North Cap Rally

[Robert OB 33/48]

Hello folks,

Iam Robert, your representive of OB Mid Europe and I will try to tell you the just started story of Erik, Jan, Jan and Imke who are now on their way of doing the North Cap Rally.
This is a private initiative by them.

So, I will translate some dutch storylines and will try to make it nice with pictures that I have made this morning and which they will share on their Blog.

Polarsteps

Polarsteps is the personal travel log in your pocket.

www.polarsteps.com

First of all I do am a bit attached to this, as Erik and Jan are friends and they have bought my Opel Frontera and made it ready for this trip.

Good, lets start this.

Yesterday, saturday the 8th of february 2020 Jan and Imke left from Rotterdam and headed to Vreden/ Germany.
Here Jan and Erik are based and this morning the four of them left for the Rally.


They driving two Rigs, my old Opel Frontera Sport and a Nissan Patrol.




Their route is roughly;
The Netherlands, Germany, Danmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and back to the Netherlands.


So, this is the background of this trip.
In 2017 the four of them did the Dakar Challenge, a "rally" to Dakar with cheap Rigs which would be sold for charity in Dakar.
And so, they liked to make another trip, but this time instead of very hot, very cold.
So, the North Cap Rally idea was born.

When Erik heard that my Frontera was for sale (he and Jan drove a similar Frontera to Dakar) they, Erik and Jan, decided after some test days that they would buy the Frontera and made it into a Artic ready Rig.
And Jan and Imke did the same with their Nissan PAtrol.

So, Frederique and I went to Vreden to wish them a nice Journey for the next three weeks.

Here some pictures of this morning. They will arrive at the ferry this evening in the top of Gemany. But due a big storm it could be that they decide to drive instead of going by boat. Its further driving, but then they wont have any delay.
As soon as I have news, I will post it here.


After introduction to Overland Bound I handed them some stickers and now it is official, its an OB trip.

Even the Frontera got some stickers, and yes, the OB stickers are on the back.
And so they left this morning for a trip that one day I will do as well.

 

[Kent R]

This is awesome Robert thanks for posting.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

First day has come to an end. Here is some Footage from Jan (Frontera Team)

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

Hello folks,
Well, they arrived at the end of the day at Frederikshaven/Danmark and they are now on the ferry to Sweden.
Due bad weather their visit to the beach of Danmark was not much of a succes, as there was no beach and just big waves and foam.
So, no beach driving there. From there they went to the boat and are now floating across the sea towards Sweden.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

I have to make a correction to Sweden, they went on the boat to Oslo, Norway. And now heading up north.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

Just two pictures


Left to right Jan, Imke of the Nissan Patrol Team and Erik of the Opel Frontera Team.


Waiting for the Ferry to Norway.

They already passed Trondheim. Looks like everything goes well.

 

[Joey83]

Sounds like a great trip.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

And, as they come higher and higher towards the top of the World, it was today most of the time driving a lot of km's.
450 to be precise. with heavy snow and icy roads.
the last 100km were definitly a challenge as they were driven in the dark.
They found out that they still needed more lights. Especially some spot beams (far foreard light) would be best.
So, they are now looking to find a store that is selling such.




And still much km's to go before theyr rach the North Cap.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

Today our friends , Erik, Jan, Jan and Imke reached the polar circle.
When they arrived, the building that is there was closed, so nobody there.
But what a picture that is.

And how does that looks, those cars in soo much snow.

And as you can see, there are no spotlights on the Frontera yet. But....
On their way the found spot lights for the Frontera and mounted them.

They finished just before there was another snow shower coming over.

I think that Frontera looks awesome. Heheh, still a bit proud.
They took the boat to Lofoten and enjoying the eveing in a Cabin in A. And there is much much snow up there.

They are staying in a cabin on poles. So you can figure out how much snow they think will fall normally in winter.

Totally not jealous.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

They arrived on Lofoten in pitch darkness and had no idea how the Lofoten did look like.
The next morning they found out that they had hit the Jackpot and that it could be the most stunning scenery of all.
After the Lofoten the plan is to drive as quickly as possible up to the North Cap.

Well, quickly is something you have to take with a grain of sallt, as the roads are very slippery and we dutchies have not that much experience with those circumstances of driving in snow and Ice.



So, if the weather plays ball they should arrive on sunday or monday at the North Cap.
However storm Dennis is coming, so it isnt sure if all will go smoothly.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

As they arrived at the North Cap, things looked not good. :)
It was closed. So they could go there or 1100 hours or 1930 hours. So they choosed to doe the 1930 moment.
They hoped to see the northern lights. But with 3 mtr visebility?

anyway, the made it up there and now they will take the long way down.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

After they could add the North Cap symbolicly to their reached goal list they went back.
That had a bit of a problem as a car in fromt of them got stuck and they had to see how they got back as the rest of the convoi (you travel by convoi to the Globe of the North Cap) didnt notice and was gone.
Sou some time later they arrived at the Hotel and could rest.

The next day they went back to see if they could see more, but still weather wasnt good, so, that was the Northern Lights and North Cap experience.

After that they went down towards Alta and then into Sweden. That is were they are now.

 

[Relic6.3]

Stunning pictures; thanks for taking us along on their adventure.