Do you know how many kilometers from Lappeenranta to Pello, Lappland?

It is 10850 km and takes more than a day !

But it is not the shortest route...

In Finland or Sweden? Where am I?

Did you know that between Finnish Pello and Swedish Pello is the last wild river Torniojoki, from where you really can catch wild salmons.

Rock'n Roll in Heinola "Heinolassa Jyrää"

The place where everyone and everything Rock'n Roll, the Town of Guys' and Dolls'. www.heinola.fi

Heinola is one of the oldest TOWNs in Finland. It got the right to act as a city over 200 years ago from the king of Sweden. Today it is extremely active summer city...

"Heinolassa Jyrää" Rock Festival 7.8.2010. It is only 1 hour and 35 minutes from Lappeenranta. You must go there!

http://www.festarit.org/festari/1442/Heinolassa-Jyrää/2010

http://www.heinola.net/

If you think, you are the hardest Sauna man in the world. You can test it and take part in the World Championship Sauna Games 7.8.2010. The games are not for the soft guys! Temperature will be over +120C. (http://www.saunaheinola.com)

Via Germany to Öland

1237 km German roads behind and now in Roge Denmark. I must follow the words of Seppo Räty and say: "Germany is a ...long country having super motorways." However, after several cups of coffee, I arrived from Putgarden to Rödby Denmark. The boat costs 49euros for a bike and driver. In the boat, I noticed that the "beer rally" between Finland and Estonia is nothing compared with the import from Germany to Denmark. Our monopoly company Alko makes the problem bigger only to support it's own monopoly position in the market!! Do not believe Finnish authorities and Alko Oy tell about our problems.

From booze back to travelling, firstly, I thought to spend couple of days in Denmark but spent only a night in Röge Camping by the see. Röge has a very old city center with nice looking old buildings. I can recommend you to go there and have a cop of coffee with Italian icecream.

In the morning, I woke up 11am and decided to continue my trip directly to Öland. Öland is famous about the luxurious and elegant traditional birthdays of Swedish Queen Victoria. This year, the birthday will be again but without the coming Queen and her husband. Her little sister (the better looking one) will be the host. They told me that Victoria is having her honeymoon with her husband ;-).



Öland has two sides: the sandy part like a desert and the green part of the island. I got hints to drive to the green part, i.e. to the north part of the island. I drove to Borgholm. The village is close to the Castle Solliden which is Victoria's place. I noticed that Öland really is an ecoisland. They have hundreds and hundreds of windmills and they even live in those windmills!

In the Island, you can find number of very good camping areas by the see close to the Village and all over the Island. But I found a B&B place. I noticed three bikes in the garden and a sign "Rum med Frystyk" (300Skr). In the evening, I also found a hostel. They had a Jazz band playing...hhmmm...jazz in the Garden. In Swedish way, children played football and their parents enjoyed elegantly wine listening music.

Finally, in Finland Valpperi with my biker friends Laura and Riku. The journey goes next to Lappland, Pello. There will be organized a big "also for the selected bikers' meeting" in the end of July. Let's see what will happen there???

Via Milano to Alps and Tirol

It has been a quite interesting trip so far and I believe that becomes even more interesting. However, Riviera is amazing and everybody must see and feel it. The athmosphere is totally different compared to other sunny coasts. There is everything for everybody. After it, I thought that I could have a break in Milano but plans changed as they has been changing all the time. It is one of the main things when you are travelling by motorbike. Every evening you check the map and make a new plan for the next day. For example, I have been thinking to visit in Nurnburg Ring. The place, where every biker has to go and feel one of the most famous race tracks. But as I said, the plans might change... never know where to go tomorrow :-).


But now, I will enjoy the Alpes in Austria in Seelfeld. I am in my "regular" B&B house. Last time I was here, I met a man who owns a house in the centre of the Village. We had then a nice chat (over the whole night) as yesterday again. He has been travelling all over the world...by sailing boat around the world, climbed the highest mountain peaks in the world and the most important thing he is also a biker ;-).


And yesterday evening, it was an interesting football game Germany-Spain. They had a large outdoor screen in the village and eveybody where there to watch the game. It was fun, I must say. Lot of Spanish and Germans were there...



If you decide to come to Austria, the place is Seelfeld. From Innsbruck 30km up to the mountains. It is nice place during the summer time as well as in winter time. For the bikers, there is a motorbike shop having a full service, i.e. from new bikes to repairing services.











In the village, you can find an old small chappel. It is a well know seefelder symbol, e.g. in TV they show it always.

to Antibes through Riviera

The next destination of the trip was Riviera and Antibes which is close to Nice. The first night, I spent in Sette. It is about 100km from the Spanish border. The village has two faces. Firstly, it is an old fishermens` village. It has several canals like Venice but full of fishing boats. By those canals, you can find number of nice and good fish restaurants. Second face of the village is the beaches. Village has over 10 km long dunes and beaches around it.

