Arctic Circle Return 2015

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Inari - Ivalo

With a ‘Farewell’ to Lake Inari….



We then get back to the town of Ivalo where we can correct the ‘problem’ picture of the Gold Prospectors, so there are a couple more than before……









While virtually alongside was the Hotel Sauna which I am sure they would be very grateful for at the end of a long ‘prospecting day’……



Arrived at Ivalo River Camping a short while later which gave us some time to sort out a few items and then take a short walk as the heavans looked like they were getting ready with another dose from the Giant Watering Can in the Sky, so off we went…..

As we passed this house set back from the dirt track….



We looked into the entrance and spotted the Tree Trunk that had a golden colour in parts of it, while the 2 dogs started barking which brought out the house owner.....



After a short conversation about the Tree Trunk and learning it was around 200 years old, while also making friends with the 2 dogs who were very friendly and were 50/50 Malamut & Husky, the owner invited us into his house to show us a much older piece of wood used as a small table which is in the next picture below …..



OK. I will leave you to do the Maths between the next two pictures as the Rings in the Conifer Tree ‘slice’ were counted from the year it was felled back to the centre….





Further down the lane we come to an old farmstead with the lift for the grain into the silo….



While on the next driveway is this carving of a young bear climbing the entrance pole…..



As we then come to the River we see the Icebergs moving downstream as the thaw sets in…..




With some ice still hanging on just below the waterline….



On the road again tomorrow further South while the weather forecast is telling us Rain but a temperature that is higher than when we went North up this roa

Just came over to the Campsite Restaurant for some dinner and the Ice Hockey match between Finland & Slovakia is on the Telly! (TV)
WOW! Is it fast and furious but in the 2nd session now and still no score for either side......

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Ivalo - Rovaniemi

As we set off from the campsite this morning we could see that the weather with the rise in temperature was bringing a very fast thaw to the land….



While the reindeer were coming down to the roadside looking for food….



One of the large Reindeer Pens was waiting for the time when they would be gathered together and the new arrivals would have their ears marked with the family they belonged to….



Push on through…..



As we start to see more water than snow and ice and the land takes on the appearance of a ‘swamp’….



Pulling in a couple of kilometres down the road for a comfort break ……



We see what was a small stream that has significantly increased in size due to the volume of water now going down…..





A bit further along and we pass the rapidly disappearing ‘Ice Hotel’…..



As we looked through the trees we could see the Plastic ‘Bubbles’ that were the bedrooms for guests to spend the night under the stars, that is of course assuming there were no clouds!….



Next up was a small Sami Village…..



While the land on either side of the road was looking more swamp like as we travelled along ….



But there was still the odd frozen lake to be seen but they were now showing sections where the ice had melted....









As we get into Sodankyla we see that the river is really high up the bank….





Sodankyla main street…..



While just out of town we can see the ice floes travelling at some speed with the flow of the river…..



Large wooden statue in a café car park with a broken wing…..



While this looked like an Ostrich….



Then we got back to the ‘standby aircraft runway’ and the snow had significantly receded…..



While on the other side were more flooded fields…..



A few more miles South and the snow has virtually disappeared….



As we pulled in for a break at a spot we stopped at on the way up, while the lake was still largely covered in quite thick ice….



We were able to set off on a short walk on a raised walkway that was previously covered in snow and impassable……







As we got to this part of the short walk, we met a local couple who live in Rovaniemi and they told us that they have never see the river this high, but they did have a lot of snow last winter and the thaw has happened quickly…..













As we got back from the walk we spotted this Army ‘Haglund’ making it’s way along the road…..





Then walking over to look at water coming out of a concrete pipe as it came off the fields on the opposite side of the road we could see that their was quite a bit of force in the outfall….





After our walk & break we then set off and went the short distance up the road to spend our last night just in the Arctic Circle, listening to a few Christmas Carols which are played 24/7/365!....



Next stop tomorrow should find us back in Sweden!

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Rovaniemi – Haparandahamn

After dinner we took a last stroll around Santa Claus Village listening to the carols being played on the Public Address system and also coming across some things we didn’t see on the way up North….

While the snow that was in the caravan parking area has gone…..





We then found part way up a hill & behind one of the buildings the rapidly melting remains of another ‘Ice Hotel’…..





