my uncle was a guard in the polish military in the 80s. He shot a drunk guy and got promoted for the action. This guy would have encountered a similar guy to my uncle
@@crithappened So what did the drunk guy do to get himself killed? It must have been somebody important, or do Poles always reward the killing of drunks by their military?
Hidden road? Its a super popular tourist road. I was baptized at that church you briefly viewed, and i have a cabin nearby. Stop dramatising this border, its as calm as ever.
I live here, and have no problems with the Russian's on the other side of the river. Also, you should have mentioned that in this river "Grense Jakobselv" you can catch big Atlantic salmon - and that the church/chapel you mentioned was built in 1869.
Morsomt det nå være å fiske i den elva og prate, men IKKJE gå over for å møtes. Da både du eller han kan være noen så er klar til å arrestere den andre 😂
The area has never been Finnish except for the Finnish occupation of 1920-44. In the Middle Ages, the Pechenga region, as well as the whole of northern Scandinavia, was taken under control by the Novgorod Republic, which involved the region in trade and was engaged in spreading Orthodoxy here. During the Russian Empire, the Pechenga region, inhabited by a few Orthodox Lapps, was part of the Arkhangelsk province.
Politicians and some people have all the limits in their brains. Normal people don't need boundaries. I really like Norway and the wonderful people. I studied for some time in Norway and am very glad that I got to know the life and customs of the local people. I really miss the good times. Greetings from Murmansk! :)
Good memories :In 2009, I rode to Grense Jakobselv on my motorcycle. The signs about the border were already there. I found the place much more interesting than Cape North which is a tourist trap.
Normally i i don’t make long comments on videos, but this one deserves it. I have to say, being a person who has lived in Kirkenes for 20 years, i find this video borderline offensive. To make these “dramatic” scenes and state things like “dangerous” or “deserted” place. Its just rude, people live here, people spend their entire lives working for this town that they love, so that you can make dramatic misinformed content of it? I could point out so many things you got wrong. And the worst part is, had you made a normal video without all this bullshit, it would still have been a really cool interesting video. But its all about the views i guess🤷♂️ Just some things i would like to correct: 2:16 Those bikes are not from people crossing the border, its literally just the bikes of a guy who lives there, he collects lots of stuff, and he owns property there, including the souvenir shop. You think it looks deserted or creepy, but it’s just the backyard of one of our local hoarders… 3:27: That’s the Coast Guard, NOT the Royal Norwegian Navy. There is no war going on up here, so stop making it look like it. I could point out so much more, it’s aggravating. This is not political, this is just me “defending” my hometown. So please don’t start any comments about the war in ukraine or anything unrelated. I just want people to understand that what it shown in this video is many people’s homeland, and it is what they love. It is not a creepy place to make misinformed videos. Thank you
Being a native norwegian born and bred i can firmly say that this trip is nothing to worry about.do understand that making a youtube vlog it can be temting to add some drama but best keeping facts.😂
sure, but its easy crossing over that creek, barley a river pretty sure all our Speed cameras that where stolen last year on Swedish roads and been found in Russian winged drones took that path.
You were there in the 60s or later during the cold war?? Not a laughing matter all the time. Born and bread Norwegian?? A bloody southener I excpect 🤣🤣🤣
No one sleeps in the bush unless they are tourist camping... :-) There is a way to cross legally into Russia, even without a passport. In Pasvik there are two areas in the river where the Norwegian side is too shallow, so it's permitted, on a boat, to use the Russian side of the riber to get past these two areas. Not many know that... The road to Grense Jakobselv is often considered one of the 10 most beautiful in Norway. Greetings from Hesseng :-)
If you would have said "hi" to the Norwegian Border Patrol you would probably have had a nice chat. Even though they're super competent they are also really nice people. Never be afraid to say "hi" to the Norwegian Army 😊
I was visiting Grense this summer and the military people in the car I met waved friendly. They seams to just check out that everything is normal. Well a Swedish car plate does not catch there attention...
From what I've heard and read about this Norway-Russia border crossing things were much more tense during the Cold War. Back then this crossing was literally a part of the Iron Curtain between the East and West. Nowadays things aren't as intense as they were during the Cold War.
In 1968, under heavy fog during the night, Norwegian border guards suddenly heard the sound of heavy machinery all along the border. When the fog lifted, thousands of tanks and tracked vehicles stood lined up in front of the border, aiming their turrets at Norwegian positions and watchtowers. At one point, a spotter saw a flash from a turret further back. His heart sank. It would be only seconds until they were dead. But as the clock ticked by, nothing happened. And he released probably the longest sigh he's ever made until that day, because they were only shooting blanks. The whole incident was black-bagged by the Norwegian government, so it never really made a stir in either Norwegian or international press, but Norwegians stood ready to fire missiles at the tanks the second they made the wrong move. Had this happened, the world might have looked very different today...
LOL! "At one point, a spotter saw a flash from a turret further back. His heart sank. It would be only seconds until they were dead." And that wasn't the "wrong move"? What a load of BS!
@@kebman Like Norway's history generally? LOL! The Nazis didn't invade Norway; the Norwegians accommodated them. You believe in Norway's heroic resistance against the Nazis, do you? So backward-looking on the periphery of civilisation, they struggled to document any history, which some see as an opportunity to make it up. LOL! Vikings by name, vikings by nature. Corrupt con artists incessantly talking shite.
@@Noen123 Just another grossly exaggerated tale. Like the one about how Norway saved the world during WWII by scuppering the Nazi's atomic bombs. Not only has it been demonstrated that there was insufficient pure heavy water, the German's R&D wasn't capable of building atomic bombs. But still Norwegians bang on about it, in denial of the truth. Clearly big on BS mainly.
I was in Murmansk / Monchegorsk in July this year. It was pretty alright, a bit of poverty is to be suspected but the Russian way of life is just so different than the norwegian one in may ways. But also extremely similar in many more. All in all I'll have to say that people around Murmansk / Monchegorsk are extremely friendly, if not a bit shy / unintrested. It's a extremely vast country, and it's easy to tell that the north has a hard fight every year with the permafrost / insane amounts of snow and ice that builds up underground. But their roads for the most part are on par with Norway, and defiantly better than Bergen's. (joke but not quite) The cuisine is extremely good, the prices are extremely cheap. A good general rule in Russia is: if you don't "fuck around" you won't "find out", which I think is a good deterrent to not act like a benign moron. As I have been very lucky in my upbringing and come from the states, I would frankly say that Russian rural people and American rural people are almost per definition the same people in their values, views, kindness and hospitality. They did not see me as a foreign NATO agent / spy, (which i kinda feared due to the stigma of Russia / KGB / NKVD / FSB stereotype, but rather as a random dude which they were more curios about than anything else. Thanks to my girlfriend who is Russian, and my somewhat basic Russian I spoke to proper bandits from the 90s. Also if they ask to play cards, deny as fast as possible. But also spoke to a lot of random people with their own random lives, and their biggest fear of the west is that all we have is hatred torwards them, because hatred is a tool of division and is the most promoted tool of every government as of late. If not for goverments every nation could work as one, but we are forced to be learned our ways of life through harshness of history, rather than the promise of the future.
