51

...about the norwegian huts - prices differ.  

According to my plan I will visit Norwegian huts only during the first stage of my tour - between Treriksröset and Abisko. Svante already gave me the information, that the prices there are really cheap - 60 NOK per overnight stay for me as senior and STF member. It might be interesting to hear though, that prices in Norwegian huts differ a lot depending on the DNT area or group. 

Hello
We have reduction on the DNT-membership for senior. 
As STF-members you will get membership-price in the cabins, also in Norway.

Most local DNT-groups only have different prices for members and non-members.
Troms turlag (from Treriksrøysa to Lappjordhytta) is the only one with reduction for senior for the overnigthstay. From age 67 and older it is NOK 60,-
From Narvik (Hunddalshytta) and further south it costs NOK 150,- for all members.The local DNT-groups have different prices. So see the prices at each cabin.
Troms turlag: https://troms.dnt.no/turtips/
Narvik turistforening: https://not.dnt.no/?_ga=2.32657272.774307820.1496831255-383765631.1479109667
Further south: https://www.dnt.no/foreninger/

There is detailed information about the huts between Treriksrøysa and Lappjordhytta; stage 1 of my hike.

50

Getting to Kilpisjärvi ...

Treriksröset - the place where Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian borders meet - and the starting point of my tour - is in the middle of nowhere in Lapland. The nearest place to reach by public transport is Kilpisjärvi in Finland - 7 km from Treriksröset. 

Getting to Kilpisjärvi from Kiruna (Sweden) is more complicated than I thought. You cannot get there by public transport in one day. The bus (50 Kiruna - Karesuando, 200km ) leaves at 14.00 and arrives at 17.05 at Karesuando (Sweden).

You walk about 1 km to Karesuvanto (Finland) on the other side of the river to find out there is no bus connection to Kilpisjärvi (100km) the same day. You have missed it by 40 (!) minutes. Come on Europe, cooperate, you can do better!!! 

The bus to Kilpisjärvi  leaves at 16.25 and arrives at 17.50 (Price 20,40 €). There is also an earlier bus at 14.35, that one arrives at 16.25.

A taxi for the 100 km would cost 190€. :( There are places for accommodation though in Karesuando  (including a campsite) and Karesuvanto.

So, what can I do? I will try to hitch a ride and share the petrol. Anybody out there to offer me a lift July 20 in the late afternoon?

The connection from Tromsø (Norway) might be more convenient. I did not check. But info here: http://www.eskelisen-lapinlinjat.com/svenska.html.

49

... these boots are made for hiking, the maps for planning and orientation. Actually, I use the maps more for general orientation and as a backup since I go with Garmin Oregon.

Just to get an idea how far it is, just to imagine the distance covered between Treriksröset and Grövelsjön, I drew a circle of 1400 km around my home town Hamburg in Germany. I ended up in Florence, Italy, in Marseille, France, in Croatia - just been there sea kayaking. .... That far? On foot? Shock! Do I really want to walk that far? And, probably more important, ... can I go that far? Will I have the strength, the stamina, will I get along with loneliness? And ... will one pair of boots last? ;) So much doubt where there should be confidence. 
On the other hand ... A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Eleven maps - eleven weeks to go!

48

...getting more and more excited about the trip. It somehow feels like kayaking down a river turning into wild water with a gorge ahead you are inevitably drawn into... You are well prepared, you have done this before, you are skilled and able to assess and avoid risks ... but still ...

I have booked my flight to Kiruna and fixed the first overnight stay there.  I have ordered all my trekking meals including breakfasts and energy bars. So next week will see me packing the parcels for my mail drops, ordering books for my e-reader, receiving the very last Calazo map - a map I have ordered ages ago. 

Meanwhile first hikers have started from Grövelsjön. Anna and Ola will start soon. Looking at the photos...there is still so much snow. ... and very soon the snow will turn into water, I guess. I wonder how they'll get along. Thinking of you my fellow grönabandet hikers! Be safe!

For me it is still 6 weeks to go till I leave, but the hike is getting closer now. I look at it with respect, with a certain kind of anxiety and worries on the one hand, with excitement, joy and the pleasant thrill of anticipation on the other. These feelings will only calm down once I have started, I guess. 

There is a to-do-list - last and very last things to do before the hike. Now it is also time to get some physical training with my backpack... just to ease the pain during the first days of the hike. ;)