Destination Stenbacka 11th November

November 11th

... is provisionally our next trip date. 

Details to follow...

The October sub-24, Urja

Sub-24 rode ten or so kilometres of forest paths from Bemböle to Urja. Our first Kiwi enjoyed the wind...

We set off from Bemböle with a total party of four: Lee, Florian, Jorge and I.  I wasn’t entirely sure where I was or what I had signed up for but was quite happy to follow along at the mercy of others who seemed to have some sort of vague plan!

We darted through the forest making our way towards Nuuksio, as the sun set and the sky turned a misty shade of blue between the silhouetted trees. As the first New Zealand representative in the group, I felt the pressure was on to keep up with the pace –fortunately Finland has a few less hills than back home and so it was a gentle ride. Eventually we turned off the main track and walked our bikes along a slightly more treacherous pathway to make it to our campsite at Urja.

After nestling our tents and hammocks between the trees before nightfall, we headed on over to a ready-made fire, kindly set up by the girl scouts who arrived before us. (Unfortunately they didn’t care to share their marshmallows with us though!). A wicked wind swept around us as we cooked our delightful dinners and we went to sleep with hopes that the wind would settle in the morning. However, it was not to be. So with tents packed, so we promptly headed off at 9am (out along the road this time) to make our way back to Helsinki before lunch. What an adventure in less than 18 hours! I will certainly be back for more! 

Rachel, New Zealand

The October sub-24, Urja

Sub-24 rode ten or so kilometres of forest paths from Bemböle to Urja. Our first Kiwi enjoyed the wind...

We set off from Bemböle with a total party of four: Lee, Florian, Jorge and I.  I wasn’t entirely sure where I was or what I had signed up for but was quite happy to follow along at the mercy of others who seemed to have some sort of vague plan!

We darted through the forest making our way towards Nuuksio, as the sun set and the sky turned a misty shade of blue between the silhouetted trees. As the first New Zealand representative in the group, I felt the pressure was on to keep up with the pace –fortunately Finland has a few less hills than back home and so it was a gentle ride. Eventually we turned off the main track and walked our bikes along a slightly more treacherous pathway to make it to our campsite at Urja.

After nestling our tents and hammocks between the trees before nightfall, we headed on over to a ready-made fire, kindly set up by the girl scouts who arrived before us. (Unfortunately they didn’t care to share their marshmallows with us though!). A wicked wind swept around us as we cooked our delightful dinners and we went to sleep with hopes that the wind would settle in the morning. However, it was not to be. So with tents packed, so we promptly headed off at 9am (out along the road this time) to make our way back to Helsinki before lunch. What an adventure in less than 18 hours! I will certainly be back for more! 

Rachel, New Zealand

September

Friday 9th
Fiskträsk in Sipoonkorpi National Park:
http://www.uudenmaanvirkistysalueyhdistys.fi/index.php?k=13395

August 2016: Pikku-Parikas

An early summer

The times in this Sub24 reminded me how quickly the change of seasons sometimes takes place in Southern Finland. While the last Sub24 a month ago saw rain, hail, frozen lakes and chilly winds, this one was an early treat of sun, clear skies and warm temperatures.

The air temperature gaining two degrees every day for a week, it's with great excitement that cyclists from Britain, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Switzerland and France (seven nationalities for five riders) met at the bridge on the road to Hanko over Espoonlahti. Destination: the small island of Linlo, east of the Upiniemi peninsula.

With high spirit and a light headwind, we took the peaceful road along the classic Kuninkaantie, and shifted south at Kirkkonummi on Eestinkyläntie and Hilantie. We found very similar sceneries than Porkkalantie with some deers in the distant fields and pale colors around since trees were just about to turn green.

Connecting the island to the mainland, a small wooden bridge was the last difficulty of the day. It was also where we meet Mickael and Emil (6 years old and first night out camping) coming by car. Distance cycled from Espoonlahti: 24 km.

Heading to the first nuotiopaikka on a lovely beach, we spotted a big rock overlooking the sea on the other side of the bay that would provide a better exposure to sunset and we quickly decided to aim for it it before cooling down.

Three riders took to the sea for a refreshing swim (water surprisingly warm) before all would set up tents and hammocks and prepare the dinner.

Gathered around the fire quickly set up by Markus and Olivier, we started to unpack the delicacies and I must say it's been a while since I have been so full in a Sub24: to the usual sausages, pasta and bread, some wine, cheese and mudcake completed the feast.

Retreating shortly after sunset to our night quarters, the night welcomed the tired bodies and feeling refreshed soon it was dawn again. 

The return trip went by Porkkalantie, adding 4 kilometers (scenic!) to the total trip. Leaving Markus in Espoonlahti, the four remaining riders made it back to Helsinki along the coast of Espoo, worshipping the sun.

Sub24 - May

New month, Vappu celebrations behind us, time for Sub24!

Date: Friday May 6th

Time: 17.30

Meeting location: on the bridge of road 51 overlooking Espoonlahti

Final destination still open, but I have my eyes on he small peninsula of Linlo next to Porkkala.

Classic road to Porkkala, a short drift westwards before making it to the end of the peninsula. Any comments?

See you all of you cyclist/campers on Friday!

April in Meiko

It was supposed to be a sunny weekend, or so the weather forecast led us to believe. Unfortunately, just a few kilometers leaving home, the first drops started from Bemböle and it took us the final stretch of road to Meiko outdoor area in Kirkkonummi to get a rest from the downpour.

Some synchronization mishap led to two riding groups joining at the final destination, a Spanish/Polish team from one side, and a French-British-Korean on the other. The latter group, following the classic Kuninkaantie, took to the countryside roads out of Espoo, passing by fancy architects-designed houses, a rolling gravel road leading the the Northern shores of Humaljärvi dotted with old farms from years gone-by before getting up a hill to Korsolampi where we would spend the night. Oddly enough, the way to the lake was along a mildly steep uphill, a strange sight in these low lands of Southern Finland.

The evening was spent mostly exchanging around Benoît and his wife's year long journey from South of France to Korea, all the way through Iran, an excellent escape (at least in our minds) from the relative misery of Finnish spring and its constant grey color. As someone might have said: "Ah, April, the November of Spring!". I officially kicked off the hammock season by setting it nicely at the edge of the still frozen lake.I spent a surprisingly good night, not bothered at all by the thick humidity of the place and the chilly temperatures.

Two early birds, Lee and Robin, took off a bit after sunrise while the rest of the group enjoyed the place a little bit more, before heading to Espoo along Espoonlahti and the coastal path all the way to Helsinki, where Jorge and I got literally drenched by a spring shower (including hail!). Despite being soaked from head to toe, this Sub24 was as fun as it can be, and I'm glad we still manage to find new places to pitch our tent after 5 years running these Sub24 overnighters!

- Florian.