While this was possibly one of the bedrooms…..



In the middle of the next picture on the table inside the ‘Shed’ are some of the white fur animal skins that are used on the ice blocks to keep you from freezing as you sleep!.....



While this ‘tunnel’ went into what looked like an igloo…..



With a last look at the layout of the area which is out of date as there are a few additions that are missing, it was time to head for some shut eye before we got back on the road to Haparandahamn……



Next morning with a nice blue sky coming over, it wasn’t long before we were passing through Rovaniemi and the short Tunnel….



Then negotiating the diversion around the new bridge construction which has taken over 12 months to get this far, but when completed is supposed to help speed up the drive through the town…..



Pine forest on one side & Silver Birch trees on the other with a rising temperature, how nice!.....



As we then come into the outskirts of Tornio….



After a bit of provision stocking up which in Finland is cheaper than getting the items in Sweden, it was over the river which is also the border….





Then into Sweden….



As we then get back on the open road and this old Swedish Camper comes towards us…..



It wasn’t long before we arrive at our next stop which is in a pace called Haparandahamn and is a campsite run by a boat club….

This is the ariel picture taken some time ago as there are a few more buildings here now….



Reception, Kitchen & Dining Room in the building on the right, while facilities are in the building on the left….



This was at one end of the Dining Room, which made the whole room light up with all the colours….



Set up and just about to start with the laundry washing to make use of the good weather!....



A bit later we took a walk around the rest of the place….





Wondered what the two men were up to on the ‘raft’ and it seems they were re-setting anchor points as the club is getting ready for the season…..









Some of the craft waiting to go back in the water, while we saw a few get launched today…..



View across the bay/harbour…..



While this is the view out into ‘Bottenviken Perameri’ (The Botnia Sea)



We are hoping to go for a bit of sightseeing in Haparanda town tomorrow but the weather forecast is promising rain, and it has just started as I finished doing this update, so will have to wait and see if it is still raining in the morning!….

[ssicarman]

Well up until your last sentences I was going to say that is was good that the weather was getting much better, the snow going and blue skies. You seem to have dashed that with the rain.

Good thing is that it is rain not snow.

[XCovlov70]

Well up until your last sentences I was going to say that is was good that the weather was getting much better, the snow going and blue skies. You seem to have dashed that with the rain.

Good thing is that it is rain not snow.

We also thought it was very nice yesterday and then we saw the forecast!

The 'sky based' watering can came on around 19:30 hours last night and went on through the night till around 10:30 this morning.

Now we have showers that pass through some of them are quite heavy so as we did not pack the Rubber Boots we have spent the best part of the day indoors while hoping the weather improves a bit tomorrow!

In a way I think we would have preferred the snow as you can get to walk on that without getting very wet.
Having large puddles of water all over the campsite makes it a bit more difficult for getting across to the 'facilities'!

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

A day in Haparanda & Tornio

While yesterday was ‘rained off’ today started OK but steadily went downhill with a very cold northerly wind coming in after lunch, but we did get a bit of sightseeing done…..

Setting off for the centre of Haparanda it wasn’t long before we arrived, and the centre is outside the Town Hall….



While this statue is in a small park outside the Town Hall we could not find any information about her….



Next to the Town Hall is this Hotel which used to also be the Town Hall as well as a Hotel all at the same time, but then the Hotel took over all of the building and the Town Hall moved next door…..



While on the opposite side of the main road is the Teacher Training College….



On the opposite side of the centre square are two blocks of business buildings…..



A few hundred yards up the main road is this old Water Tower that was converted to supplying central heating for the town but that has now stopped as the town considers turning the tower into luxury apartments with a good view!...



While at the rear of the Hotel is this large mural on the wall of another building…..



After speaking with a lady in the Town Hall she asked us if we had been to look at the ‘Ugliest building in Sweden’ and we said ‘No’. Then she told us that it was a church which we had passed on the way into the centre of Haparanda……



The church bells are set in a large metal cage in the middle of the cemetery away from the church ….



As we went towards the church entrance we could see a number of people outside as there was a funeral service just about to take place so we just made our way around the outside of the church which has been totally covered in copper sheet which has blackened over time!.....







Our next top was in Tornio at the Orthodox Church which was founded in the beginning of the 1800s for Russian troops and was moved to its present site in 1956….



