Introduction  Contents  July 4  July 10  July 14  July 18  July 22  July 26  Appendices  About 

talvi > finland > jaunt > Node3

July 5: Oulu and the Gulf of Bothnia

Got up, packed up, showered, and nearly missed the train to our next stop, Oulu, about 250km to the south. Pity we couldn't stay longer but we only had three weeks and Finland's a big country. Arrived around four and got a bus out to the campsite, which was even more impressive than the last one. Oulu is on the west coast, on the edge of the Gulf of Bothnia, and Nallikari Camping has a gorgeous sandy beach. Going swimming reminded us that, in spite of the bright sunshine, we weren't all that far from the arctic circle. It took some time to restore sensation to my feet.

After cooking dinner, spent the evening sitting by the sea, talking, drinking Patrick's rum, and enjoying a breathtaking sunset. Even after sunset, it never really got dark -- at one in the morning it was still light enough to write my journal outside.