Hamningberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Varanger Peninsula in Finnmark county is located in the municipality of Båtsfjord, Nesseby, Vadsø, and Vardø, in the northeasternmost part of Norway. The peninsula is the largest area within the arctic climate zone in mainland Norway. 

Since species from the Arctic, eastern Siberia, and more southerly areas all occur together on the Varanger Peninsula, the plant life is distinctive. The small deciduous woodlands in the area are among the northernmost in the world. 

Hamningberg was one of the largest fishing villages in Eastern Finnmark. it was rich in fish, but harbour conditions were poor. As the boats increased in size, the question of harbour development became a matter of the utmost urgency for the inhabitants of the village. In 1954 the Norwegian Parliament decided to develop the harbour, but 11 years later they reneged on this decision. The village was therefore vacated and closed for winter in 1965. Four old age pensioners held out until 1978, as the last all-year residents of the fishing village.

Yesterday there were strong headwinds and I got tired and had to set camp when I had still 7 km to go. Gyda turned back yesterday after about 10 km, she didn't feel well and went back to get a room in Vardø. But since I really need to see this place I continued on my own and will meet her again later. 

Today I also met a colleague of mine; Lill-Eirin which are also in the area with her husband in a motorhome. Since I didn't have any bread (Gyda had this on her bike), I asked her to get some bread and cheese for me. Since I am not going back to Vardø and distance between any store can be very far up here in Finnmark. And I also was not sure when meeting Gyda again. But in the afternoon I met her outside the Vardø tunnel and we continued together. We found a spot next to a boat house down by the sea, in company with some sheep. It was a windy evening but we had sun and made an amazing dinner by the sea. Then I sat outside in the sun reading in my down jacket for a long time before going to bed. Gyda didn't have any water bottle and I had 2 liters but we used those for cooking and too drink. It's just not enough, that's what I normally have for myself. So tomorrow morning will be no coffee...