Blitzing by way of Scandinavia in a fleet of basic Porsches

Occurring a highway journey may be one of the crucial gratifying issues to do, particularly whenever you get to drive some fantastic vehicles.

Final yr we gathered a gaggle of Porsche fanatics and headed north to Stekenjokk, an exquisite place in northern Sweden. The journey was a hit and so we felt we needed to do it once more.

MORE: Our Q&A with spy photographer Andreas Mau

This time round we might have just a few extra vehicles as a result of our final journey had obtained a little bit “commercial”, so to talk. A number of of the individuals had learn the article of final yr’s journey in some automotive magazines and others had heard about it by way of associates and social media.

Many expressed their curiosity and because it often occurs some dropped out, for varied causes, the nearer we obtained to the journey.

Ultimately, we nonetheless ended up with eleven vehicles divided between a bunch of 911s and two 928s. The house owners have been additionally distributed by way of place of residence from Stockholm within the south to Luleå within the north. And as a bonus, we might meet a Norwegian Porsche fanatic in Bodö.

This time, there have been no “last-minute” operations on any automotive, so we may comfortably get pleasure from a barbecue night at one in every of our fellow travellers, Lelle, the place many people gathered the evening earlier than. Sleeping locations have been distributed, vehicles have been washed, and the temper was at its greatest.

Wednesday morning and time to depart. In fact, it’s raining a bit, however that doesn’t matter when the Lofoten islands are calling for us and our outdated Porsches are filled with gas.

Simply earlier than departure, just a few extra vehicles be part of, and we’re on our manner. It received’t be lengthy earlier than we’re in Arvidsjaur and having lunch. Pär from Ljusdal meets up along with his 911 SC in Arjeplog and from there we proceed to Sandviken’s Fjällgård for espresso and buns at Lotta and Micke’s earlier than persevering with throughout the border into Norway.

Slightly manner into Norwegian soil, on the first cease, Johan Andreas is ready along with his black Porsche 964. Johan Andreas lives in Bodö and has already suggested us about appropriate resorts and good routes on Lofoten.

None of us are in a rush to get to the lodge in Bodö the place we’ll spend the primary evening in Norway, so Johan Andreas takes the lead and takes us out on fantastic small roads over the mountain in order that we get into Bodö a little bit little bit of the again manner.

Pretty little roads invite lively driving, however you have to needless to say sheep and lambs can seem each right here and there, so it’s a must to watch out.

Earlier than we examine in at Clarion Assortment Grand Bodö, we naturally assume that we must always take a gaggle picture within the harbour. All stated and carried out, the vehicles line up and to our shock a reporter seems who has been tipped off about our highway journey.

After the interview and a few images, it’s time to park the vehicles within the lodge storage and have a late dinner. As soon as within the lodge’s restaurant, one other couple from Stockholm meet up – they’ve pushed to Bodö with their Porsche 928 and checked in just a few hours earlier.

After a beautiful evening’s sleep and breakfast, there can be some sightseeing in Bodö and naturally some extra espresso for a few of us.

Slightly misunderstanding signifies that not everybody will get a seat on the early ferry over to Moskenes and Lofoten, so we have now to attend for the subsequent one. However as soon as we and the vehicles are on board, we have now 3.5 hours to get some meals and benefit from the beautiful solar on deck. It’s splendidly lovely to see Lofoten with its superb nature because it will get nearer and nearer.

Arriving in Moskenes, all you have to do is get off the ferry and steer in direction of the night’s dinner location. If you’re on Lofoten, you have to have a fish burger at Anitas Sjömat in Reines. It’s each a comfy surroundings and a few good meals, so it may be really helpful. After the meal, we transfer on to satisfy the a part of the gang that took the sooner ferry with a purpose to get pleasure from just a few beers on the lodge collectively.

Now you should be conscious that even the shortest distance on Lofoten takes time, not solely as a result of the velocity is restricted however extra since you see a lot magnificence on a regular basis. So, count on to cease to admire and take footage continually.

After evening’s sleep at Scandic Leknes and breakfast, we proceed a little bit additional north alongside the E10. Now, it’s not the E10 you need to drive on whenever you’re in Lofoten, even when it’s like a standard Swedish small nation highway. If you’re there along with your Porsche, you need to drive as a lot as potential alongside the even smaller and curvier roads. Our plan is to keep away from the E10 as a lot as potential.

After a couple of mile north after the E10, we flip left in direction of Unstad and Unstad Seashore. The highway there’s enjoyable and curvy and there’s a lot of magnificence to see alongside the way in which. Don’t miss stopping midway for an exquisite view of one in every of all the attractive fjords on Lofoten.

One other enjoyable element is that there are some small and slim tunnels that you just drive by way of, so roll down the home windows, shift to a decrease gear and hit the ground. Yummy!

