OlegMit Photo Blog

This time the object of our attention is a Finnish mountain-skiing resort of Rukka. Finland as a Greece got everything – forest, lakes, mountains, a lot of snow at winter, perfect roads and good service. We have find the corner to Rukka on the informational stand near the route. This is a European (and Scandinavia) practice – start the meetings for auto-tourists with the information about local attractions and fresh detailed maps. It is very helpful.

Ski Resort Rukka

From the top of the mountain, where the main lifter is standing, you can see a large mallow. It is covered with forest and mirror-like lakes. Groups of the walkers with skis equipment are passing us near the road. There is an iron gutter down the peak, through which you can slip down on the wagon with a hand brakes. Fillings are indescribable – this is a flight between clouds and greens. Продовження →

At this day we’ve got a lot of driving through the freeways. It is really different from the Finnland forests and the Norway fjords. At last we have reached the Paris. The semifinal has happened on the Nation Square, near that beautiful house. The p?tanque players didn’t notice us and the life in city is still as usual.

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This is the Desmond Whitechurch, 81 years old. He is the eldest raider, who has reached the finish. He is a very charming man. The age is not an obstacle for journey. Продовження →

The journey is coming to its end. We are at Netherlands. We have decided to visit the small town near the coast. We have left the car in the underground parking and then we are going for a walk.

Statue of a woman on the bridge

Продовження →

Netherlands. The windmills and big horned cattle are unbreakably connected. There are also a lot of channels and green grass.

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The windmills are everywhere and their verity is incredible. The wind is always blowing and the giant blades are never stops. Продовження →

The Bergen has met us with the rain.

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There is a historical quarter Bryggen in the neighborhood with giant liners near the port. This is big massive of the ancient wooden buildings, which were crossover by tight streets made of wooden roadway. There is everything is made of wood. The warm and benevolent rain is falling from above. Продовження →

We have spent night in camping with this cute Norwegian house as neighbour. The mountains were covered with clouds.

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According to roadbook, today we shall see the Trollstigen –The Road Of The Trolls. This is the one of the most visited places in Norway. And also the one of the most beautiful places, as we realize sooner.

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On the road we have moved along the miraculous lake, which was decorated with forest and mountain.

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The sky are actually admiring with their reflection in water.

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According to sayings of our legendary Simon, the trolls are the basic part of the Scandinavia believing. They are living in mountains. Firstly they were gigantic, non-complicated and very strong. They were able to cause a lot of trouble to Mankind, like angry yeti or even the rocky golem.

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But after the arrival of the Christianity trolls become nothing more than little hooligans.

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This photo shows what have they become now:

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Little height, long hands with lap-covering palms and bog ears – that is what they have become (Evolution is a very smart joker, like her friend – Destiny).

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The green transparent water is flowing down from the mountains. We are approaching to the gorge Trollstigen. The road is curling on the mountain slope. The height margin error is one kilometer. From above you can see the tight gutter of the valley in the sharp and steep slopes. Somewhere in the middle of the lift we have stopped near the waterfall.

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One question is remains unsolved: “How do these big buses manage to overcome this road?”

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The gorge is filled with tourists. What is topical, that we didn’t meet not a single motorcyclist or the bicyclist from the Ukraine in Norway, only Italians, Swedes and Austrians.

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The gorge himself is building up and there are a lot of kiosks with souvenirs. There is a fenced viewing platform above the abyss.

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There is a flat road leading to valley is stand after the gorge. There are the waterfalls and stormy streams flowing in the blue lakes. There is a snow on the tops of the mountains.

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There are the resting houses, little hotels for silence and clear mountain air lovers.

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The water in the mountain rives is transparent and pure. According to the information shields there are the salmons.

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It should be cool to moving through mountain on the retro-cabriolet.

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People in the valley grow and sell the strawberry. This automobile has the same color. Our way was leading through the another ferry.

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The Norwegian ferries are performing the bigger part of functions of the automobile and rail roads.

