Heading for Norway

The weather improved yesterday afternoon with blue sky. We met another couple B and P when they pulled in behind us, they had followed for some time but we couldn't see the registration. A great afternoon drive towards Kiruna where we thought we could stop for the night but nothing appealed and on a few more miles where a car park looked OK, and behind it an area for vans to park overnight.

A long sleep, amazing really with the light nights. A sunny morning and a good opportunity to give the inside of the van a clean. A late getaway and only a few miles along the road I spotted a beautiful bird, possibly a ptarmigan? We turned the van round and back for a photo. Just as we turned back along came the couple we met yesterday, he pulled into a parking area to see if we were OK, and another chat. This is their third visit here. The ice on the lakes is thick enough in places for people to walk and also a noticed a couple men fishing out there; sat on a box.

The drive today is stunning with snow covered mountains, large lakes mostly covered in ice and a big blue sky. The road is fine, not too busy, with spindly small birch trees on both sides. The railway line is along side with a number of goods and one passenger train so far. This line is to take iron ore from Kiruna a huge mining area to the port at Narvik

Just crossed the border into Norway - in the mountains with snow all around - when we came across a sign for the battle of Narvik 1940, need to look this up. Into Narvick looking for an overnight stop, nothing much, met B and P again and we all decided to head back a few miles to spot with 'a view' of the fiord. Stunning place with eider ducks, black throated diver, oyster catchers and gulls.