Scandinavia… Not a country, but a beautiful area. Scandinavia is the collective name for the following Northern countries; Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Looking at history, Finland and Iceland also belong to Scandinavia: according to the Norwegian council, they also belong. All in all, Scandinavia is huge (more than a million square kilometers), while about 24 million people live there. For comparison; The Netherlands is more than 41,000 square kilometers with about 17 million inhabitants.

Of all western European countries, the Scandinavian countries probably have the most more or less untouched nature. In addition, they are countries that are easily accessible from the Netherlands. Norway is characterized by, among other things, the fjords and the Trollstigen, known to many motorcyclists. And where Sweden is known as wide and relaxing, everyone knows Finland as the land of 1000 lakes. All in all, legitimate reasons to traverse this beautiful nature in the north of Europe by means of a number of routes.

The route starts in Mo i Rana, just along the way you will pass the first petrol station where you can fill up the tank if necessary. On the same square you can do some shopping at the supermarket for on the road should there be a need.

You are not yet out of the built-up area when you cross the Ranelva river. This is a river with a length of 130 kilometers which flows into the Ranfjorden in Mo i Rana. The river's catchment area is 3,790 square kilometers, before the Reinforsen and Lnagvatnet power stations were built, it was 3,843 square kilometers. You will see this river for more than 65 kilometers on your side, while you will be presented with beautiful pieces of nature, including beautiful rocks.

After 62 kilometers, you are already on the bike for an hour, it is time for the first coffee break. You have to leave the E6 for this address by turning right. At the end of the road, just before the place where the bridge used to be, you will find the restaurant on the left. Also walk to the end of the road to have a look at the river, always nice for a photo.

After coffee you will soon pass The Arctic Circle Center. This Center of the Polar Circle was officially opened on July 13, 1990, at the same time as the E6, which was then also completed. In the Center you will find a cafeteria serving Northern Norwegian dishes, an exhibition and a cinema with information about the Polar Circle, as well as a large and substantial souvenir shop. In total this is spread over an area of 1300 m2.
The Center is located approximately 680 meters above sea level in the Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park. In the area of the mountains Saltfjellet you will find a rich plant life, a rich fauna, and many fishing waters.
The Center of the Polar Circle is located in the middle of the mountains of Saltfjellet in the province of Nordland, it is a natural stopping point for all travelers. The Center of the Polar Circle is special in terms of its special architecture adapted to nature and the Polar Circle is indicated right through the building. The Center of the Polar Circle is open seasonally from May 1 to October 5.
In the vicinity you will find the memorials of the Second World War about the Russian and Yugoslavian fallen. The Center of the Polar Circle is located in a National Park and has a beautiful environment for walking tours.

Once on the road again, follow the E6 further north. Wide views appear one after the other, trees and houses are few and far between. In the distance some mountains and the occasional trickle of water. But before you know it you will be an hour further and it will be time for coffee again.

After this break you will find the Adde Zetterquist Kunstgalleri about 10 kilometers further. This gallery is primarily an exhibition of the art of Per Adde and Kajsa Zetterquist. The spectacular building houses two rooms for regular exhibitions of the two artists, as well as an adjoining room for guest exhibitions. The gallery is surrounded by beautiful countryside, at Storjord in Nordland, and is part of the Nordland National Park Center. The main principles of the gallery are the communication of art, nature and Sami culture and offers a wealth of experiences.

Various viewpoints are indicated along the E6. Pretty nice to stop here and take in and enjoy the environment. Whether it is a river you are looking at, in the distance the mountains or a fjord, it is all equally beautiful and just deserves to be recorded.

After more than 150 kilometers from the start of the route you will reach the fjord, where the end of the route eventually lies, but you will first 'have to' pass the entire fjord, what a punishment. At Rognan you see a fjord looming for the first time, the Saltdalsfjorden. The road along it is beautifully landscaped and pleasant to drive. You will soon arrive in Fauske, where a refueling stop and lunch are planned.

After lunch it is another 60 kilometers before you arrive in Bodø, where the end of the route is at the Skagen Hotel. Given the length of the route, you will not arrive too late at the hotel and you may still have time to do something in Bodø.
For example, you can visit the Bodø Krigshistoriske museum. The museum is run on a voluntary basis by the War History Association Bodø, which was founded in 1988. The museum shows the history of the Second World War, mainly in Nordland with an emphasis on Salten and Bodø. The museum has its own section on war sailors.
You can also take a look at the Bodø Domkirke. On May 27, 1940, Bodø was badly hit during air raids by the Luftwaffe. The old church collapsed together with the center. After the end of the war, a competition was held for the best design for a new church, which was won by the architects Gudolf Blakstad and Herman Munthe-Kaas. The foundation stone was laid in 1946 and the new church building was dedicated in 1956 by Bishop Wollert Krohn-Hansen. At the time of its completion, the church became the cathedral of the newly established diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
In the evening you may be able to take a nice walk along the marina, the hotel is just 300 meters away.
Two campsites are indicated for campers in the vicinity of the end point: Bodøsjøen Camping and Geitvågen Bad & Camping.

The participants of the Arctic Challenge 2020 also spent the night in Bodø, it was the destination of the first stage which ended from Enschede in Bodø. Two stops along the way, the first in Hamar and the second at a gas station near Grong. Still a distance of almost 2400 kilometers. Day 1 leave at 9 am, the next day in the evening in Bodø for dinner. And that under winter conditions, I give it to you. The day after they drove the tour of the Lofoten. The tour, consisting of three routes, was done by the participants in one day.

Have fun driving this route!