Lapland with a dot on the "i"

We're back. After nearly 2.000 driven kilometers and many incredible and unforgettable impressions. Especially the dot on the "i" has also reached us yet.

Thursday, 14.03.2013, Seinäjoki -10 ° C:

We just picked up the car and we were surprised, when we see that a Volvo V50 is waiting before the Hertz car rental. That’s more than enough space for four people included luggage for the weekend. So it seems, at least initially. As the luggage, the food and everything else what we needed, little by little finds his place in the car, takes me at least well aware that winter clothes certainly need a lot of space. Apart from that, of course, had linen and towels are taken.

It is 17.30 h. Everything is packed. The four of us are also still in the car. So let’s go on to Lapland. Direction North. The evening is long and behind Oulu, after the first 418 km, it stretches a bit. It's almost 10 pm and until we’re up in Rovaniemi it will take probably sometime. Temperatures drops with every mile. The hardest temprature difference between the inside of the car and the outside is almost 46°C. At half past 2 in the morning, after about 640 km, the redemption. Get out off the car, get key and check in. Tomorrow morning we have to get up early. The huskies are waiting for us.

Friday, 15.03.2013, Rovaniemi, -20 ° C:

It’s 07.00 o’clock in the morning. The alarm clock brings us after a short night back to reality. The slices are frozen from the outside. Ice flowers. Something I know only by hearsay. It seems to be cold. After waking up, we dig out nearly every warm thing of the luggage what we've packed on. Sledding, we were predicted to be cold. After we leave our bags with the boys, we were on our way. And so early in the morning, it seems once again a lot colder than it already is. Once in office, we are first packed on. To the existing two pairs of socks is another pair of socks adapted, after that warm winter boots. Over the ski pants and tights, as well as the vest, the T-shirt comes long arm shirt, the sweater and the sweater again a thermo overall. A second / third scarf and warm leather gloves with shear ling are provided to us also. Once ready, we attracted nearly dying on overheating. It seems pretty far away that we will be grateful afterwards. Arrived at the Husky point we get a briefing how we have to handle the sled and the dogs. The phrase "You can stop a car by turn off the engine, but you cannot turn off these animals, they are running engines with full power!" Stick in my memory. What he meant to me will become clear later. When we starts, the pressure and the adrenaline increases. Actually I had not even after the briefing really expected that we will be driving the sled alone in a team with inexperienced.

The first half of the ride I rode the sled, Alex was sitting. After a tea break in the middle of nowhere in the woods we changed. The guides told us a bit about the dogs. These are not the "typical huskies" (siberian husky) familiar from Hollywood movies. Alaskan huskies are long-distance runners. Comparable to marathoners. They can run nearly 200 km a day. (Sorry Volker ;)). At least they need a 50-100 km run per day otherwise they are not fully occupied and there are definitely no family dogs. On average a dog works for 7-9 years.

As we left the Huskies behind us we continued your driving to the north. We meet the guys at the car. Our bags are already stowed and the car is pre-heated. Thank you for this again. :)

On the way we will made a short trip to Santa Claus Village. What's for my expectations unfortunately been rather disappointing. If you wanted to see Santa you have to take a photo with him and that was quite expensive. So we visited a few reindeer and the Post Office and went for a walk on the "Arctic Circle". Every year thousands of letters written by children from all over the world are arriving in the Post Office. That keeps the idea that Santa exists. Actually a pretty good one.

After another 300 km and -35 ° C, we arrived at Ivalo. The cottages are cute. There’s only one small hook. No toilet, no shower, no kitchen. Actually it exists, but in a distance of about 200 meters to walk. This can be quite uncomfortable at such temperatures. After we had established ourselves and cooked something, we started to look for the Northern Lights. Under a starlit sky and -35 ° C in the woods far away from civilization, you would think it would be the perfect situation, but unfortunately the Northern Lights don’t see it like we do. After 3 hours of waiting and looking into heaven we have abandoned. Back at the cottage the first thing was to warm up.

Saturday, 16.03.2013, Ivalo, -25 ° C:

It's cold. The cabin has cooled down completely and the thought of running to the shower still doesn’t make this better. After showering, back at the cabin, I have to recognize that the 200 m were enough to freeze my toothbrush. Despite a cap my hairs are frozen as well. Breakfast is after yesterday's purchase of semi-finished buns and cheese spread out quite lavish.

It goes on to Inari. A really huge lake. At least in the summer. Now in the winter, it is used as ice road. Included street signs. To describe the feeling of walking on a frozen lake in this size (1084.33 km ²) is nearly impossible. After a short visit in the museum and a resident purchasing a memory of this visit, we’re back in the car. South! Oulu waits in 546 km. After several stops to take food and other stuff we’re arriving at 20 o’clock in Oulu. The hotel has a 24/7 check in. However, I never realized a version of "phone check-in”. After we inspected our rooms and put down our things we went for a walk. Once the harbor and back. I must say that I'm sure, that sales of bladder- and kidney tea in this region run pretty good with the outfits the girls. Or they just are accustomed.

Flash frozen back at the hotel we went to bed. With the knowledge, that it's all over tomorrow.

Sunday, 17.03.2013, Oulu, something between -15 ° C and -10 ° C:

Bright sunshine wakes us. It's perfect weather. Blue sky and no clouds. The hotel let us down a bit, since there is no breakfast already around 9:30 am. Common, we’re students! Looking for a coffee shop or a bakery we were running again through Oulu. Even during the day, the city is not bad. The port is sweet. However besides us four and a couple of families with young children, there is no one to see. How well, that all the shops are opened on Sundays. Yoghurt drinks are purchased. They need to extend until lunch.

Back at the car we go towards home. 327 km separate us from our temporary home Seinäjoki. With every mile it’s getting warmer. In Seinäjoki there are +2 ° C. First time since we've been here, that it is above zero degrees. We can hardly believe it. Is spring coming soon? We took the advantage of the car and drove to LIDL to buy something to drink. Then we need don’t need it least to drag like we usually do when we buy some drinking stuff. After we unloaded and stored in any apartment we bring back the car. The key is inserted and the adventure is over.

A weekend full of incredible moments is passed. But we have saved everything. And if we don’t have anything pictured on photos. Then we saved it in a black photo album with a silver button. ;)

When and where we are planning the next road trip?

And the dot on the “I”? Sure. These are the northern lights. Even if they didn’t wanted to show up in Lapland. Last night they were there. In Seinäjoki. Directly above us. Breathtaking.

How was your weekend?

Hug you.

Yours Jacques