Perfect Circumstances for Sleep

Thon Hotel Kautokeino

For our last night in Norway, we stayed in a nice hotel that was mosquito-free. I arranged the duvet cover as a sheet and the duvet as a blanket to have two layers. I was in bed early and I fell into a much needed deep sleep.

At 2 am, a shrill wavering alarm wailed. Callyn has a number of notifications set on her phone though she silences it at night. I thought maybe this was a special one.

She woke up, too, in spite of ear plugs, and searched our room for a cause to no avail. She poked her head into the hallway to see a lot of oddly-clad likewise confused hotel guests scurrying about.

We quickly added just enough clothing to become part of the crowd exiting the hotel to become a buffet for these creatures.

After fully 20 minutes outside, it was deemed a false alarm. The distressed hotel staff apologized for the inconvenience.

Sleep did not come back so easily after the adrenaline rush.

We thought it would be the talk of the morning at the vast breakfast buffet. If it was, we didn’t understand it.

By the way, language has not been a barrier. Most of the people we have encountered speak English. Google Translate fills in the gaps.

During our entire time in Norway, we never saw or used Norwegian kroner. Phone pay apps worked everywhere.

Back on the road after a hefty breakfast, we were prepared for the mosquitoes. Here I am in the net I finally found.

It wasn’t as necessary today. A mild headwind made it hard for them to land on us, but we had our first encounters with horseflies.

The big anticipation today was crossing the border into Finland. I somewhat expected to be swarmed by border agents like the mosquitoes and horseflies. We did not see a single person. I’m sure people saw us through the numerous security cameras.

Entering Finland

Finland EU sign

The scenery didn’t change at the border. Lots of sand, short trees, many lakes.

Though Callyn and I both scoured the routes for places to find food and water, we both missed a significant store with a restaurant overlooking a lake and campground. If we’d known, we might not have built ourselves sandwiches from the breakfast fixings. We enjoyed hot chocolate and local cookies at a table with a view.

We were well past our halfway point, it was still early, and the weather was not threatening, so a short break was fitting.

As we arrived in Hetta, our destination, we found a nice bike path that passed an impressive church.

First we saw the spire.

Hetta’s church

Then front on.

A left turn up a hill took us to Hetan Majatalo, a four-generation 100-year old lodging. I’d been in touch with Tiina for four years. I didn’t picture a vibrant redhead through emails.

Hetan Majatalo

Our lovely room

The view from my pillow

We sleep here for two nights, our first lingering.

Six days of cycling in Europe

(c) 2024 Lynnea C Salvo