Christoffer Petersen blog

We took things slow, just checking out the local area before getting on the water. I’ll just warn you that this is a picture post, not much history or facts. But we were in Mikkeli, Finland, and we visited the church in Anttola.

Also, we confirmed what I had hoped, that Finland has a huge, and I mean, massive variety of donut-like donuts. 🙂 I made it my mission to discover how many, but failed to take photos of them, even when we found cozy cafés to eat them in.

Hopeless, I know. But we had come for the water, really, and it was almost time to get on the lake. No more procrastinating, it was time pack and start paddling!

Petra doesn’t procrastinate half as much as I do in A Dog called Blitzen on Patreon!

Planning pretty much went out the window as we woke up in a different part of a new country, not sure where we were or where we were heading. We didn’t have GPS. Didn’t even have a road map. Nor did they have one in the gas station, so we took a photo of the map in the back of the phone book, I think. Yeah, I don’t know what it was. But Jane navigated via photo of the map on the screen of our pocket camera!

There was one tiny hiccup. Jane gets seasick, so she usually takes a tablet before we sail. I don’t usually get sick, but took a tablet anyone… just because. Jane slept as normal, whereas I woke up really drowsy, and we had to stop fifteen minutes outside of Turku for a four hour nap on the side of the road. 🙂

But we made it to Lake Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland, almost exactly as we had planned to. Almost.

Meanwhile, it is Day 8 of A Dog called Blitzen on Patreon!

Back in 2015, Jane and I went to Finland for the first time. I’ve often said that Scandinavia is a lot like Canada (and Alaska) with much of the same geography, if not the same scale. We set out from Denmark and caught the ferry to Sweden to drive to Stockholm for the ferry to Helsinki. If you’re reading this blog, you’re about to join us. 😉

The Swedish ferry was no bother. We’ve sailed on it a few times and even gotten used to waking up in the cabin when everyone else has gone! And then driving off for breakfast. I’m pretty sure this lake is Vättern in Sweden.

We can be a bit too relaxed, though. And we kind of, sort of, totally missed the ferry to Finland! We just watched as it sailed without us! In my defence there was lots of road works and a tonne of traffic in Stockholm that day. But still, we failed to think of the distance and hours needed to get there. Eight, I think?

All was well though, and we caught the next ferry to Turku, rather than Helsinki as planned. Relief and smiles all round!

More tomorrow!

But in other news, A Dog called Blitzen has reached Day 7. You can find out more on Patreon.

Any excuse for a hero shot of Vitus on Uummannaq mountain!

Need more dogs? Check out Day 6 of A Dog called Blitzen on Patreon!

The “Forests of Gråsten” are just a few kilometres from our house. Inside this copse of trees is a Bronze Age burial mound.

The mound has never been explored or excavated, but a folly was once built upon it.

Inside the mound are the bones of the great Bronze Age Chieftain Vektimarus, protected by Thimor the Wight.

 

Grab your free copy of The Wight in the Woods or read online!

And in other news, it’s Day 5 of A Dog called Blitzen on Patreon!

Back in 2011 Jane and I (still living in Greenland) caught up with mum and dad in Sweden. As you do. Just needed a photo. Sharing is caring, and all that!

Of course, toasting marshmallows required all my focus and attention.

I hope everyone in the States is enjoying their day! Have a free book on me! (Amazon link.)

Petra’s pretty focused already in Day 4 of A Dog called Blitzen only on Patreon!