Skiing the Päijänne.

Expedition from Messilä to Isosaari, Päijänne.

We felt like skiing for a long time in the middle of nowhere. We headed for two day of skiing on the frozen lake of Vesijärvi and Päijänne for the week-end. Motivation was evident, a mökki and a sauna were waiting our visit on Isosaari. We started from Messilä early on Saturday morning and crossed Vesijärvi from south to north. It was quite busy actually; hordes of fishermen, cars, kite skiers, dog skiers... We were the only ones that care to move by our own means it seems. We walked through Vääksy to reach the majestic and pristine Päijänne and from there, it was a long way left, with only few islands between us and our destination to orientate. The snow was falling gently, visibility was decreasing hour by hour and our goal seemed to become more and more distant. It all became abstract and requested a lot of focus to keep going on without landsight.

All hardship was forgotten, when we started to prepare an excellent sauna and lots of hot water. The steam felt good and we managed to forget that we had to do the way back the following day. We spent a night of extremely deep sleep, which was needed for the next day.

The return trip was harder, without excitement of the new destination and the snow started to stick to the skis, making progress strenuous. (We took a bus from Vääksy to Lahti to help a bit). When we finally reached the car, we were happy to arrive. Ahah.

P.S: Thank to the Messilä policemen that didn't bother us to much on Saturday at 8 am when we were taking breakfast after packing the tent. They were actually amused by the unexpecting meeting. I do not wish to thank the guy that  made a phone call to them.

Camping by Vesijärvi

Florian looking far away, protecting his eyes from the sun (do you believe me?).

Yeah the landscape were very exciting. In this kind of situation, imagination helps.

Quite a clear direction to follow for the next hour, isn't it?

Sauna warms up.

Happy to arrive!

Biking Western Estonia.

Biking trip to Estonia. Rediscovering the shores of the Baltic, cliffs, shallow fine sand beaches and breaking waves. Visiting lighthouses, abandoned, swimming or turned into museum. Passing through the abandoned military camp of the Soviet with touristic signboards inviting visitors to go have fun in the bunker with a flashlight. Protecting the stove from stormy wind to cook Saaremaa ham pasta in the loud music of the waves. Receiving and stealing apples on the way, looking for swimming spots, relaxing on island ferries, warming up at the bone fire lighted up for the lost sailors, searching for culinary tastes of Estonia. And being amazed by the variety of the bus stop designs. About 700 km of side roads, taking all the detours and sand roads to check some nice piece of coast, nomadic holidays. 08-09.2013

P.S. And thanks to Carsten Jensen for his excellent book "Nous, les noyés" ("Vi, de druknede").



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Visiting Käärmeluoto

 And what about paying a visit to the archipelago? It is just there, always laying in the background that we forget it.

So here I am, loading the kayak with tent and food for a day and hop. On the way, some small talk with other kayakers, greeting some fishermen trying hard to get the zanders and some colonies of seabirds. They reproduce our human society on tiny rocky island. Not 20 m long but separated in three zones for three different species. And what a fuss when a goose goes in the tern district! It feels then war in the sky.

I went to Käärmeluoto, selected with so much care the camping spot and enjoy my menu: pasta, sunset and view on the archipelago.
09.06.2012

For sure we find fine accomodation in Helsinki.

Pöyrällä!

A bike, a tent, a cooking stove and the best company. What else is needed for a very free life? Aland, Vardö, Brändö, Kustavi, Iniö, Houstkär, Korpo, Turku, a bunch of ferries, warm water full of hauki and greasy donnuts.Ah and I forget sauna, songs, games and sun.