Distance Average Speed Max Speed 25.5 km 13.7 km/h 29.3 km/h Morning entirely spent fixing bag, loading sled and buying replacement thermals. I went with Sonja to Taivalkoski where I paid €20 into the SIM card and got some new thermals. I also visited a weird shop/museum and stopped for a brief cup of tea. I finally set off after lunch. Storm was again reluctant to start and barked for many km. I arrived at Kÿlkeinen at dusk. The hut
2009 Trip – Day 2
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 44.2 km 14.3 km/h 29.3 km/h This year’s team is: Storm Paz Homerun Bowie Sven Gunner Still no sign of missing bag, but the lantern has been found. After the usual fuss to find things to take I left at about 1200. Sonya and Lotta asked if they could come along too and they agreed that I should lead. Visited Tilsa and Kÿlkeinen. Sadly, at Tilsa on of Lotta’s dogs chewed my GPS case. That
2009 Trip – Day 1
Uneventful flights from Tallinn, but security unhappy with my bag again. At Oulu bus station, hundreds of students were trying to catch buses to Ruka. Apparently I had clashed with some species of holiday. I finally got onto the 3rd and last bus which left 45 minutes late. I tried to phone Timo: Good news, SIM card still active, but bad news, he can hear me but I can’t hear him. I discovered that text messages still worked OK. At
2008 Trip – Day 1
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 32.7 km 9.6 km/h 25.6 km/h Uneventful trip on Ferry. Long wait at Helsinki railway station. Thought had compartment to self, but slightly drunk Finnish dock worker appeared just after train had started. Got some sleep, but train seemed to have square wheels. Got sled sorted out quite quickly and after helping to get a couple of other groups off I left after lunch. Headed N and found Marco’s special route never driven before. Went
2007 Trip – Day 1
Ick, uck! Sleepless (almost) night on the train arriving hungry and thirsty at 0605. Unfortunately, bus station doesn’t open until 0700. A kind Finn directed me to a very small kiosk, but they could only sell me a fizzy drink and a Mars bar which made my teeth hurt. I took refuge in the railway station waiting room and was the first customer at the bus station. A grumpy lady sold me a Jurmu ticket together with a tea and