13. Heading North: Gravel Roads and the Battle Against Mosquitoes

Heading North: Gravel Roads and the Battle Against Mosquitoes

We hit the road early today, pushing further north with every kilometer. The route was wonderfully varied—long, straight stretches of road alternating with winding country paths. At one point, we even had to tackle a 10-kilometer stretch of loose gravel. They were resurfacing the road, and this gravel layer was the foundation. It made for a tough ride; I was drenched in sweat by the end of it! (See photo for proof.)

Surfacing the road with gravel

On our way North

On our way North

Around midday, we stopped at a gas station for a coffee break and were pleasantly surprised to find they were serving a hot lunch for just 10 euros. It was quite the spread—chicken leg with rice and curry sauce, plus a salad and a big mug of coffee. We weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the meal; plenty of local workers were there having their lunch as well. So, we ate well at midday, which means tonight’s dinner is back to basics: soup and bread. Could be worse, right?

chicken leg with rice and curry sauce

By 4:00 PM, we found a place to stay for the night—Oulujärven Lomakylä Camping nearby Vaala. The campsite had just opened for the season, and the new owner was hard at work sprucing it up. It’s still pretty quiet here, likely because most campsites have only just reopened, but the location is perfect—right by a lake again. They’ve even got a nice covered outdoor kitchen for campers with running water. Not that we needed it much tonight; thanks to our hearty lunch, we were sticking to the soup plan.

outdoor kitchen for campers

The mosquitoes weren’t too bad during the day, but come evening, they made their presence known. By 10:00 PM, we had no choice but to retreat to the tent to escape the swarm of those little bloodsuckers. Now safely inside, I can hear them buzzing around outside as I settle in with a book.

Up here in the north, the sun doesn’t set until around 10:30 PM and it rises again by 3:00 AM. So even now, it’s still light out—and warm, too, with temperatures holding at 22°C. Thankfully, we learned from past mistakes and pitched the tent strategically in the shade, so we won’t roast when the sun comes up in the early hours.

Oulujärven Lomakylä Camping

Oulujärven Lomakylä Camping