In the end of November I was slowly travelling up north, to the #Arctic, for another winter working as a guide for Harriniva Hotels & Safaris in Muonio Finland. Since it was a bit of a last minute decision there wasn’t so much time to hitchhike all the way up as I have done several times before. Flying was not an option because it has a disastrous impact on the environment and because this route is doable by land (and sea). This time I chose for the route all the way through Sweden and mostly by train instead of crossing the Baltic sea from Stockholm to Turku and continue up north through Finland. I hope to do this epic journey of almost 3000 km in less then 48 hours.
There were 3 big parts to it. On the first day I travelled from Maastricht (NL) through Germany and Denmark to Stockholm with 6 trains (normally 5). The morning after I woke up watching a snowy landscape through the window of my compartment in the night train to Lulea that I took yesterday at 10 o clock in the evening in Stockholm after meeting a Ting sister. Later that day there was a bus ride to the Swedish/Finish border and then 260 km to Muonio by #hitchhiking… in the dark and in the cold (-15 or colder). The latter seemed a bit tricky but with my hitchhiking experience in the Nordic winter I was quite confident that that will work out, and so it did. I arrived after 46 hours of traveling at my destination.
Despite the wild style elements of this journey (I slept a bit on a parking lot in the middle of the night during a 3 hour waiting time), the train was quite smooth, not boring and vey comfortable. The night train was an amazing experience and could/should be part of making continental travelling more sustainable. What we need is investments in infrastructure, lowering ticket prices and proper taxing on cheap short distance airplane tickets. And mostly needed is political will, which I think is not present by most traditional politics who are completely tight by the lobby of the oil and airplane industry. Back on Track Belgium vzw-asbl is doing great lobby work to restore the night train network in Europe that existed before. They deserve all the support and we can chose to travel locally or and slowly but choosing the right means of transport. Feet, bicycle or even rollers, skis are great and train, bus and ride-sharing are adventurous alternatives.
Btw: https://www.thetrainline.com/ is a great website to search and buy combined tickets for West, South and North Europe…
After 10 days in Lapland, and because of my late decision and arrival I had to fly into the season right away here in #Muonio. I’m guiding groups of French families through their Christmas programs. Routine came back, so more space for a personal touch to the program. The magic and beauty of Lapland is still here. A few nights with some minor Northern lights and one day with some stronger ones. Still waiting for the big show though.
In december Kaamos, as they call the polar night here, kicks in. The sun is down untill beginning of January. Just before when we still get a small short glimps of the sun we don’t really feel it. It’s for sure the coldest start from the winter I experienced in 3 years here… 😱🥳
After a week or so of cloudy weather Sunday 16 December was a bright day again, and what a great coincidence that that day I was invited by a colleague from the #husky farm that I visit twice a week with my groups. She needs to take her own dogs out for a ride 3 times per week. Since I recently started to give the explanations how to ride a sleigh (under her supervision), it was high time for me to go and take a ride myself.
Open skies in the morning so during the bus ride I was already getting excited to spend some hours outside in the magical mystical beauty of #Lapland: the georgous lights and the nature during winter.
After helping with putting the dogs to their harnesses and lining them up we were ready for departure. 5 motivated dogs and a sleigh with besides me no extra weight of a passenger or luggage so that ment s flying start. The first few turns were a bit exiting and unbalanced. Over the lakes that were covered with some thin fog, through the forrests what a beautiful ride it was under the gorgeous colours of the polar night or Kaamos as they call it here in Finland. More of this please! Kiitos!
Full moon and the #Solstice have passed, the days are getting longer again. The cold is back in #Lapland ; -25°C and dropping. That is the price for the open skies and the beautifully coloured twilight of the polar night. With the right equipment that’s not too much, that includes contact lenses for me again so that I can cover my face so my nose won’t freeze so easily again. The cross country skis made it a great little excursion next to #Muonio river.