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This ferry duration was not too long so we are moving along the lakes again.

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There is an original place for picnic on the roadside – the table made by trolls from the solid piece of rock and surrounded by wooden and rocky benches.

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This is the Sogne-Fjord or the one of its spurs. It is the most beautiful of all fjords, according to sayings of the travelers.

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The ship is moving out of the berth.

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The way is near the steep mounts with water streams, which flying down from the 200 meters height.

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The giant ferry is looks like just the toy ship surrounded by this fabulous tectonic formations.

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That is how we remember the Norway – the old houses on the coast of the fjord, sky-blue lakes, strawberry and the purple flowers on the sideroad.

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The deep rivers are carrying the streams of water back to Atlantic, take back everything that clouds carried on their powerful shoulders.

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To be continued…

Table of Contents: Raid Paris – North Cape 2010 Daily Reports

1. 3 July. Paris. The beginning of The Raid
2. 3 July. The beginning of The Raid. Part Two
3. 4 July. Denmark. Copenhagen
4. 4 July. Denmark. Ferry on Svedish side
5. 5 July. Sveden. Hamlet and the people
6. 6 July. Sveden. Stockholm
7. 6 July. Scansen
8. 7 July. Helsinki
9. 8 July. One hundred thousand of lakes
10. 9 July. Finnish lifestyle
11. 10 July. Finland. Passing the night on nature
12. 11 July. Silent people
13. 11 July. Rukka resort
14. 12 July. Trip through the natural reserve
15. 13 July. Finland
16. 14 July. Finland. Further to the North
17. 15 July. Norway. Hemningberg
18. 16 July. On the place. North Cape
19. 16 July. Mageroya
20. 17-18 July. Trip to the Soroya Island
21. 19-20 July. Tromso
22. 21 July. Lofoten Islands
23. 22-23 July. Norway. Hobbits and foxes
24. 24-25 July. Sveden. Deers and camping
25. 26 July. Norway. Trondheim
26. 27 July. Norway. Trollstigen
27. 28 July. Norway. Bergen
28. 29 July. Return
29. 30 July. Holland
30. 31 July. France. Ending of The Raid
31. Paris – North Cape 2010. Results

The evening of the previous day we have spent on the absolutely wild parking in the Finnish forest near the Norwegian borderland.
Our cars are the 25 crews, including the organizers were gathered along the forest breakthrough. We and the mosquitoes. A lot of mosquitoes. At the evening there was a little rain, which was falling through the night. It has become weaker at morning and we have picked up tents and gone away.

The parking in the forest

Well, the Scandinavia countries are quite different between each other with their weathers. After piercing of the Norway borderland everything have changed.

Waterfall. Wild roses in the foreground

We were moving along the river. The river valley was surrounded by the waterfall mounts.

Wild Rose and Northern Bee

Our route was leading us to Tronheim, the ancient capital of the Norwegian kings. This is a small city with impressive charm.

A little sun in cold water

The Tronheim is always comparing with Venice about the number of the channels. There are more cutters, yachts and boats than the cars on the streets. We have a walk on the central quarters, what have really reminds us Kyiv. There are a lot of green on the main valley of the town and the young people in flowering clothes.

A couple of local informal

There are also the blonde. One was sitting on the bench and covering her cellphone with sorrowful tears.

The sad blonde

The cultural life of Troneheim is rich. The poster tumbs are marked with announcements of variety of enjoyments – from the Estrada and theater to strip-clubs.

Various types of entertainments in Norway

The Norway mass-media have pretty good individuality. There are saturated colors, especial inner energetic and the advertisement.

Advertising sausages

There was a boy near the main square, who was playing very sorrowful and familiar song on the viola.

Street musician

There are numberless interesting memorials as the memorial of the mother-in-law. The Russian tourists really like to take shots with it.

Sculpture of a woman with a bag

There is an entrance to the gothic cathedral and the young monk in red cloth near it. This structure was built in 997 and 60 years before the Sofia Kyivska Cathedral.

