Safe Return Doubtful

Day 132 of the course and the only real rain day I’ve had so far. There have been part days typical of the ocean coast with occasional fronts passing across in a couple of hours, but even these have been few. 

The storm broke about 9:30 pm last night and since then the thunder has not stopped rumbling and the rain has been torrential. No doubt there will be flooding. 

The rain drums so hard on the van roof that I had to opt for subtitles when watching the cricket as the commentary was impossible to hear. 

I have saved work for days like today, but that is complicated with it being a Saturday and busy with sport; the Lord’s Test, Lancashire’s relegation struggle in Manchester, and South Africa – New Zealand rugby, to mention a few. 

Up until yesterday it had been a 85 kilometre / 52 mile week for me, on foot that is, and still with two days of the week left. Numbers I haven’t achieved for several years. 

It’s a result of some less mountainous territory and my fitness improving. Yesterday at Joensuu was a good example, relatively flat, bumps and mounds rather than dumplings. 

I had travelled to Joensuu from Koli on Thursday splitting the journey to the next National Park at the town’s outdoor areas about 10 kilometres outside the centre. Typical of most Finnish towns, this offers a large range of hiking and mountain biking trails that become cross country ski trails in the winter months. A ten kilometre section is lighted for the dark winter days also. There is also a biathlon track  and shooting range. I stayed overnight here, and took on the Jyri Trail on Friday morning. 

I made the most of a short break in the rain this morning, just before 9 am, to take Roja out for ten minutes. The rain soon returned though, and reluctantly on his part, we returned to the van. It’s been very warm and humid for the last couple of days which likely has contributed to the heavy rain. It didn’t drop below 20C the night before last and Roja has always found nights like this uncomfortable. He pants, and is restless. Last night with the rain so heavy it wasn’t possible to keep any windows open. Hence, on return to the van, though I was content to read my Belorusian novel, he was not, unfooled by ten minutes exercise. The fact that a few intrepid Finns arrived, donned their waterproofs and headed out, which he could see from the side window, only made things worse. Mid-morning, despite the percussive torrents on the metal ceiling, I made a U-turn on my decision, and headed out. 

Southern Konnevesi National Park is only quite small, 15 square kilometres, and has just one entry point, from the car park where I am, at Karala. It is based around Lake Konnevesi which has in its waters a maze of islands among smooth glaciated rocks and vertical rock walls on its banks. The barely touched forests attract ospreys and there is the largest population of lynx in Northern Europe. There isn’t a lot of difference between areas outside the National Park and within it. The biggest difference is that the Parks are protected, so the only buildings are huts and for administration. No trees can be felled, which is the most significant matter, and those that fall through storms are left where they fall. It is however, popular with hikers, due to the challenge of the rugged rocky forests, and with kayakers who can choose their own small island to camp on.

Today, with the rain falling, the atmosphere amongst the trees was special. It was as if this long awaited period of heavy rain was a relief to them, and in their majesty and splendour they were once again thriving, and happy. That soon rubbed off on me, and instead of the forty minutes I had planned to be out for, we were out for almost three and a half hours, completing the Kolmen loop, almost 14 kilometres. 

In the afternoon the rain subsided but the air remained very humid. I have items of clothing and shoes drying around the van and a wet dog / sock smell that fortunately I haven’t encountered very much on this course so far. 

It is however, a lot cooler, so Roja is content, as am I, with dual screens for the rugby and cricket, the kettle on, and perhaps even a beer later.