Day 329 13th June
33miles (Turku to near Halikko) Average speed 11.6 miles Top speed 27 mph
I was awake briefly at 4 am and then 8 to hear the sound of rain on the tent so back to sleep and amazingly slept until 12.15. Surely the most sleep in one night. I had 3 cups of tea under the ground sheet used as a tarpaulin between the trees for cover. I managed to pack up as the rain stopped and only just cycled up the bank from the river. I rejoined the cycle path which led me across the bridge and alongside the main road, where I found an ABC supermarket for coffee and a croissant. By now it had started raining again so I took my time charging batteries and booking a hotel for Thursday night in Helsinki. Then a pit stop at a garage to put air in the tyres as the rain continued, I didn’t leave there until 4pm.
The forecast said it might clear later and have a dry night. I hoped so as I was riding barefoot in my shoes as my socks were saturated last night, along with most of my belongings. I followed good cycle paths until they ran out and I joined the 110 towards Helsinki via Salo. It was raining most of the day and windy too, so I never had the chance to dry out. I stopped at a garage for coffee and chocolate near Pilmeo and as it was now raining I decided to find a campsite 2 miles away but there were no signs and I don’t think it’s open anyway.
So I carried on to Pilmeo, found a supermarket that had hardly any food, but I managed to buy some hot dog buns for my 4 sausages and a couple of beers. I joined the 2215 which was much better than the main road and saw a good possible camp site next to a river. It was tricky getting the bike to the bank and may be even tougher getting it back up tomorrow. It was worth it though as it’s a beautiful spot with a wooden platform above the raging torrent below.
Camping on a platform above a raging river
It was very loud and I’m not sure how much sleep I will get. I had to wait for two ladies fishing and two guys chatting to go before setting up. I couldn’t believe there were so many people around in the middle of nowhere. I dried out the tent by tying it to the handrail and letting the wind get to it and then at 10.30 the sun came out for five minutes before disappearing below the horizon.
Wild camp on platform above raging river