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The Finnish part of our travel through Scandinavia We arrived by ferry at the nice island ÅLAND (fin. AHVENANMAA) at ECKERÖ. We didn’t want to take the ferry from Stockholm direct to Finland. After crossing the border-control a big road takes you inside the island. We wanted to take the next ferry from MARIEHAMN (fin. MAARIANHAMINA) but it was not possible. We had to wait till the next day, because there is no direct connection. But no problem, we took the next camping a bit outside of Mariehamn. Finnish bikers told us about the bests sights in the area. In the north of the main island is a mountain with a nice view over the island. The next day we took the "Viking"-ferry to TURKU (ÅBO). The trip least 6 hours and was fantastic. At very nice weather we crossed through hundreds of little islands. It's also possible to reach TURKU by hopping over the little islands. You have to take some "little" ferries and you have to spend another night at one of the islands. It is possible to take a "north-route" and a "south-route". For more information ask at the tourist-info. The people told us that it is necessary to make a reservation in summertime, because a lot of people are doing this trip (by bicycle) and there is less space on the ferries (even for bikes). TURKU has also a border-control, because ferries also reach direct from STOCKHOLM and ÅLAND is a tax-free-area!! After crossing the beautiful old center of TURKU we went to the road nr. 10 direction HÄMEENLINNA. When you out of TURKU the nature takes you again soon. After 90 km we took the camping in TAMMELA near FORSSA. Next day we passed HÄMEENLINNA and took road nr. 12 to LAHTI. There we took a look into the famous "Ski-jump-arena". Then we took the boring E 75-4 till HEINOLA. We left at HEINOLAN-MLK to road 46. In this area the famous "lake-area" of Finland takes place. Here you will find thousands of lakes. The lake-area takes place between LAHTI, TAMPERE, JYVÄSKYLÄ, KUOPIO, JOENSUU, SAVONLINNA and LAPPEENRANTA. The biggest lake-area is called SAIMAA. On small sandy roads we reached MÄNTYHARJU and RISTIINA. Then we took the road direction MIKKELI and after some kilometers we went right to road nr. 4321, another sand road. Trough ANTTOLA we reached PUUMALA, our next camping. (The lady at the reception told us that the place is very full, but for us it looked really empty, we had a lot of space). From PUUMALA we went north on rd. 434 and 436 to reach SAVONLINNA, the city of the great music and opera festival in summer. Behind SAVONLINNA we take the rd. 471 and 468, nice small roads between the lakes, to reach HEINÄVESI. (last 30 km on sand roads). Here we visited a friend of mine and spend some days in his summer cottage near a little lake. We went on to KUOPIO on rd 4784, 23, 542 (PALOKKI), 539 (VEHMERSALMI) and 17 (you also can stay on rd 539 and reach KUOPIO by ferry), a very nice trip through the forest and lakes. Also a lot of sand roads. We spent 5 days in KUOPIO at the only 5* camping in Finland, because I was there in wintertime for 4 months and I had to visit a lot of friends. We made some tours:
Kuopio itself has a nice marketplace, a good nightlife and a very nice "view-point" the "PUJO-TOWER" (restaurant inside). We left KUOPIO on the boring E 63 to IISALMI and KAJAANI and the rain catched us. We decided to follow the Russian border so we went right to rd 6 to KUHMO and on rd 912 to SUOMUSSALMI. We felt very lonely sometimes, traffic was nearly zero. We saw the first reindeers and visit the Russian border at a "museum road" near SUOMUSSALMI. Near the road they showed what happened during the winter war with Russia. We enjoyed the Sauna at the camping because it started to be colder and rainy. We left on another very lonely road, rd nr. 843, to HOSSA to reach KUUSAMO after 150 km. Now the "arctic circle" was close. To avoid the "main roads" we decided to take rd 81 to ROVANIEMI, and I learned to use gas stations very carefully, because on this road my tank was nearly empty after I didn’t take one chance to refill in POSIO and the next gas station came close to Rovaniemi. More and more reindeers have been near the street. Finish reindeers are very stupid. They have been the only ones who walked on the street then you come. All others run away, not the Finnish ones, so be careful.!! In ROVANIEMI we visited "Santa Claus" at NAPAPIIRI (fin. for arctic circle). You can find a lot of souvenir-shops there. If you walk a bit down you reach "Santa park". (very nice for children; inside a mountain). Next step we took the 82 and the E 75-4 direction SODANKYLÄ. Behind LEHTOVAARA we went right to LUOSTO. Luosto also is a famous winter-sport-place. We also spent some days there, because of the cabins. You can rent 50 - 100 qm cabins with fireplace, sauna, washing machine etc. for small money. (200 - 250 FIM). We made some tours around the area.
At last we went to the very far north of Finland. We followed the E 75-4 160 km to IVALO and another 40 km to INARI at the great lake INARI. On to KAAMANEN and then left on rd 92 direction NORWAY. After 72 km you reach the border at KARIGASNIEMI. Camping Finish camping's always have been very nice, with a lot of space. Shower was always included. Sometimes Sauna also (or 50 Fim for 1 hour). We paid between 35,- Fim (Aland) and 75,- Fim (5* camping Kuopio). In Kuopio and some other camping's you stay 5 nights and pay four. Cabins have been between 130,- and 200,- Fim. (see also the complete tour)
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Pictures Pictures of Finland / Soumi
Picture-Count: 12
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