To the Russian Border on a GS

[Beerman]

We spent a couple of weeks in Finland last Spring. We expected it to be boring straight roads, forests and sod all else and were pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't. Well, there are lots of forests, lakes and straight roads...but it didn't define it to us. Will definitely go back. (We sort of did the Russian border up by the Norwegian border at Grense Jakobselv. We passed the closed border post then drove for maybe 20 miles alongside a rive that was the border. Great area)
Weird seeing a road sign for Murmansk....a city I recall being mentioned on the news when I was a kid in the 70s.
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I recognise those pictures - a couple of years ago I rode to Nordkapp, then to Kirkenes via northern Finland. It's when I fell in love with Scandinavia. We went to the border at Grense Jacobselv- and the war museum nearby. We can't resist a war museum, and there are plenty up there- they haven't forgotten.

 

[Wingman]

Went to Imatra roadrace this year on my GSA via Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonian then ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki. Imatra is a few km from Russian border, great roadrace circuit

 

[Beerman]

Went to Imatra roadrace this year on my GSA via Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonian then ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki. Imatra is a few km from Russian border, great roadrace circuit

That looks great. We went to Imatra on the day we visited the border post - we were aware of a bike event, and talked to some Dutch riders about it in the centre of town (by the waterfall).

We came back via Estonia, and took that ferry. A Baltic trip appeals for next year.

 

[Wingman]

Yes hopefully next year again for us, the people were great and accommodation we stayed just 30mins from the circuit at Lappeenranta. Great place to stay if you are going the races especially for food & drink.

 

[Beerman]

Yes hopefully next year again for us, the people were great and accommodation we stayed just 30mins from the circuit at Lappeenranta. Great place to stay if you are going the races especially for food & drink.

If that is the Tuju Taproom, Lappeenranta, we were in there...we stayed in the Hotel Lahde in Lappeenranta.

 

[Beerman]

Crackin stuff,certainly wet me whistle.

If you go, we took the ferry from Stockholm (Grisslehamn) to Åland and spent a couple of days there before taking the ferry to Turku on the mainland. It was well worth it Åland has a couple of days riding around it and the islands that make up the archipelago. If you want any recommendations for places to stay, let me know (we preferred cabins by lakes).

 

[Wingman]

Yes, we stayed in hotel Rakuuna just down from Tuju Taproom what a great bar we then did the ferry from Helsinki to just outside Lubeck Germany.