I was late booking the ferry from Travemunde to Helsinki - nothing I could do about it; I had to wait for the DVLA to issue the registration for my bike - and the only options (other than wait longer) were a berth in a 4-person cabin (with unknown people), a whole 4-berth cabin to myself (expensive) or a recliner seat (cheap!). How bad could it be? Answer: very bad. From the time we boarded to the time we disembarked, it was about 36 hours. On a boat with next to no entertainment options. I read two books (one a Chris Ryan book that was the only English language option in the on-board shop), and slept as much as I could - mostly intermittently, waking with a crick in the neck.

And then, when we arrived in Helsinki, it was tipping it down. I put my waterproofs on over my riding suit (which is supposed to be waterproof, but why take the risk?) and set off for my friend's place about 350 km north of Helsinki.

Unfortunately, I didn't do a good job of tightening the cuff of the jacket over the glove, and ended up with water running into the glove - very soggy. But then the other glove started letting in water - I think the waterproof membrane had simply been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of water that was trying to get through. Stopped for a coffee and and a dry off, and then back on the road.

Progress was faster than I expected - even though I stayed off the major roads, much of the route had a 100 kph speed limit, higher than I was expecting.

Reached Jonathan's mid-afternoon - what a fabulous place. A true cabin in the woods, with a river and lake to boot. Heavenly. (And a drying room!) The last couple of miles was along an unsurfaced road, which was a bit 'exciting' - slippery after all the rain - but not bad once I got up on the pegs.

After a tour of the property, a sauna (it is Finland after all) and a delicious dinner, it's time to crash.

Fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow - might just get some fishing in.