Another great video Matthew, I very much enjoy the humour that you use! I'd forgotten about that road, I missed the chance to 'explore' it last time I was up in the far(ish) north of Norway. Areas with forbidden zones and routes intrigue me very much and I'm always compelled to explore them. Not sure Rudolph 🦌 deserved that ending mind, think of the children at Christmas 🎅 ... Excellent footage as usual, thanks very much for that 🚴♂️👍
I've come to expect wonderful videos from you, and I'm never disappointed! This was really interesting, and, as usual, beautifully filmed. More, please! Greetings from Devon.
Hi Matthew, great video as always. The bikes are there from refugees crossing the border. The law says they can't travel by foot or motor vehicles BUT do not mention bikes. So they travel over on bikes given to them by the Russians who export their refugee costs.
Well, actually they’re not, they bellng to the guy living there, the same guy who owns the slightly creepy souvenir shop. Also the road is not at all from the nineteenth century, it opened in the fifties, no new signs since the full scale invasion also. I appreciate the want for a dramatic vlog, but this is just way over the top.
This brings back so many memories. I was there back in 2004, my first long trip in my new Škoda Fabia. I didn't even remember until you said it here that the road wasn't paved all the way to Grense Jakobselv, but I do remember paddling in the river and being aware not to go over half way. There were no elk to be seen in the dense undergrowth on the other side that day though; nor Russian military, for that matter. But it was early July, the weather was nice, and we picniced on the beach. I really need to get back there. I miss that part of the world. I never got to go down the Øvre Pasvik road though; I so wanted to, but my travelling companion said "leave something for next time". That "next time" is yet to come. Oh I do hope they put the ferries back on from Newcastle again soon.
It is also the oldest and only remaining nato to russia border that has been there since the formation of Nato, as there was no warsaw pact countries between Norway and Russia, and Norway being a forming member of Nato, and the border being close to Russias largest naval base in Murmansk.
Was by the border crossing myself in 2021. Did not know about the chapel at that time. Planning a new trip in 2025, maybe then I will be able to see the chapel. Went to the north cape. but truly never went as far towards Jacobselv, really because I did not think much about it other than it being a river between Norway and Russia which also marked the border. Next time will be through Finland / Sweden. To see more. Maybe closer to the Russian border, all the way to the point where Finland, Norway and Russia meet. Thank you for this video.
Nice vistas from the "border road". I still have that one on my bucket list. I assume that the Norwegian authorities had already closed that road to Grense Jakobselv if there was any clear and present danger for locals or tourists using it.
Grense Jakobselv is the most special place! And Oscar 2. chapel is a must! Actually its the reason for Norway and Russia was right there. Its so close to Russia, and that was planned by the building the chappel there. l was there as a army patrol. The beach is so perfect, and its so far north, you will never find a border that long north anywhere.
😂 you had me there, where you stopped because you heard something in the bushes, you’re heart stopped, I stopped breathing that’s not better, luckely it was a reindeer 😊 Love you’re video’s 👋
Only a single border crossing from Finland is still open, the most Northern one. The sign to it in Sodankylä reading "303 km to Murmansk" was shown at 0:20.
? this road is not hidden at all. Everybody on Pasvik excursions goes there.... There is also Pasvik reserve on the russian side, and near Nyrud, a narrow long islet/island named Varlam visited for its diverse biotypes. This Varlam islet was the home, before Revolution of a norwegian ornithologist, Hans Schaanning,, who after moved to Noatun on the other shore. The trade on these areas was quite developed in Middle-Ages, in russian it's part of Pomor trade and subculture, and the name of the city Murmansk derivates from the word "nordmann" ie. in scandinavian "norwegian", with "n" softened in a "m". The old name of the settlement before the city in Romanov times was Romanov-na-Murman. around 0:23: no, Grense Jakobslev/Borisoglebsk is not the only Schengen-Russia crossing open by now. There are three crossings in Estonia, main one Narva of course, two in Latvia (main one Terohova on M9 to MSK) and the crossings to Kaliningrad from/to Poland and Lithuania. how do you think NATO regimes do bring in/out their own agents if all border crossings shut down?
@@mikaelsimble382 haha You used the word "continuation". Your homeland robbed our lands, they do not belong to you. Secondly, the only country that has ever stolen land from Finland (in winter war AND in continuation war) is the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the current Russian Federation. Finland has not taken anything from Russia. So the thieves are in Russia, not Finland.
@@mikaelsimble382 This was already the third war. The first war was the summer of 1918, when Finland attacked Soviet Russia, captured Vyborg and executed Russians there. Then there was the winter war, when Stalin returned Vyborg to Russia. And now the Finns really want to start another war with Russia, trying to establish a naval blockade of the Baltic. All Finnish media, which previously said that NATO is needed for Finland's security, are now calling on citizens to be ready for war.
In 1974 I drove to the North Cape through Finland and we though about driving to the Russian Border, but never got that far. They still had ferries from Repvåg by then.
It's kinda weird because northern European Russia, Finland and the baltics are our neighbors and are a part of the nordics, but for some reason we never really educate about these cultures in our society. I really wish we did so because having visited Estonia 2 times and Finland once I can tell you, these are some of the most beautiful places in the world.
@@P10M10MAONYeah it’s really common to travel back and forth in the Finland Bay Area for stuff like shopping and family I’ve heard. I actually took the ferry last year from Helsinki to Tallinn while on vacay. Mind you the Finland part was also vacation cause I’m Norwegian.
As a previous Norwegian bordergard(the guys that sitt in those towers). This was waaay to dramatic, the rode is not secret and the Russian bordergard is not dangerous as long as we are in peace time. I can't gett a gripp on if this is ironic or not.
I know that road. Travelled it four years ago on my motorbike. Weather was much worse that time, otherwise pretty much the same, including the Norwegian soldiers.
