The archipelago of Norway at the Skagerrak form a very relaxed landscape. The glaciers have not only smoothed the original rocks here, but also produced a special feature - large "Potholes (Jettegryte)" with circular, reflective water surfaces.
The E69, which joins the E6 to Alta, is a dream road with spectacular views. At the end of May the roads are clear but the snow-capped hills and mountains give a wintry impression.
Occasionally reindeer appear who have already scraped small patches of grass under the snow to graze. It goes a long way along the Porsangerfjord. Small islands with few houses suddenly appear behind the curves and tunnels of the country road.
You can often go 80 km/h here and we make good progress until the road gets busier when we arrive in Alta and we are happy about the many cyclists.
The rock formation of Kirkeporten is a highlight that is easy to hike from Skarsvåg. Once you have reached this stretch of coast, Kirkeporten offers a very special view: through it you can see over the Mefjord to the North Cape plateau, about six kilometers away, with its famous North Cape Horn.
One of the highest concentrations of archaeological sites in the Nordic countries is at Ceavccageađge (Mortensnes in Norwegian) in Varanger. Ten thousand years as a meeting place for hunters, fishermen and traders have left traces of settlements in the landscape, some monumental but many often small and easily overlooked. A cairn is not always just a cairn.
Vadsø is located on the edge of the Arctic Ocean on the Barents Sea (Norwegian: Barentshavet), which was named after the Dutch navigator Willem Barents. Vadsø is a gateway to Varangerhalvøya National Park, whose wild expanses are unparalleled. We took accommodation right on the sea access in Annijoki at the Varangerfjord close to Vadsø and were the only guests in the house at this time of year (May). The Barents adventure began as soon as we checked into the locked house, because there was no staff and the situation was only clarified when we called the owner.
