After we left the North Cape behind us, we actually wanted to explore the much less touristy part up to Kirkenes. There would also have been a VW garage in Kirkenes - we need a new knock sensor for our engine. We spent our first night after North Cape near Honningsvåg. There, the reindeer grazed right next to our bus while we ate dinner. That was special - we had seen some reindeer here in the north, but never so close and for such a long time.
The next day we drove further south to have a look at the fossilized trolls of Trollholmsund – some petrified rocks in the sea that look really special. Then we reached Lakselv in the very south of the Porsangerfjord. There we visited a workshop shortly before closing time, as I had hoped that they would be able to order the knock sensor for us. But unfortunately it's not the same up there as in Germany, where you order a spare part in the morning and it's already there in the afternoon. It was supposed to take about 2 weeks and we were advised to check with Kirkenes. We did that and after initial communication difficulties, the delivery time was also 2 weeks and 2300 NOK (approx. 230€). We decided against it because Zacharias drives well and the sensor costs 1/10 at home.
After two days near Roddenes, we finally started our way south again. It went once again in a night stage to behind the Finnish border at a small lake, about 3 hours north of Rovaniemi. Here we were greeted in the morning by a cow moose with her young not far from the bus (after we had spotted them, however, they went away again quite quickly). Already at the next night, we noticed what is different here in Finland: there are many barbecue areas in the forest. This usually includes a half-open cottage with a large fireplace (and BBQ utensils), a woodshed including wood, saw and axe, and an outhouse. With the bus it is often a great way to stand nearby and use the facilities.
When we arrived in Rovaniemi the following day, we first had to do another organizational day. This usually includes shopping food for the next few days, filling up water and doing laundry. In Finland there are laundromats again, which was non-existent in Norway and Sweden. There we always had to find a campsite that only let us wash or where we then spent a night (then we could take a shower again). Since these things always take some time, because the children always want to get out of their seats and then have to get back in (often with challenging persuasion), we unfortunately had no more time for Santa Claus in Santa Village a little north-east of the city and at the same time right on the Arctic Circle.
We stayed the night in one of the many huge parking lots on the site in a quiet corner and visited Santa Claus the next day. It was pretty exciting for Luisa to meet Santa Claus in the middle of summer and he also spoke a little German. It had left her speechless. Afterwards, of course, the large playground had to be explored and the reindeer in the petting zoo had to be visited 😉
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