Tarifa to Nordkapp
 

Having just returned from cycling from the most southerly point of mainland Europe to the most northerly point in Europe I thought I’d just make this post in case anyone else is considering this ride (or any part of it)
I took the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao and cycled down to the start in Tarifa then made the long trip to Nordkapp. When I got to Nordkapp I cycled down to Kiruna in Sweden and got the train home.

This was my fifth cycle tour in Europe. Last year I cycled around the Baltic sea, the year before I cycled from Birmingham UK to Dubrovnik and across to Bari and back. The year before that I cycled from the UK to Spain and the year before that a tour of the Netherlands.

I always cycle solo and for the most part stealth camp.

If I can offer any advice don’t hesitate to ask.

Wow, that's an impressive ride, could you give a few statistics, distance, time, what bike you were riding, what you carried equipment wise. Did your route go up Norway or Sweden?

I'm not a stealth camper -- I just don't feel comfortable -- but having ridden a fair amount in Europe, I could see it being fairly easy to find a woods to disappear in in a lot of places.

But give us a rough idea of your route!

Some figures


Distance cycled between Tarifa and Nordkapp = 6401km
Total distance cycled (including Bilbao to Tarifa and Nordkapp to Kiruna) = 8326km
Hottest day cycled = 38c
Coldest day cycled = 5c
Total ascent = 57,379m
Biggest distance cycled in a day = 216km
Days cycled = 73
Rest days = 0
Average 114.05 km/day (71.28 miles/day)
Punctures = 4


I cycled up down to Tarifa through Salamanca and down to Seville and Cadiz
I cycled north through Spain passing through Rhonda, and north/east over the pyranese and into Toulouse and through the quietest roads to Saarbruken in Germany and up to Hamburg then into Denmark and getting the ferry from Helsinger to Helsinborg then up the middle of Sweden and passing through Finland and into Norway.
I’ll put together a detailed map at some point

I rode a Dawes Ultra Galaxy which I’ve made quite a few modifications to





Here is my packing list

1 bike> Dawes Galaxy Ultra front and rear racks,
2 water bottle cages,
Front and rear lights,
2 large Ortleb 40L rear panniers
2 Ortlieb 25L front panniers
1 large Ortlieb handle bar bag with map holder.
New Shawble marathon plus 700/32C tires
Brooks leather saddle
Union 9-W wireless cycle computer
1 cycling helmet
1 kryptonite medium sized cable lock
2 water bottles large



Clothes

3 pair lycra cycling shorts.
1 pair humvee cycling shorts
2 pair cycling under shorts
1 pair cycling tights
1 cycling jacket
3 cycling tops
2 gortex cycling jacket (1 heavy 1 light)
1 pair gortex cycling trousers
2 pair of underwear
6 pair of low cut socks
1 Berghouse fleece
2 Helly Hanson thermal vests.
2 pair cycling gloves
1 pair cycling shoes
1 pair overshoes
1 Pair cycling glasses


Camping equipment

2 person Hilliberg tent (large for more comfort)
1 Thermarest self inflating sleeping mattress
1 down sleeping bag
1 Silk sleeping bag liner
1 Primus omnifuel camping stove
2 containers of fuel
2 light weight pots and a kettle that fold away in each other
1 plastic dish (deep)
Fork, spoon and knife.
2 lighters
1 stainless steel mug
pack of batteries
Duct tape
Travel radio
Ipod Touch
3 freeloader solar energy packs with Solar panels for charging phone and Ipod
Lantern
Mobile phone and charger
Water filter
Stenapen water steriliser

Personal hygiene

Packet of wet wipes
Deodorant
shaving equipment
1 tooth brush and case
1 tooth paste
Dental floss
2 rolls of toilet paper
nail clippers
1 camping towel



First aid

paracetamol pills
diarrhoea pills
insect repellent spray
insect bite stick
10 medium sterill pads
1 roll of tape
1 pack of plasters
1 small tub of sudocreme
Factor 30 sunblock



Tool kit and spare parts

Pump
Cycle repair kit
Multi bike tool
6 small plastic ties
1 spare chain link
chain removal tool
3 spare 5mm stainless steel bolts with washers
valve adaptors
bicycle oil
2 pair brake shoes
1 spare brake cable
1 spare gear cable
1 swiss army pocket knife
3 spare inner tubes
1 spare folding tyre



Personal items

passport
insurance details
European health card
Digital compact camera with spare battery and charger
Selection of road maps
1 journal
2 pens
1 pair reading glasses


Laundry

Clothes pegs and line




Food

Enough food to last me the first three days
2 packs dried pasta
2 jars of pesto
6 sachets or cup of soup.
6 museli bars
Multi vitamins and minerals
Jar of coffee
Earl Grey teabags
Fruit (bananas and apples)