Entrance to the Cathedral of the 11th century

Very interesting story is connected with Viking Olaf Haraledsen, who was canonized by church for the baptism of the Norway. His grave is a basement of this cathedral.

Cathedral over the tomb of St. Olaf

The miraculous fa?ade of the cathedral is decorated with sculptures.

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One of statues was decorated with the wreath.

Sculpture with wreath

A few modern sculptures were noted near the cathedral, but I won’t dare to show their photos. Some of them I didn’t understand, but the others just freaking me out. As it gets, I prefer more the medieval ones. In the city we have met a lot of our crews, which were very noticeable because of stickers and the Finnish-Swedish mud on them.

Swiss team car

I didn’t see a lot of graffiti in the city. Maybe the local authorities are fighting with them.

Prohibition of graffiti

One of the Tronheim signs is the buildings on the wooden columns on the channel. They are painted in variety of colors and harmonized with parked boats.

Houses over the canal and boats

The water arteries of the Norway. The life of the locals is very closely related with sea.

Parking for boats

There is a walking-bicyclist bridge above the big channel, which got the flowerpots on its barriers. It is very beautiful.

Bridge of flowers

Numerous berths are giving the shelter to the various cutters, yacht and barge.

Boats and yachts

We have left the Tronheim. The road leads on the south through the scenic valleys.

Girl on roller skis

Closer to evening we have reached the valley of the river with the milky-green color of water. I think it is the color of the bottom clay, but it looks impressive.

Green river in the granite shores

To be continued…

Table of Contents: Raid Paris – North Cape 2010 Daily Reports

1. 3 July. Paris. The beginning of The Raid
2. 3 July. The beginning of The Raid. Part Two
3. 4 July. Denmark. Copenhagen
4. 4 July. Denmark. Ferry on Svedish side
5. 5 July. Sveden. Hamlet and the people
6. 6 July. Sveden. Stockholm
7. 6 July. Scansen
8. 7 July. Helsinki
9. 8 July. One hundred thousand of lakes
10. 9 July. Finnish lifestyle
11. 10 July. Finland. Passing the night on nature
12. 11 July. Silent people
13. 11 July. Rukka resort
14. 12 July. Trip through the natural reserve
15. 13 July. Finland
16. 14 July. Finland. Further to the North
17. 15 July. Norway. Hemningberg
18. 16 July. On the place. North Cape
19. 16 July. Mageroya
20. 17-18 July. Trip to the Soroya Island
21. 19-20 July. Tromso
22. 21 July. Lofoten Islands
23. 22-23 July. Norway. Hobbits and foxes
24. 24-25 July. Sveden. Deers and camping
25. 26 July. Norway. Trondheim
26. 27 July. Norway. Trollstigen
27. 28 July. Norway. Bergen
28. 29 July. Return
29. 30 July. Holland
30. 31 July. France. Ending of The Raid
31. Paris – North Cape 2010. Results

We have abounded the Overpolar. The sun just started to set. Our stop was on the coast of the lake. There was a bit of cold tonight, but the rising sun has quickly warmed the air and the earth. We climbed on the top of the mountain. It was somewhere near 600 above the level of sea.

Oksana overcomes creek

First the route was leading through the wet forest. You should remain cautious there. After a while the forest has ended and the path has leads us through the Alpinish-muluse. Unexpectedly the way was restricted by the small horizontal snowhill. There was a little stream in it.

Snowy glacier with a tunnel

The water has penetrated the snow wall and created a tunnel, through which the sunlight is falling.

Water rushing over rocks fun

We have used it and make a little photo session inside this little Ice Age.

Snow wall with rift

Soon we have revealed that this snow is sky-blue on the lights way.

Indeed, just like in the cartoon

The water warm has created the enchanting teeth on the snow surface.

Snowy glacier. Inside view

The iceberg should be melted till the end of summer, but there is a lot of snow even if today is July 24.

