Location: Alta, Norway
Miles covered: 3,036



As the road rose, the mist fell and visibility plummeted to about 15 meters. Finally, after 165 miles and 18 hours of continuous riding I crested the last hill with legs throbbing, head pounding, nose running and eyes streaming. I had reached the end of Europe. At latitude 71°10'21" Nordkapp juts out into the Berents Sea roughly 1000 miles from the north pole. The view from the top of its 307m high cliffs is all-encompassing and gives itself easily to daydreaming. However, I only had enough energy to pose for a photo before stumbling a little distance away and throwing up my tent where (I was later told by an amused German) I indulged in some seismic snoring. I rested until the next morning and then turned my bike to face down the hill and set off for Singapore. On the way down I reached a toe-curling, buttock-clenching 50mph at one point and was dive-bombed by a flock of protective Actic tern parents at another.
