18.06.18 Sandnessjøen-Haugland

108 km, cycling 6:24, average speed 16,8 km/h, total ascent 1211 m, net ascent 0 m

Early start (08:00) to reach the ferry at 10:00, 32 km ahead. Quite a bit harder day than expected. It started with a short, steep climb, and then the approach to the Helgeland Bridge (see below) in a strong headwind and then the steep climb up the bridge. All this took 20 minutes and I was exhausted. But things got gradually better, and I reached the ferry. Then a light 15 km, followed by a long steep climb to 350m, the highest point of my trip so far (after Trondheim). The remainder of the trip was moderate, including two 3 km tunnels, but after 108 km there was a camping with some huts and I decided I'd had enough. The next opportunity is 16 km ahead in Kilboghavn, but it includes 300 m ascent. So I leave that for tomorrow morning - ferry leaves at 08:30.

Oh, and I met and talked to several other cyclists. All foreigners. What about Norwegians?

In the morning, the wind was east, and in the afternoon southwest; quite a lot of headwind, but not too strong fortunately.

So this is where I am on the larger map. Not so close to Trondheim anymore, but still a lot furhter from Nordkapp. I did around 560 km from Trondheim now, in 5 days. Once I did that in 16 hours. Deterioration. In any case, from Lindesnes I am more than halfway now, although not so much...

The Helgeland -brige. Here I had a strong headwind. Picture should have been taken closer by, but did not bother to stop once more under the circumstances.

Now this is a sign I don't like. It points to a place where lorries can put on chains. That means it will be steep and high. And it was, cf. the altitude profile.

Short break after about 280 m climb. "Blek men fattet"

On the top. A well deserved banana before the descent.

Another alternative for lunch. Not bad in fact, as the wind came from behind.

One of the two 3 km tunnes. The white light is my blinking head light. These two tunnels are ok, but you need lights to be visible. In the second tunnel I saw two small red lights in front of me. Thought they were bicycles, but I approached them quickly, and it turned out to be a guy who walked with a small carriage! Many ways to travel Norway-

View from my present hut.