Well, you proved me wrong. I predicted you wouldn't make a video about Grense Jakobselv. Not that scenic in the North Norway style, drones will draw unwanted military attention, and so on. But no, I was wrong. Congratulations, great video!
Want to go there with my camper next summer! Ferry to Helsinki and drive up. Adventure! Was at the world end in Norway this summer, fantastic views! On the way there we stopped at Drammen, also very beautiful! Unfortunately flooded a week later.
You took the nicest route in Finmark I live in Varanger. And it is much nicer than going to the northern cape. Vardo and Hamningberg is also the real arctic. Not just the arctic circle.
On the Russian side, going toward Murmansk, you have two military checkpoints, and then a rest stop in between them. It's pretty uneventful. That as of 2019, they might have more military checkpoints now.
They say that Scandinavia has only recently risen from under the water. Just a few centuries ago, in its place there was a sea with small rocky islands. Did you see any signs of this?
I am glad to have our russians friends as neighbour. Prefer them before a anglo-sac one. Russia has never given us any harm. They saved north of Norway from starving during the english embargo to Norway.😘🇷🇺
Ja, det kan vara lugnt på gräsen mellan Norge och Ryssland, men däremot dödar Putin och hans ockupationsarmé barn, kvinnor och män i Ukraina. Ryssarna är inte välvilliga mot utlänningar. Däremot är de alltid redo att bedra ”dumma” utlänningar som de kallar för тупые иностранцы». PS. De territorier , som numera hör till Ryssland, var före det andra världskriget finskt.
I came home two hours ago. Took my bike to the shop and back home. Not as impressive like what you guys did though. But when i was on my way back home i saw a man with only one leg. A one leg man is nothing you see everyday
Hellas ! Why haven't you mentioned that the Soviet Union had attacked the little Finland in December 1939 , and has stolen the half of the area of Finland in 1940 , by what the little Finland has lost its exit to the arctic sea ? if this hadn't happened , there wouldn't be common Norwegian-- Russian border , but a Finno--Russian one ! far severö sapirico from Budapest
❤❤❤❤❤ that area, peninsulas, and regions. I tell anyone if they get a chance to visit that area. Had lunch at the picnic table at the border, spent the night at Grense Jakobselv at the Barents Sea, and beyond belief the quietness all along the FV8860. Didn't realize at the time but the land I could see in the distance was Vardo. Had a similar feeling while trying to take a picture of the Russian side, noticing that we were being watched, put down the camera. I was talking with a Norwegian Military Personnel and he said we were not allowed to take any pictures of the border buildings. Noticed that a tour bus that went there just to see it, and not cross it, with not a single person with a camera out.
The first border agreement between Norway and Russia (Novgorod kingdom) was drawn in 1326 and the ONLY time it's been military violated was in 1944 when russian forces fought against the german nazis and liberated Europe.
@@Coffeepanda294 I mean.. Norway is the only country they left after they had fought the nazis so for us they're liberators.. It's too bad about the rest of the countries they entered but never left...
In summer 2021 I was camping in that area with my home made box van camper for 1 month . This was a bit over dramatic lol. I would love to see how much over the top drama he would make out a actually trip from Kirkenes to Murmansk Russia. I have done that trip 2 times with my car and soon after passing the heavily guarded border into Russia you come to Nikel a industrial heavily polluted town. After that it is hours of driving trough a military area where no one lives (no one is allowed to live in that huge military area) and you see the Russian border high barbwire fence with with sand trap which is not meant to keep people from coming into Russia but it is meant to keep people INN Russia identical to high prison fence .... Also you pass several checkpoints with armed military guards on the way to Murmansk before you actually reach the Russian border passport control (think it was 1 hour or more to get to that point quite far into Russia). At the passport control it was 1 hour waiting in line to get your passport checked and approved by a clerk writing on a type writer with one finger 1 sign per second, probably the most slow typewriter in the entire world and that person alone was the reason for the 1 hour line at the passport check... After passing the border passport check it was more normal with no more armed guards and military checkpoints. But on the middle of a long stretch of road with 80km/h speed limit it was suddenly a 60km/h speed limit for no reason at all... The guy I traveled with said it was there for the police to catch speeders that ignored it, a literal speed trap lol ;) Rest of the trip the largest danger was Russian logging lorries which had the habit of driving in the middle of the road (presumably because they was drunk and stayed in the middle to be safe ... they looked like drunk drivers swerving all over lol.) We arrived in Murmans and had to check in at a hotel I had paid for even If I had private place to stay. That was part of the visa to stay in Russia for 2 days in the weekend. We went out on the town and for first time in my life girls actually asked me to dance... Later my friend that I was traveling with said the girls was doughters of Russian mafia boss lool ;) We had fun and then went home. Aslo shopping there was a pleasant experienc, thing tid cost the same as in Norway but it was in Rubles which was 1/4 the value so everything did cost 1/4 :) This was back in 2001, now the Ruble even with the war is much higher in value and increasing compered to the Norwegian shitcoin (that is what we call NOK now because it keeps falling faster and faster in value...)...
It is nonsense to claim that you can’t cross the border. It’s not closed, as far as I know. You simply need a visa, like always. Boycotting Russia is understandable, but it’s still completely open to tourists and other visitors. When I talk to friends about this, 95 % appear surprised since they were sure Russia had sealed its borders. In fact it’s the complete opposite: the EU has closed all direct flight routes and some countries have decided to block Russian holders of S Schengen visas. Lately, Finland has also closed all but one of its border crossings because Russia was sending asylum seekers to Finland, either to get rid of them or as a kind of hybrid or pinprick attack. Norway usually goes a very long way to behave correct and orderly with its land border to Russia, even meaning it’s almost subservient sometimes. So I think the border crossing will stay open. But migrant waves will be seen again. I strongly support Ukraine in the war and I think the sanctions on Russia are necessary, but I don’t think it helps to mystify Russia. Eventually, we’ll need to get friends again after there, hopefully, is a regime change. Nato is a defence alliance, and Norway is a sovereign country - it’s not Nato’s border, but Norway’s border. The infrastructure here doesn’t make a land invasion likely, although it would be possible for Russian troops to take Kirkenes within an hour. I understand that the whole video is a bit ironic and that’s fine. But many people may take it as facts.
Border will be closed soon i believe, Russian regime is trying to send refugees across the border in Finland, they will probably try doing the same in Kirkenes (just like they did in 2015).
