I started from home at 17:15 and rode some local trails and took some pictures before meeting with HAK at 18:00.
My Salsa Fargo is again my main bike, now that the winter is over. Packing the bike is easy now when it is warm outside.
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), one of the earliest spring flowers.
Goat willow, or possibly another Salix species.
In some places the birches are getting leaves.
After meeting with HAK we rode smaller roads to the Vajosuo area. About 30 km in 1.5 h in headwind. As can be seen, HAK is a true light packer. Everything needed in a 15-20 l rucksack. Impressive! You have to be willing to live on energy bars and gels and leave any extra clothes such as rain gear home to do this, however.
Me.
We tried a new trail this time, through Vähä-Vajosuo. It started out nice, but quickly got bad...
... and then worse. Where did the trail go?
After some major bushwacking we found something to ride, but mainly the trail was in very bad shape. I would not recommend it to anyone I like. Twenty years ago it was probably in nice shape, when this bridge was new:
Eventually we arrived at the Vajosuo trail and enjoyed a nice sunset. At this time of the year the sun sets at 21:30, so there is no shortage of light.
The boardwalk is in pretty bad shape and occasionally challenging to ride.
Me again.
We continued towards Kangenmiekka, riding through dark forests and easier roads, trying to get to our destination while there was still some light.
Getting more water at Käärmelähde (Snake spring). I wonder where that name comes from. The water did taste great.
At 22:20 we arrived at the Halkokannisto shelter. It was already almost too dark to ride. If I would have gone alone I would have slept in a tent/tarp in a nice place fairly close to this shelter, but I think having the possibility to make a fire is nice when having company. (The everyman's right does not allow making a fire in Finland).
When we arrived the forest was full of the sounds of birds singing. We could identify the ordinary species. A short while later all the birds stopped singing, all at the same time, which I found rather interesting. One bird, the nightjar (fi kehrääjä, sv nattskärra), did sing through the night. It has a peculiar sound.
At 23:30 we went to sleep. Maybe two hours later I woke up to shots fired a few kilometers away. Some local idiot seemingly thought it was a good idea to go out shooting in the night and I heard about 30 rounds fired. I guess these things happen, since Finland unfortunately has the third most guns per capita in the world, right after USA and Yemen.
We slept well and got up around seven in the morning. It was still rather chilly, probably a little above freezing. HAK eats müsli with water. I prefer hot porridge...
... as well as coffee and this time even a sandwhich. I felt sorry for HAK and made coffee for him as well, since coffee in the morning represent quality of life.
The Halkokannisto shelter.
Ready to go again a little before eight in the morning.
Refilling the supply of snake water.
We rode through Myllyoja, bypassed the Rehtsuo trails disaster without problems and arrived at the nice part of the Rehtsuo trail.
Traditional bike posing place at Rehtsuo.
After the Rehtsuo leg I had to ride directly home on roads to get home in time for lunch, about one hour at a good speed. HAK continued towards Turku along trails.
The totals for this outing was 93 km and 6.5 h of actual riding / bike pushing time. Timewise most of it was spent on trails.
A slideshow with more pictures is here.
Thanks to HAK for the company!
