I’m beginning to feel like I spend more time on ferries than the bike lately. This is my 6 long distance ferry (by that I mean a journey of at least 2 hours). Once again there was the small odd bunch – those who choose to cycle. This time there are once again 2 Germans, he is coming from St Petersburg and she is just finishing a one month tour of the Eastern Baltic States.

Not on the ferry was the American, Dan, on his way to Mongolia. Now, drum roll the doors of the ship are about to open on Helsinki!

But…… I seemed to have miss timed my arrival. Everything is closed, and I do mean everything. It’s the longest day of the year and on that day, Finland shuts down and goes on a long weekend.

The day that Helsinki stood still.

Well, despite the weather forecast, it turned out to be an overcast with on and off rain. So, what to do? Go bike of course and explore the surrounds, meet the locals.

and explore the bike routes.

Then enjoy a beer at the deserted waterfront and let the clothes dry out.

Well, the weather up north is for about a month of rain, showers, some sun but basically a damp time. So I’m heading off south to Germany tonight. Where I hope there’ll also be some darkness at night. Being in eternal light for the past few weeks is messing with my head and sleep. Last night I stayed in a hostel that was an old converted steamship in Turku and I had an inside cabin – no porthole and therefore dark! Still woke up at 2am, damn it!

Oh well, tonight I will be on another ship, but this one moving and heading to Lubeck in Germany.

A suitably grey and gloomy departure from Finland.

On reflection, if I was Dr Who and could travel thru time, I would skip Tallinn and Helsinki and go straight to Turku, oh well… Anyway tomorrow’s another day.