Exactly one year ago, I went on a road trip to the Varanger peninsula over the weekend because I wanted to take pictures of the landscape there at the beginning of the winter. But most of all, I wanted to use the opportunity so late in the season to drive to Hamningberg before the road is closed for winter driving. The landscape at this part of the road is particularly rough and wild and gives a good background in stormy weather. And the storm really gave me a sleepless night. The wind was too strong to put up the rooftop tent of my car. Therefore, I had to sleep in the cabin of my car. In addition, the wind gusts were so loud and were permanently shaking my car so that I got the impression that I had parked between two railway tracks and endless freight trains were driving by at high speed the whole night.
The next morning the wind had slowed down and I drove to Hamningberg at the end of the road. During summer time, there is heavy traffic on this small road. There are hardly any parking places along the road and especially not at the most scenic spots. Therefore, it is difficult to stop and take pictures. But at the end of the season, nobody else is here. Only one single car was parked next to the road, some hard-bitten surfers are enjoying the waves far out in the sea. The breaking waves are still hitting the shore after the storm last night.
I can even stop in the middle of the road if I see something I want to take a picture of.
By the time I arrived in Hamningberg, even the sun came out. The village is abandoned, all summer residents are gone. And, although it is only midday, the sun is already low on the horizon painting soft colors in the sky. I need to hurry to take pictures because there isn’t much time left for today.
A weekend is always very short and the following day I already have to drive back to Kirkenes. That’s too bad because I could spend much more time here. The atmosphere of the landscape so close to the polar night is hard to describe. Although it was stormy weather, I feel very calm and peaceful inside.
On my way back to Vardø, I met one fox. But the fox was too fast (or am I too slow?) to take a sharp picture of it. But the reindeer that I met shortly after next to the road were far more willing to pose for a picture.
Today, the sea is calm, but already at two o’clock in the afternoon the sun goes down.
I have travelled quite often to the Varanger peninsula during the twelve years I lived in Kirkenes. But none of these trips were so impressive as this road trip last year in the beginning of November. Was it due to the time of the year? Was it due to the atmosphere and the solitude? Probably it was due to a mixture of all of this. At least, I will keep this road trip in very good memory.
