1M to the Arctic Circle or Bust!
Discussion
Boshly said:
We did virtually that exact trip in 5 open top Morgan's in May 2013, including of course the Atlantic Road. We also did virtually the same route back except that we caught the ferry back from Denmark as it was still running then.
Amazing trip and a lifetime memory. The roads were awesome but look out for potholes, big car eating potholes, on some of those Norwegian roads. I'm not sure 7-8 hours a day driving will be enough. It took us 14 days (8 up 6 back from memory) with many long days pressing on. The midnight sun was incredible, the people lovely the views spectacular. Oh, and only one small breakdown (the three wheeler got water in the fuel tank) and only one speeding ticket
Have fun! I'm sure you will.
Well if 5 Morgans can manage it with only one break down Amazing trip and a lifetime memory. The roads were awesome but look out for potholes, big car eating potholes, on some of those Norwegian roads. I'm not sure 7-8 hours a day driving will be enough. It took us 14 days (8 up 6 back from memory) with many long days pressing on. The midnight sun was incredible, the people lovely the views spectacular. Oh, and only one small breakdown (the three wheeler got water in the fuel tank) and only one speeding ticket
Have fun! I'm sure you will.
I don't suppose you have a link to the forum where you guys planned it? Just trying to collect as much info as possible at the moment. Did you guys bother making the trek to Nordkapp? Thanks!
UPDATE: Hull - Rotterdam booked for an overnight sailing, I leave next Thursday!
Edited by pscl227 on Friday 31st July 08:44
Glad to see you've opted for the Norway coastal road rather than straight up Sweden.
I've seen you've got a pic of the Atlantic Highway, will you also do the Trollstigen?
The visitor centre at the top is worth a look too.
If you're looking for a place to stay in that area, I can recommend http://www.brosundet.no/
Is the Newcastle - Stavanger - Bergen ferry still running?
I've done that a couple of times but many years ago. It is / was an overnight ferry so gets you a fair old way and avoids the schlep through France / Belgium / Holland / Germany / Denmark
I've seen you've got a pic of the Atlantic Highway, will you also do the Trollstigen?
The visitor centre at the top is worth a look too.
If you're looking for a place to stay in that area, I can recommend http://www.brosundet.no/
Is the Newcastle - Stavanger - Bergen ferry still running?
I've done that a couple of times but many years ago. It is / was an overnight ferry so gets you a fair old way and avoids the schlep through France / Belgium / Holland / Germany / Denmark
Sadly no direct ferry to Norway anymore, but I am now going the Hull - Rotterdam route, this should prove significantly less painful the dealing with Dover.
Since it is the overnight ferry hitting land at 08:30am, this will allow me to cannonball it up to Gothenburg of my first day of driving.
Since it is the overnight ferry hitting land at 08:30am, this will allow me to cannonball it up to Gothenburg of my first day of driving.
pscl227 said:
Well if 5 Morgans can manage it with only one break down
I don't suppose you have a link to the forum where you guys planned it? Just trying to collect as much info as possible at the moment. Did you guys bother making the trek to Nordkapp? Thanks!
UPDATE: Hull - Rotterdam booked for an overnight sailing, I leave next Thursday!
Yes we went all the way to Nordkapp. We raised £58,000 as well I don't suppose you have a link to the forum where you guys planned it? Just trying to collect as much info as possible at the moment. Did you guys bother making the trek to Nordkapp? Thanks!
UPDATE: Hull - Rotterdam booked for an overnight sailing, I leave next Thursday!
Edited by pscl227 on Friday 31st July 08:44
Have a look at talkmorgan.com and do a search for Nordkapp you should see plenty on there.
Thursday is close!!! Good luck and keep this thread updated
Edited by Boshly on Friday 31st July 22:36
Boshly said:
Yes we went all the way to Nordkapp. We raised £58,000 as well
Have a look at talkmorgan.com and do a search for Nordkapp you should see plenty on there.
Thursday is close!!! Good luck and keep this thread updated
Well done on raising so much!!Have a look at talkmorgan.com and do a search for Nordkapp you should see plenty on there.
Thursday is close!!! Good luck and keep this thread updated
Edited by Boshly on Friday 31st July 22:36
Thursday is very close, but as you can see below, final preparations are nearly complete:
A little more information about myself and motivation for this journey, back in April I was lucky enough to survive a severe fracture to my second vertebrae in my neck, and further more I was incredibly lucky not to damage my spinal cord. Since April I have pretty much been sat still in a chair for 24 hours a day wearing a stiff collar. Roughly 4 weeks ago I got my collar off and started physio, this experience has given me a lot of perspective about what is important in life, and if you want to do something you enjoy, you just need to get out there and do it!!
So this journey will mark the end of my recovery, and the beginning of me getting back into normal life and living ever day to its fullest.
Absolutely brilliant! Go for it.
My journey was devised to raise money for charity as I'd never done anything like that before. However in amongst the preparation with three months to go I found I had cancer. A month later I had a major op to get the b
d out, a month after that I decided I'd still go (having pulled out) and whilst it was an emotionally draining trip I'm so glad I did it!