BTW: there is no way things be will normal again with Russia unless there is a regime change. Putin must be sent to Hague before any talks regarding dialog with Russia will take place.
Какая чушь! Есть специальная сирийская и турецкая мафии, которая организует туры сирийцев к границе Финляндии за 3000€. Они были и пять-десять лет назад. Россия этим не занимается, просто финнам нужно найти хоть какую-то причину для закрытия границ. Путин - самый лояльно настроенный к Европе политик в России на сегодня. Следующий президент будет гораздо жёстче. Большинство народа России западных европейцев и американцев из штатов не ценит и, мягко говоря, не уважает. What nonsense! There is a special Syrian and Turkish mafia that organizes tours for Syrians to the Finnish border for 3,000euros. They were there five or ten years ago. Russia is not doing this, it's just that the Finns need to find at least some reason to close the borders. Putin is the most loyal politician to Europe in Russia today. The next president will be much tougher. The majority of the Russian people do not appreciate Western Europeans and US Americans and, to put it mildly, do not respect them.
@@flo2677 This is not necessary. There is no oil in Europe, little gas and poor coal. If there is no gas, then there is no fertilizer. If there are no fertilizers, then there are no wheat harvests and, therefore, no meat. And there is no fuel at a normal price for households either. Your future is hunger, cold and migrant gangs. They can handle you without us.
Can we please stop wit the Scary Russia narrative? Just FYI, Russia allows any foreigner in without limitation (unlike democratic EU), visa required. I dare you Matthew to visit Russia, cycling around Ladoga lake is a nice route.
First of all all EU countries need a e-visa to travel in Russia. Second is that Russia is not a member of Schengen zone therefore you need a visa to travel around Europe. Any EU citezen doesn't require any visa to travel around Europe 😊 Well and the last one traveling in Russia by bicycle is not that safe as you say...from my experience and many other friends who traveled there 😞
@matthewnorway Do you have a video where you explain your gear, travel bags and how you disassemble to bike for a flight, and which fees the airlines will take?
If you fly with SAS or Norwegian, you should have the bike in a bag or box designed for transport. Max 20 kg. Inform the airline about the bike when booking. A bike may add something like USD 30 to the plane ticket.
How hard is it for a westerner to cross into the Russia from Norway or Finland at a secured border-crossing without a visa? Would you be turned away and told to go back?
![[S1 - Eps.92] CROSSING INTO RUSSIA](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_zgE4Kk1T4s/mqdefault.jpg)
![[S1 - Eps.92] CROSSING INTO RUSSIA](/img/tr.png)
DON'T MAKE IT SO DRAMATIC. !!!
hahaha i tought it was cool
my uncle was a guard in the polish military in the 80s. He shot a drunk guy and got promoted for the action.
This guy would have encountered a similar guy to my uncle
Idiot or maybe a russian bot?
@@crithappened So what did the drunk guy do to get himself killed? It must have been somebody important, or do Poles always reward the killing of drunks by their military?
I will go in August. Tell me if you are interesting @@IhsanKhqn
Hidden road? Its a super popular tourist road. I was baptized at that church you briefly viewed, and i have a cabin nearby. Stop dramatising this border, its as calm as ever.
Come on, it was done in a joking and ironic way.
Goodevening .
Come someone cross from Russia to norway throught dat board?
I live here, and have no problems with the Russian's on the other side of the river. Also, you should have mentioned that in this river "Grense Jakobselv" you can catch big Atlantic salmon - and that the church/chapel you mentioned was built in 1869.
Morsomt det nå være å fiske i den elva og prate, men IKKJE gå over for å møtes. Da både du eller han kan være noen så er klar til å arrestere den andre 😂
Ja vi har bestandig levd sammen med russerne som søsken. Spesielt her nord hvor Russland befriet oss fra Tyskland.
Also, the area on the other side of the river, was part of Finland between 1920-44, and was called Petsamo.
The area has never been Finnish except for the Finnish occupation of 1920-44. In the Middle Ages, the Pechenga region, as well as the whole of northern Scandinavia, was taken under control by the Novgorod Republic, which involved the region in trade and was engaged in spreading Orthodoxy here.
During the Russian Empire, the Pechenga region, inhabited by a few Orthodox Lapps, was part of the Arkhangelsk province.
@@Noen123kanskje de kommer og befrir dere igjen snart:)
4:50 is pure projection. It was Norway that killed over 100 deers to stop them from crossing into Russia.
Nice good dear❤
That means that people had a lot of venison to eat.
Politicians and some people have all the limits in their brains. Normal people don't need boundaries. I really like Norway and the wonderful people. I studied for some time in Norway and am very glad that I got to know the life and customs of the local people. I really miss the good times. Greetings from Murmansk! :)
Yes. I wish every country was peaceful and safe so everyone could travel and meet new people. There's is no good reason for borders.
Slava Russisky narod! Politics are for debil idiots. You are our brothers and sisters by fact, Viking - Rus. May peace come to us all. Do svidaniya.
Good memories :In 2009, I rode to Grense Jakobselv on my motorcycle. The signs about the border were already there. I found the place much more interesting than Cape North which is a tourist trap.
Grense Jakobselv Is really more interesting than Nordkapp , completely agree , Is a very peacefull place , good for soul and Spirit !!!
In the early 90's I was stationed up there patrolling that border, on ski's wintertime, and walking when there were no snow. Fun memories :)
Me too! Korpfjell 1990/91 - Grense jeger "pingle jeger" :))
Grt BTW can someone cross from Russia to norway ?
Normally i i don’t make long comments on videos, but this one deserves it.
I have to say, being a person who has lived in Kirkenes for 20 years, i find this video borderline offensive. To make these “dramatic” scenes and state things like “dangerous” or “deserted” place. Its just rude, people live here, people spend their entire lives working for this town that they love, so that you can make dramatic misinformed content of it? I could point out so many things you got wrong. And the worst part is, had you made a normal video without all this bullshit, it would still have been a really cool interesting video. But its all about the views i guess🤷♂️
Just some things i would like to correct:
2:16 Those bikes are not from people crossing the border, its literally just the bikes of a guy who lives there, he collects lots of stuff, and he owns property there, including the souvenir shop. You think it looks deserted or creepy, but it’s just the backyard of one of our local hoarders…
3:27: That’s the Coast Guard, NOT the Royal Norwegian Navy. There is no war going on up here, so stop making it look like it.
I could point out so much more, it’s aggravating.
