Day 36 What most of Finland looks like
15
Jul
Day 36 Not the sort of transport you expect in Finland
15
Jul
A Bentley.
Day 36 Winter War relics
15
Jul
Day 36 Winter war monument, Raate road
15
Jul
A monument to the Finnish and Russian soldiers who died in fierce fighting in fearsome conditions during the Winter War of 39-40 on and around the Raate road that stop just a few miles to the Russian border.
Day 35 Kayaking and hiking in the Finnish wilderness
14
Jul
Proper wilderness stuff with endless pine and spruce forests, lakes, rivers, bears, elk and wolves. Didn’t see those but did see a reindeer, happily munching at the swampy bushes and ignoring the hikers. Not a biking day so it doesn’t count, but still a nice place to be and great to experience some Finnishness in a wonderful landscape with wonderful t-shirt weather after yesterday’s 7 degrees. And after the exertion of kayaking through the wilderness, a restorative sauna (that’s "sah-oo-na", not "sorner") and a relaxing beer (the Finns do a much better beer than the Norwegians and Swedish), with a view over the expansive forest while I read the guide book and prepare to be back on the road tomorrow (when it will no doubt rain again).