The Road Less Traveled

Wed, Jul 03, 2024

Pudasjarvi, Finland to Puolanka, Finland

miles today 52.3

miles so far 662.7

feet climbed today 1,640.0

feet climbed so far 22,788.0

Relive video  

Strava link

Our host, Ulla, brought us breakfast at 8am.

We left around 9am. The weather today was between 52 and 60 degrees,  cloudy, and a slight wind (mostly headwind). Basically, perfect.

We took the road less traveled. 

The gravel road took us back to highway 78, which really wasn't very busy 

Of course, this baby reindeer was on the road by himself until we came along. 

Ar one point these flowers were on both sides of the road. 

We found a nice spot for lunch (sandwich from breakfast). 

As we were getting ready to leave,  a cyclist named Arnold Hilhorst, stopped for a break. We chatted and found out he's doing the same route that we are.  He is from the Netherlands and he started from Nordkapp a day after us. 

We rode together for a while.  He is carrying more gear so we were able to move faster.  We said we'd contact him and see about eating dinner together. 

We got to our hotel around 300pm. 

I feel like we are slumming compared to our previous places, but this is nice enough and clean. The price is about $80 per night plus $10 each for breakfast.  

We walked to Raventola Esteri (the only restaurant in town) and got pizza. Arnold joined us.

This town, at one time,  was known to be very pessimistic, so they embraced the idea and made a coffee shop. 

Tomorrow is a rest day.