This is not political, this is just me “defending” my hometown. So please don’t start any comments about the war in ukraine or anything unrelated. I just want people to understand that what it shown in this video is many people’s homeland, and it is what they love. It is not a creepy place to make misinformed videos. Thank you
That ship was the Coastguard, not the regular Navy.
Being a native norwegian born and bred i can firmly say that this trip is nothing to worry about.do understand that making a youtube vlog it can be temting to add some drama but best keeping facts.😂
sure, but its easy crossing over that creek, barley a river
pretty sure all our Speed cameras that where stolen last year on Swedish roads and been found in Russian winged drones took that path.
You were there in the 60s or later during the cold war?? Not a laughing matter all the time. Born and bread Norwegian?? A bloody southener I excpect 🤣🤣🤣
I was a border guard in 1989 before the wall fell in Berlin, You can laugh your heart out but You are a totally historically ignorant
No one sleeps in the bush unless they are tourist camping... :-) There is a way to cross legally into Russia, even without a passport. In Pasvik there are two areas in the river where the Norwegian side is too shallow, so it's permitted, on a boat, to use the Russian side of the riber to get past these two areas. Not many know that... The road to Grense Jakobselv is often considered one of the 10 most beautiful in Norway. Greetings from Hesseng :-)
Fra Sandnes også!! Har aldri følt meg truet av Russerene i Grense Jakobselv eller Pasvik for den del.
Ils ne peuvent se passer de faire de la propagande antirusse
they use bikes over the border, from russian side. that is why you see bikes all over. there is much proof of this
I guess it's nothing worth comparing to the Lofoten or the Vestland.
@@xbm41is t easy to cross from Russia to norway Boss?
I would be a LOT more concerned traveling to the UK than to Russia - for sure!
Why?
If you would have said "hi" to the Norwegian Border Patrol you would probably have had a nice chat. Even though they're super competent they are also really nice people. Never be afraid to say "hi" to the Norwegian Army 😊
I was visiting Grense this summer and the military people in the car I met waved friendly. They seams to just check out that everything is normal. Well a Swedish car plate does not catch there attention...
But bring a valid ID ie passport. You are mandated to show it any time in this area.
Actually, in Norwegian it's "Hei!"
@nallebrean can u cross from Russia to norway ?
@nallebrean can u cross from Russia to norway ?
From what I've heard and read about this Norway-Russia border crossing things were much more tense during the Cold War. Back then this crossing was literally a part of the Iron Curtain between the East and West. Nowadays things aren't as intense as they were during the Cold War.
Fantastic as usual Matthew 👌
In 1968, under heavy fog during the night, Norwegian border guards suddenly heard the sound of heavy machinery all along the border. When the fog lifted, thousands of tanks and tracked vehicles stood lined up in front of the border, aiming their turrets at Norwegian positions and watchtowers. At one point, a spotter saw a flash from a turret further back. His heart sank. It would be only seconds until they were dead. But as the clock ticked by, nothing happened. And he released probably the longest sigh he's ever made until that day, because they were only shooting blanks. The whole incident was black-bagged by the Norwegian government, so it never really made a stir in either Norwegian or international press, but Norwegians stood ready to fire missiles at the tanks the second they made the wrong move. Had this happened, the world might have looked very different today...
LOL! "At one point, a spotter saw a flash from a turret further back. His heart sank. It would be only seconds until they were dead." And that wasn't the "wrong move"? What a load of BS!
@@johnmcmullan9741 You'll have to refer to the Army report pal. The events that day are thoroughly documented.
@@johnmcmullan9741 never heard about it. Jækla løgn
@@kebman Like Norway's history generally? LOL! The Nazis didn't invade Norway; the Norwegians accommodated them. You believe in Norway's heroic resistance against the Nazis, do you? So backward-looking on the periphery of civilisation, they struggled to document any history, which some see as an opportunity to make it up. LOL! Vikings by name, vikings by nature. Corrupt con artists incessantly talking shite.
@@Noen123 Just another grossly exaggerated tale. Like the one about how Norway saved the world during WWII by scuppering the Nazi's atomic bombs. Not only has it been demonstrated that there was insufficient pure heavy water, the German's R&D wasn't capable of building atomic bombs. But still Norwegians bang on about it, in denial of the truth. Clearly big on BS mainly.
Inspiring, informative, funny, beautiful all in one video. Thanks Matthew ❤
I was in Murmansk / Monchegorsk in July this year. It was pretty alright, a bit of poverty is to be suspected but the Russian way of life is just so different than the norwegian one in may ways. But also extremely similar in many more. All in all I'll have to say that people around Murmansk / Monchegorsk are extremely friendly, if not a bit shy / unintrested.
It's a extremely vast country, and it's easy to tell that the north has a hard fight every year with the permafrost / insane amounts of snow and ice that builds up underground. But their roads for the most part are on par with Norway, and defiantly better than Bergen's. (joke but not quite) The cuisine is extremely good, the prices are extremely cheap. A good general rule in Russia is: if you don't "fuck around" you won't "find out", which I think is a good deterrent to not act like a benign moron.
As I have been very lucky in my upbringing and come from the states, I would frankly say that Russian rural people and American rural people are almost per definition the same people in their values, views, kindness and hospitality. They did not see me as a foreign NATO agent / spy, (which i kinda feared due to the stigma of Russia / KGB / NKVD / FSB stereotype, but rather as a random dude which they were more curios about than anything else.
Thanks to my girlfriend who is Russian, and my somewhat basic Russian I spoke to proper bandits from the 90s. Also if they ask to play cards, deny as fast as possible. But also spoke to a lot of random people with their own random lives, and their biggest fear of the west is that all we have is hatred torwards them, because hatred is a tool of division and is the most promoted tool of every government as of late.
If not for goverments every nation could work as one, but we are forced to be learned our ways of life through harshness of history, rather than the promise of the future.
u r a good environmentalists i thank u for using cycle for ur travel .
i support ur endeavour and ur channel for this
Beautiful story, thanks for sharing
Grense Jakobselv - I was there on 1st September, passed King Oscar II Chapel and stayed one night directly at Barentssea. Unforgettable 😍
Same here (different day and year), absolutely loved the area.
Ah yes - more ‘bikes as tools of discovery’ - so good to see and incredibly interesting, many thanks
Another great video Matthew, I very much enjoy the humour that you use!
I'd forgotten about that road, I missed the chance to 'explore' it last time I was up in the far(ish) north of Norway. Areas with forbidden zones and routes intrigue me very much and I'm always compelled to explore them.
