pf1
Hero member
- Location
- Portsmouth UK
I like those glasses with the metal holders!
North Cape by GTL
- Thread starter sfcpiet
- Start date
Corn
Full member
- Location
- Gerrmany Berlin
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Sorry, no update yesterday due to www connectivity issues...
Yesterdays ride took us from the excellent Fjellkysten Hotel up the E6 (again). We turned off onto the 87 to break the monotony a bit and take advantage of a "short cut" and ended up in BFN. Back roads unfortunately are not the forte of the norwegian road authorities, parts of the road are definite candidates for the prize of "Norways worst road", so the short cut wasn't really one. But the scenery certainly was nice!! We again left the E6 for the 868 along the Lyngenfjord to Lyngenseidet for the ferry to Olderdalen and back onto the E6. Rolling out of the filling station, Michael roared by! After a short chat we continued and we soon arrived at our destination, the Gildetun Hotel located atop the Kvaernanfjellet overlooking the fjord. Again, fantastic views, good food and nice rooms. While sipping our after-dinner beers, we watched as first clouds, then fog developed and steadily crept up the fjord, bringing our views to an abrupt end around 23:00.
BFN...
Along the way
Gildetun Hotel
We left Gildetun this morning in thick fog and 7degrees, but the for cleared up about 1km into our descent from the summit where the hotel is located. The sun soon managed to thrust its way through the clouds and we continued on the E6 to Alta to meet up with Per Erik Ramstaad and his charming wife Asa for lunch. Many thanks to Clem for making this happen! Our chats brought to light that we had been on numerous Laverda meets together, without knowing each other. We shared many "common" memories. After goodbyes, Asa roared off home on her immaculate Paul Smart Replica Ducati! Just out of Alta the landscape changed rather dramatically, the lush greenery gave way to a rough, barren countryside, almost devoid of trees, only moss and grasses. The E69 took over from the E6 at Olderfjord, accompanied by hefty side winds coming in from the sea. Temperatures also dropped quite severely, making progress quite challenging at times. We bumped into Michael once again in Honningsvan after re-fuelling! The Arran North Cape Hotel welcomed us with a warm room and a cool beer and lovely views over the quaint little harbour.
piet
Yesterdays ride took us from the excellent Fjellkysten Hotel up the E6 (again). We turned off onto the 87 to break the monotony a bit and take advantage of a "short cut" and ended up in BFN. Back roads unfortunately are not the forte of the norwegian road authorities, parts of the road are definite candidates for the prize of "Norways worst road", so the short cut wasn't really one. But the scenery certainly was nice!! We again left the E6 for the 868 along the Lyngenfjord to Lyngenseidet for the ferry to Olderdalen and back onto the E6. Rolling out of the filling station, Michael roared by! After a short chat we continued and we soon arrived at our destination, the Gildetun Hotel located atop the Kvaernanfjellet overlooking the fjord. Again, fantastic views, good food and nice rooms. While sipping our after-dinner beers, we watched as first clouds, then fog developed and steadily crept up the fjord, bringing our views to an abrupt end around 23:00.
BFN...
Along the way
Gildetun Hotel
We left Gildetun this morning in thick fog and 7degrees, but the for cleared up about 1km into our descent from the summit where the hotel is located. The sun soon managed to thrust its way through the clouds and we continued on the E6 to Alta to meet up with Per Erik Ramstaad and his charming wife Asa for lunch. Many thanks to Clem for making this happen! Our chats brought to light that we had been on numerous Laverda meets together, without knowing each other. We shared many "common" memories. After goodbyes, Asa roared off home on her immaculate Paul Smart Replica Ducati! Just out of Alta the landscape changed rather dramatically, the lush greenery gave way to a rough, barren countryside, almost devoid of trees, only moss and grasses. The E69 took over from the E6 at Olderfjord, accompanied by hefty side winds coming in from the sea. Temperatures also dropped quite severely, making progress quite challenging at times. We bumped into Michael once again in Honningsvan after re-fuelling! The Arran North Cape Hotel welcomed us with a warm room and a cool beer and lovely views over the quaint little harbour.
piet
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Tippie
Hero member
- Location
- Dr?bak, Norway
Fantastic clear weather you have there Piet, spectacular Lofoten. Unusual for Norway it is also fine and warm here in the south at the same time, but very volatile especially in the far north. Hope the weather holds for your visit to the cape, as the majority of photos from there are of the marker shrouded in misty fog. Your forecast for tomorrow is broken cloud until about 10am, but very windy 35kmh gusting from the west,
Jo
Hero member
- Location
- Cologne, NRW Germany
I've learned from a reliable source that Piet and Woki visited the North Cape (very) early this morning.
We'll probably see the pictures later. They're already on their way to Finland.
Corn
Full member
- Location
- Gerrmany Berlin
I have been there 1979 with my father on a BMW R45 with 27hp. 
