Riding and Ferry to Helsinki: Adventure Awaits
This morning started early, with a quick breakfast before loading up the motorcycle with all our gear. It was pouring rain as we rode towards the ferry, but by the time we reached the port, the skies had cleared and the sun was beginning to shine. After check-in, we waited at the front of the line with the other motorcyclists, watching the ferry approach from the distance.
While waiting, we struck up some great conversations with fellow adventure riders, including a Finnish rider named Jyrki Lehtinen from PeterPanBike, a company that organizes adventure tours across Europe. Jyrki shared some tips with us and even promised to send over a scenic GPS route from Tromsø through the Lofoten Islands, avoiding the more touristy roads. I’d already planned a similar route, but I’m curious to see his suggestions. He gave us his number and told us to call if we run into any trouble while in Finland. His company also offers an intriguing “Gravel & Sauna” tour—gravel riding through Finland’s remote wilderness with a relaxing sauna every evening. Sounds like a dream adventure!
Once the ferry docked, it was unloaded in about 20 minutes, and we were soon on board. It was an efficient turnaround, and within an hour, we were sailing towards Helsinki. Two hours later, we arrived in the Finnish capital, pulling into the harbor under sunny skies.
By 1:00 PM, we had reached our campsite in Helsinki, a scenic spot right by the water. We took advantage of the facilities to do some laundry, drying everything in the sun. Now the panniers are packed with fresh clothes—always a good feeling on a long trip.
We also checked out the sauna situation at the campground, but it’s a bit beyond our budget. You have to rent a private sauna building for at least two hours at 90 euros per hour. It’s spacious, with room for up to eight people, and comes with a kitchen and a living room, but we decided to skip it.
Today and tomorrow are dedicated to resting. Tomorrow, we’ll head into the city center to explore and hopefully snap some more interesting photos. The Baltics were a bit underwhelming in terms of photography, so I’m looking forward to capturing more of Helsinki’s sights.
On the boat
Laundry drying in the sun
Sauna to expensive
Campsite beach
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