Rally time: Ouninpohja 2012 & Mäntsälä 2013

So here's one event from the past, and one from the very present. What's common for them both? Rally cars!

Last summer, in the beginning of August, we checked out the legendary Ouninpohja Special Stage at Neste Oil Rally Finland with my son. It was great. Some people criticize that WRC is more business than motorsport these days, and they're probably right. It was dreadfully expensive afternoon, but the event was well organized and a nice experience nevertheless.

Today we got to witness somewhat different level of rally experience. The national F-Cup's start-up rally, Ramirent Mäntsälä Ralli was held nearby. How convenient, particularly Special Stage 4 was run within a walking distance from our house, so we decided to check it out. The weather was cold outside (around -20c degrees of Celcius), but sunny, and the feeling was definitely there. The business aspect was conveniently toned down: just coffee, hot juice and warm sausages were available, and that was all we needed! :)

My Summer Tour of 2012: Day 3 (Lahti)

Late at night of Day 2 I had made my way back from Myllykoski to Mukkula camping.

The next morning was sunny, and Vesijärvi looked really beautiful. During the morning I managed to check out Neste Oil Rally 2012 start event site at Lahti Harbour. Then it was time to head back home to see my family.

Oh, a bit more about the Rally to follow later! ;)

My Summer Tour of 2012: Day 2 (Myllykoski)

In the evening I enjoyed some "summer theater". The play was called "Calamari Union 2012", which is clearly a nod to Aki Kaurismäki's 1985 movie. And it was great!

Until recently, Myllykoski was really known for a big paper mill that was shut down during 2011. This was a cold shower to the town's economy. In the play some unemployed paperworkers embark on a journey to find mystical Voikkaa in hopes of getting employed again as paperworkers (The town of Voikkaa is 30 kilometers away from Myllykoski and they used to have a paper mill too. However, it was closed already in 2006 but the play was set up like they didn't know that :).

My Summer Tour of 2012: Day 2 (Inkeröinen)

The next thing I did after Repovesi was driving down south for some 70 kilometers, heading to Inkeröinen, to Ankkapurhan teollisuusmuseo (The Industrial Museum of Ankkapurha). Ankkapurha (Anjalankoski) is also one of the main rapids on the Kymi river. The location hosts Stora Enso's board mill, which was operational and altogether makes up for quite an impressive industrial site.

My Summer Tour of 2012: Day 2 (Repovesi)

During the second day of the trip I entered the national park in the morning, and took the "quickest" hiking route of only 5 kilometers. It was called Ketunlenkki ("The Fox Trail"). It's a popular hiking route for families that still offers some nice places and views to catch, like the Lapinsalmi bridge and Katajavuori hill. The sausages I grilled by the camp fire for lunch also tasted really good. :)

My Summer Tour of 2012: Day 1 (Mustila)

I guess I just HAVE to get these updates finally started again, and I've been planning to do it for three nights now. So here we go!

Last summer the main place I planned to visit was the Repovesi national park in Kouvola/Mäntyharju area.

At the end of July, during the first travel day I visited the Mustila Arboretum. A whole lot of a biology session, and some tall Douglas trees! Later that night I saw the Verla ironworks site (from the outside). I finally managed to get some sleep in my tent in Orivesi camping, reasonably close to the national park entrances.