My flight to Helsinki was about 45 minutes later departing, but made up about 30 of those apparently due to a tail wind.
I took the train from the airport to Helsinki station. I don’t recall doing this before, but it was fast and inexpensive. I ate a very average burger at the station whilst waiting for my sleeper train since this would allow me to get to sleep quicker than eating on the train.
The sleeper train was indeed most impressive and much newer than the ones I used ten years ago or so. The compartment was small, perhaps even a little cramped, but I had it to myself and their was sufficient room. It had a very small wash basin with the WC being at the end of the carriage.
I slept adequately on the train which arrived in Oulu only a few minutes late. I was collected from the station and taken to my work meeting. After this I got a taxi back to the bus station in plenty of time to catch the 15:10 bus to the kennels.
The bus departed a few minutes late due to a last minute rush of passengers and was then delayed by traffic. It was also almost full. Once we got onto the main road, the driver made an announcement. It was in Finnish so I have no idea what he said, but the amazing thing was its length. I happened to glance at my watch when he started so I know that it lasted nearly five minutes. How can you possibly find this much to say about a bus journey, even one with a total length on nearly three hours? It certainly wasn’t just a list of stops. I’ve taken this bus quite a few times before and the announcements have only ever been of a normal length.
Milla collected me from the bus stop and soon had me settled into one of the upstairs guest rooms at the kennels.