Vikings!

We woke up this morning to sunshine!!! Although it was still cold, it was the first time we have seen the sun in days. Actually, the sun starting shining around 1 am, which unfortunately we saw because we haven't been able to sleep very well. Not sure if it is the time change or if it is the endless light.

The trip from Rolvsfjord to Leknes was stunning. The coastline was so beautiful. You could stop every 2 minutes to take photos, but then we wouldn't get anywhere. We've posted some of our favourites on here. Our legs got a good workout going up and over a mountain pass today - about 450 metres over 2 km - but the view from the top and the downhill were well worth it.

We arrived in Leknes, a small town of about 2,000 people, to drop off our luggage. We then cycled to Borg to visit the Viking Museum, Lofotr. The museum is a reconstruction of the largest chieftain viking longhouse ever found. The original longhouse remnants on the site date back to 500 A.D. The vikings used this site until 950 A.D., and it remains an important area throughout the iron age and medieval times.

Kevin tried out the reconstructed viking boat that was found in Borg.

Our legs and butts are starting to get a little sore, but the 50 km days are behind us. Tomorrow we tackle the tunnel below sea level. We're not looking forward to this part. We have already been through one tunnel and there were no lights, of course lots of traffic, and some strange sounds coming from the deep caverns. The local folklore talks about the Norweigan trolls...maybe we'll see one tomorrow. Scratch that, maybe we'll hear one, assuming that we won't be able to see a thing.

We are off to the southern Lofoten island over the next several days, much more remote and quiet. We hope to do some hiking and see some Puffins, little beautiful birds.

We may be out of web access until we reach Stockholm or Tallinn, could be about a week for another update. Hope y'all in Calgary don't get snow.