Geoff
Woke up to a perfect morning, clear blue sky, if a little chilly. After breakfast, we made our way to the Naturum. First, we spent some time outside on the wooden walkways, going right to the edge of the lake with fine mountain views all around.
We then went inside the Naturum and watched a number of short videos (subtitled in English) consisting of pieces by people who live in the region, a reindeer herder, a photographer and others. Fascinating. There is much to see at the Naturum and it was well worth the journey to it.
On our return 56 miles to the E45 Inlandsvägen, we met going the other way just twelve other vehicles, two cyclists, one backpacker and saw one moose at the side of the road and one reindeer trotting along the road in front of us.
We kept on the E45 for the rest of the day, stopping off briefly in Gällivare just to have a look around but it didn't detain us although it looked quite nice on a sunny day. Further on, we drove for about seven miles at 25mph over part of the E45 that was in the process of being resurfaced. At the end of it, if I'd been wearing dentures, I'd have had to adjust them. Quite bone shaking.
We diverted briefly to take a look at Lapland Airport, it having featured in Arctic Murders on TV. It was deserted, presumably no flights today. I should imagine it's quite busy in the winter.
At 5pm, we pulled over into a camperstop at Lappeasuando, which has facilities and is free. Quite a few other vans here. On towards Kiruna tomorrow.
Amanda
The weather forecast was right. We woke to brilliant sunshine and blue skies - and the spectacular views of snow topped mountains all around us. Another motor home came into the car park late last night and left early this morning, otherwise we had the whole car park and the view all to ourselves until the Visitor Centre opened at 10. We had asked permission to stay, and were greeted cheerily by the staff this morning. We first enjoyed the beautiful weather and views a bit longer by walking around the outside - part boardwalk, part mossy peat paths - between the Centre and the lake. Then back into the Centre where we watched several videos of various local people talking about the area and culture - Sami reindeer herders of different ages, ecologists, foodies, artists. Fascinating.
We dragged ourselves away and set off back along the road to the E45. In over 50 miles we passed no more than a dozen cars. A lunch stop back in the same picnic area as yesterday, then, back on the E45, 10 miles of the most dreadful road surface. I have a short video, complete with bumps and the poor camper rattling away, to prove it. It looked as if it had maybe recently been resurfaced, but not done properly. Nothing to suggest that it was a work in progress.
That was slow going, and with no indication of how long it would last, but there was no alternative - no side roads, no anything! Next brief stop was Gallivare, the end of the Inlandsbanan line. Despite a lot of industry, the town centre looked attractive in the sunshine, and the Railway Station was a smart and impressive black painted wooden building. Moving on, we left the E45 after our long acquaintance, and joined the E10 heading for Kiruna, Abisko and the Norwegian border.
Just before we left home we watched Arctic Murders, the Scandi series recently shown on Channel 4 - dark but enjoyable. The stories are set, and we think filmed, in and around Kiruna, and we have been looking forward to trying to identify some of the locations. Thinking we might have found one we followed a sign to "Lapland Airport," which was like a toy airport but with no signs of any planes today. However there is also an airport at Kiruna itself, so maybe that was the wrong one.
We are stopped for the night at a Rastplatz at Lappeasuando, on the E10, an hour's drive short of Kiruna, together with several other Campervans and Motorhomes of various shapes and sizes.
Sent from my iPhone
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