Independence Day, Yee haw!
After forming a two person escape committee, we made our break at the usual (and rather repetitive) time of 09:15.
Our cabin was immediately opposite the campsite owners house and he took every opportunity to come over and offer his helpful 'guidance'.
We had the last laugh though. The cabin was not equipped with the usual hotplate so we sparked up 'Big Thunder' our temperamental (and frankly downright dangerous) petrol stove instead.
Now we're no authority on the causes and circumstances of domestic blazes but a recalcitrant flame thrower and a tinder dry wooden cabin is probably not a preferred combination... We even had to silence the smoke alarms as they were putting us off our brewing!
Post script to this event was Tracey finding oily black smuts all over the cabin and our stuff so maybe we won't be sparking up again inside anytime soon.....
Anyway, back to the plot..... We set off back on the E75-4, our destination today approximately 70 miles away though, shhhh, Tracey doesn't know....
Hot dry weather, favourable winds and helpful gradual ups followed by yippeee downs had us in Phyasalmi, Finland in very short order. 20 plus miles knocked off before our first CAKE stop in the mother of all Service Stations just outside the town.
We stopped briefly at the bell themed (?) competition on the opposite side of the road. We had a play on the big bells despite the warning signs to leave well alone and Tracey took the opportunity to swing some big knockers to play her favourite tune(s).
Onwards....down the E75-4 playing chicken with the juggernaughts and enjoying every flavour of diesel particulate known to man. The riding at least was swift and we pulled into Pihtipudas for lunch.
There followed the worst pizza in Christendom though we dodged a couple of very heavy showers whilst we considered keeping or throwing.....
We arrived into Viitasaari, 4 miles from our campsite at around 16:30. Had a celebratory ice cream and purchased the days groceries from the supermarket.
After a short interlude, we knocked out the final few K's into Jurvansalo for the night. The joker who thought it would be amusing to put in some evil little stinkers (hills) in between these two place should be taken outside and shot. Bit extreme maybe but really....
We rolled into the campsite with the bike computer reading 80 miles for the day. This makes our tally 170 miles in two days or 3 days riding in two. Time for a rest methinks.
Tomorrow....REST after which we have 5 more cycling days to Helsinki. Hurrah!
More Southerly ramblings to follow.
Back soon. Miles & Tracey.
