Into the Arctic, Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
Zagan the motorhome has finally, with no little reluctance, left the Hossa-Kylmäluoma camping (came in at €18 a night without leccy, an absolute bargain), and has been steered (by Ju!) into the Arctic in Finland. We’re at the Santa Claus Village, free camping in the large car park with a bunch of other motorhomes from the league of nations (N66.54329,E25.84074).
Boom! We’ve driven to the Arctic!
Santa Claus is knocking about here somewhere, although we think he clocked off at 6?
Plenty reminders you’ve made it to the land of the Midnight Sun!
The Arctic Circle marker on the E75 in Finland
The need for a rest had hit us a day or two before we arrived at Hossa-Kylmäluoma, and the forested site proved to be just the tonic. Endless travel’s a rare privilege, which neither of us take for granted, but it can also be a test. I’m fairly sure Ju and I would make good candidates for a NASA study, as they try to suss out the effects of popping two people together into a small capsule for months on end! Taking time out from the continual need to find safe places to stay, communicate with people, hunt out stuff to look at and routes to drive is essential for us. Yep, we really needed a break, and we got it, and then some.
We’ve a shared love of fire, and Hossa-Kylmäluoma had unlimited firewood with lots of places to burn the stuff. Here we are cooking some of Finland’s favourite vegetable, the sausage
The Finns have almost unlimited nature available to them, and they know how to use it. Fishing was big at the site, as was lake-leaping, hiking, cycling, al-fresco eating, sauna, having fires… In winter it must be something else.
The sun would set just before 11pm, turning the lake into mercury
Trees! If you like trees (I do) then you’ll go ape for Finland
Having failed to go starkers in the smoke sauna we visited a few days ago, we got another opportunity at the campsite. Men and women took saunas separately here, but nevertheless, I’ve a decades-old body-image issue and the idea of being naked with strangers was a tough one for me to handle. Having met Steve and Glen a few weeks back, who have been naturists for years, and then having found out Richard and Jenny did the steam sauna in the buff, I finally manned up. Have to say, it was a non-event in the end, but a big mind-obstacle for me has been surmounted and I feel rather good as a result! Ju exhibited her birthday suit too, and we’d wrap towels in between roasting sessions and sit outside laughing about our experiences.
Can’t get used to this!
Last night we decided today was the day to get moving. Ju’s driven both of our Hymer motorhomes, but only for short stints. She’d wanted to drive, but since driving is nigh-on the only job I do in Team Zagan, I was a bit loathe to hand over the reigns. But hand ’em over I did, and today I got to pop my feet up while Ju hammered us around the tree-lined Finnish roads, tottering around semi-domesticated reindeer. Have a look-see:
As well as covering the miles, we’ve shopped. I’m now the proud owner of an extending sausage cooker fork thing, a fishing rod and a bucket. The last two of these have been on my ‘deliberation list’ for roughly 3 years. The sausage fork thing was pure impulse. My tight-fist might be, finally, easing open slightly. Thinking about it, we did also buy a €30 reindeer steak, so perhaps the fist is no more? If not, surely Norway will prise it open!
I HAD to buy this coffee. Yes, I am in touch with my inner-woman.
The supermarket sold everything! More fishing gear than the average shop…
They’re into their Frisbee Golf in Finland
Can’t beat a packet full of Noblesse!
Right, signing off guys. We’re on the final run north now, a few more days of driving and we’ll hit the top. Nordkapp. Here. We. Come.
Cheers, Jay
New to motorhome life,
planning your own motorhome adventure, or
looking for the perfect gift for the motorhomer in your life?
Check out our OurTour range of books.
Hey…welcome back. I’m with you about keeping your todger tucked in, nor do I want to see one on display. For €30 you should at least get a leg! Could it be that Ju’s a better driver? Hope you both had a nice rest…it can get you down. 😂 Kindest Wayne (currently in Norway and more than a week behind on the blog.shhh!)
Wow! Fantastic guys….brings back great memories of the time I took my two little girls there for Christmas. Of course when we were there it was deep in snow and the lake was frozen over. We took our girls fishing on the lake, we ‘fished’ by drilling a hole through the ice. I don’t remember catching anything but it was a great experience.
Ice fishing’s on my bucket list (I’m not fussed whether I catch anything either). Bet your girls were blown away by Lapland in winter, lucky to have fab parents! Cheers, Jay
Hope you stayed up to see the sun go down and rise again.
Too excited by Santa, fell asleep, but we will manage it one night! Clouds today, crossing fingers for clear skies next few nights.
Welcome back , great to read your blog again 😁
Fantastic read, we are selling up soon and taking to the road for a while, it’s just got to be done! Your blogs are inspirational look forward to them every week, many thanks.
Mike n June