Day 11 – We made it!
10 days of riding like demons throughout Europe were finalised today when we reached our goal – the North Cape. After a good nights sleep and even a bit of a sleep in we left camp at 11:30am and travelled the remaining 12 miles to the North Cape – the furthest point in Europe, or as they seem to say around here, the land of the midnight sun.
I was expecting the North Cape to just be a monument stuck on the edge of the world but it was quite touristy with a little museum, restaurant, video show and shop etc. Mind you the equivalent of £3.50 for a small bottle of water made me glad I wasn’t thirsty.
Reaching the monument, Geoff, Jeff, Rory, Ivan, Richard and I all cracked open a bottle of champagne that Ivan had smuggled in and had a celebratory drink for the camera. 2,800 miles is no mean feat, especially for the Bond Bugs as they are 35 – 38 years old.
We took a wander around and watched a superb video show that comprised of five large screens to give one large panaramic view of flying over the North Cape as well as under water. It only lasted about 5 minutes but it was superb.
As scenic as the place was, the wind was biting hard and so we jumped into New Blue and heading back to the local village taking a few snap shots of the reindeer and scenery as we did. Thankfully on the way back Geoff’s speed was curbed by a sheer drop at the side of the road by anything up to a thousand feet. Going over the edge of that I’m sure we would not have felt too healthy at the end.
Much to our surprise of the way back from the North Cape, we stopped at a layby to take some photos and when i looked up, suddenly there was a Mk 1 Reliant Robin parked next to us. I couldn’t believe it, after getting out of the car and saying hello it turned out to be vanfan from the r3w forum who had travelled from Holland. Whilst chatting coaches were pulling up so that the folks on board could take photos of our cars and one chap even came rushing across giving us all beer as he said the he also owned a Reliant back at home. Such friendly people Reliant folks.
The local village was like most other places, all closed with just a few shops open, even so we managed to find a local shop that quenched our rather unsavory appetite for junk food. It was then a photo tour around the island before coming back to camp and then all going out for a celebratory meal.
After I then phoned Caroline and proclaimed, “I miss you too much .. I’m coming home now!”
Elvis.