Day 1 (21 June)
First, we take a tram, then a train to get to the northern outskirts of Helsinki. Then we were supposed to catch a bus to get close to the rental van shop. But the bus schedules are weirded out today with the Midsummer's Holiday weekend, starting today, a Friday. After waiting 30 minutes, we called the rental van shop, and they said, sure, we'll come pick you up from the bus stop.
As Willie Nelson sings,
(second verse)
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again...
(second verse)
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again...
We point the rental camper van north, with only an inkling of where we'll go...
Sing it Gerri!
(Chorus)
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way...
(Chorus)
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way...
Well, the first night didn't go our way, we "pitched camp" off-grid on a secluded lake, but then, the house battery appears dead to the world. After a confab with the 24-hour rental van service line, yeah, they shouldn't have let us motor away with a nearly flat house battery, and didn't tell us that little minor unmarked switch needed to be thrown for the van engine alternator to start re-charging the battery. No issue, we found a campground with "shore" power only 20-minutes away and would get a full recharge off of plug-in power over night.
Tim plugging in...yeah, this next 24 hours will be the real learning the ropes of van life versus the "kid's" brief walk around of the features at the start.
Tim plugging in...yeah, this next 24 hours will be the real learning the ropes of van life versus the "kid's" brief walk around of the features at the start.
It wasn't our first choice for the first night, but it turned out pretty nice anyhows.
Day 2 (22 June)
We arise from our first night's slumber in the van, it was fairly decent, a good sign...before we go "on the road again", we need to check out the features of this camp, which (see below) includes a Finnish Sauna (hmmm, we passed on using it).
This is where, after getting roasted to 130-140F, you run down and jump in the frigid lake...
Yes, on the road again...and by the way, after looking at the map, and thinking there's a lot of potential in having this rig for 20 days, we think big, and say the Artic Circle is where we'll head today. This leaves already 1/2 of Finland south of us - we think we'll blast North and then pick our way back slowly from wherever that reaches.
Lunchtime in a camper van...
And after yesterday's 226 miles, and today's 306 miles, we're at Santa Claus village...
Gnomes and reindeer pelts...sorry Donner, Blitzen, Dasher, ...and Rudolph, I guess these guys didn't make the cut.
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This "line" is portrayed as the Artic Circle Line - basically, north of here, in Summer, the Sun never sets for ever longer lengths of time as you go further north (from days to towards 6 months at the North Pole). This spot is still a bit shy of the actual Artic Circle - 10 miles or so further north.
That large building on the right is, I (?), they (?), kid you not, the headquarters of SANTA CLAUS !!!!! :-D
That large building on the right is, I (?), they (?), kid you not, the headquarters of SANTA CLAUS !!!!! :-D
The thermometer - at the "Artic Circle" - +21 Celsius (70 deg Fahrenheit) - fairly balmy for the Elves and Santa.
Here's a snap shot from web cam - we've watched this webcam for a couple years, that rotates through various live cams around the world, and now we're on it! Although, we've only seen it with snow and temps of -20.
A Jewish girl enjoying the sight of Santa's headquarters, who'da thunk it.
We'd shown up late in the day for Santa, there was practically no line to sit on his lap and buy their photo (he was hidden in the next room :-( ) - okay, we didn't even ask how much, just listened to his voice in the next room (it was Santa !!!) We settled for checking out the photos of visitors past.
Northward we go - we want to "tag" the actual Artic Circle....
66°33′50.0″ North
"The position of the Arctic Circle is not fixed and currently is 66°33′50.0″ north of the Equator. Its latitude depends on the Earth's axial tilt, which fluctuates within a margin of more than 2° over a 41,000-year period, owing to tidal forces resulting from the orbit of the Moon."
  Sunrise and sunset currently not happening... |  |
Salmon patties and veggie noodles, our first meal north of the Artic Circle...
Near our campsite, on the Vaattunkijoki River, the Finnish park system provides these shelters, complete with free firewood - notice how bright the sky is at 10:30 pm - the Sun will not set tonight.
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2 days driving, 532 miles, and we're already more than half ways up North in Finland...
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