simon vale

Audax

NC4 Day 12 Rovaniemi - Sarriselka Cold, wet, hungry and tired. Had enough now. But saw some magnificent reindeer and the widest road I’ve ever seen! Very wet end, thankfully found an open pub still serving food (open 24hrs) will come back here. May have to be forced to have day off tomorrow, local weather warnings for heavy rain all day and cold temps, I don’t have sufficient clothing with me and what I do have is all soaking wet. Will see. Total mileage after day 12 - 1561miles Miles left to Northcape - 284 Sadly, the following morning I scratched! Just didn’t have the heart, mind or legs to push on.

NC4 day 11 - Aavasaksa to Rovaniemi Grinding slowly into Finland, body is giving up 😫, lack of any serious training plan is now taking its toll. But…..,,,, we’ve arrived at gate 4 and the Artic Circle. I should have been further north by end of play but have taken a forced rest for 12hours, first hot meal in 3days and hoping for solid nights sleep without waking up during the night in discomfort. We’re nearly there, and hopefully will be 1 full day ahead of official cut off 🤞

Day 10 Boden into Finland.

Day 9 Lycksele - Boden An amazing day! The journey north continues, encountered first sightings of reindeer and the scenery is spectacular. Finally turned off the bastard road that is 365 😫. Rear tyre is about to disintegrate, was new for the event, bike shop in town but opens at 10:30 so lie in for me ☺️ Tomorrow I hope to leave Sweden behind and enter Finland for the last big push towards Norway and Northcape. The finish is close…. Total mileage after day 9, 1222.

Bjartra / Lycksele Back in the game! (For now)… Listened to the body and rested and it worked, much more postive today and rode solid on road 365, single road, no turns for 168km and with a 3% avg incline, very testing but got through it. Broke into Lappland 🎅 Sweden’s northern most province, this can only mean one thing, Finland and the artic circle is on the horizon. Can already sense a change in environment and the air is turning colder. Rode a few miles with a French guy living in Cambridge, really can’t remember his name now 🤦‍♂️ but it was nice for a short while before he dropped me. Really grateful for all messages of support and encouragement, they really are helping me along, thank you ☺️ x Total distance covered after day 8, 1052miles.

The longest 70mile 😫 My hump day, spent day fighting demons and Achilles pain. Sat outside boarded up pizza shop at 7am looking for flights home, got a message from home to say sort ya shit out and get a move on and here we are just short at half way point with 7 days left to go before official cut off on 14th August. Amazing how a good day beforehand can turn to shit overnight but we keep going North 👊 Overall mileage after day 7 - 883

Bolnass to Sundsvall Amazing day! Delayed start due to heavy rain but this meant that the 20 or so riders that happen to all be in same hotel, had grouped together for breakfast so it was great to have catch up and some banter. Some amazing people doing this event including a 70 year old, what a leg end! Storm gave way to blue skies until later on in day but scenery has been incredible, and I’m starting to appreciate these long lonely roads. Something quite serene that I’m just starting to appreciate! For now….. Shorter day today as feeling the effects of back to back big days and wanted to sit down to good food and some self care (and clothes washing in hotel sink, joys of bike packing) Discovered the lead rider was disqualified today for leaving gate 4 before the official time which is mandatory for rider safety to ensure rest etc, wonder what his agenda was as the rules are well cited in rider hand book and rules. Oh well unlucky. Right going for two beers. Eat sleep ride repeat 😀 Total mileage after day 6 - 810miles.

NC4 Day 5 - Strassa to Bollnas Can’t even remember anything, heads a mush 😫 Big day, desperate to break back of Sweden, these long lonely roads are souls destroying and really testing body and mind! Gotta keep trucking north. Great day had though, countless lakes and wildlife to take in. Very scenic. Saw some ski jumps, must look up on winter sports here, did Sweden ever host Winter Olympics? Going bed with a beer. Total mileage after day 5, 704.

NC4 day 4 Vadstena - Strassa Slow start, overslept, couldn’t get going but put some loud banging house music through the ear boomers and away we went. Amazing day again, but the loneliness is very real out on these long stretches, didn’t see many riders today maybe 4/5. It’s getting quite remote now and resupply is getting more challenging. Descended into Nora-Husby, small village beside lake Norasjon and the villagers were having a garden party and were celebrating all NC4000 riders arrival with huge cheers and bananas that the local supermarket had donated, some 20kg apparently. Moments like this give you a huge lift and makes it all worthwhile 😀 Staying in room booking in someone’s house, see photo. Very cosy mind! No beer tonight. Overall Mileage to date 529