Circle of the Arctic
 

Got my ferry and train tickets. This is going to be my summer vacation.

https://waypool.me/#/share=23213e30-...a-4fd0074c6662

Taking the overnight car train from Helsinki to Kolari on August 17th, and the train back on the evening of the 26th.

The plan is:

Kolari > Inari (there is a folk music festival in town that day) > Nordkapp and surroundings > Tromsö (considering doing it as a daytrip on the Hurtigruten instead of riding) > Senja > Lofoten > back to Kolari.

Anyone around and want to join? Anyone in the area want to grab a beer?

https://scontent-arn2-1.cdninstagram...23351808_n.jpg

Leaving day after tomorrow from Kaunas LT. Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki then up to Nordkap. Plan to do the secondary roads along the fjords south through Norway for several weeks. The Sweden, Denmark, and crossing Germany and Poland back to Lithuania. Are you dressing for tropical weather? Has been above 30 around here.

Would you pm me info on car-train from Helsinki? Thanks!
-JohnD
Old-n-slo

Give me a shout as you're passing through Tallinn, maybe we can get a beer.

Car train: https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/frontpage#tabs-2

Leaves from Pasila station (NOT Helsinki Central). Gets you overnight to the far north - the northernmost stops are Kolari (on the Swedish border) and Kemijärvi (just past Rovaniemi). You load the bike or car into a double-decker freight carriage, then go back to the passenger part of the station to board your carriage. There are soft-seat options, but it's not much more expensive to go for an ensuite cabin with a shower. It's about 250 euros each way for a cabin and bike, but you get a good night's sleep instead of two days' ride (and two nights' hotel accommodation) through the boring parts of Finland.

I expect things to change between now and mid-August... but I'll take tropical weather over freezing downpours. I've done a shakedown run in +30C in my textile gear with all vents open and all liners out, and survived; growing up in sauna culture has blessed me with decent heat tolerance.

AnTyx, thanks for the invitation. Unfortunately, I saw it too late. Spent a sweltering night at the Freedom65 hostel because I was expecting a thunder shower. Caught the 1400 ferry to Helsinki and will look into the train North as you suggested. I thought Rovaneimi would be a good place to get off-- visit Santa Claus and all that, but perhaps you have a better idea. Tromsö, Nordka P and down the fjords is my no-plan plan.
JohnD

Hi John.
Did you take the train north as AnTyx suggested? Then how much did you pay for it?

Juuz0,
When I called for the train, it was booked for 4 days. I didn’t want to wait and the ride to Rovaniemi looked like two pretty easy days. So, I rode to Oulu and then to Ro. It was a pleasant (although very hot) ride. Finland is a bit like riding northeastern Minnesotta: lots of spruce/pine/fir forest, lots of lakes, and evereyone is Finnish! Only it takes days to get through. Can get monotonous...if beauty can getg monotonous.