So here we go.
How did we get to this point ? How did we get to planning a Finland trip ?
And why on earth would we head north when south is always warmer ?
Well my chums went to Nordkapp last year (sadly I had a previous family holiday booked... poor planning I know) and whilst they were en route they were befriended by Harri .. a native Finn who had nothing better to do and asked if he could go with them to the very top. "Of course you can" they said and so another biking bond was made amongst strangers. On the way home he uttered the immortal words " If you ever come back give me a call and you can stay at my place and we'll ride shitty roads together and drink beer and have a great time ". Guess what ? Six months later ... Ring Ring "Hello Harri its us"
September 6th saw us making from Charring Cross down to Harwich for a night crossing to The Hook of Holland. We stopped for a spot of tiffin in West Mersea at a pub called The Coast. It was ok and did super fish and chips with a pleasant view out to the harbour and coast. it started to rain as we boarded the ferry for a good nights sleep. 162 miles.
The second day was always going to be longgggg. Across the top of Germany to Travemunde. Docked at 6 am off the boat at 8 and we were away. Thankfully although big main roads it was pretty easy going and warm too so that was a pleasant surprise. Arrived in the port at 6 pm where the gates were going to open at 830. Time for something to eat then.
I know any thread on here has to have food in it so what better way to start off than with a super German Chicken Burger !!!!
To Helsinki was a 36 hour journey. We had obviously booked a cabin in the depths of the boat to sleep in total darkness with no sound and no windows. I woke at 10am thinking it was the middle of the night ! We all slept well I can assure you. Finnlines Ferry was very good and gave us an introduction in to prices up there .. 4 filter coffees from the bar, nothing special just filter coffees .. £27. An evening meal.. £32 for a 2 hour all you can eat buffet. It was very good .. and so it should have been.
Arriving in Helsinki we headed straight North up to the RVP at The Ace Cafe at Lahti.
This where we first heard of the Queens passing .. in the newspapers and on their TV. It was a shock.
Here I met Harri for the first time. What a super nice chap. Let me tell you about this part of the trip. We were staying in his "summer house" .. a lovely wooden house that he and his late father physically took to bits from where it was in the north of Finland and bought it south rebuilding it on the land they bought for their "forever site"
Quite remarkable. He had a separate Sauna that we used every night. Go in dry so to speak.. get sweaty .. walk down the jetty .. into a fucking freezing Finnish lake with no one around for miles.. arse about, get out, drink more beer and repeat !
This is the view from the BBQ area, the patio if you like. He had a little speed boat and took us for a tour of the lake ..well some of it.
Then of course there was the outside dining .. the BBQ's and evening views
You can't go wrong !
Here is the jetty I told you about. No one about for miles. Just peace and quiet.
Harri looked after us like kings. We spent a morning chopping wood for him and topped up the stores.. all very important for the winter months ahead.
Then we have a piccy or two of the inside. Very warm and cosey.
Triple glazed and a central oven to heat the house 24/7 with the back wall of this huge oven being the main wall to his bedroom ... always warm with Mrs Harri.
Lots of chatting, local cuisine and a few beers. Didnt move for 24 hours. 268 miles.
Then we had a day of gravel roads / off road and general riding in the wild. Just massive roads and massive scenery that quite literally just went on and ON ! BOOOOTIFUL ..
169 miles
Harris place was here ......................
To be continued....
How did we get to this point ? How did we get to planning a Finland trip ?
And why on earth would we head north when south is always warmer ?
Well my chums went to Nordkapp last year (sadly I had a previous family holiday booked... poor planning I know) and whilst they were en route they were befriended by Harri .. a native Finn who had nothing better to do and asked if he could go with them to the very top. "Of course you can" they said and so another biking bond was made amongst strangers. On the way home he uttered the immortal words " If you ever come back give me a call and you can stay at my place and we'll ride shitty roads together and drink beer and have a great time ". Guess what ? Six months later ... Ring Ring "Hello Harri its us"
September 6th saw us making from Charring Cross down to Harwich for a night crossing to The Hook of Holland. We stopped for a spot of tiffin in West Mersea at a pub called The Coast. It was ok and did super fish and chips with a pleasant view out to the harbour and coast. it started to rain as we boarded the ferry for a good nights sleep. 162 miles.
The second day was always going to be longgggg. Across the top of Germany to Travemunde. Docked at 6 am off the boat at 8 and we were away. Thankfully although big main roads it was pretty easy going and warm too so that was a pleasant surprise. Arrived in the port at 6 pm where the gates were going to open at 830. Time for something to eat then.
I know any thread on here has to have food in it so what better way to start off than with a super German Chicken Burger !!!!
To Helsinki was a 36 hour journey. We had obviously booked a cabin in the depths of the boat to sleep in total darkness with no sound and no windows. I woke at 10am thinking it was the middle of the night ! We all slept well I can assure you. Finnlines Ferry was very good and gave us an introduction in to prices up there .. 4 filter coffees from the bar, nothing special just filter coffees .. £27. An evening meal.. £32 for a 2 hour all you can eat buffet. It was very good .. and so it should have been.
Arriving in Helsinki we headed straight North up to the RVP at The Ace Cafe at Lahti.
This where we first heard of the Queens passing .. in the newspapers and on their TV. It was a shock.
Here I met Harri for the first time. What a super nice chap. Let me tell you about this part of the trip. We were staying in his "summer house" .. a lovely wooden house that he and his late father physically took to bits from where it was in the north of Finland and bought it south rebuilding it on the land they bought for their "forever site"
Quite remarkable. He had a separate Sauna that we used every night. Go in dry so to speak.. get sweaty .. walk down the jetty .. into a fucking freezing Finnish lake with no one around for miles.. arse about, get out, drink more beer and repeat !
This is the view from the BBQ area, the patio if you like. He had a little speed boat and took us for a tour of the lake ..well some of it.
Then of course there was the outside dining .. the BBQ's and evening views
You can't go wrong !
Here is the jetty I told you about. No one about for miles. Just peace and quiet.
Harri looked after us like kings. We spent a morning chopping wood for him and topped up the stores.. all very important for the winter months ahead.
Then we have a piccy or two of the inside. Very warm and cosey.
Triple glazed and a central oven to heat the house 24/7 with the back wall of this huge oven being the main wall to his bedroom ... always warm with Mrs Harri.
Lots of chatting, local cuisine and a few beers. Didnt move for 24 hours. 268 miles.
Then we had a day of gravel roads / off road and general riding in the wild. Just massive roads and massive scenery that quite literally just went on and ON ! BOOOOTIFUL ..
169 miles
Harris place was here ......................
To be continued....
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I really do need to get over to Scandinavia.
