Monday 17 February: on our way back home

Kemi (Finland) - Strömbäck (Sweden) 432 km

Today not everybody came out of their beds easily, soit wad a bit later than usual before the cars were packt. But then the time did arrive to start our trip back home via Sweden. After a last joint breakfast we said goodbye to the raid teams and got in our cars.

It was not long before we drove into Sweden, the last Scandinavian country we will visit this time. 

The gearbox of our car started to make noise again so we decided to change the oil one more time this trip, hopefully that will bring us home safe.  

In Scandinavia most petrol stations have an indoor working place which you can rent per minute. So we found one to do the job.

It did not take long so we were back on the road quickly. On the way we found out that Swedisch truck drivers are really horrible on the road. They only think of themselves bringing other cars on the road in serious danger. One of them almost pushed us into the guardrail because he wanted to overtake us with his truck with lorry on a place were to lanes bacame one again. There wasn’t enough space for him but he went anyway pushing us and the car in front of us of the road! Luckily there was a side road witch we both  could turn in, otherwise I don’t know what had happened. 

We stopped at a burger restaurant to get our nerves back before going back on the road again.

Some time later we had the second incident with a truck and lorry, this time the driver crossed the road without looking, we had to hit the break quite hard to stop in time, and we were on a road with a speed limit of 110, so it wasn’t like he crossed a little side road or something. Luckily also this time it went well, but there were more small incidents also with car drivers. We came to the conclusion that Swedisch drivers, truck and car, are all real idiots. Driving here is more dangerous than in Russia. And than the bad weather didn’t help either, nor did the lack of good signs on the road.  

But we reached our place for tonight safely. Finding our rooms looked like an escape room game including an envelope with clues 😂.

Escape hotel

We arrived at the main building but it was closed. In the mailbox was an envelope with my name on it. In it were four keycards, a map and a list of instructions. First we had to activate the cards outside the main building, it took some minutes before we figured out how we could activate them, but we did. Than we followed the map to another building to find out we got four separate bedrooms. So now I am lying alone in my room and Tanguy is in a separate room also by himself, feels strange  🥺.

There is also nothing to do so we all were in our rooms at seven or so. I think the others are allready asleep, but it’s to early for me. But it gave me time to catch up with my stories, so that is fine.  

Now I will try to get some sleep as well because it seems we need to get on the road early. 

Sunday 16 February: huskies, snow and goodbye night

Posio - Kemi 279 km

This morning we woke up with an incredible view from our window. 

We could sleep a little bit longer because we were in the second husky tour group, which was nice for a change. 

View

After breakfast we left the hotel around 9.30 to go to Laurie and his dogs. Already after the first turn we found a couple of stranded cars because of the steep hill we had to take. We also didn’t made it to the top, but instead of putting chains on I got out and together with about fife others we pushed our car uphill, so morning’s practice was in the pocket.

The rest of the route gave no problems so we still arrived in time at Kota-Husky. It was a wRm welcome as ever and the dogs were already jumping of excitement by the idea of having a good run. First half Tanguy was the musher (driver) and half way we turned around and I was musher of the dogs.

It was again a great experience. Some things just never get boring. 

Lauri’s little one

Musher Tanguy

Musher Liane

After the drive we had warm Glögie in the tipi together with some cheese/ smoked reindeer sandwiches. And the it was time to go, so after a little your around the farm we drove of towards Kemi. In Kemi we had a tour in the snow castle over there.

Weather was really bad and some of the teams had car trouble so not everybody made it in time to the Castle. In the end we were with 9 teams for the pictures and the tour.

At a petrol station this Finnish guy game running to us, we understood not a wordt of what he was saying but we good see he was really excited about the cars. He insisted to buy us coffee and donuts and we kind of had a conversation with him. 

It took us some time to leave because he kept talking to us but with some effort we managed to get away to go to the castle where we arrived just in time.

The nine cars in front of the caste

 This year the castle was pretty small due to bad weather and rain. Normally you can also sleep in the castle but this year that was not possible. The theme was very impressive this time. It was a view to the future.

Entrance and bar

We also visited the permanent exposure were we found a great slide, so everyone had to try it at leadt two times. There was also an ice restaurant with Ratatouille as theme.

And then it was time to go to the cabins for tonight to wai  Th b for the unlucky teams to arrive as well.

Once everybody had arrived safe it was time for the safe arrival drink in the firehut and after that a nice 3 course meal. It was our last night for the raid after all.

Our cabin

After diner we all went back to the fire hut for the last night ceremony. Everybody got their certificate, oké except one team because theirs got missing somehow, but I will send them theirs as soon as I get home,

Everybody also got a nice remainder in the form of a magnet made by Wendy from Arqadia.

Afterwards we had some drinks together and we had some chats and talks. It was very cosy and got pretty late, but it was the last night of the raid so nobody cared.