to pour water down the sinks, as they said the pipes were frozen in the earth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share Posted November 14, 2006 Get your ferry to Hamburg so you can stock up on cheap quality German beer. I went at a similar time of year, but to Swedish Lapland. Drove to Halmstad, then caught a 24 hour train via Gothenberg. Stayed in a mountain lodge within the arctic circle. Skidoos, huskies and ice fishing. It was great, you will love it. Temps will be a bit lower at night than you are expecting! If there are a few of you together, you will be able to rent rooms at mountain stations with bunks, similar to hostels. It was so cold in March you were not allowed to pour water down the sinks, as they said the pipes were frozen in the earth! thanks mountain cabins were aleays going to be an option. we're takeing the ferry to burgen otherwise we won't have enough time did you take/need snow chains or were the roads clear enough to not need the any advice you can give would be apprecated thanks mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul64 Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 thanks mountain cabins were aleays going to be an option. we're takeing the ferry to burgen otherwise we won't have enough time did you take/need snow chains or were the roads clear enough to not need the any advice you can give would be apprecated thanks mike Hi Mike, We were driven around by friends. No one used chains, they had tyres with big metal studs on. Most people we know up there have Volvo's. Beware of the Elk on the roads, especially at night. You will see most vehicles have huge spots on the front to give them plenty of warning of animals on the road. I heard some nightmare stories of collisions with these creatures often with fatal results. If you are going direct I would take your beer with you! Cheers, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted November 18, 2006 Author Share Posted November 18, 2006 surely theres some loony out there interested what more could you ask a lot of snow like minded company and the northern lights what more can i say mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul64 Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 I think the talk of camping put them off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 sounds a brilliant trip to me, but no way i could fund it. you had better bring back a lot of pics though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JST Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Norway is a fantastic country despite the alcohol price, and the locals are very friendly. all use studded tyres through the winter and roads are kept clear of snow (not ice though) most of the time despite the fact its falling at a foot and hour or more at times. if the passes cant be kept clear they normally stick a barrier across. i would recommend studded tyres for winter although the probelm is you cant drive on them in the UK to the port! its warmed up quite a bit by the time your talking of going though, whats the expected temp range around Tromso? Summer huts/cabins are a good option although they are not normally near roads - being located clsoe to ski loops/mountain passes etc so not sure how you plan to get to them from the road. if you venture off road (not sure on the legalites) bear in mind most of Norway when its not frozen seems to be standing water in the form of lakes or bogs! (and having dropped through the top of a frozen lake i can assure you its not a nice feeling) quite wet as well!!! until it freezes anyway. i would love to go although timings wont work out. take some spirits with you and flog to the locals! or leave as presents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruntus Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 oops sorry... when you said a trip to lapland I thought you meant a "gentlemans club" I'll get me coat..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel H Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Mike, Is this going to be one of those "drive-it-like-you-stole-it" tours, or a gentle potter? N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Was in that part of the world earlier this year. Fantastic place. On some roads they obviously do convoys when weather is bad. These convoys run at specfic times like a bus timetable but with snowploughs in front. Nord Kapp is NOT the most northerly part of Europe. To get to the most northerly part you need to get to Knivskjelloden which is 1 minute further north in latitude then Nord Kapp is inaccessible by road and is reached by a 9 km hike in off the E69. Not sure what that 18km round trip would be like at that time off the year though. Nord Kapp from Norways northerly most point Average speeds in Norway is a lot slower then in the UK. Don't expect to cover 50-60 mles in an hour. More like 50-60 kilometres in an hour Would recommend using the cabins up north. It was cold at night time in mid August let alone March time You wil certainly have fun Regards Leeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JST Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 re fthe cabins i reckon camping would be fine as long as decent tent and you have a good stove - peak or similar i have managed to camp through most of the winter there and its warmer by Mar anyway. decent sleeping bag would be good though! you dont need to go down though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 re fthe cabins i reckon camping would be fine as long as decent tent and you have a good stove - peak or similar i have managed to camp through most of the winter there and its warmer by Mar anyway. decent sleeping bag would be good though! you dont need to go down though. Thinking of camping you could always use a Scandinavia type tent. Like a wigwam with a wood burning stove in the middle. Come in various sizes up to a 20 person tent regards Leeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JST Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 same as the Norwegian army 10 man tents then. bloody heavy though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 same as the Norwegian army 10 man tents then. bloody heavy though! Yep. But you only need one tent for the 6 vehicles Regards Leeds PS Just hope no one is a bad snorer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul64 Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Great photo Leeds. When you have been in Norway, have you seen the Orcas in the Fjords? I think they are attracted there during the herring run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Great photo Leeds.When you have been in Norway, have you seen the Orcas in the Fjords? I think they are attracted there during the herring run. Thanks Paul. Nope we didn't see any Orcas. Missed seeing one off Knivskjelloden by about 30 minutes Will return in 07 Will try putting up a thread on our travels either tomorrow or over weekend Regards Leeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Yep. But you only need one tent for the 6 vehicles ...problem being there's a D-Lander, Tomcat and Ibex so far! lol! ...suppose they could carry a bit each and strap the rest to the roof Does look like a fantastic trip and I would love to come but the money's been earmarked for something else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 ...problem being there's a D-Lander, Tomcat and Ibex so far! lol! ...suppose they could carry a bit each and strap the rest to the roof funny thats just what i was going to say. as for hiking anywhere whilst i'm willing poss 2 others might the ones left may prefer to chew through there own arm "don't do walking thats what i bought a car for" as for route and speeds nothings set we're going to take it as it comes theres thing we'd like to do but nothings rigid mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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