Next day, I continued to Antibes. I drove through the whole Riviera. Roads are very grouded and the speed was very low. But if you a motorbike, no broblems. After Marseille, I had a lunch in Cassis. You must go there. It is the best place in Riviera. But I have to say that it is not a good place for the party people.

In Antibes, we met several friends having a pic nic on the beach. It is typical way to meet friends for local people. Antibes offers you plenty of different activities from lovely beaches to historical fortresses and French Mediterrain cusine. Locals say that Antibes is the most important city in Riviera. I agree with them. Antibes also has one of the oldest still operating light houses in the region.

Matadepera and Barcelona

Deeper and deer into the Spain. I arrived to my friends to Matadepera couple of hours ago. They have a lovely house very close to Barcelona having a view to the mountains. I was straving after the trip and I enjoyed a saled lunch wiht my friends in their garden. After that we had a short walk with their dogs in the forrest. I cannot understand how they (dogs) manage to run so much. I could hardly walk because the temperature. It must be over 35C. Tomorrow, we will go to the center of Barcelona to see all famous places. In the evening, we will have a dinner in the monastery which is quite near to the home.

As you know, the next MotoGP race is in Barcelona during this weekend. When I was driving by the highway to Barcelona, it was like a race circuite. Hundrest of motorbikes were driving like a maniacs among the cars and trucks. Of cource I did not!

The weekend in Barcelona was perfect. On Saturday, I walked around the city and saw this very strange church designed by Gaudi. Ramblas, the Beach, Olympic Park and so many nice places...

We had also local food TAPAS. That was something!! But you must know the places to where the local people goes. We had good quides ;-).

I almost forgot to mention that I was hiking in the mountains close to Barcelona Montserrat with my friends and we met a mountain man. You can see his picture bellow. The mountain climbs up to 1250 meters.

Cadasques Dali´s home

Morjensta, I woke up very early today about 8am or little later. I decided to change the place and drove 20 km to the north. I found a little town or better to say the village of Salvador Dali. In the evening, I will tell more...

Cadaques is a very good destination for all kind of travellers including beach lovers, hikers, divers and art people. The main village Cadaques is a small typical Spanish village having six tiny and nice beaches and number of unofficial lagoons. The water is totally clear. You can see as deep as needed, e.g. they have class bottom boats here to see underwater world.

The peninsula around the village is like a desert and the temperature has been over 35C during the past days and no wind.

Tomorrow, I will go to Barcelona and meet my "Heinola" friends. I have known Jari since school days. He and his wife have been living in Spain many years and before that in Germany. I hope that we will have a nice weekend in Barcelona. If I know him and the days in Heinola, weekend will be...hmmm...nice. And more surprices are coming there. May be. Who knows?

Here you can see Dali´s home and the swimming pool. The pool, must say, was interesting. The shape of it looked like fal...

JB´s motos fixed the brakes

As I told, I got some problems with the rear brakes. They just get soft and only the front brakes could be used as normal. I was about to go to Andorra, but without brakes it could be quite interesting trip. However, this morning, I went to the JB´s Motos in Toulouse. They couldn´t speak english and I did not speak french. We used hands and spoke different languages. I spoke english/finnish. They spoke french/spanish. They fixed the brakes and it took only 20 min. It did not cost anything! They said that KTM helps drivers to keep them on the road.

When I left from Toulouse, I had to change my plans. Now, I am in Roses by the Mediterrain See. In the evening, I watched the game Spain vs. Portugal in a local bar. It was an interesting experience and the party continues in the streets...

I also found a very good hotel "HostalCal Catala" in Roses. It locates in the city center. The owner of the Hotel is also a biker. He has always special offers for the bikers (25e/night). Hotel has also good parking places for bikes. Tomorrow, I will continue the trip and move closer to Barcelona.

Tourmalet and Pic du Midi

No niin,sitten on nahty jo vahan esimakua Pyreneistakin. Gavarnien jalkeen ajoin Lourdesiin pain ja jalleen huomasin ajavani tour de francen reitteja. Ilmeisesti tama Tourmalet 2115m on kisan kovin nousu. Sumpit taalla ja makea takaisin alas ja pieneen vuoristokylaan yoksi. vain yksi pub-ravintola auki ja niin kauan kuin asiakkaita riittaa. Eika turistien palvelukaan ollut kovin kattavaa nain talvi- ja kesasesonkien valissa.