Hope you have a safe and fantastic journey
My journey was devised to raise money for charity as I'd never done anything like that before. However in amongst the preparation with three months to go I found I had cancer. A month later I had a major op to get the b
d out, a month after that I decided I'd still go (having pulled out) and whilst it was an emotionally draining trip I'm so glad I did it!Hope you have a safe and fantastic journey
pscl227 said:
Boshly said:
Yes we went all the way to Nordkapp. We raised £58,000 as well
Have a look at talkmorgan.com and do a search for Nordkapp you should see plenty on there.
Thursday is close!!! Good luck and keep this thread updated
Well done on raising so much!!Have a look at talkmorgan.com and do a search for Nordkapp you should see plenty on there.
Thursday is close!!! Good luck and keep this thread updated
Edited by Boshly on Friday 31st July 22:36
Thursday is very close, but as you can see below, final preparations are nearly complete:
A little more information about myself and motivation for this journey, back in April I was lucky enough to survive a severe fracture to my second vertebrae in my neck, and further more I was incredibly lucky not to damage my spinal cord. Since April I have pretty much been sat still in a chair for 24 hours a day wearing a stiff collar. Roughly 4 weeks ago I got my collar off and started physio, this experience has given me a lot of perspective about what is important in life, and if you want to do something you enjoy, you just need to get out there and do it!!
So this journey will mark the end of my recovery, and the beginning of me getting back into normal life and living ever day to its fullest.
I can't wait to see some photos of your epic journey and well done for avoiding the misery of Folkestone and Calais. It would have been a nightmare.
Hackney said:
Glad to see you've opted for the Norway coastal road rather than straight up Sweden.
I've seen you've got a pic of the Atlantic Highway, will you also do the Trollstigen?
If you're looking for a place to stay in that area, I can recommend http://www.brosundet.no/
Is the Newcastle - Stavanger - Bergen ferry still running?
I've done that a couple of times but many years ago. It is / was an overnight ferry so gets you a fair old way and avoids the schlep through France / Belgium / Holland / Germany / Denmark
That is an awesome photo.I've seen you've got a pic of the Atlantic Highway, will you also do the Trollstigen?
If you're looking for a place to stay in that area, I can recommend http://www.brosundet.no/
Is the Newcastle - Stavanger - Bergen ferry still running?
I've done that a couple of times but many years ago. It is / was an overnight ferry so gets you a fair old way and avoids the schlep through France / Belgium / Holland / Germany / Denmark
There's nothing like a road trip, and one going north has the potential to offer some real joy, some great people and some nice surprises!
This being said, I'd offer a couple of comments: Norway is lovely and scenic but the roads are few, the caravans are many, the speed limits low, and overtaking tends to generate various flashes and raised fists. Often it takes far longer than you or TomTom would assess, and it takes many dull hours to reach the interesting bits. Which then turn out to be single laners...
Many roads in Sweden are more open, less populated, and a lot easier to drive quickly, if you need to be somewhere. And if some punter just flashes his lights out the blue, there's likely reindeer on the road ahead. Or a Police car. I'd avoid the east coast of Sweden, as it's dull, but instead try to drive down the middle, the roads are better.
Finland is great if you love trees and lakes, and there are some decent roads, plenty of them, but most of those are best taken in something with a lot more suspension travel (ie a WRC car).
Road quality can be patchy all over the region as the winters wreak havoc, and the winter grooves can induce some tiresome tramlining. Big rims and low sidewalls are a bad combination. If you have rare tyres, take a couple of spares.
It was a great idea to skip Latvia and Lithuania, as your car would be quite possibly the slowest thing on the road (the roads are truly awful, you'll want a Defender) and your safety and security may be at risk: there are loads of Russian customers for nice cars, and a stolen car isn't stolen once it crosses that border.
Lastly, beware speeding, on-the-spot fines, instant loss of license, and such like. The Police do not care for speeders.
This being said, I'd offer a couple of comments: Norway is lovely and scenic but the roads are few, the caravans are many, the speed limits low, and overtaking tends to generate various flashes and raised fists. Often it takes far longer than you or TomTom would assess, and it takes many dull hours to reach the interesting bits. Which then turn out to be single laners...
Many roads in Sweden are more open, less populated, and a lot easier to drive quickly, if you need to be somewhere. And if some punter just flashes his lights out the blue, there's likely reindeer on the road ahead. Or a Police car. I'd avoid the east coast of Sweden, as it's dull, but instead try to drive down the middle, the roads are better.
Finland is great if you love trees and lakes, and there are some decent roads, plenty of them, but most of those are best taken in something with a lot more suspension travel (ie a WRC car).
Road quality can be patchy all over the region as the winters wreak havoc, and the winter grooves can induce some tiresome tramlining. Big rims and low sidewalls are a bad combination. If you have rare tyres, take a couple of spares.
It was a great idea to skip Latvia and Lithuania, as your car would be quite possibly the slowest thing on the road (the roads are truly awful, you'll want a Defender) and your safety and security may be at risk: there are loads of Russian customers for nice cars, and a stolen car isn't stolen once it crosses that border.
Lastly, beware speeding, on-the-spot fines, instant loss of license, and such like. The Police do not care for speeders.
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