After a magnificent breakfast in the Lentira holiday village, we seem to have abandoned telling our story. It was all rather a long time, or a long way, ago but here is an attempt to catch up.
From Lentira we went to Khumo Not a very long distance, so we set off relatively late and did not arrive early. Nothing exceptional about this bit of road. Khumo is a bit of centre for all things (North) Karelian, with a village on the way in called Kalevala village, where our guide books etc said there was a really good exhibition of Karelian village buildings etc and a camp site. This was our intended destination, and next day we would do a guided tour of the exhibition, also mentioned in the guide book. We got to this village before the town. No sign of the canmpsite, and when we enquired in the next door (expensive) hotel, we were told it was there no more, neither was the exhibition, as they had gone out of business. The hotel receptionist suggested two B&B's and we went for one which was fine. The next day was a day off; apart from anything else we were physically tired and needed a break. Not having the exhibition to go to, we did go to a place devoted to Kalevala and Karelian folk tradiations and saw some interesting videos about it all. We then went to another Windter War museum, which actually complemented to one we had already seen And had a good lunch.
Next day was a long one on the road, to Lieksa, and without much in the way of distractions excpet that both bikes made protests. Mine (Tom's) shed a bolt holding on the back carrier, but another could cannibalised from elswhere on the bike. Katherine's suddenly decided it did not like the rear arm of the back derailleur and sort-of chewed it up. This happened outside someone's house and he helped pull and lever it back into some sort of shape. I say "helped" but I think he did most of this! In Lieksa we had another day off, since daily distances were considerable over this part of the route. We took a ferry over Lake Pielinen to Koli, where there is what thy call a mountain round here (about 340m) and good walking trails etc. Had a good lunch in a hotel there, more than walking, but did some of that too.
Next day another long one, to Hattuvaara. This was distinguished, by the fact that the road which our route guide said was an easy one turned out to have a long section with an appalling surface, followed by another secion of dirt road. I should add that nearly all Finnish roads we have been on have been excellent. But this bit was not. Anyway, got to Hattavaara, found the intended place to stay had become a museum, but were allowed to camp in the grounds. After this, a shorter day to Mohko. Some of the travel here was on dirt roads. These were not on as part of main roads and very quite, and in parts in really beautiful surroundings. Mohko is the site of an old iron works, used to have a blast furnace to get iron out of lake rock, and this is now an interesting museum. This area was part of Russia when it was most busy, and much of the pig iron produced went to St Petersburg. Mohko is a nice place.
From there to Vartsila. Another long day. We had now done several days in excess of 80/90 km, sometimes more than 100. The terrain is hilly, and roads do not eschew strong upward gradients that are demanding and sometimes reduce me to walking (Katherine is made of sterner stuff!). This was another such day. They have been demanding also because there has on the whole been little different of interest on them. There have been good diversions, such as when going to Hattuvaara, before the lousy surface bits, we stopped for coffee at an extraordinary establishment that was full of art and fascinating bric-a-brac of really high quality and the coffee and cakes were very good. But by Vartsila, we had spent a lot of mileage being not vastly interested.
From Vartsila, to Kitee and in the way there stopped at another interesting establishment that again had good coffee and eats, and was full of things for sale that seemed to belkong to a local "exchange" scheme. In all these places, the people we have met have been really nice, and fascinating. The Finns are not a dull people!
Kitee was supermarket and bank, followed by an abrupt change to cycling on main roads with more moderate gradients but more traffic. But I will stop now. Although we are further on, it is getting late and one of us will catch up next time.
Tom
From Lentira we went to Khumo Not a very long distance, so we set off relatively late and did not arrive early. Nothing exceptional about this bit of road. Khumo is a bit of centre for all things (North) Karelian, with a village on the way in called Kalevala village, where our guide books etc said there was a really good exhibition of Karelian village buildings etc and a camp site. This was our intended destination, and next day we would do a guided tour of the exhibition, also mentioned in the guide book. We got to this village before the town. No sign of the canmpsite, and when we enquired in the next door (expensive) hotel, we were told it was there no more, neither was the exhibition, as they had gone out of business. The hotel receptionist suggested two B&B's and we went for one which was fine. The next day was a day off; apart from anything else we were physically tired and needed a break. Not having the exhibition to go to, we did go to a place devoted to Kalevala and Karelian folk tradiations and saw some interesting videos about it all. We then went to another Windter War museum, which actually complemented to one we had already seen And had a good lunch.
Next day was a long one on the road, to Lieksa, and without much in the way of distractions excpet that both bikes made protests. Mine (Tom's) shed a bolt holding on the back carrier, but another could cannibalised from elswhere on the bike. Katherine's suddenly decided it did not like the rear arm of the back derailleur and sort-of chewed it up. This happened outside someone's house and he helped pull and lever it back into some sort of shape. I say "helped" but I think he did most of this! In Lieksa we had another day off, since daily distances were considerable over this part of the route. We took a ferry over Lake Pielinen to Koli, where there is what thy call a mountain round here (about 340m) and good walking trails etc. Had a good lunch in a hotel there, more than walking, but did some of that too.
Next day another long one, to Hattuvaara. This was distinguished, by the fact that the road which our route guide said was an easy one turned out to have a long section with an appalling surface, followed by another secion of dirt road. I should add that nearly all Finnish roads we have been on have been excellent. But this bit was not. Anyway, got to Hattavaara, found the intended place to stay had become a museum, but were allowed to camp in the grounds. After this, a shorter day to Mohko. Some of the travel here was on dirt roads. These were not on as part of main roads and very quite, and in parts in really beautiful surroundings. Mohko is the site of an old iron works, used to have a blast furnace to get iron out of lake rock, and this is now an interesting museum. This area was part of Russia when it was most busy, and much of the pig iron produced went to St Petersburg. Mohko is a nice place.
From there to Vartsila. Another long day. We had now done several days in excess of 80/90 km, sometimes more than 100. The terrain is hilly, and roads do not eschew strong upward gradients that are demanding and sometimes reduce me to walking (Katherine is made of sterner stuff!). This was another such day. They have been demanding also because there has on the whole been little different of interest on them. There have been good diversions, such as when going to Hattuvaara, before the lousy surface bits, we stopped for coffee at an extraordinary establishment that was full of art and fascinating bric-a-brac of really high quality and the coffee and cakes were very good. But by Vartsila, we had spent a lot of mileage being not vastly interested.
From Vartsila, to Kitee and in the way there stopped at another interesting establishment that again had good coffee and eats, and was full of things for sale that seemed to belkong to a local "exchange" scheme. In all these places, the people we have met have been really nice, and fascinating. The Finns are not a dull people!
Kitee was supermarket and bank, followed by an abrupt change to cycling on main roads with more moderate gradients but more traffic. But I will stop now. Although we are further on, it is getting late and one of us will catch up next time.
Tom
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