Why fly to Oslo for the start of the rally when you can drive there? I set off, with Sarah, to head for Amsterdam, our first stop. I’d never been before. Why not? Why? It’s drop dead gorgeous and completely wonderful. It’s one of the places I’d just never made it too despite driving within spitting distance of it a couple times. I was always on a schedule and there was no time. It was great, obviously, and somewhere to go back to.

Then we went on to lovely little Lübeck, east of Hamburg. Had a quick explore, ate a memorable dinner, and felt sad about the amount of graffiti. The charming buildings rendered less so by the mess.

Next stop was Copenhagen – a first for Sarah. Yummy street food, a walk around the centre and a quick shop in the terrific market of some supplies for our supper. We decided against staying there as the journey up to Oslo is long. Instead, we crossed the bridge to Sweden and we now find ourselves just north of Malmo for the night. It’s my second time of crossing from Denmark into Sweden over the bridge. It’s a marvel of engineering, obvs, but not quite the thrill I first thought it would be. It’s freezing cold, too and we still have a long way north to go. But who cares? The car is full of warm clothing. I’ve been to Nordkapp before in June and know how cold it can be. I’m thrilled to be going back.

So there we are. Almost 1000 miles, 6 countries and the rally hasn’t even started. Next stop: Oslo.