Tanaan sitten Toulouseen ja KTM:n huoltoon takajarrua korjauttamaan. Portille tullessa korjaamo kiinni. Pihalla joku mies huuteli, etta huomenna auki! Tai ainakin nain olin ymmartavinani. Mutta kuinkas ollakaan, samoilla asioille tuli toinenkin motoristi ja Suomesta oli. Hanen siskonsa asuu taalla ja kyydissa oli siskon mies. Sovimme huomiseksi samaan paikkaan molemmat eli tulkkausapua saan jos ongelmia tulee.

Nyt sitten paiva Toulousen helteessa. Huomenna kohti Andorraan ja siitten Espanjan puolelle Barcelonaa tavoittelemaan.

Gavarnie and Pyrenees

I arrived to the Pyrenees following partly roads of Tour de France and met a lot of bikecyclists cycling along these roads. The little village Gavarnie is about 45 km from Lourdes to Spanish border and is located about 1400 meter over the see. I found a nice room in a house owned by two (very) old ladies. The room is about 35 m2 having own fireplace. Hopefully, I do not need to use it. Room costs 30 euros including breakfast. Today, I will take short hiking track and enjoy the mountains. It is cloudy but very warm weather here.

Some pictures

Pont du Normande, the picture was taken driving the motobike on the bridge.
















Hello from a cow in Bordeaux during the restaurant festival.















How is he?

A shop in the old town of San Sebastian.

One night in Bang...Biarritz

Today, I had to change my hotel. They told me that the wedding guests are coming today and the hotel is sold out. I had to move to another hotel :-(. The previous hotel has 2 stars and the new one has only 1 star. You might think that the price came down. Yes it did 3 Euros!! But It is now 200 meters closer to the beach. It means only 200m to the best beach of the Biarritz. If you deside to come here, I can recommend this hotel for you "Hotel Pylam". The price varies from 30 to 40 euros per night depending on the season.

As I told, I was going to tast some FRENCH and local wine. I asked to pring me local Basque white wine and got "Juracon sec - Clos Guirouilh. It was made 30 km from Biarritz to the Pyrenees. The wine was good with Italian food (spagethi) ;-).

Today, I made a day visit in San Sebastian. It took only 40 minutes to drive there by moto. The city is nice but I prefer Biarritz. I visited in Aquarium which is located in the harbour of the old town. It was very interesting place. However, you must see and feel San Sebastian too, if you are coming here. I also heard that Ryan Air is flying to Biarritz.

tomorrow, it is time to move to the mountains to the Pyrenees. I hope that I can spend there 3-4 days. I like hiking in the mountains, and especially the roads are perfect for motorbikes!!! The curves, views and the other bikers in the meeting points "passes=very high places to go over the mountains".

The weather has been quite boring. Temperature has been all the time over 30C. It is too hot for the norther people like I am.

Hello?

I arrived to Biarritz today. This is quite close to Spain only 30 km from San Sebastian. But today I going to have basque dinner somewhere in the city. I must also try some local FRENCH wine. As I mentioned, in Bordeaux, they served me Italian wine. Tomorrow, I will go to the Pyrenees. Hopefully, I will find nice hiking places and nice mountain views. I believe that I will spend there 3-4 days. However, Biartritz is a historical harbour town. Here you can find nice museums and historical buildings etc. It is good place to stay at least one day. The weather has been too hot for me, over 30C ;-)

Dune de Pilat

Moro!

I spend a great day in Quiberon in the 30 km sand peninsula. I must say that it i a great place for beach lovers. I got the hotel by the beach and it was only 40 e / night. In the evening there played several bands on the beach. The first one was the best. They looked and played like the Baseballs. Do you know that they will be in Imatra after the whitenights. But the tickets are sold out! I was lucky and got them for my friends from not so official seller ;-). I had a kebab in French style. The meat was in the "Patonki" not in Pita bread. Meat was mixed with french fries. However, it was good.

Yesterday, I visited in Bordeaux. I had a dinner in a local restaurant and I asked them to bring me house wine. Can you believe, they brought me Italian wine. It was good too. If you want to go to Bordeaux and spend a night there, just go to the city center and you can find plenty of good hotels there. They cost from 30 to 300. In Bordeax, there is the longest shoping "kavelykatu" in the Europe.

Today, I arrived to the Dune de Pilat. You can do snowboarding by the sand!!! The dunes are coming 5 meters closer to the city in every year. The best places to spend a night here are the camping areas. They all are close to the Dune by the Ocean.

Ranskan maalla ja nappaimistokin outo kuten kielikin

Morjensta vain kaikille tietokoneitaan tuijottaville ja sellaisillekin; jotka osaavat olla ulkona eika lukemassa tyhjanpaivaisia blogikirjoituksia koneidensa ruuduiltaan :-).

