On July 14th last summer we set out from Grense Jakobselv heading south. Since then we've taken some millions of steps, putting a distance of more than 5000 kms and indeed a full year behind us. Since last update we've continued along the coast of Nordland(the longest and thinnest county of Norway), of course fishing some nice codfish and macrel whenever the temptation got too big.

We have passed the city of Narvik, and from there turned east toward the Swedish border where Dividalen national park, a very green and pictoresque place, is located.

The weather in Norway this summer has been as follows: extreme amounts of rain in the south and quite the opposite in the north, which has suited us just fine. All things have an end though(at least as long as you dont get too scientific or philosophical about it), including the nice weather we've enjoyed for so long. For us it ends with strong winds from the west and generous amounts of rain as Sweden draws nearer. Our mood thus brightens a little when Jennie and Jenny, who we got to know when we stayed in Abisko last fall waiting for the winter, have made us a nice dinner when we arrive wet (and hungry) as dogs.

The national park is just like an untended, vast garden, with all kinds of flowers in every color and size growing everywhere. But, it is not all idyllic, though. With the warm weather of late, followed by the rain, hordes of bloodsucking insects have arrived from their shadowy hiding places, and charge on us with a vigor and utter disregard for their own life that it's no less than impressive - though not impressive enough that we spare the bastards who have the nerve of stealing our blood. Now, the fish are of course in a quitedifferent opinion, and that's not only because the mosquitos don't do their business under water, rather the fondness originates from the mosquito being among the favorite snack of the fish. Though we now walk most of the day, sometimes when the trout or some other fish is on a feeding-frenzy in one of the lakes we pass, especially if it's a big fish(which we of course tend to assume it is) we simply don't have any other option than to stop for a while and either catch or scare the fish. By Daertahytta Per catches a nice 1-kilo "røye" only a couple meters from the shore!

At the northern part of the national park lies the common border-marker for Norway, Sweden and Finland. This circular slab of yellow painted concrete has, unspectacular as it is, somehow become a popular tourist attraction, and we meet lots of people heading for the "rock". We don't spend much time at there, but continue toward a Finnish place called Kilpisjarvi. There we, quite by accident, meet two Norwegian girls who also walk the stretch of Norway, but taking the more traditional route from Lindesnes to Nordkapp. We continue on towards Kautokeino, but instead of taking the tourits-path which is a lot longer an more mountainous, we follow an ATV-trail going in a straight line towards Kauto. It all seems quite nice - until the path abruptly ends in a wide and deep river. The river was itself not a surprise, but rather the obvious lack of a bridge - which we were told by a seemingly honest Fin, would be there... Because of the depth it seems like we have to take a swim, which dosen't appeal especially much to us at the moment. But - of course we don't have to wait long before our problem is solved. Not even ten minutes later a helicopter arrives at a nearby cabin where they have access to river-boats, making the journey across a little easier - and drier. The path continues on the other side and takes us swiftly to Kautokeino where we stay in the workshop of a tent producing company. There we also enjoy a day of resting before we continue to Karasjok, the sami capital, and the last part of our journey.