The steep climb up

Then the route is moving up through the grass and rocks.

The lake and its surrounding peaks

The Norway is just after this big plateau.

Lake-Polar marshy landscape

There is a view from the flat peak on the tundra with numberless lakes and swamps.

Peacefully grazing herd of reindeer

Down the cliff after the big stone we have noticed the female deer with two offspring. I decided to shot here closely.

Deer herd rises

The deers have proved their reputation of not-too-domestic animals. The herd has come quickly and has climbed up to us. There they have stopped and star gaze at us with loud sounds. Especially impressive were the big males with spreading horns.

Deer expect

For some reason we have retreated to the pyramid of stones. But deers didn’t plan to attack us. So they gazed a little bit more and then continue their own circle raid (as it should be – counterclockwise) on the steep slope.

Herd leaves

Everything happened very quickly. The deers are moving on the stone and swamps agile, easy and more elegant, than through the asphalt roads.

Deer, drifting across the plain

At the end I have made the photo of the herd. There are more than hundred members (you can close up the photo). Many of them are carrying the red markers and the collars.

House of deer

The way back we have diversified with descent of snow.

Winter fun

From the inside the snow is covered with dust, which is came here with wind.

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The weather was great. You can do like lizards – climb on the stone and warm up.

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After the go down we have hardly take one’s leave with the reserve and moving to the well-equipped Swedish camping.

Exemplary camping

The day was warm and sunny. We have rented the comfy wooden house with 200 crones.

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The camping got a small swimming pool where everybody having a good time.

Pool

The rest of the crews were gathered on the lawn with two ranks.

Alan and Antoinette’s “Defender“

The sun is setting very long and it’s rays has made the lake golden. The same happened with other stuff.

Huge German camping car

I have revealed a few new and hearing-similar Swedish words.

Female shower

Every language got similar meaning with words “DUSH”(shower) and “DAM”(female) .

Male shower and toilet

To be continued…

Lake with red and white walkways (Swedish colors)

Table of Contents: Raid Paris – North Cape 2010 Daily Reports

1. 3 July. Paris. The beginning of The Raid
2. 3 July. The beginning of The Raid. Part Two
3. 4 July. Denmark. Copenhagen
4. 4 July. Denmark. Ferry on Svedish side
5. 5 July. Sveden. Hamlet and the people
6. 6 July. Sveden. Stockholm
7. 6 July. Scansen
8. 7 July. Helsinki
9. 8 July. One hundred thousand of lakes
10. 9 July. Finnish lifestyle
11. 10 July. Finland. Passing the night on nature
12. 11 July. Silent people
13. 11 July. Rukka resort
14. 12 July. Trip through the natural reserve
15. 13 July. Finland
16. 14 July. Finland. Further to the North
17. 15 July. Norway. Hemningberg
18. 16 July. On the place. North Cape
19. 16 July. Mageroya
20. 17-18 July. Trip to the Soroya Island
21. 19-20 July. Tromso
22. 21 July. Lofoten Islands
23. 22-23 July. Norway. Hobbits and foxes
24. 24-25 July. Sveden. Deers and camping
25. 26 July. Norway. Trondheim
26. 27 July. Norway. Trollstigen
27. 28 July. Norway. Bergen
28. 29 July. Return
29. 30 July. Holland
30. 31 July. France. Ending of The Raid
31. Paris – North Cape 2010. Results

The sun is going to the south while we are moving. It looks like soon there will be the real night.

Sunset

At 22 July evening we have reached the place of the camping. There are fertile valley, little farms and rivers with salmons. The weather is ideal for fishing – the rain shower. Without  any sarcasm.

Check point under rain

We didn’t want to place tents in the puddle, so we are seeking for little hotel for the fishermen and fall to sleep. The moving was hard.