It has been pretty nice trip so far. I have visited in several historic places during the past few days. They made think that we, humans, people, have been totally out of our minds. From Gent, I went to Normande where the hardets battles of the 2. world war happened. It was hard to believe that those nice white sand beaches were full of soldiers 70 years ago. I am happy that those days are gone!! However, memorial monuments in Omaha Beach was impressive. There happened a coincident for me. As you know, there is a cemetery with thousands of white crosses. I just went there took some pictures. Then I walked through the crosses and looked the very first cross to which I came. The name was Arne J. Takalo!!!

After a night in the very small village by the ocean Port de Bessin, no more than 1000 habitants, I went to Mont st Michel. The castle is quite well known, e.g. from the movies of Sean Connery :-). It was a strange feeling to drive there seeing the castle rising from the see. It was as good place as I imagined. I recommend to visit there. If you want to spned a night in the Castle, there is two hotells. One night costs 60-80 per person. In the village, prices are lower but not much.

Now, I am laying at the beach listening the Ocean and looking at the beautiful scenery... The village is called Quiberon. It is located in the end of very long sand peninsula. This is the place you should come too.

Tomorrow, I will continue my trip to Cognac and Bordeaux, but only to visit there shortly. The main target will be the Dune de Pilat to do snowboarding by the Dunes.

Ruoan sanotaan olevan taalla erityisen maukasta. Taytyy sanoa, etta olen kylla saanut parempaakin eraissa kaamoksentappojuhlissa useana vuotenakin perakkain. Mutta suosituksesta maistelin paikallista omenasiideria ja oli hyvaa. Siis ei Golden Capia tai ylasiideria, vaan oikeaa siideria.

siis huomenna jalleen kohti lampoa ja Cognacin maisemia. Siihen asti MTV3/n juontajia siteeraten "nakemiin".

This picture (crosses) is from the Omaha Beach

Morjensta Gentista

It has been so long day that to write in english could be too hard to me. But I try... Must say that Gent is old city and also looks old! What else to say, hmm. It's friday and lot of people is sitting in the bars. It is true what they say about belgium. They really can eat! I know that I can too. I thought that I could have tonight a little meal with white wine. What did I got? A huge portion of Lasagne with a large salad and a cold plate with cheese, olives, etc. and finally desert. I couldn't eat them all. I really tried. I believe that Obelix couldn't eat that too! Next, I will go to the market place next to old church. By the way, they have plenty of old churches here. Must be hudreds and I don't know why?? One for each habitant of the city. In the market place, They have a huge screen for Football games and they offer FREE beer. Quite loud people sitting around it!

Now, I am reaching the French border (almost) and it is time to slow down the speed and leave the highways (autobahns). Next target will be the Atlantic coast and Mont St-Michel.

Something about the boat trip from Hesa to Trave. It was long and peaceful. Lot of truck drivers. Sauna was good and hot. I took a massage. Not that kind of you might think. First night I spent in Trave. Nice city but not for me.

Vanhan suomeksikin. Oli muuten pirun tylsa patka Travesta tanne. En suosittele loma-ajelulle. Ei mitaan nakemista. Voisi melkein siteerata kuulua keihasmiesta, mutta vahan eri sanoin "Saksa on...iso maa ja taynna Porcheja." On ollut muuten kylma. Nytkin tuskin yli 12C, mutta jengi shortseissa ja minihameissa. Jalkimmaista en pahaksi pista, mutta kylma heilla takuulla. Mita sitten huomenna...tieda hanta. Mutta nyt alkaapi maisemien katselu ja eraalle huumoritajuttomalle (muuten toissa LUTissa) ja joka ei ymmarra minun huumoriani laitan jatkossa jonkin sortin vinkin missa kannattaa hymyilla :-).

In the future, it could be more interesting or I don't know???

Ei kun futista katsomaan pelkialaisten joukkoon torille.

(Arvatkaa mista kuva? Try to find out from where the picture is?)

No niin

Nyt se sitten lähtee...Let's go! Tomorrow still one meeting in Helsinki and from there directly to the boat. I am not sure about my route. But during the boat trip, I should make a decision how to get to France. One of the first goals is Mont St Michel. A famous castle, e.g in the Bond movies.

Spare parts are here

Morjensta, It seems that I will get the spare parts for the motorbike and the trip can start as planned. First, I am going to go to Travenmunde by boat. This is a good way to go to Western part of the Europe. But, if you are going to travel e.g. to Italy, Poland or Slovenia, you should drive through via Baltia.

However, my first destination will be France and there the Atlantic coast and I will continue riding along the coast to Andorra and Barcelona. The whole trip will take 5 to 6 weeks! I will tell you about the best and the most interesting places and happenings during my trip.

Enjoy your life...

Already before the trip everything went wrong...

I lost my brakes...