Friday 4/8
Narvik/Nordkjosbotn
The train was on time as it approached Abisko, where the weather was steadily improving as per standard. Most people got off there, and it appeared as though I and my remaining compartment mate were the only ones left in the carriage. There were more clouds closer to Riksgränsen and also in Norway, but the Rombaken fjord and its dramatic sides were visible. By the time we arrived in Narvik we were 20 minutes behind schedule, but as I had several hours to kill before the next leg of the journey this was of no concern.
Abiskoalperna (Alps of Abisko)...
...with Lapporten (Lapp Gate)
Passing through Norddalen...
...above Rombaksbotn...
...out past Rombaken
After having the lunch I had brought at the railway station I made my way up onto a nearby outlook point atop a hill, from where I had a grand view of the city and its surroundings; the clouds were somewhat low, but not too much. I then walked along the main thoroughfare in the direction of the bus station, touching by the tourist info/war museum, and then sat down outside for a while; the "station" was really just a collection of bus stops, but there was an adjacent shopping center with a small waiting area. I got myself a snack in the former and sat down in the latter until it was time to board the northbound bus, which was about half full when it left on schedule.
At the station
Ski slope
Looking out...
...from the high point
Old man
Square
War memorial
High
Pointy
It was a mostly cloudy journey with a good number of stops along the way, and the bus slowly filled up. We passed through some light rain but upon approaching Nordkjosbotn the clouds split apart and Balsfjorden presented itself in all its glory. The bus stop was right outside the Vollan Gjestestue hotel and I checked in at once, then proceeding to have dinner in the on-site restaurant.
Off we go
To cross
Herjangsfjorden
Further along
Climbing
Bus meet
Balsfjorden
Vollan
I went out for several strolls in the pleasant evening air, gazing at the impressive fjelds steeply rearing their crowns into the clouds above, interspersed with preparing everything for the morrow. At 22:15 I felt ready, and lay down to sleep in a made bed for the last time for the foreseeable future.
