Cycling from the Netherlands to the North Cape through Finland

[arctic-cycler]

Hi,
Firstly, sorry, but I am not that good in Finnish.. :-)

In summer 2013 I am planning to cycle from the Netherlands to the North Cape via the Baltic countries and Finland. In the past, I have found that if you don't plan an approximate route, it is easy to end up on main roads, and miss the nicest parts. I am putting together a planned route for the trip. The Finnish part is here: http://lambchopeindhoven.wordpress.c.../finland-2013/

I am keen to hear your ideas on this route, and any suggestions that you might have! :-)

Thanks for your help!!

Matthew

[HallinenK]

If you want to see real Finland it is lakes and there are many lakes in easter Finland. Thats not like anywhere else in the world
Saimaa

[arctic-cycler]

If you want to see real Finland it is lakes and there are many lakes in easter Finland. Thats not like anywhere else in the world
Saimaa

Hi HallinenK. Thanks for your comment! Indeed, the east of Finland is beautiful. I went there 2 years ago (with my father by car), passing through Savollina, Ruka and then further north to Lappland. When I was there, I heard that the coast near Turku is also beautiful and quite different. That's why I chose this route.

You are lucky living is such a beautiful country!

Matthew

[Pikuski]

Yes, The Archipelago of Turku is worth to see by bike! Check Turku tourists information, ferries, roads etc.

[rjrm]

Hello Matthew

It sometimes need to have a contact with somebody like you telling our country is beautiful. Just now, in the end of November it's hard to remember.

I wouldn't choose a western coastal route you have selected. To exaggerate a bit I'll sum up your first 600-700km of etape Finland.

From Helsinki to Turku - forest, field mustard fields, small villages and town

Turku - maybe to most beautiful and definitely the oldest city. Most beautiful castle, a worth of seeing what comes to Finnish castles

Turku-Vaasa -flat terrain, finnish-swedish-people, tomatoes, cucumbers, a bit of mink urine, tomatoes, another breath of mink urine.

Vaasa- next country north of.... 300 km of another flat terrain, a small river at every 80km, potato fields, potato fields, small villages

OK, maybe I was a bit of pessimistic The most important is going! And cycling! However I'd choose a different route. Openstreetmap/opencyclemap could be helpful. Eastern Finland is more variable. Lakes, small hills, more lakes, more small hills, lakes and crees.

You have a lot of time to plan. I don't know what are you personal interests. Most of our cities are small. Only Helsinki region is a "metropole". Other cities are small enough to be easily visited by bicycle.
This could be another route, a very rough plan:
Helsinki-Porvoo-Lappeenranta-Parikkala-Punkaharju-Kontiolahti-(Lieksa) Koli-Kajaani-Muhos-Oulu

Not a short route, but easily visible by openstreetmap/opencyclemap. Oulu is a natural waypoint on the way to North Cape. And If you want a shower with bed, don't hesitate to contact. I'm situated in Oulu. Contacting via warmshowers is possible as well as here with private message. If my personal calendar allows it's even possible to put my panniers to the rack and cycle together for some days.

By the way, this discussion could be moved to the subdivision "pyörämatkailu" (bicycle travelling). If you don't find it anymore, look for there.

edit: I didn't notice you were goint to ship from Vaasa to Umeå/Uumaja. If that's your plan Helsinki-Turku-Vaasa is most logical route!

[arctic-cycler]

Yes, The Archipelago of Turku is worth to see by bike! Check Turku tourists information, ferries, roads etc.

Hi Pikuski. Are there lots of ferries in that area that I need to watch out for? On my trip in Norway this year, there were quite a few and you had to plan the timing quite well.. I like ferries. A good place to meet cyclists and have a rest.. :-)

[arctic-cycler]

Hello Matthew

It sometimes need to have a contact with somebody like you telling our country is beautiful. Just now, in the end of November it's hard to remember.

I wouldn't choose a western coastal route you have selected. To exaggerate a bit I'll sum up your first 600-700km of etape Finland.

From Helsinki to Turku - forest, field mustard fields, small villages and town

Turku - maybe to most beautiful and definitely the oldest city. Most beautiful castle, a worth of seeing what comes to Finnish castles

Turku-Vaasa -flat terrain, finnish-swedish-people, tomatoes, cucumbers, a bit of mink urine, tomatoes, another breath of mink urine.

Vaasa- next country north of.... 300 km of another flat terrain, a small river at every 80km, potato fields, potato fields, small villages

OK, maybe I was a bit of pessimistic The most important is going! And cycling! However I'd choose a different route. Openstreetmap/opencyclemap could be helpful. Eastern Finland is more variable. Lakes, small hills, more lakes, more small hills, lakes and crees.

You have a lot of time to plan. I don't know what are you personal interests. Most of our cities are small. Only Helsinki region is a "metropole". Other cities are small enough to be easily visited by bicycle.
This could be another route, a very rough plan:
Helsinki-Porvoo-Lappeenranta-Parikkala-Punkaharju-Kontiolahti-(Lieksa) Koli-Kajaani-Muhos-Oulu

Not a short route, but easily visible by openstreetmap/opencyclemap. Oulu is a natural waypoint on the way to North Cape. And If you want a shower with bed, don't hesitate to contact. I'm situated in Oulu. Contacting via warmshowers is possible as well as here with private message. If my personal calendar allows it's even possible to put my panniers to the rack and cycle together for some days.