Unstad Seashore is a well known browsing spot, however in the beginning of June there are nonetheless only a few surfers between the waves, however we depend not less than 5 surf buses. For comparability, I can point out that once I was in the identical place just a few weeks later, there have been not less than 60 surf buses of various sizes from many European nations on the identical seashore.

Earlier than we go on, there’ll in fact be espresso and buns at Unstad Arctic Surf. Good however costly, however you don’t go to Norway as a result of it’s so low cost, as a sensible man as soon as stated.

Time to comply with the E10 for some time once more alongside fjords and over improbable bridges earlier than we flip off in direction of Henningsvaer, which is a fishing village with round 500 inhabitants. And while you’re there, take the chance to take a look at the soccer discipline that’s on the far finish of the village. Maybe the world’s most superbly located soccer discipline.

We proceed additional north and switch onto Midnattsolvejen, comply with the shapes of all of the fjords on the way in which, benefit from the view, cease, and chat and take much more images. These are fantastic roads to drive on and there aren’t any velocity cameras. However you continue to should preserve a watch out, a whole lot of sheep and lambs are out for a stroll on these roads as properly.

We drive all the way in which to Fiskeböl, the place we proceed with one of many many small ferries between the islands on Lofoten.

The ferry goes throughout the ocean to Melbu, the place we proceed alongside the coast alongside route 82 to Sortland and Scandic Sortland, which would be the subsequent in a single day keep. It’s a new and contemporary lodge that’s positioned proper on the water and provides a pleasant view from each the rooms and the restaurant.

The night is spent within the bar and there’s speak of vehicles, enjoyable roads and, above all, Porsche.

An excellent lodge breakfast is adopted by an additional espresso within the solar earlier than the journey continues. The vehicles remind us that in addition they need some breakfast, so all of the vehicles are crammed up, the oil is checked, and we uncover that Norway has a excessive tax on sugar. Higher purchase your sweet in Sweden!

As we speak’s stage vacation spot is Andenes, which is essentially the most northerly village on Lofoten. Andenes is on the island of Andöja and, as some say, this actually doesn’t belong to Lofoten. However I believe you may say that the entire archipelago may be known as Lofoten, however that’s me.

We comply with highway 82 to Risöyhamn earlier than we flip onto Lv974 and go through Björnskinn and Bö to Andenes. Someplace alongside the way in which, the highway adjustments its identify to Nordmelavejen, however simply preserve in direction of Andenes and you can be proper.

The nearer we get to Andenes, the more severe the climate will get and at last the rain comes. However we’re not complaining, we’ve actually been fortunate with the climate all alongside till now. Espresso is consumed on the comfort retailer in Bleik, the place the joy is excessive amongst locals after we roll in and fill the complete parking zone with our vehicles.

As soon as we arrive in Andenes, there can be some sightseeing within the rain earlier than we determine to take the quick route in direction of Narvik and the final night with the gang. The quick route on this case is route 82 to Sortland, route 85 to Gullesfjord after which E10 to Narvik.

With 80 km/h because the velocity restrict and a few velocity cameras and the information of actually costly rushing fines, it’s a tricky journey within the rain, particularly for Christer in his 964 and me in my 911 SC. The issue Christer has is that the warmth in his 964 has gone bananas and it turns into like a sauna within the automotive. It will get so sizzling that he begins to fret that the plastic on the air outlet may soften.

My downside is the other: I’ve no heating in any respect.

With the sportier exhaust system, the heating chambers fall away, and that’s exactly why there’s a small petrol heater mounted within the boot compartment of the 911 as a substitute. The one downside is that the petrol heater for some motive didn’t need to begin on this explicit day. So, with Christer sweating and me freezing, we each lengthy till we arrive on the lodge in Narvik.

Maybe we must always have modified vehicles each fifty kilometers with a purpose to preserve our physique temperature moderately regular.

The evening is spent on the High quality Resort Grand Royal however to be trustworthy the lodge is neither “Grand” nor “Royal”. If you’re in Narvik, search for one other lodge.

It’s Sunday morning and it’s the final day. We are saying “goodbye” to among the group and a now barely smaller caravan of Porsches heads in direction of the mountains and the nationwide border in direction of Sweden. Inside Sweden, we load up with some “low cost” sweet and proceed our journey to Kiruna for a espresso.

As soon as once more, we are saying goodbye to among the group, proceed to Vippabacken exterior Överkalix for the compulsory hamburger after which drive the remaining 120 kilometers earlier than I drive up the driveway at dwelling.

In whole it was virtually 2000 kilometres for me and other than the warmth placing on the one chilly and wet day of the journey, each mile was crammed with pleasure and pleasure. If solely time may go a little bit quicker so it will likely be time for subsequent yr’s journey once more.

Click on a picture to view the total gallery.