Taking up an invitation

Through the Facebook group that Roja is a member of I had received an invitation for a park up. This was the VW Crafter self-build group which has been very useful over the years. The member who had invited us, Irakis, is in the process of diverting his 4 wheel drive Crafter (4 Motion) and lives with his partner, Amina, in a cabin about 15 kilometres from Akaslompolo, in the middle of a forest, still in the National Park and several kilometres from his nearest neighbour. I was grateful to accept, for the chance to meet up, and take the chance of getting laundry done and giving the van something of a clean.

On the Saturday morning of our arrival I had taken on another hike, to Kesanki mountain, that I had been unable to compete on my last visit, due to injury.

We have arrived at Iraklis’s place in the late afternoon to be greeted by his 2 year old Lapponian Herder dog, Lupo. He and Roja got on very well during the two days.

Iraklis had recently taken delivery of fresh reindeer sausage, so we enjoyed reindeer sausage soup for dinner over a beer. Iraklis is Greek by birth, but studied in Boston and then met Amina, who is Finnish, and they settled in Turku. During the pandemic they escaped the city and settled up here in the far north, a different life indeed. He is a board game designer and she is an outdoor guide who had just returned from guiding a group of Belgians in kayaks and was about to head off on her own kayaking expedition, with some friends further up north.

We socialised for a couple of hours and I got a good route to hike the following morning from Amina, and Roja and I retired to the van to watch cricket.

The route Amina recommended was lengthy, twelve kilometres, and not difficult physically, it gained only about 300 metres, but navigationally it was challenging and enjoyable.

I spent the afternoon doing laundry and sprucing up the van. Iraklis had some friends over to play board games, I was invited, but turned it down. I watched and chatted wițh them for a while, and was well out of my depth.

It was a great stay with Iraklis, who lives in an incredible place. We will stay in touch, maybe to meet on the road one day.

Refreshed in many different ways, I left this morning after a dog walk with Iraklis and his dog, Lupo. I drove to Rovaniemi to attend to a few matters before heading further east to a National Park near to the Russian border tomorrow.