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. 

Tuesday 28 January: the last part of the Baltic states

Riga, Latvia - Tallinn, Estonia via Kungu Rija restaurant 363 km

This morning we first went into Riga by foot to find some breakfast, we found a nice place near the Cathedral were they served a nice selection of egg dishes.

We all three enjoyed a different plate, mine was a spinach omelette with a Caprese salad.

The walk back to the cars was also nice, Riga is worth a longer visit than one evening. So i think we will return one time for a longer stay.

Back at the cars we left Riga to visit the restaurant Kuna Rija. We met the owner two days ago in Poland, the one who left us the note.

The restaurant is placed in this beautiful area and completely made of wood. The owners name is Niks, and he turned out the be also the chef cook in the Formula one team of Red Bull. The team of Max Verstappe.

In the cellar of the restaurant is a bar filled with pictures off the Red Bull team. Very nice to see.

After the tour we had a small lunch with local specialties, blood sausage, some dish with beans and one with barley. And ofcourse the famous Latvian garlic bread, with loads of fresh garlic. They really love garlic in Latvia.

In front of the restaurant 

Wooden toilet 

Lunch

We enjoyed the lunch very much and left with full bellies and a new place to recommend to fellow raid riders.

We decided to take some smaller roads before returning to the main one. In Latvia only the main roads are paved, al the secondary once are not. So in no time we were driving on sandy, bumpy and sometimes not very well maintained roads. Offcourse we enjoyed it, it was a nice change after the boring roads of the last days.

We drove through some small villages, filled up the car at this old petrol station and enjoyed the views before we turned up the main road again.

Looks more like Dakar

Petrol station along the way

Back on the main road it was straight ahead again for about 300 km, passing the Esthonian border somewhere half way.

Near the border

The border

Past the border

Finally we arrived in Tallinn, beautiful city, but the drivers have no patience at all. Traffic is a mess, but we arrived save in our small studio appartement near the old centre. It’s in this beautiful old building with private parking for the cars.

First we checked inn, had a drink and relaxed a bit, after that we headed toward the old centre by food. We were very pleasantly surprises with what we saw. I think Tallinn is more beautiful than Riga and I absolutely want to make a longer visit one day.

Tanguy found a nice restaurant for us with local food.

On our way to the restaurant 

Lighted tree

The restaurant 

The tasting plate I had

In the restaurant the boys had a local beer and I tried the local rabarber wine, very nice. Because I had already eaten a lot today I decided to take a starter as main dish. Turned out to be a sharing tasting dish, so it was still pretty much, but very tasteful and of good quality. So today was a culinary treatment for us.

After diner we took a different route back to the hotel. We passed the old town gate and on the square was a flower market going on.

                    Old gate with market behind it

Our building

Back in the apartment we took a little bedtime drink and went to sleep. Tomorrow we need to get up really early because we have the early boat.