Farewell to Norway

 Yes that part of the trip is nearly over and I write this in the top deck of the IC 24 Kemi to Helsinki, at 127km per hour,  so a bit of catching up to do, even if its only been a couple of days.

So we left Narvik to travel to Lulea in Sweden following the Iron Ore railway. It was an 8 hour journey with the first part echoing the Arctic Train journey we did yesterday without the scenic stops and commentary. However what a difference a day makes as we were used to being able to select a table for breakfast without FOMO, but not so this morning as apparently hordes had arrived overnight, for the weekend, which we hadn't noticed. They all looked like intrepid skiers - well they had the right gear.  

Any ho we enjoyed Narvik, it always helps when you have a hotel bathroom in which it is possible to swing a cat and a heated floor warm enough to dry your smalls on. So off to the train station in somewhat bracing but dry weather. 

To be honest it is hard to tell where Norway ends and Sweden begins as it is pretty empty country with some holiday houses scattered around  the train station and a road. Lovely iced lakes, more Lake Pukaki than Waihola in size. People out skiing, including cross country with their dogs. One kind owner put mittens (not sure what the dog paw word for that article of clothing would be, so mittens  will do) on their dogs paw! Jasmine I hope you have some for Peaches. People out on their ice mobiles and at one stage I think there was a camp on the lake - hopefully for some ice fishing.

Leaving the higher levels, we did pass a large mine, the land appeared to be quite boggy almost peat like. Stumpy trees and some very large white birds - we moved too fast to see what they actually were. We were about an hour or two out of Lulea when we saw some farming. So a lot of empty space in-between. So I suppose OK for a mine but what happens when the mine finished but the need remains - hint I have just finished ready Ben Elton's Stark. Worth a read for the writing let alone the story.

So any how some pictures for you gentle reader.

Ice Lake - 1

Ice Lake 2

Ice Lake -3

People having fun on the lake

Train Journey





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