Not sure Rudolph 🦌 deserved that ending mind, think of the children at Christmas 🎅 ...
Excellent footage as usual, thanks very much for that 🚴♂️👍
I have cycled to Kirkenes and Grense Jakobselv in 2012. Fascinating area. 😂
What a journey. What a ride.
Would like to cycle to the far north of Norway some day
I've come to expect wonderful videos from you, and I'm never disappointed! This was really interesting, and, as usual, beautifully filmed. More, please! Greetings from Devon.
Interesting to see what it's like over there !
Not at all the kind of video I expected to watch, though I'm happy I did. Wonderful
Great video. You've been lucky with the weather.
Hi Matthew, great video as always. The bikes are there from refugees crossing the border. The law says they can't travel by foot or motor vehicles BUT do not mention bikes. So they travel over on bikes given to them by the Russians who export their refugee costs.
Well, actually they’re not, they bellng to the guy living there, the same guy who owns the slightly creepy souvenir shop. Also the road is not at all from the nineteenth century, it opened in the fifties, no new signs since the full scale invasion also. I appreciate the want for a dramatic vlog, but this is just way over the top.
Goodeven sir.
Can cross from Russia to norway ?
I have this route added to my list of places to cycle. What a ride!
Seems like a nice place to take the bike at in the summertime.
This brings back so many memories. I was there back in 2004, my first long trip in my new Škoda Fabia. I didn't even remember until you said it here that the road wasn't paved all the way to Grense Jakobselv, but I do remember paddling in the river and being aware not to go over half way. There were no elk to be seen in the dense undergrowth on the other side that day though; nor Russian military, for that matter. But it was early July, the weather was nice, and we picniced on the beach.
I really need to get back there. I miss that part of the world. I never got to go down the Øvre Pasvik road though; I so wanted to, but my travelling companion said "leave something for next time". That "next time" is yet to come. Oh I do hope they put the ferries back on from Newcastle again soon.
It is also the oldest and only remaining nato to russia border that has been there since the formation of Nato, as there was no warsaw pact countries between Norway and Russia, and Norway being a forming member of Nato, and the border being close to Russias largest naval base in Murmansk.
Great, loved It! Thank you.
Great film, an amazing trip.
Very interesting.Thank you!
Was by the border crossing myself in 2021. Did not know about the chapel at that time. Planning a new trip in 2025, maybe then I will be able to see the chapel.
Went to the north cape. but truly never went as far towards Jacobselv, really because I did not think much about it other than it being a river between Norway and Russia which also marked the border.
Next time will be through Finland / Sweden. To see more. Maybe closer to the Russian border, all the way to the point where Finland, Norway and Russia meet. Thank you for this video.
Great video!
Nice vistas from the "border road". I still have that one on my bucket list.
I assume that the Norwegian authorities had already closed that road to Grense Jakobselv if there was any clear and present danger for locals or tourists using it.
Grense Jakobselv is the most special place! And Oscar 2. chapel is a must! Actually its the reason for Norway and Russia was right there. Its so close to Russia, and that was planned by the building the chappel there. l was there as a army patrol. The beach is so perfect, and its so far north, you will never find a border that long north anywhere.
That part of Norway used to belong to Finland before it got stolen. Still people speak Finnish there!
the border was defined in the year 1751, before finland became their own nation, the deal was made when finland was a part of sweden too
Pretty sure it’s the russian side that used to be finnish
Cry more, You got beaten
Actually it was nothing to do with getting betten, it was part of the Napoleonic aftermath
The Russians stole the whole of Carelia...
I would have thought it would be great to do that trip at mid-summer.!
😂 you had me there, where you stopped because you heard something in the bushes, you’re heart stopped, I stopped breathing that’s not better, luckely it was a reindeer 😊 Love you’re video’s 👋
It is not the only one Schengen area border crossing which is open to Russia. Poland has also left open the crossings, Finland as well.
Only a single border crossing from Finland is still open, the most Northern one. The sign to it in Sodankylä reading "303 km to Murmansk" was shown at 0:20.
Talk about hype! Wow, here comes a car!!!
? this road is not hidden at all. Everybody on Pasvik excursions goes there.... There is also Pasvik reserve on the russian side, and near Nyrud, a narrow long islet/island named Varlam visited for its diverse biotypes. This Varlam islet was the home, before Revolution of a norwegian ornithologist, Hans Schaanning,, who after moved to Noatun on the other shore. The trade on these areas was quite developed in Middle-Ages, in russian it's part of Pomor trade and subculture, and the name of the city Murmansk derivates from the word "nordmann" ie. in scandinavian "norwegian", with "n" softened in a "m". The old name of the settlement before the city in Romanov times was Romanov-na-Murman.
around 0:23: no, Grense Jakobslev/Borisoglebsk is not the only Schengen-Russia crossing open by now. There are three crossings in Estonia, main one Narva of course, two in Latvia (main one Terohova on M9 to MSK) and the crossings to Kaliningrad from/to Poland and Lithuania.
how do you think NATO regimes do bring in/out their own agents if all border crossings shut down?
Another great video.
Well that road was once Norwegian road in Finnish-Norwegian border but Russia stole our lands. Petsamo is the name of that stolen area.
The entire territory of Finland was also stolen by Russia. from Sweden.
Well maybe you shouldn't have started the Continuation War in 1941 then..
Finland lost the war it started with nazi germany if I remember. Not stolen then.
@@mikaelsimble382 haha You used the word "continuation". Your homeland robbed our lands, they do not belong to you. Secondly, the only country that has ever stolen land from Finland (in winter war AND in continuation war) is the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the current Russian Federation. Finland has not taken anything from Russia. So the thieves are in Russia, not Finland.
@@mikaelsimble382 This was already the third war. The first war was the summer of 1918, when Finland attacked Soviet Russia, captured Vyborg and executed Russians there. Then there was the winter war, when Stalin returned Vyborg to Russia. And now the Finns really want to start another war with Russia, trying to establish a naval blockade of the Baltic. All Finnish media, which previously said that NATO is needed for Finland's security, are now calling on citizens to be ready for war.
Congratulations with first 20K subscribers. Plz upload more videos 🎉🚴
Танки «Абрамс» могли бороться только с верблюдоводами и фермерами, но не могли бороться с русскими мастерами водки.
It used to be Finland on the other side of that small stream...just saying
Ok, you can keep just saying it.
