Andy and I competed in the 2024 Baltic Sea Circle Rally, the northernmost rally in the world, from June 22 to July 7. In our second article installment, we’re giving you a video sneak peek of rally days 5-8 with our 2024 all-electric German-spec short wheelbase Volkswagen ID. Buzz van.
We rallied through nine countries and nearly 5,000 miles in just over two weeks—becoming the first non-European EV team to compete in and finish the Baltic Sea Circle Rally, as well as the only all-electric team competing this year. In Part 1, we drove through Germany and Sweden and are now in Norway.
This story includes our Instagram reel highlights as they happened during competition. Part 3 will have 9–12, and our final Part 4 article installment will showcase our reels with rally days 10–16. Enjoy our EV run!
Day 5: Namsskogan, Norway to Bodø, Norway
Day 5, crossing Norway’s Arctic Circle and beyond! The 2024 @superlativeadventureclub Baltic Sea Circle Rally marched ahead as we left Namsskogan, Norway, to conquer our third-ever Arctic Circle Crossing: Storforshei, Norway.
We forged ahead to realize the Arctic’s barren landscape like we witnessed at the tour center and in North America, wasn’t the norm. Norway’s Arctic region was filled with trees, towns, and tons of people when compared to Alaska or Canada (the other two crossings we’ve completed during the Alcan 5000 Rally).
What we didn’t realize at the time, was there were only eight countries that boasted Arctic Circle crossings, and once we crossed Finland, we will have completed four of them. New bucket list for us: finish all eight. Turns out we were only two hours away from technically achieving Sweden. Next time.
DAY 5 QUICK STATS:
- 9 hours, 57 minutes
- 247 kilometers, 154 miles
- 2 charges
- Arctic Circle #1
- No ferry (3:15 am Day 6)
- Still in Norway (4 of 9 countries)
After the Arctic Circle, we toured on to Bodø, where we had to plan our day carefully. We needed to catch a 3:15 am ferry after attempting to catch a dinnertime one. So, a dinner and a beer were had, and then we slept for a few short hours before using a nasty public pay toilet before waiting our turn to board for the Lofoten islands. What’s next was truly awe-inspiring!
Day 6: Bodø, Norway to the Lofoten islands
We arrived in Moskenes on the Lofoten islands and then made our way to the 2024 Superlative Adventure Club Baltic Sea Circle Rally party! Although we had a short mileage day, we barely slept the night before as we had a 3:15 am ferry that left the main section of Norway to one of the most magnificent places on Earth: the Lofoten islands.
DAY 6 QUICK STATS:
- 13 hours, 13 minutes
- 141 kilometers, 88 miles
- 1 charge
- 1 ferry (3:15am)
- Guinness Book of World Records attempt
- Still in Norway (4 of 9 countries)
The Lofoten islands are known for jagged mountains, sheltered bays and beaches, remote fishing areas, and untouched lands. We waited to charge our VW ID. Buzz Pro until we finished our ferry ride and realized we could do double-duty by cooking meals while charging our EV.
We, driver @andy_lilienthal and navigator @mercedes_lilienthal, only had a few hours to tour the Lofoten, but the islands were truly spectacular. This is the place to travel each road. From modern-shaped snow sheds and gently curving tracks to breathtaking vistas and random excavators hauling fish, the Lofoten have found a permanent place in our memories.
Once we arrived at the rally’s Arctic Circle party at Hov, Gimsøysand, on the Lofoten Islands in Norway, we joined the others in a feast of food and drink until the midnight sun (didn’t) go down. We also took part in the Guinness Book of World Records’ unofficial longest picnic blanket, too. It was a night to remember.
Day 7 would be another 13+ hour day as we trudge to Tromsø and Skibotn, Norway.
Day 7: Lofoten Islands to Skibotn, Norway
We’re leaving Hov, Gimsøysand, on the Lofoten, deviating to Tromsø and ending up in Skibotn, Norway. The 2024 Baltic Sea Circle Rally marches on!
DAY 7 QUICK STATS:
- 13 hours, 30 minutes
- 474 kilometers, 295 miles
- 2 charges
- No ferries
- Still in Norway (4 of 9 countries)
- Nordkapp NEXT!
As most of the ralliers still slept, enjoying their post-party slumber, we started our morning at 5:49 am knowing we had another long day ahead of us. We said goodbye to one of the most magical places on Earth, Lofoten, and moved on towards Tromsø, an important city for previous Arctic and North Pole expeditions.
There, we checked out the Arctic Cathedral and the northernmost beer cellar in the world: Ølhallen. After vehicle charging and seeing our first Arctic Truck vehicle in the wild, other than in Iceland or the US, we drove to our final destination, Skibotn. We got bitten up more by Norwegian bugs (my poor forehead!) but cooked up some tasty Tactical Foodpack freeze-dried meals, had a beer, and enjoyed our evening with a few fellow competitors.
Next: Day 8 will not only be the longest day for us (at 16 hours, 35 minutes, and almost 900 kilometers), but it’s the midpoint of the rally and will contain a huge bucket list item for us: Nordkapp (the North Cape). You don’t want to miss what happens.
Day 8: Skibotn, Norway to Karasjok, Norway
This was our longest 2024 Baltic Sea Circle Rally day with 16 hours, 35 minutes, and 879 kilometers. Leaving Skibotn, marching on to Nordkapp, having our lowest EV battery percentage of the competition (9%), and ending up at a biting-bug-infested camp in Karasjok, Norway. A true Superlative Adventure Club adventure!
DAY 8 QUICK STATS:
- 16 hours, 35 minutes
- 879 kilometers, 546 miles
- 4 charges
- No ferries
- Still in Norway (4 of 9 countries)
- Lowest battery (9%)
We left at 5:45am with total focus. Today was do-or-die as a huge bucket list item was FINALLY within our reach: Nordkapp (the North Cape).
The Baltic Sea Circle Rally went farther north than we could’ve gone in North America with Tuktoyaktuk and the Arctic Ocean during the 2020 Alcan 5000 Rally. We had to conquer this competition (and Nordkapp, too)! But, this famed adventure-seeking destination had other plans for us.
Nordkapp sits at 71.1710° N, 25.7837° E and normally has sheer cliffs and stunning views. However, as we got closer, fog enveloped us and severe straight-line winds held us back the entire time. We couldn’t see.
During our long-haul day, we charged four times, and double-checked chargers. The Chargefinder app which had previously never been wrong, was wrong. We arrived at Nordkapp. It was freezing with total fog and 50+ mph straight-line winds. We had 15% battery left and ZERO CHARGERS.
Charging Challenges
What was to have been two 150kW chargers ended up being a single Tesla 11kW that was fenced off and inaccessible. So, we carefully piloted our Volkswagen ID. Buzz down the road using its B mode (regenerative braking mode) and gained back all but 5 kilometers to our nearest charger: Honningsvåg! We coasted in with 9% battery when we were estimating about 2–3%. WHEW. The ID. Buzz for the win! Nordkapp and us needs a do-over so we can see it next time.
We then made our way south to Karasjok, Norway. We sauntered into our campsite at 10:10 pm with thousands of bugs biting us alive. The next day is Finland, country #5.
Stay tuned to see what Finland, our second European Arctic Circle, and the rest of the rally has in store for us. You’ll think one thing and the exact opposite happens.