CLEMTOG
Hero member
I have been there (Nordkapp) with a 270BHP American day van towing a 7 metre caravan from 20k's South of London at 12 (yes 12) miles per gallon fuel cost. The best seven weeks and 4,000 miles of my life!. when at Alta I was loaned a Ducati 916 by the pal of Per Erik, known to all in the UK as "Mushty" real name Aril, he hardly knew me! My van was in that building (Alta Kraftlag) shown behind Ase and her Ducati, because the exhaust fractured, in more than one place, the workshop was put ENTIRELY at my disposal, welding gear produced, with hand tools grinders, etc and I made up a section and welded it, all in situ inder the van, to say the workshop was clean, would put many UK resaurant kitchens to shame, it was rotten dirty when I had finished, the floor cleaning machine/hoover thingy sorted that out rapidly.The repair stayed on the van for a few years, before I sold it on.
CLEM
CLEM
Yes Lee,
We have had tremendous luck with the weather! Very cold and gusty this morning, but the side winds turned into a tail wind after Oldefjord, carrying us to Finland with ease.
Need to sort pics, coming soon.
piet
Alarm went off at 3:00, we were rolling by 3:15. Pretty hefty side winds prevailed over the 26km to the Cape, which we reached at around 3:45. There were already about 20 people there, so weren't the only madmen...
Nothing much to actually see up here, just a tremendous sensation of accomplishment when standing under that globe! Howling wind and 8degree temp, feeling more like 3degrees, aren't really that inviting.
After the obligatory pics, chatting with a group of italian bikers and tasting their cheese, salami and prosecco, we headed back. A quick nap before breakfast, we then started off down south. The side winds kept up their force, making progress over the first 100km pretty dodgy. Re-fuelled at Oldefjord to continue down the E6 (once more...) to Finland. The side winds turned in to tailwinds which h elped enormously in our progress, reaching the finnish border around 12:30. 100km of pretty boring straight roads through endless pine forests saw us stop at a roadside diner for re-fuelling and a reindeer burger lunch. now at the lakeside Hotel Korpikartano. Beautiful setting, all sorts of ammenties and facilities for free, but it's simply impossible to step outside without being attacked by hordes of mozzies and (fuckin' giant) horseflies, or whatever they are!! Now we're well-coated with "Anti-Brumm", it seems they'll leave us alone.
Wednesday 4am
Along the way
More to come.
piet
Nothing much to actually see up here, just a tremendous sensation of accomplishment when standing under that globe! Howling wind and 8degree temp, feeling more like 3degrees, aren't really that inviting.
After the obligatory pics, chatting with a group of italian bikers and tasting their cheese, salami and prosecco, we headed back. A quick nap before breakfast, we then started off down south. The side winds kept up their force, making progress over the first 100km pretty dodgy. Re-fuelled at Oldefjord to continue down the E6 (once more...) to Finland. The side winds turned in to tailwinds which h elped enormously in our progress, reaching the finnish border around 12:30. 100km of pretty boring straight roads through endless pine forests saw us stop at a roadside diner for re-fuelling and a reindeer burger lunch. now at the lakeside Hotel Korpikartano. Beautiful setting, all sorts of ammenties and facilities for free, but it's simply impossible to step outside without being attacked by hordes of mozzies and (fuckin' giant) horseflies, or whatever they are!! Now we're well-coated with "Anti-Brumm", it seems they'll leave us alone.
Wednesday 4am
Along the way
More to come.
piet
Jo
Hero member
- Location
- Cologne, NRW Germany
Congrats! You did it!
And great pics! It seems to be cold though. Looking at you with the helmet on Randy Newman comes to mind: “You can leave your hat on”.
The Italians obviously had style, bringing Prosecco, cheese, and salami to this event. In any case, the Prosecco must have foamed well ...
And great pics! It seems to be cold though. Looking at you with the helmet on Randy Newman comes to mind: “You can leave your hat on”.
The Italians obviously had style, bringing Prosecco, cheese, and salami to this event. In any case, the Prosecco must have foamed well ...
Beucars
Hero member
- Location
- Central Europe
You climbed the horizontal Everest, congratulations and what a great journey and write-up, thank you!Alarm went off at 3:00, we were rolling by 3:15. Pretty hefty side winds prevailed over the 26km to the Cape, which we reached at around 3:45. There were already about 20 people there, so weren't the only madmen...
Nothing much to actually see up here, just a tremendous sensation of accomplishment when standing under that globe! Howling wind and 8degree temp, feeling more like 3degrees, aren't really that inviting.
After the obligatory pics, chatting with a group of italian bikers and tasting their cheese, salami and prosecco, we headed back. A quick nap before breakfast, we then started off down south. The side winds kept up their force, making progress over the first 100km pretty dodgy. Re-fuelled at Oldefjord to continue down the E6 (once more...) to Finland. The side winds turned in to tailwinds which h elped enormously in our progress, reaching the finnish border around 12:30. 100km of pretty boring straight roads through endless pine forests saw us stop at a roadside diner for re-fuelling and a reindeer burger lunch. now at the lakeside Hotel Korpikartano. Beautiful setting, all sorts of ammenties and facilities for free, but it's simply impossible to step outside without being attacked by hordes of mozzies and (fuckin' giant) horseflies, or whatever they are!! Now we're well-coated with "Anti-Brumm", it seems they'll leave us alone.