In 1974 I drove to the North Cape through Finland and we though about driving to the Russian Border, but never got that far. They still had ferries from Repvåg by then.
Love it! Thank you!
I will retire in a couple of years - watch out for me! I will be there some day! a very nice story!
It's kinda weird because northern European Russia, Finland and the baltics are our neighbors and are a part of the nordics, but for some reason we never really educate about these cultures in our society. I really wish we did so because having visited Estonia 2 times and Finland once I can tell you, these are some of the most beautiful places in the world.
Мы посетили Финляндию (шоппинг) и Эстонию (спа) 100 раз... С-Пб...
@@P10M10MAONYeah it’s really common to travel back and forth in the Finland Bay Area for stuff like shopping and family I’ve heard. I actually took the ferry last year from Helsinki to Tallinn while on vacay. Mind you the Finland part was also vacation cause I’m Norwegian.
As a previous Norwegian bordergard(the guys that sitt in those towers). This was waaay to dramatic, the rode is not secret and the Russian bordergard is not dangerous as long as we are in peace time. I can't gett a gripp on if this is ironic or not.
Great! Wonderfull Norway!
I was a Border Gaurd in 1973 not far north but on Korpfjell Borderstation
Meanwhile me, a norwegian that hasnt been further north than Bergen....
@@georgemelinte8320 I was making a joke, but im a business major. Havent had time or money to travel yet.
I know that road. Travelled it four years ago on my motorbike. Weather was much worse that time, otherwise pretty much the same, including the Norwegian soldiers.
Well, you proved me wrong. I predicted you wouldn't make a video about Grense Jakobselv. Not that scenic in the North Norway style, drones will draw unwanted military attention, and so on. But no, I was wrong. Congratulations, great video!
I loved the area, camped at the shore one night.
Want to go there with my camper next summer! Ferry to Helsinki and drive up. Adventure!
Was at the world end in Norway this summer, fantastic views! On the way there we stopped at Drammen, also very beautiful! Unfortunately flooded a week later.
I missing Kirkenes and Sør-Varanger, in 1996 i had my military service there, as boarder solider and we even meet brown bear in Passvikdalen.... 😀😁
Hmmm whats the songs u use?
I read the title first as "Hiding in the Arctic Road Along my Norwegian-Russian Brother"
Great video
I've driven along this road, in the middle of the night... although, it was June, so not dark...
Looks like a great route!
You took the nicest route in Finmark I live in Varanger. And it is much nicer than going to the northern cape. Vardo and Hamningberg is also the real arctic. Not just the arctic circle.
On the Russian side, going toward Murmansk, you have two military checkpoints, and then a rest stop in between them. It's pretty uneventful. That as of 2019, they might have more military checkpoints now.
It’s strange to think that Norway and North Korea are only separated by Russia.
😂
Før gikk man frem og tilbake over grensa og var venna. Hvem er det som setter oss opp imot hverandre?
America and block NATO lectures all world,with who or how we can be friends
Good Job Matheew😘
They say that Scandinavia has only recently risen from under the water. Just a few centuries ago, in its place there was a sea with small rocky islands. Did you see any signs of this?
Beautiful, except for the simulated reindeer murder, whilst drinking my morning coffee...🇧🇻🦌
This border must be closed in my opinion. Now that the Finns have closed theirs.
Check latest news,they reopen and run in to the Russia for cheap vodka and car oil😂😂😂
I am glad to have our russians friends as neighbour. Prefer them before a anglo-sac one. Russia has never given us any harm. They saved north of Norway from starving during the english embargo to Norway.😘🇷🇺
russia has threathened to nuke us several times
🇳🇴❤️🇷🇺
Ja, det kan vara lugnt på gräsen mellan Norge och Ryssland, men däremot dödar Putin och hans ockupationsarmé barn, kvinnor och män i Ukraina. Ryssarna är inte välvilliga mot utlänningar. Däremot är de alltid redo att bedra ”dumma” utlänningar som de kallar för тупые иностранцы». PS. De territorier , som numera hör till Ryssland, var före det andra världskriget finskt.
The soviets helped us, which consists of both Russian, Ukrainian, and plenty of other soldiers.
@@Thesamurai1999 А Сталин никому не помогал, зато Америка помогла ему с помощью программы Lend and Lease добраться до Берлина.
Nice video Mathew! Which bag you are using too fly your bike? Cheers
I came home two hours ago.
Took my bike to the shop and back home.
Not as impressive like what you guys did though.
But when i was on my way back home i saw a man with only one leg.
A one leg man is nothing you see everyday
cool
Hellas ! Why haven't you mentioned that the Soviet Union had attacked the little Finland in December 1939 , and has stolen the half of the area of Finland in 1940 , by what the little Finland has lost its exit to the arctic sea ? if this hadn't happened , there wouldn't be common Norwegian-- Russian border , but a Finno--Russian one !
far severö sapirico from Budapest
Super cool
😄
❤❤❤❤❤ that area, peninsulas, and regions. I tell anyone if they get a chance to visit that area.
Had lunch at the picnic table at the border, spent the night at Grense Jakobselv at the Barents Sea, and beyond belief the quietness all along the FV8860.
Didn't realize at the time but the land I could see in the distance was Vardo.
Had a similar feeling while trying to take a picture of the Russian side, noticing that we were being watched, put down the camera.
I was talking with a Norwegian Military Personnel and he said we were not allowed to take any pictures of the border buildings.
Noticed that a tour bus that went there just to see it, and not cross it, with not a single person with a camera out.
Is the border open for cars? Last year I crossed the border to Russia in Vartius / Finnland but the Finns closed all crossing points.
The first border agreement between Norway and Russia (Novgorod kingdom) was drawn in 1326 and the ONLY time it's been military violated was in 1944 when russian forces fought against the german nazis and liberated Europe.
"liberated"
@@Coffeepanda294 by defeating Nazi-Germany
@@Coffeepanda294 I mean.. Norway is the only country they left after they had fought the nazis so for us they're liberators..
It's too bad about the rest of the countries they entered but never left...
Soviet forces, not Russian.
It is called ”Novgorod Republic”, which hints that back then it was not a ”kingdom”.
In summer 2021 I was camping in that area with my home made box van camper for 1 month . This was a bit over dramatic lol.
I would love to see how much over the top drama he would make out a actually trip from Kirkenes to Murmansk Russia.
