Day 330 14th June
67miles (Halikko to Nupurijarvi lake) Average speed 10.8 mph Top speed 30 mph
Up at 7 and the first step I took out of the tent I slipped on the wet wooden decking; luckily no damage done. I had porridge and tea for brekkie while watching the sun rise above the trees, then packed and was on the road by nine. The climb back up through the forest wasn’t quite as hairy as it seemed the evening before. I was glad to find a Lidl not far along the 110 where I had sausage rolls and a doughnut for sustenance. I followed a good path until it ran out when I carried on the main 110 road. I had lunch by a lake on a rock above the water and enjoyed the sunshine which dried out my wet shoes and socks.
I carried on until the turn off for a campsite but it seemed to be chalets only and lots of kids without a reception. As no-one seemed interested in letting me stay, I left and climbed back up the big hill and made my way to Velkkola where I bought mince and veg for dinner. I checked out a park but it was too busy so I carried on hoping to find a better spot. I tried a gate off to the left of the main road and saw a large moose in the woods. There was no good place as it was rocky, so I carried on, but it’s amazing that in a country that you can camp anywhere I am always looking for the perfect spot.
I searched many possibilities and ended up on a new housing estate above a lake. The local boy racers have a bbq and a sofa set up nearby but I think I scared them off when one came to have a pee against a tree and saw me eating dinner. That seemed to get rid of them and after dinner I made use of their sofa to have a beer watching the sunset.
Only 16 miles left to Helsinki and I’m looking forward to staying in a hostel tomorrow to have a shower after 3 days of wild camping. It was a beautiful day with hot sunshine but some wind to dry me out.
Wild camp near lake behind Shell garage in a cul de sac which is probably a dogging spot!