Ia.3    Section Road 8038 - Magerøysundet   20 km

Today I wanted to leave the island Magerøy and reach the mainland. In the beginning I had to walk cross country. This way a possible diversion via Honnigsvåg could be avoided. Except for the first marking hardly any others where to be found along the trail. The final part was rather steeply downhill. and here I met a Norwegian hiker. From up top I could see a salmon fish farm and a freighter. Finally I arrived at the road E69. Following a short road tunnel I arrived at North Cape Tunnel. I did not want to walk through this 7 km long tunnel with all it's car traffic. After waiting for 20 minutes I got a ride which took me through the tunnel. I left the car on the other side again as the trail along River Fisketindelva starts straight away. The trail was not marked in the beginning. Before starting I talked with a couple of bicycle riders on the road.

By now the sun was shining and it became a nice day. The first part along the river was not marked. So I followed various reindeer tracks along the steep mountain slope. When reaching the point where I had to leave the river the trail became well marked again. I walked across a ridge to Auster- Lafjorden. There where a number of houses down by the water front. After a steep descent I arrived at the River Lafjordelva. To ford the river I had to get into my crocks. On the other side I soon found a nice spot for the night. As it was rather windy I had to set up additional support lines for my tarp. Also I had to use my ear plugs for the noise of the flapping tarp.

Cross country towards North Cape Tunnel with view of mainland

Descent to road on island of Magerøy short of reaching North Cape Tunnel

E1 without markings or footprints

Higher than this birches are growing this far north only at very much sheltered places

Descent on marked trail to Lafjordelva

Lafjordelva, the first river I had to ford