Read about Ron & Viv's journey so far - Finland.
We hadn't seen any animals, so visited the Ranau Zoo, which was pretty good we have to say, with the bears being a highlight – the brown bears having a bit of a squabbly; the polar bears were fantastic and we'd have loved to see them in winter.
We were interviewed a couple of times during our drive through there by local newspapers – what media stars we are!!!
27th June to 8th July 2008FINLAND
Fir Tree Covered Finland
The first night in Finland we camped amongst a pine forest, which was pleasant enough except for the mossies and then the rain. It was something that became the norm for the next few days in this country. I guess you can't get 186,000 lakes studding the country along with numerous rivers that were in full spate while we were there with the snow melt without rain and we got our fair share of that in Finland.
Next day we got to Inari where we stopped to check out the excellent Sami Museum and Culture Centre called Siida . It includes an outdoor museum and a very informative and well set up Northern Lappland Nature Centre. It was excellent and we spent a few hours and lunch there.
As we wandered the main street of the town the temperature was a ‘balmy' 11°C. From there we stopped at the supermarket and refueled – it was just $2.38/litre; what a bargain
We took the turn off to Lemmenjoki NP reportedly one of the best wilderness areas still left in Europe and it is the largest remaining pine forest on the continent. Once we got there we found the only camping areas were on private land unless we wanted to hike for a few km. The canoeing and hiking trails looked pretty good but it was now getting to 4.30pm so we headed back to the main road and the river crossing where we set up our bush camp. It was a pleasant enough spot amongst pine trees and close to the river on a low headland about 20' above the water – which was flowing quite quickly and was a little tannin stained. It wasn't raining but the mossies were thick - we had read at the cultural centre that the blood sucking insects (not only mossies but also black flies, midgies and a host of other horse flies) can actually kill reindeer, they suck so much blood. Out came the Air-o-Guard, the mossies calls and the insect spray!
As we headed south all we saw was fir trees (pine trees) and occasionally behind the screen of green a river or a lake. We did see the occasional single reindeer, which was wandering down the centre of the road as gaily as you please! Once again there are no wild reindeer in Finland – they are all owned and farmed. We passed lots of small farms but only a couple had any stock – 20 cows being the biggest, but we were now in an area where they were growing and cutting a bit of grass.
We pushed on to Rovaniemi and got to Ounaskoski Camping (GPS 66°29'50”N 25°44'35”E), which is located on the opposite side of the river from the heart of the city centre. It has all you require including a café and costs about A$32/night for Viv and I. It started to rain again!!!
Finland, especially this region of Lappland is nowhere as rich as Norway – the roadside stops are not as well maintained or the toilets as clean. Older cars are more common and we even see the odd Russian one. Prices in the shops are not as dear either but still make Oz look pretty good – fuel is just $2.60-2.90 a litre while a wine cask is down to $30-40.
Got to the Artic Circle and went and visited Santa at his home – you just have to don't you. Of course we got the pic of us with the happy old fella – it's a pretty slick operation to push you through and take your money!!!
From there we headed down to Ranau and set up camp in a bog that doubles as Ranau Camping . It was raining and the mossies were fearsome!!! Next day we headed to the Ranau Zoo , which is definitely worthwhile. They have a few brown bears, polar bears, wolverines, lynx and a few species of deer as well as all the birds of prey. We spent about 4 hours there before pushing on to Oulu . As we got closer to the west coast the country (and the climate) modified and became milder. The farms became bigger and more prosperous with cows and lots of grass being grown for hay. The road network increased to a multi-lane highway and overpasses and all that – for a short time at least. We tried one camp ground near Oulu – it was a swamp; we tried another further south – it was not there! Finally we got away from the city and surrounding areas with it's small holding and got into more forested areas with larger farms in-between. Viv even saw a moose not far off the road in a forested area - we had continually seen the signs but had thought they were just decoration; but not so! Finally stopped for the night at Raaha Camping , on the coast at the township of Raaha. It was raining when we arrived, the place was a swamp but by good design we had picked the high ground.
While we had travelled along the coast for some distance we still hadn't actually seen it – because of the fir trees. WE detoured off the main road and arriving at the coast at Heikkasarkat , just south of Kalajoki. It seems the place is one of their major summer resorts and while it wouldn't rate too highly back in Oz it was crowded with holiday makers. While there we even got interviewed by the local paper!
That night to get away from the mossies and the mud we stopped and camped in a sand pit – it was a good camp.
Next day was an uneventful drive south to Lappeenranta passing through the Lakes district of Finland – we even saw a lake or two amongst the trees! Sometimes it seemed we were on a ridge of land between vast stretches of water – more water than land as someone said. Found our way to the Huhtiniemi Camping , which is located on the very large lake that is beside the city. It was very pleasant camp with all facilities, while the city itself is nice enough as well.
Next day it was to the south coast town of Kotka and to the Santalahti Holiday Resort where we set up camp. This place is quite big and well set-up with an underground Sauna, normal saunas and more. It is right beside the coast and has all the facilities you'd expect. We had three nights here and didn't do much except get ready for the crossing into Russia, which is just up the road 50km away.
Got away from the park at 7.30 and headed east along the good road to the border. The queue of trucks started about 29km from the border and we counted at least 600 before we got to the BIG truck park at the border itself.
Getting out of Finland was easy – a stamp in the passbook by Immigration and a check by Customs that we had no duty to pay and away we went.
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Link
to Picture Gallery Page for Finland.
A pleasant camp amongst the fir trees in northern Finland, beside a river – the mosquitoes were horrendous!!
A visit to the Siida Musuem, northern Finland, a Sami Museum & Culture Centre – very good with a good outside display of hunting, fishing and herding villages; Ron beside one of the sod/earth covered small huts.
At the Artic Cirle once again, in Finalnd this time – our group at the Artic Circle at Santa's Village.
Ron & Viv made a visit to the ‘real' Santa at the Article Circle.
Our camp in a sand pit – one of our better camps – it was dry and there were only a few mossies!!!
