CB500X - Solo Norway trip Part 23 - Crossing into Finland

This is Part 23 of my trip continuing the journey through Norway, I Left the campsite at Olderfjord Turistsenter, nice location and a good day room, but the toilet / shower facilities were very limited. More reindeer along the way and a really long wait at some road works. While waiting the biker to my left, attempted to get off his bike, but in doing so somehow managed to drop his bike which leant over on me while he ended up on the ground the other side of my bike. No damage to anybody or anything but a very odd experience.
Crossed the border into Finland, some lovely scenery along the way and ended up at a small / basic campsite by a river, this was the first time I'd truly encountered mosquitos which were a real nuisance while erecting the tent. The campsite had a restaurant which did really good food.
The whole journey took me through the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and into Norway right the way up to Nordkapp, the furthest point you can travel by motorcycle or car in mainland Europe and then back through Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France over a 7 week period late May - mid July 2023
I am back in the UK now, but please do add your comments and I'll get back to you.
Hoping you can "Like" the video, as this does help the channel.
All my best wishes, thanks again for watching
Nick
CB500X 2022 model
Hepco & Becker Tank bars
Rally Raid CB500X 2019-on Engine Guard-RRP 747
SW Motech Footrest Kit
R&G Kickstand Shoe-RRP 474
Outback Motortek Pannier rack and Rear rack (including exhaust heat shield)
Metzeler Tourance Next tyres
SW-Motech dry bag (60 litres)
Lomo dry bag motorcycle waterproof panniers -soft
Oxford tank bag (need to use rain cover in heavy rain)
Garmin Zumo XT GPS device
Rally Raid Billet Multi-Mount for 12mm (1/2") Crossbar - part number RRP 643
GoPro Hero 10 (helmet mounted)
Adhesive universal helmet mount for GoPro
Purple Panda microphone (helmet mounted)
Sonicake wireless microphone (walking about)
Insta360 X3
DJI mini 3 Drone
Vango Tryfan 300 (3 person tent)
Sea to Summit Camp Plus Self Inflating Camping Mat
Trekology air bag (topping up mat inflation)
SLAAPLEKKER 800 Goose down mummy sleeping bag
Eurohike sleeping bag liner
Trekology Aluft pillow
Cyberlink PowerDirector 365 - video editing
RST textile jacket
RST textile trousers (slight seepage in crutch area in heavy rain)
TCX Airtech 3 Gore-tex boots
Nolan 80 helmet

[@IanArgent-sn3tg]

HI Nick, your journey through Norway was absolutely amazing.Im sure the ride through Finland will have it's moments but Norway is surely the jewel of Europe.The drone camera filming you manage to include adds to the whole experience.Hope the Horse flies found an alternative lunch.

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks and yes I managed to avoid being a feast for horse flies Nick

[@quentinjackson6015]

Thanks, another enjoyable episode with some lovely closing footage. My wife and I rode our motorcycle to Lyme Regis on Boxing Day and parked next to a 94 year old CB500X rider! He was clearly still enthusiastic about his biking......fantastic! Cheers.

[@bikingtravels]

How wonderful... ride out and meeting a mature rider. Many thanks for the comment and information. All the best Nick

[@georgedunseth8114]

Still loving following your trip! I do so almost daily and have decided to go to KZbin Premium to avoid commercials. Again I love my own CB500X Honda 2023 and always dreamed of doing what you’re doing. So I’m with you gratefully in spirit! George Dunseth

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks George, very pleased to have you along on the trip. Until recently I was able to avoid non skippable ads, but KZbin has taken this option away which means longer ad breaks, steering people to go to Premium, I hope it improves your experience. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the CB500X, it is a great bike... hopefully you'll find your own adventure soon. Nick

[@jonathanmackie4884]

Another enjoyable episode. I see others have told you those prehistoric monsters are horseflies. Up here in Scotland we get them but call them clegs. Mainly in the more out of the way areas and they have the amazing ability to land on you without you feeling them. They sneak up on you from downwind and you only know they have bitten you after the bite as they have an anaesthetic effect going in and it sure feels like they took a chunk out as they withdraw!! Wee feckers. On the wave etiquette. I lived in the USA for a while and got used to the left hand wave. Also found riding in groups the lead rider will point to debris on the road to warn those following which is useful as some of those American highways can often have big stuff lying around, sofas, matresses, etc. And I now see why some Europeans don't acknowledge my waves over here. They are expecting something else and don't spot my left hand wave on the nearside or my exaggerated nod. I'll try not to get miffed at there unfriendliness in future. Bit of a long comment, but interesting to hear your riding goes back to the 70s/80s. Would be a good topic for a video as I am an old timer too.