By the way, this discussion could be moved to the subdivision "pyörämatkailu" (bicycle travelling). If you don't find it anymore, look for there.

edit: I didn't notice you were goint to ship from Vaasa to Umeå/Uumaja. If that's your plan Helsinki-Turku-Vaasa is most logical route!

Hi Pikavastaus.
Goodness, it has been dark for too long already this winter in Finland, I see.. :-) You'll have to come to visit me in the Netherlands. We still have enough light to cycle a bit..

Thanks for the tips, though. I understand now that my planned coast route is not that exciting. I had thought it was a nice route as it was part of the EuroVelo network. Given the fractal nature of the coastline, I thought it might be interesting with lots of little beaches - even nice places to swim. On a different note, are there any naturist beaches there? I guess it might be a bit cold for that.. :-)

The route you suggested is close to what I did with my father 2 years ago when we went through Savollina, Koli, Ruka and then north to Lappland. It was indeed very pretty but taking that route would be a big detour.

Two thinks spring to mind with your suggestion.
- The first one is that maybe it would be nice to cycle through St Petersburg and then up the Russian, Finnish border. This would be quite similar to the route from 2 years ago, but, I have not been to St Petersburg, and not all the places you suggested. It is also not critical that I end up at the North Cape. I would be just as happy ending up at Kirkenes, which means I could continue up the border right to the northern coastline.
- The second option would be to make my way across to Sweden straight from Turku. Would that be more interesting? I imagine the Swedish side of the gulf is similar to the Finnish side..

What do you think of my idea of catching the boat at Vaasa? Which side of the gulf is nicer? Would be be better to stay on the Finnish side all the way to Oulu?

Thanks for your help, and I wish you all the best surviving the winter!! :-)

Matthew

[Pikuski]

Hi Pikuski. Are there lots of ferries in that area that I need to watch out for? On my trip in Norway this year, there were quite a few and you had to plan the timing quite well.. I like ferries. A good place to meet cyclists and have a rest.. :-)

Hello Matthew,
I made a trip by bike about 15 years ago in Archipelago and they stopped transportation quite early in the evenings, but the situation might be different nowadays. Anyway check the link here: http://www.saaristo.org/index.php?page=113&lang=2

[rjrm]

Hi Matthew, of course you can choose western route as well. Flat countryside is easy to cycle especially in tailwind! However, there is a possibility of constant headwind of several hundreds kilometeres What comes to ferry to Sweden. I haven't been to that side of gulf much. What I know is important.

Try to avoid E4 highway in eastern Sweden. http://goo.gl/maps/Xf1IM
You see reason in pictures. Swedish E4 is made for cars with all those fences and lanes.

[arctic-cycler]

Hi Matthew, of course you can choose western route as well. Flat countryside is easy to cycle especially in tailwind! However, there is a possibility of constant headwind of several hundreds kilometeres What comes to ferry to Sweden. I haven't been to that side of gulf much. What I know is important.

Try to avoid E4 highway in eastern Sweden. http://goo.gl/maps/Xf1IM
You see reason in pictures. Swedish E4 is made for cars with all those fences and lanes.

Ouch! That road in Sweden looks horrible. I will definitely avoid that!! :-) Thanks for the tip!

Matthew

[arctic-cycler]

Hello Matthew,
I made a trip by bike about 15 years ago in Archipelago and they stopped transportation quite early in the evenings, but the situation might be different nowadays. Anyway check the link here: http://www.saaristo.org/index.php?page=113&lang=2

Ah. I see what you mean now with the Archapeligo. The road I have chosen doesn't go through the archipeligo, but, I think your suggestion looks really cool. Thanks for the tip!

Matthew

[rjrm]

Matt, Turku is a worth of seeing. It's former capital of Finland. We surely have sometimes difficulties understanding each other what we and others would like to see.

A hiking tourist from Netherlands liked very much flat Lappland with no buildings, no churches, no cars. Only trees, small mountains and rivers. He said "In my home town I see 17 churches from my balcony". However, we often travel to those odd cities with so many churches

Turku-Stockholm-ferry is a good place to rest between countries. Beware E4 (=E75) is Sweden and in Finland as well. However I believe in Finland is mainlly boring, not so dangerous

[lai]

If you deside to cycle the westcoast route read this:http://www.rantatie.com/?lang=en
Under the municipalities link you can find information about the towns and places to visit on the westcoastroad.

[Jake_Kona]

Cycling from the Netherlands to the North Cape through Finland

I think you wound see the sea in seaside roads. Its offen behind forrest 1 km or more away. Stay on roads numbers 4 digit or 3 digit ( like road n 3213)
I would go fast from a to b and then go and see places there more diteled. If citys are not what you dont want to see. There are nice old historycal places in weastcoast. Casles and staf

[Giusto]

Cycling from the Netherlands to the North Cape through Finland

You should publish a schedule of your whereabouts at a given time, as you could benefit from locals riding with you.