Wednesday 4am
View attachment 97838
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Along the way
View attachment 97844View attachment 97845
More to come.
piet
Personally, I don't regard this feat as being very special, it's been done by millions and millions more will follow. On motorcycles, roller skates, cars, buses, bicycles, wheelchairs, on foot... riding there by motorcycle is piss-easy compared to what some others undertake. Only inconveniences on a motorcycle would be foul weather or technical issues.
I simply followed a personal wish/dream/whatever, a thought I had in the back of my head for over 40 years. Life got in the way time after time, I'm now at the stage where I need to admit that if I don't do things NOW, I'll never get around to doing them.
The thought already lingered as I was restoring the GTL, I started to realise this might be the perfect bike for my version of the trip. I never intended to undertake a par force ride, but to take my time to take in what I already imagined to be an absolutely stunning country. This, I have achieved, despite missing "must-dos" such as the Trolltungen and Preikestolen (hiking was out of the question, I'm too old for that shit), the Trollstigen (closed due to rockfalls) and the Geiranger fjord (just too far out-of-the-way this time). Pretty certain I came across lots of other stuff not usually mentioned in travel guides.
The weather gods have been extremely kind to us, we escaped the near-unbearable heat in our area of Germany, rode most of the way bone-dry and had a total of 4 wet riding days, 2 of which we simply sat out and waited to pass. But, we're not home yet, not by a long way!
The personal satisfaction comes from finally achieving what I set out to do so long ago, to top it off on a bike that I re-built/restored/brought back to life myself. It is almost as much my creation as it is of the little factory in Breganze, it has so many mostly invisible custom touches. My sincere thanks go to my long-time buddy Wolfgang who trotted along, I do hope he has had as much fun as I have (pretty certain he did!). My wife Dory also deserves a special mention, she has supported me more than anybody in achieving my dream, I wish she were in better health and could have come along, she would have loved it!
I can only advise others that foster such wishes/dreams to pull their finger out, get off their arse and DO IT, whatever it is!! The time will come when it's too late and you won't stop kicking yourself for not even attempting it.
Anyway, there's still more to come, I hope some of you find some pleasure tracing our routes and following our experiences.
piet
I simply followed a personal wish/dream/whatever, a thought I had in the back of my head for over 40 years. Life got in the way time after time, I'm now at the stage where I need to admit that if I don't do things NOW, I'll never get around to doing them.
The thought already lingered as I was restoring the GTL, I started to realise this might be the perfect bike for my version of the trip. I never intended to undertake a par force ride, but to take my time to take in what I already imagined to be an absolutely stunning country. This, I have achieved, despite missing "must-dos" such as the Trolltungen and Preikestolen (hiking was out of the question, I'm too old for that shit
), the Trollstigen (closed due to rockfalls) and the Geiranger fjord (just too far out-of-the-way this time). Pretty certain I came across lots of other stuff not usually mentioned in travel guides.The weather gods have been extremely kind to us, we escaped the near-unbearable heat in our area of Germany, rode most of the way bone-dry and had a total of 4 wet riding days, 2 of which we simply sat out and waited to pass. But, we're not home yet, not by a long way!
The personal satisfaction comes from finally achieving what I set out to do so long ago, to top it off on a bike that I re-built/restored/brought back to life myself. It is almost as much my creation as it is of the little factory in Breganze, it has so many mostly invisible custom touches. My sincere thanks go to my long-time buddy Wolfgang who trotted along, I do hope he has had as much fun as I have (pretty certain he did!). My wife Dory also deserves a special mention, she has supported me more than anybody in achieving my dream, I wish she were in better health and could have come along, she would have loved it!
I can only advise others that foster such wishes/dreams to pull their finger out, get off their arse and DO IT, whatever it is!! The time will come when it's too late and you won't stop kicking yourself for not even attempting it.
Anyway, there's still more to come, I hope some of you find some pleasure tracing our routes and following our experiences.
piet
Last edited:
Tippie
Hero member
- Location
- Dr?bak, Norway
Top stuff Piet and surely inspire others to go for it or similar. Have a afe trip home via the lakes and pine forests.
As for the weather and temperature, a world map shows where this latitude would put you on the"underside" of our planet, S instead og N.
As for the weather and temperature, a world map shows where this latitude would put you on the"underside" of our planet, S instead og N.
Alzero
Hero member
- Location
- DaNang Vietnam
You may not think it was much of an accomplishment, but it was inspirational for me.
How did your friends Chinese bike handle the trip so far? Any comments or criticisms?
How did your friends Chinese bike handle the trip so far? Any comments or criticisms?
Piet, locally we call those huge biting flies March Flies. They hurt a lot, but when we had a German Shepard we got Horse Flies, very similar looking to any typical House fly but very capable of biting right through a pair of Jeans with just as much pain as a huge March Fly. These days, with no Dog, both biting flies are now gone.
Not a single issue with the chinese firecracker... so far!
But, it is performing brilliantly. Comfortable, good brakes and handling. Only criticism might be the top-heaviness, but I'm guessing most bikes of the type suffer from that, especially when laden. Woki chose it mainly because of the low seat height, but it is still a tall bugger overall.
piet