Storms, Santa Claus, and Heading North
Today, we made good progress, driving all the way to Rovaniemi—the famed home of Santa Claus. We found a campsite Ounaskoski Camping just on the edge of the city, though it turned out to be the most expensive one we’ve stayed at so far. When I casually mentioned the price, the owner reminded me that they still had to make a living. Fair enough, I guess.
By the time we set up camp, the sky had turned an ominous shade of gray as thick clouds rolled in. Just two minutes after pitching the tent, a thunderstorm erupted. The rain came down in sheets, turning the ground into a sea of puddles within minutes. Thankfully, the tent held up—dry inside, at least!
Ounaskoski Camping Rovaniemi
Ounaskoski Camping Rovaniemi
Ravintola Valdemari
Once the storm eased, we ventured out to a nearby restaurant called Ravintola Valdemari for dinner. There was a party happening inside, so we couldn’t sit indoors, but we managed to find a spot under the shelter outside. After a quick meal, we hurried back to the campsite, as another thunderstorm was rapidly approaching. As I write this, the rain is pouring down again, and we’re just hoping the tent stays watertight through the night.
Tomorrow morning, we’re off to visit Santa Claus’s house. It’s a major tourist attraction, so we’ll see how long we spend there before heading off. After that, we’ll continue our journey north along the Finnish-Swedish border towards Tromsø. That leg of the trip will take us a couple of days.
The next part of the journey promises to be breathtaking as we head down through Norway at a slower pace. With the stunning Lofoten Islands and fjords ahead, this might just be the most beautiful stretch of the entire adventure.
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