The church is sanctified to apostles St Peter and St Paul while their icons are above the entrance archway….



While next was the Ostrobothnian church building that is the Church of Tornio built in 1686….







Getting closer on the roof tiles…..



We see that they are all made of wood….



While at the rear of the church is a small section of the graveyard that contains the gravestones of Finnish soldiers who were killed during WW II....





The large stone sign at the front of the church….



At the time we arrived the church bells were tolling and the window on both sides of the bell tower opens automatically to allow the sound out, and then closes to keep the rain out after the ringing has finished…..



Back on the road tomorrow but once again the forecast is not looking good with more rain on the way…..

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Haparanda Hamn to Töre Camping, a short but wet trip.

Just after I finished uploading the update yesterday, the rain started again, and so far it hasn’t stopped. So after a quick ‘put everything away and get hooked up’ we set off for Töre Camping which was not far away…..

My good lady was quite impressed with the shape and style of the window surrounds on this house as we came through the road in Haparanda Hamn, while the ‘spots’ in the picture was the continued rain….



While the next house seemed to be a collection of everything that had become unusable but could not be got rid of…..



While a bit further along is this house all neat and tidy…..



Then back on the main road we cross a bridge where the river is extremely high.….



Alien ‘interference’ caused the blurred effect in the next picture which was an exhibit in a museum we passed…..



With a couple more items that did not cause any ‘problems’!.....



As we then entered the town of Kalix and the rain started again…..



Not long after and we are at the reception building of Töre Camping……



Which inside is a very large Log Cabin, that has new owners for the campsite….



Campsite restaurant which the new owner plans to open in two weeks time......



Stopped raining and managed to get set up…..



As it turns out that this place is…..



The following day we took a trip back into Kalix for some items and went to visit the church..….



And the Bell Tower which is a very impressive size..….






We then went over to the local Volvo Garage and found that they had a ‘demonstrator’ of the latest model to be offered by Volvo, namely the XC90 which looks very nice.
Smiled sweetly at the salesman and managed to get a short ‘test drive’WOW!…..

Very nice it was, but another lady who was there made the comment that it looked so BIG it reminded her of a ‘Small Truck’.











While the following day we see a more leisurely single form of transport that requires a bit more effort, but still requires 4 wheels albeit smaller ones, and a human engine!.....



On the road again tomorrow while there has been no Internet connection here it has been quite relaxing….

Five Days and NO Internet makes life quiet interesting!!!

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Töre to Jävre Rastplats

Off we go on a windy & cold but dry morning to a place we stayed at 4 years ago and hope that it is still as nice now as it was then….

As we came out of Töre and joined the main E4 road then went up over the hill, the road on the other side looked a bit like a downhill ski-run but I am glad there was no snow to contend with!....



A few miles further on we see the non major road bridge going over the river and back into the town centre of Luleå…..



Garden Centre with a giant chair advert outside…..



Then through the major roadworks as not 1 but 2 new bridges are being constructed to make the road wider and safer .….



Next town as we rolled along was Piteå, where we planned to stop but having found that the GPS co-ordinates for the campsite are incorrect we decided to not bother trying to find the place and push on further south….



Not long after and we are turning right off the E4 to follow the sign for Jävre Rastplats ….



As we pull into a place by the water the sky brightens up and the sun breaks through, that’s what I call good timing, while the Rastplatz has not changed at all!....









The lighthouse has been there since 1871….



Not sure about the Bell….



While the Fishermen’s small houses it seems are still occupied at some time….





As this is the view as you look through the windows and the double glazing….





So having confirmed with another Swedish ‘TinTent’ owner that we can stay here overnight, that’s it for today as we sit and admire the view and put together this update…..
While a ‘call of nature’ gave me this view of ‘Sunrise’ at 02:30hrs, in the Land of the Midnight Sun…..



Back on the road tomorrow heading South again….

[ssicarman]

I was starting to wonder where the two of you had disappeared. Five days of no internet would explain things.

[XCovlov70]

I was starting to wonder where the two of you had disappeared. Five days of no internet would explain things.

Yup! There was nearly another 4 days to add to that with the 'fun and games' we have encountered today, but more of that later as I have a few days to catch up with now!