[@bikingtravels]

Great comment, many thanks. Yep, I hark back to the days when the roads in the UK were still relatively uncluttered, no speed cameras and I still believed I was indestructible. Times have changed 😉 Nick

[@TheMadEnglishman]

Separate to the remote selfie stick which someone mentioned elsewhere, Insta also make just a remote (I have the GPS remote) - size of a small matchbox. It's mounted on my handlebars, buttons are a little bigger and not a problem in my summer gloves, haven't tried others. Also I don't think the Insta is really a blogging camera, it's too much really - too large and heavy. Use it for what it's amazing at 'cinematics', scenery etc and keep the GoPro for vlogging. I'm still learning and experimenting with it and don't want to advertise - but I just uploaded a 50 second "wut no scuba" to my channel with some motorcycle "cinematics". Still loving your vids - thank you. Epic journey!

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks for the comment and your thoughts. The Insta360 has really increased significantly the time and effort it takes to create each episode, not really an Insta issue, more the footage I captured. Would I use it for vlogging future trips? Nope. I'd go back to a handlebar mounted camera, probably another GoPro. I took a look at your upload.... very creative! Nick

[@dr.azharhussin1294]

Nice weather for riding

[@bikingtravels]

Yes, a beautiful day Nick

[@Phiyedough]

I live in Croatia at the edge of a forest and we get a lot of horseflies. All my T shirts have holes in the back between the shoulders. They chew through the fabric to get at my flesh! There are also triangular deer flies which look like tiny Harrier fighter planes.

[@bikingtravels]

😱 Now that is scary! Thanks for sharing this information and I hope you wear armour under your T-Shirts! 😁 Nick

[@dalcassian9098]

You're living the dream Nick!

[@bikingtravels]

I am indeed! Thanks for the comment Nick

[@morecowbell20]

Those big flies are known as horseflies. They bite and will take a chunk out of you if given the chance. I know some people do not like using anything with deet in it to repel bugs, but up north, if you want to keep your sanity, it's Deep Woods Off for the win! Great video, as usual, Nick!

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks for the comment and information @morecowbell20 I steered clear of them as best I could, they seem to have been attracted by the heat given off the bike as soon as I slowed down or stopped anywhere. Nasty looking beasties. Nick

[@martinarmer240]

Love this series Nick and really look forward to each new video. Not so keen on those horseflies...

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks. Horseflies... me neither! Nick

[@kivriel2660]

I recommend visiting the northern parts of Scandinavia during spring or autumn due to all the insects/mosquitos. Summertime can be crazy in certain locations. Great video series !!😊

[@bikingtravels]

Good suggestion, overall I was very lucky by the lack insects. Many thanks for the comment Nick

[@kwakkers68]

I haven't 'done' Scandinavia yet - but as a general purpose tip --- hat with a brim, and a mozzy (head) net (the brim of the hat puts some distance between your skin, and the net) makes life much more tolerable.

[@Greggspies]

Wouldn't let Itchy Boots into Finland your blessed Sir

[@bikingtravels]

Yes, I do remember that episode! Nick

[@eivinherfindal6658]

Nice video to relax with when it's 1 meter with snow outside 😊. Waiting for the spring😊

[@bikingtravels]

😁 Many thanks, spring is on it's way, but I cannot imagine being snow bound for so long Nick

[@richl6343]

Well I’m enjoying this episode a bit more Nick. To be honest I didn’t really see the porpoise in the previous one.

[@bikingtravels]

Thanks for the comment, it is really just a daily capture of me plodding along, sometimes something happens other times nothing, but just wanted to keep the journey captured. It takes quite a while editing each episode, trying to combine 2 days seemed to take a lot longer than 2 individual episodes. Thanks for hanging in there, I appreciate all feedback Nick

[@richl6343]

Sorry Nick,I wasn’t being serious, I just found it amusing that you couldn’t tell whether you were looking at orcas or porpoises and I was playing on the words porpoise and purpose! Really wasn’t meant to be disparaging at all! Sorry, you’re doing a grand job with the vids.

[@bikingtravels]

@@richl6343 Hahaha... sorry, missed the connection with which the previous vid was!!!

