Friday: Coldest day of the tour.

My route on Thursday to Nordkapp and back.

My route south on Friday.

The cold and wind-swept plains of northern Norway.

Tonight I found refuge in a wooden chalet next to a lake, surrounded by pine and birch trees. It is cold and the wind drives small waves onto the lake shore in front of the chalet. The mosquitoes kept me from cleaning and oiling the chain. I will do it early Saturday morning.

I miss friends to chat with tonight. But instead of having company I am listening to Gert Vlok Nel. His voice and the lyrics of his songs compliment the sound of the cold wind in the trees.

This morning in the youth hostel we were warned that bad weather was on the way until Monday. I packed the KLR early and left just after breakfast. The wind was howling from the north and the rain was ice-cold. I had to ride about 100 km back on my spoor of Wednesday before I could turn off to a small city called Alta. The 110 km to Alta went higher up into mountains and patches of snow were lying to the left and right of the road. I had four layers of clothes on. It helped considerably against the cold.

I passed so many lakes and fjords but their color was pale-grey and not the blue it would have been in sunshine. Pity.  I spoke to a Norwegian biker this afternoon at a coffee stop. He said that the cold summer weather this year was very unusual.

And now, after 431 km, I enjoy the cozy shelter that the chalet offers.

About the 1st September: Like two years ago we will have a fund-raising dinner at Erfdeel south of Johannesburg. It is going to be an informal and fun-filled evening with good food, many travel stories, and like two years ago an auction of some items. Perhaps, perhaps, there will be a very special book, the first and only one, to be sold to the highest bidder. I think the regular readers can guess what the title of the book is.

All the proceeds will be donated to Operation Smile.

It is possible to sleep over at Erfdeel. More information later.

Start making up a group of friends so that when the booking for the dinner starts you can book your table or places.

The KLR is not a bike for such social occasions. I will chat to the old beast so that he perhaps joins us that evening.

I look forward to seeing many of you there!