Friday 31th of January: lots of snow and wind and husky’s, an excellent day.

Aholansaari to Taivalkoski via Koa-husky: 592 km

Today we made a really aerly start because of the long route and the visit to Kota Husky today. So we got up at six, had breakfast at 6.30 and then got on the (ice)road at 7.00 hour.

This tim we took the left turn on the ice road so we could get of in the other side of the lake. Weather was getting colder, it was snowing and a bit windy, perfect weather for a winter raid.

Half of the teams were still sleeping.

Snow shovel

Getting colder outside

We had a wonderful tour that showed landscapes full of white. Their was not much traffic accept for an incidental snow shovel and truck. When a truck passes you you won’t see anything for seconds because of the swirling snow, so that can be a bit scary sometimes. You need to have a good look at the road and remember if ther will be a curve or not. Luckily the navigation makes it a bit easier.

There are not many tank stations so we filled up from the tin.

At precisely 13.00 hours we arrived at Kota Husky for the sledge tour, together with the other four teams that would go in the first trip. It was great to see Lauri again, and nice to see his little son in real for the first time. The trip with the huskies was great as always. It was colder and challenging for the dogs because of the lose snow. The wind had blown it back on the track and made snow dunes. We even has the sledge trip over because of a dune. Luckily we, nor the dogs got hurt. I just got cold and wet. But it was also fun as usual.

The first five teams.

Getting sledge driving lessons.

Ready to go

Save back home, thank you doggies

link to Kota Husky

After the ride we had a tour on the farm and warm drinks and some snacks in the kota. The second group was supposed to start the trail then but unfortunately non of the teams made it to Kota Husky. So they all missed out on this great experience.

We got back in our cars to go to the sleep over for this night, a sports hostel in Taivalkoski. It took some looking to find it, but we arrived well in time. No dinner in the hostel, but in the village was a pizzeria were most of the teams went. We decided to have some sausages in the hostel which we had left and get some rest. It was a long and exhausting, but beautiful day.

At 22:00 hours when everybody was back in the hostel we had the safe back drink. The drivers meeting will be tomorrow morning at breakfast at nine this time. Now it’s time to get some sleep.

Good night 

Thursday 30th January, music, sausages, an ice road and sauna

Jämsa - Aholansaari (with a stop in Varkaus and Suonenjoki) 359 km

After a good night sleep we got up pretty early, today we had a busy program so an early start was handy.

It was still dark when we came outside, which is not really surprising over here. 

First and only Elk so far

After a very good breakfast we left for Varkaus, to visit the museum of mechanical music.

It had snowed last night so the roads were nice and white.

Pitstop for coffee

It has the whole history of mechanical music shown, from 1850 until today. There were many special instruments shown. 

Stereo record player

After the museum we had to hurry to our lunch. This was organized by the Finnish 2cv club. They arranged a little BBQ with sausages and coffee. Very nice of them. And nice to see some old friends again.

The BBQ hut

Fixing the starting engine

At the BBQ hut we had some chats and a bit of working on the cars, all accompanied by sausages and coffee or tea. A nice intermezzo today.

Some time later we had to say goodbye an head for our sleeping place of today, the island of Aholansaari, only to be reached by ice road. The road towards the ice road was also pretty amazing.

On the ice road

Looks almost like a normal road

We made it

This night we had to cook our own meal on a woodfire in a BBQ hut. It’s basically a large indoor BBQ in a wooden hut called Kota. Everybody brought their own food and drinks and we enjoyed a meal.

Together around the fire place. Naturally whe started with the safe drive drink followed by the drivers meeting. The last two teams joined us today, so the whole Extreme raid group is complete now. After the drivers meeting it was diner time. We grilled salmon for the boys and cheese stuffed paprika’s for all three of us. We did buy sausages as well, but I was still satisfied after todays lunch so we save them for another day.

After this great evening we went back to our cabin where I had some me-time in the sauna followed by a dive in the snow outside (no pictures to prove, Tanguy was too late and it was to cold to wait). 

Now I am ready for bed, I had my nightcap and am sleepy from the sauna.

Tomorrow we have to make an even earlier start because of the Husky trail. We have to get up at six and be on the road at seven, and I thought I was on holiday 🙈.

So good night again.

Wednesday 29th January: day one of the Extreme

Tallinn, Estonia - hotel/campsite Kievari Rantapirtti: 343 km ( plus some extra in Helsinki and one the ice race track)

Today we had an early start because we had to catch the 7.30 ferry to Helsinki. We had to be there at 6.30, luckily our apartment was only a six minute drive from the harbor.

So at 6.29 we arrived and at 6.50 we were drinking coffee on the vessel, fastest boarding ever.

Boarded 

Helsinki in sight

In Helsinki we first had to shop for Sürströming so we went into the city. Because we arrived at the other site of gown as usual we did dome sightseeing first. But finally we arrived at the shopping mall were we knew they sell it. So we bought some cans for the polarcircle ritual.

While walking back to the car we passed this long row of Asian people in front of the Louis Vuitton store. The boys asked why they were all in line there, turned out that is was because of the tax free shopping. I think it’s still pretty expensive for a bag, but then.... who am I.

Sightseeing in Helsinki

In line for Louis Vuitton (can you spot the boys?)

Back at the cars we started the first real trip in Finland. Weather was pretty disappointing, wet snow/rain and no white spot around. 

We had to drive for quite some time before we finally saw the first snow. It made us very happy. Temperature also dropped a little beneath 0, so we are hopeful everything will turn out okay.

First little bit of white 

More snow 

Draakje needs a little cleaning 

Starting to look good

At a little past three we arrived at the first overnight location of the raid. Some of the team arrived yesterday so we had a warm welcome.

Timo, the owner, is a former 2CV driver and a really great and special guy. Very funny and friendly.

On the other side of the main road he has a racing track. In winter you can do ice racing on it. He prepared the track for us and so most of the teams did a couple of rounds to test there skills, and we all could use the practice. We were the first ones to go (of course 🙄) and it went pretty well, untillllllll this one corner. The car went straight one, instead of making the turn. We could manage to get it back on track right away so i had to get out and did my first “pushing out Draakje from the ditch” of the raid. I did a good jod and we were back on track quite fast.

On the ice race track

Going in the ditch (looking worse than it is)

Ready, steady, go!

The second round we could get up an icy hill. We tried pushing, putting branches under the wheels, driving mats, nothing worked. Other teams arrived behind us and also helped, without any effort, so we ended up putting the chains on the front wheels. Luckily we had some practice and after the wheels were chained driving up the icy hill was much easier.

Most importantly we all had a good couple of practice round, most got stuck or hit the ditch one time or more.

Back to the house we had a drink and then it was time for the first drivers meeting. And as it was the first we had to do some formalities like giving everyone a route-book, a raid had and a save arrived shot glass for the Jaegermeister. Gert-jan and Tanguy explained some safety things and told some important think for tomorrow. Then we got outside by the campfire for the first Save drive drink.

Timo accompanied us with dome music.

Drivers meeting 

Campfire outside

After that it was time for something to eat. We had a great buffet with local food, all tasting very nice.

We ended the evening with engraving out glasses and some nice chats before turning into bed.

Tomorrow we have an early start again, so

Good night for now.