Following the "pit stop" for the BMW in Oulu, my next stop was Kuusamo, some 250 kilometers north-east of Oulu. Kuusamo. I arrived in late afternoon and felt immediately at home. The city has a very nice info center, right at the city limits. Even on a Sunday afternoon it was open to the public, offering advice of accommodation and... free internet access.
Following the "pit stop" for the BMW in Oulu, my next stop was Kuusamo, some 250 kilometers north-east of Oulu. Kuusamo. I arrived in late afternoon and felt immediately at home. The city has a very nice info center, right at the city limits. Even on a Sunday afternoon it was open to the public, offering advice on accommodation and... free internet access.

I got some information on a camping ground close by. Other than a very nice location it offered another unexpected surprise. I was greeted by the receptionist and campground "impresario" Vesa Kallunki.His very first question surprised me completely: would I have some ball point pen of the cheap give-away type use in advertising?

"The receptionist of the Matkojoki campground near Kuusamo"

"Click here for the background to his question"

I was stunned but the explanation followed immediately: according to Vesa, he has some 15,000 of such pens and his collection is growing. I did not carry such pens with me but if you have an spare ball point pen with of some co /org/group (and a spare stamp) you may consider sending this to

Mr. Vesa Kallunki
c/o Matkajoki Camping
Kemijärventie 57
93600 Kuusamo
Soumi-Finland

As it was time to update my travel report, I went to look for an internet place. The terminal at the info station was available but had no interface to upload data/pictures. I remembered my good experience from earlier and went to the Kuusamo public library. They did have a terminal with upload facility but it was constantly in use during the opening hours. I tried my luck and spoke to person who was in charge: Helena Raunio. I explained about my trip and maintaining a travel log. I may have received a slightly amused look but without hesitation, it was suggested that I come to the library before the official opening time the next day so I could have the internet terminal to myself.

A big "thank you" to Kuusamo Public Library and Helena Raunio for very pragmatic, "cool" way of make it possible for me to complete my trip report.

"The Kuusamo Public Library - full of resources and helpful people"

The next event of my trip north was the crossing of the artic circle at Lat. 66'33''. Of course this had to be celebrated with a stop at road-side inn with coffee and excellent pancakes (!). The big billboard could not be overlooked.

"At restaurant on the arctic circle"

It was about here that reindeer became part of the landscape. There were warnings all over the place. I could not help thinking that these are in fact the "holy cows" of the north. The reindeer just inhabit the road, trot along. They especially seem to like the entries to the numerous tunnels, causing serious traffic jams and long lines of stupefied drivers of camp mobiles:

"The 'holy cows' of the North"

As the reindeer got more common and the average speed on the road came down, I approached lake Inari in the very north-east of Finland. The weather was no too good and I decided to have a household day instead. The local campground had all the facilities:

"Time for a household day"

I sat out the rain for one day and the took at very scenic route along lake Inari towards Kirkenes in Norway.

More to follow.