Stand for weighing fish at the hotel with weights and a bell

The hall of the little hotel is covered with photos of fishermen with noticeable trophies in hands. There is a fishing store, where also fishermen are taking the license for fishing. Every livers are looks same: high hills and water-protecting clothes. At morning we are moving along the river and go up on the mountains. If the computer didn’t lie the temperature is 4 degree Celsium. Autotourism is the perfect method to overwinter the summer.

The drop in temperature to 4 degrees

Behind the passover the weather change entirely.

Norwegian pennant on the grassy roof

We have stopped on the gas station before the Swedish borderland.

The house with a roof of turf

Another climb in the mountains and here the Sweden verge.

On crossing the border recalls only the standard Euro-shield

There is a piece in the valleys. In the small town on the coast of the gigantic lake two dealing men in overalls are overloading the fishing equipment on the silver hydroplane.

Hydroplane berth

The weather is perfect and the plane is ready for the flight. With such amount of lakes the aircraft is the best transportation.

The ideal transport for Swedish fishermen

The foliage has become more lush in comparison to tough mounts of Overpolar. We have been moving through forest road. The fox have crossed the road with some small creature in the teeth. She isn’t afraid of us, make some overlooks and disappear in bushes.

Fox with prey in their teeth

After the several hundred miters we have took another encounter. The big bird is proudly crossing the road. It looks like the female of the grouse and big as small chicken.

Capercaillie on the road

There are not many people in here, so animal are not afraid of them.

Picturesque lake

We have reached the small, but very comfy caf? called “The Saams Cafe”. It looks like the Swedish one. The wooden house is standing at the lake coast within the bunch of slender birches. The owner is not looks like saamy, but give us the homemade bakery. There is also the souvenir and furniture store.

On the veranda, “Sami” cafe

The nature is saves her primal look, which she has after the last iceberg.

Lake

Sometimes you can meet the stormy rivers with waterfalls. We are stops and making shots near the remains of the windmill.

Waterfall

There are also many swamps. This photo helps us to win the one of Grand Jury photo. I have fixed how Sasha shots the swamp.

Swamp in the pines

We have reached the next resting place. This is an amazing location, which looks like hobbits living place. This is the mount with vertical gardens and valley with giant lake, the shattered ground where the cows are pasturing. This is the Sweden village and the reservation.

Hill and lake

There is a little funny raft with engine and house for shepherds.

Raft and house for shepherds

Our nighttime should being at the lake’s beach. The sun is setting down to the horizon by the long projectile.

The fire of dead wood on the rocks near the lake

The coast near the lake is made of stones, and we are spend some time for reaching the place we needed.

Water and stones

To be continued…

Table of Contents: Raid Paris – North Cape 2010 Daily Reports

1. 3 July. Paris. The beginning of The Raid
2. 3 July. The beginning of The Raid. Part Two
3. 4 July. Denmark. Copenhagen
4. 4 July. Denmark. Ferry on Svedish side
5. 5 July. Sveden. Hamlet and the people
6. 6 July. Sveden. Stockholm
7. 6 July. Scansen
8. 7 July. Helsinki
9. 8 July. One hundred thousand of lakes
10. 9 July. Finnish lifestyle
11. 10 July. Finland. Passing the night on nature
12. 11 July. Silent people
13. 11 July. Rukka resort
14. 12 July. Trip through the natural reserve
15. 13 July. Finland
16. 14 July. Finland. Further to the North
17. 15 July. Norway. Hemningberg
18. 16 July. On the place. North Cape
19. 16 July. Mageroya
20. 17-18 July. Trip to the Soroya Island
21. 19-20 July. Tromso
22. 21 July. Lofoten Islands
23. 22-23 July. Norway. Hobbits and foxes
24. 24-25 July. Sveden. Deers and camping
25. 26 July. Norway. Trondheim
26. 27 July. Norway. Trollstigen
27. 28 July. Norway. Bergen
28. 29 July. Return
29. 30 July. Holland
30. 31 July. France. Ending of The Raid
31. Paris – North Cape 2010. Results