I have done that trip 2 times with my car and soon after passing the heavily guarded border into Russia you come to Nikel a industrial heavily polluted town. After that it is hours of driving trough a military area where no one lives (no one is allowed to live in that huge military area) and you see the Russian border high barbwire fence with with sand trap which is not meant to keep people from coming into Russia but it is meant to keep people INN Russia identical to high prison fence ....
Also you pass several checkpoints with armed military guards on the way to Murmansk before you actually reach the Russian border passport control (think it was 1 hour or more to get to that point quite far into Russia). At the passport control it was 1 hour waiting in line to get your passport checked and approved by a clerk writing on a type writer with one finger 1 sign per second, probably the most slow typewriter in the entire world and that person alone was the reason for the 1 hour line at the passport check...
After passing the border passport check it was more normal with no more armed guards and military checkpoints. But on the middle of a long stretch of road with 80km/h speed limit it was suddenly a 60km/h speed limit for no reason at all... The guy I traveled with said it was there for the police to catch speeders that ignored it, a literal speed trap lol ;)
Rest of the trip the largest danger was Russian logging lorries which had the habit of driving in the middle of the road (presumably because they was drunk and stayed in the middle to be safe ... they looked like drunk drivers swerving all over lol.)
We arrived in Murmans and had to check in at a hotel I had paid for even If I had private place to stay. That was part of the visa to stay in Russia for 2 days in the weekend. We went out on the town and for first time in my life girls actually asked me to dance... Later my friend that I was traveling with said the girls was doughters of Russian mafia boss lool ;) We had fun and then went home. Aslo shopping there was a pleasant experienc, thing tid cost the same as in Norway but it was in Rubles which was 1/4 the value so everything did cost 1/4 :) This was back in 2001, now the Ruble even with the war is much higher in value and increasing compered to the Norwegian shitcoin (that is what we call NOK now because it keeps falling faster and faster in value...)...
FYI, I believe Norway has decided to build a wall along this border.
Glad there is a river crossing required.
Is there any way one can trespass the border line?...how much troublesome would that be ?
I was there last summer!
This vid is some Jack Ryan level type of thriller!!
It is nonsense to claim that you can’t cross the border. It’s not closed, as far as I know. You simply need a visa, like always. Boycotting Russia is understandable, but it’s still completely open to tourists and other visitors.
When I talk to friends about this, 95 % appear surprised since they were sure Russia had sealed its borders. In fact it’s the complete opposite: the EU has closed all direct flight routes and some countries have decided to block Russian holders of S Schengen visas. Lately, Finland has also closed all but one of its border crossings because Russia was sending asylum seekers to Finland, either to get rid of them or as a kind of hybrid or pinprick attack.
Norway usually goes a very long way to behave correct and orderly with its land border to Russia, even meaning it’s almost subservient sometimes. So I think the border crossing will stay open. But migrant waves will be seen again.
I strongly support Ukraine in the war and I think the sanctions on Russia are necessary, but I don’t think it helps to mystify Russia. Eventually, we’ll need to get friends again after there, hopefully, is a regime change.
Nato is a defence alliance, and Norway is a sovereign country - it’s not Nato’s border, but Norway’s border. The infrastructure here doesn’t make a land invasion likely, although it would be possible for Russian troops to take Kirkenes within an hour.
I understand that the whole video is a bit ironic and that’s fine. But many people may take it as facts.
Border will be closed soon i believe, Russian regime is trying to send refugees across the border in Finland, they will probably try doing the same in Kirkenes (just like they did in 2015).
BTW: there is no way things be will normal again with Russia unless there is a regime change. Putin must be sent to Hague before any talks regarding dialog with Russia will take place.
Какая чушь! Есть специальная сирийская и турецкая мафии, которая организует туры сирийцев к границе Финляндии за 3000€. Они были и пять-десять лет назад. Россия этим не занимается, просто финнам нужно найти хоть какую-то причину для закрытия границ. Путин - самый лояльно настроенный к Европе политик в России на сегодня. Следующий президент будет гораздо жёстче. Большинство народа России западных европейцев и американцев из штатов не ценит и, мягко говоря, не уважает.
What nonsense! There is a special Syrian and Turkish mafia that organizes tours for Syrians to the Finnish border for 3,000euros. They were there five or ten years ago. Russia is not doing this, it's just that the Finns need to find at least some reason to close the borders. Putin is the most loyal politician to Europe in Russia today. The next president will be much tougher. The majority of the Russian people do not appreciate Western Europeans and US Americans and, to put it mildly, do not respect them.
@@АндрейВет-й7с Russia will pay a heavy price if they do something reckless against Europe
@@flo2677 This is not necessary. There is no oil in Europe, little gas and poor coal. If there is no gas, then there is no fertilizer. If there are no fertilizers, then there are no wheat harvests and, therefore, no meat. And there is no fuel at a normal price for households either. Your future is hunger, cold and migrant gangs. They can handle you without us.
Lots of guys has made this road trip. No Problemo!
Can we please stop wit the Scary Russia narrative? Just FYI, Russia allows any foreigner in without limitation (unlike democratic EU), visa required. I dare you Matthew to visit Russia, cycling around Ladoga lake is a nice route.
First of all all EU countries need a e-visa to travel in Russia. Second is that Russia is not a member of Schengen zone therefore you need a visa to travel around Europe. Any EU citezen doesn't require any visa to travel around Europe 😊 Well and the last one traveling in Russia by bicycle is not that safe as you say...from my experience and many other friends who traveled there 😞
Russia? No, it is ruZZia, one of the most dangerous countries on earth, ruled by criminals.
Russia certainly felt it didn’t need visa permission when it invaded Ukraine 🇺🇦
Yes, but does it let them out again? Lets stop the pussyfooting, it is a pariah nation.
Norway is on my bucket list but want to do it in winter on my fatbike
@matthewnorway Do you have a video where you explain your gear, travel bags and how you disassemble to bike for a flight, and which fees the airlines will take?
If you fly with SAS or Norwegian, you should have the bike in a bag or box designed for transport. Max 20 kg. Inform the airline about the bike when booking.
A bike may add something like USD 30 to the plane ticket.
Oh I love the drama! What amazing roads up there :-)
Wish you would make it just a little bit more dramatic..
I know some guys that went swimming in the border river. They were happy they got up before the Russians came over.
what happens if you ride a moos and it suddenly goes over the border?
How hard is it for a westerner to cross into the Russia from Norway or Finland at a secured border-crossing without a visa? Would you be turned away and told to go back?
It's quite simple to obtain a E-visa for 16 days nowadays, you don't even need to visit a consulate.