Steigen

Steigen lies beside Hamarøy, and covers the next section of fjordline. It is separated from Hamarøy by both fjord and mountain, and the two kommuner offer some stunning views of each other. Well, views equals pictures. And I like pictures.

• The town of Innhavet actually has enough prestige to have its own helipad and helicopter.
• Between Innhavet and Veggfjellan is the valley of Tømmerneset. The high water mark is visible noticeably above the current water level.
• One wall of the valley boasts a 7000 year old carving of a reindeer.
• In winter, the river races through here with such force that it has disintegrated an entire wall.
• The fallen blocks are anything but small.
• Imagine the crunch (or splash) when that fell.
• Oh, thankyou for finally getting here - this thing landed on my foot last winter, do you think you could move it before it does some permanent damage.
• Now in summer, the peaceful water creates immaculate reflections of the evening sky.
• Just a last look, and it is time to continue into Steigen.
• Veggfjellan (max 1133 and 1050 metres). This mountain separates the Hamarøy and Steigen kommuner, and the road to Steigen passes directly underneath it in an 8 kilometre tunnel - the "you are now entering ..." sign is positioned half way through the tunnel - "entering the county" indeed.
• Store Forra 1157. Note the 90 KPH sign, this is important, as you will see in a moment.
• The 90 KPH sign makes this a "Motorway"! A motorway. With just two lanes. No hard shoulder. And this is all that northern Norway needs to class this as a Motorway.
• The other side of Store Forra, where the size of the foliage is inversely proportional the the steepness of the slope.
• Vest-Hamerøy - consisting of Salen (479 metres), Dalsfjellet (910 metres), Sørtinden (867 metres), Vågsfjellet (948 metres) then Nordlandsfjellet (736 metres), Hamarøyskaftet 612, then Eldredtinden (629 metres), Hansbakkfjellet (895 metres), Dalstinden (860 metres), and Hamnesfjellet (878 metres).
• Hamarøyskaftet is well known for its phallic shape.
• And beside it, the double mound is said to resemble a woman's breasts. The man and the woman bathing together in the sea - how appropriate, or wishful.
• The making of ...
• Svartfjell.
• Rock on the Sagfjorden coast.
• The mountains surrounding Skitenfjorden; Hatten (1029 metres), Breidfjellet (808 metres), Stokkvastinden (904 metres), Holmåktinden (770 metres), Reinkalvtinden (828 metres), Daltinden (700 metres), Hestdaltuva (856 metres), Skotstindan (745 metres), Bogøy, Engeløya (max 649 metres), Lundøya (803 metres), and Vest-Hamarøy.
• The view from Bogøy across Holmåkfjorden; Gongskardtinden (815 metres), Skjolden (876 metres), Hatten, Breidfjellet, Stokkvastinden, Holmåktinden, and Reinkalvtinden.
• The bridge over Skitenfjorden to Engeløya. Just so you know, Skitenfjorden translates literally to "The Shit Fjord".
• Bogøy, Engeløya, Lundøya, Vest-Hamarøy.
• A Viking burial mound, probably with a Viking ship under it.
• Starting a walk up a 500 metre peak on Engeløya.
• Crossing the scree slope.
• A shell near the top of the scree slope - how exactly did this get here (no, don't tell me :P)?
• Heading for the jagged peaks above.
• Flies on the walk - flies are a perpetual nuisance here.
• We had lost Jonny earlier, Claudio was too tired, and Moose lost his lens cap, and went back to find it, so I went to the top myself. Looking back, I could see Claudio and Moose running around on the plateau like a pair of lost sheep.
• The stunning panorama from the summit, firstly, the ranges of Engeløya, then the islands of Flagsundet. From here, Engeløya almost looks like the tower karst seen in China.
• In the other direction is the wall of Lofoten, over 90 kilometres away across Vestfjorden, and extending far out from the mainland.
• Baaa?
• Television transmitters on Engeløya. I especially like the camouflage, like that is going to do anything.
• An enormous smoke ring, rising like a halo over the mountains.
• Looking across Vestfjorden towards Lofoten.
• Claudio asking the cows if they would be so kind as to move out of our way. He failed.
• The remains of a gun turret installed by the Germans after they overran Norway during the Second World War.
• The wall of Lofoten, showing some of the stunning mountain peaks.
• The roof of a bunker, and the view over Vestfjorden.
• What? I am a caver. I like tunnels ...
• The door to the bunker.
• Exploring the bunker with a very dull torch.
• Don't ask me what it is, you work it out.
• The bunker had pipes like these everywhere.
• One room had these overalls hanging up, just perfect to scare the crap out of you when you are exploring the bunker with a dull torch.
• Descending the stairs to the lower level.
• Something is not quite right with the floor in here - it feels a little wet ...
• Beautiful golden light catching the edge of Engeløya.
• Lundøya - meaning puffin island or grove island (I prefer puffins, of course).
• Clouds over Engeløya. Almost looks like the birth of a tornado, or maybe a UFO <insert spooky music here>.
• Sun-not-set over Skitenfjorden.
• Sun-not-set over Sagfjorden.
• Vest-Hamarøy.

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