[@JimCWoodard]

Another enjoyable video Nick. I’m glad no damage was done to you or your bike when the other bike fell onto you. Hopefully the other biker was apologetic. The reindeer problem sounds like the problem we have here with whitetail deer, especially along the Appalachian Mountain range. You’re lucky if you see them along side the road so you can slow down and/or react to them, but in the heavily wooded areas, you might not see them in time to react. I’ve had several close calls and luckily not had an impact with one, but I don’t ride at night in those areas especially at dusk or dawn. Looking forward to next week’s episode. Cheers, Jim

[@bikingtravels]

Thanks Jim. Lots of apologetic type hand gestures from the other biker, all good and yes, we were both lucky. Sounds like an interesting place you live Jim, I hope you continue to avoid the deer, I know they can cause injury and damage, as always, thanks for commenting and sharing the information. Nick

[@BrokenBackMountains]

In Ireland, a lot of people will put out the right foot as a greeting. I prefer the head nod.

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks for the info, I do hope to travel the Wild Atlantic Way at some time so I'll look out for the feet! Nick

[@Angel_EU34]

Completely hooked to the trip Nick. Really looking forward to the baltic states. Cheers!

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks, getting closer Nick

[@Hjalmar_Lane]

Yes, horseflies bit piece off you and go on the branch of tree to enjoy :)

[@bikingtravels]

How lovely!!!! 😱 Thanks for the information. Nick

[@robin_hornychwanderer9583]

Hello, in my opinion saluting is annoying in the current situation. There are more and more bikers and it often happens that I keep my left hand in greeting. Sometimes I resign myself to the greeting and just flash the light.

[@bikingtravels]

Thanks for your comment . I guess it depends where you ride, I don't pass many in the UK even in the summer. It also surprises me when a rider waves as he's leant over in a bend 😁 Nick

[@kwakkers68]

Pleased to have stumbled onto this vid, and your channel! Subbed. I'll go back to #1 to see what I've missed. ----------------------- How do you think the 500 rates for the inevitable motorway slogs that these journeys usually entail? What's sort of cruising speed can be easily sustained?

[@bikingtravels]

Many thanks for the comment and question @kwakkers68 There are a few clips through this series which mention motorways etc (not obvious where exactly though) so just pasting an answer to a previous question... Personally, I'm comfortable with the performance of the bike at legal speeds although there is some vibration in the foot pegs at 70 - 75 mph its not bad and yes, the engine buzzes more at those higher speeds than a larger capacity but meets my needs. I know there are some who have changed the gearing to enable less revs at higher speeds but as I mentioned, I'm happy enough with the overall performance. I'd caveat this... if the majority of my trips were on motorways / freeways etc I would look elsewhere - again just my personal perspective Welcome aboard, and hope this helps Nick

[@dennisboosey6272]

You should buy the femote selfi stick for the 360, they make a massuve difference. Love my insta 360, puts the gopro to shame.

[@bikingtravels]

Thanks for the suggestion, I didn't know one existed until your comment, the buttons look more useful Nick

[@rayurlich]

How many km on the Honda now Nick?

[@bikingtravels]

Hi Ray, as of today it has 30k Km (18.5k miles), still going well Nick

[@blearyview2254]

Now that Norway has been completed, are you able to share a rough total cost for all those ferries you took?

[@bikingtravels]

A very valid question 😊 I have been remiss in working out the costs for the whole trip (where does the time go???) still on my "to do" list, but for the ferries in Norway specifically, I estimate £67 in total. I'm not sure how many I travelled on (more than 10), but the charges on my ferry pass came to £38 including the £5 charge for the actual card, the trip from Bodo to Lofoten islands was £19 and there were a couple of others that I had to pay for with a card, which I am guessing were no more than £10. A couple of people had asked about paying for ferries so just pasting the reply here in case you're interested. I bought a pre-paid Ferry Pass for 305 NOK, 300 of which is credit for the ferries, with refund for unused amount. Some ferries were free, some I had to pay for with a credit card on the ferry (Part 15 mentions this) and others accepted the prepaid card. I'm still not sure which were which as they took photos of the registration number of my bike which auto matched with the card. In summary, I didn't typically pay in advance at the ferry dock, it is either onboard or by the ferry pass card, or once a chap with a machine took my payment whilst i was waiting to board. So, all a bit confusing, but don't worry about it just be prepared for a mix. You could also take a look at Autopassferje.no for info Hope this helps Nick

[@blearyview2254]

@@bikingtravels Thank you Nick, that seems like a fair charge given the cost of things in Norway. I have desires to go to Norway in the next couple of years and the cost of the ferries is one area I was not sure about 👍I did see you bought a ferry travel card and had heard you say it was not used for every journey so to get a rough total estimate is excellent.

[@spymaine89]

thats it? road vids.

[@bikingtravels]

Afraid so, it depends on what useable footage I managed to capture on a day, but yes, primarily it is the road trip Nick