starting cycling .....

Where are we now?  I do not mean where are we physically - in our hotel room in St Petersburg - but where are we in terms of this blog?  I think we had just got to Imatra by train and finally got on our bikes.  We were in Imatra last year and had camped there and had a nice meal to celebrate progress to date.  So we remembered the place.  It was warm then, and it was decidedly not so this time.  Still, we knew where to go and did so.  Along cycle tracks into town, then across to the road to Russia on cycle tracks all the way, almost.  The border was not far.  The roads immediately leading up to it were reasonably confusing with bikes signposted (just).  Finnish border control was not much.  Then a km or so to Russian control, where we followed some other (local) cyclists and got to the head of a queue of traffic, got our visas checked and passports stamped, bags inspected and on.  What did not happen:-  we were not issued with Russian migration cards, and did not query this because we knew nothing about them, but actually they matter for checking into hotels etc and this has been a hassle since.  Also, we were stamped as being in a car and actually we are on bikes.  We do not know yet if this has any significance. 

On to Svertogorsk, which was only a km of so after border control.  Found the hotel, checked in with difficulty, because of the card business and lack of common language.  Room comfortable, nice meal in restaurant, bikes in secure car park.  All OK.

Next morning woke to see snow on the ground and still falling.  But more of than in next post.