Day 55: Arrive in Helsinki by Train

August 25, 2024

A Great Experience

"This has been a great experience," Patrick says as the train rolls into the station. "Taking a train or ferry is a great way to get into or out of big city," Rachel adds. We will do both in Helsinki.

At 0730 there is a knock on the cabin door. We are handed a bag with our breakfast of juice, coffee and croissants with jelly. We think this is the same guy who checked us in yesterday in Rovaniemi. The train arrives at the main terminal not quite on time. Again it is easy to just roll off the bikes. We are expecting to meet up with Ulla who has a B & B 30kmfrom Helsinki. We connected with her through FB and thought maybe to stay with her, however our plans and time worked better to continue to Helsinki. She took the train into Helsinki to meet us. “I’ll be on my red Trek bike” she tells us and we spot each other as we leave the train area.

We arrive in Helsinki and roll our bikes off the train

Ulla with her red trek bike is waiting for us

We sit at a café in the train station and visit. Ulla buys us coffee and pastry and shows us a book of a 2014 trip she and her husband did to Northern Norway. We find out that her 81st birthday is tomorrow. She leads us out of the train station and through the streets toward our hostel. It’s always so nice to have a local show the way. When we reach the Euro Hostel we say goodbye to Ulla who is now going to ride her bike home.

Tomorrow is Ulla's 81st Birthday, she shows us a book of a trip she did in 2014 and this is a picture of her garden

We get an escort away from train station by Ulla

Ulla guided us out of the train station and then as we neared the area of the Hostel, they check the tablet for directions

It is still too early to check into our room, but we can put our bikes in a locked garage box in the building’s basement. Then we take a walk about of the town. There is a nice harbor full of old wooden sailing ships. Then we walk in a large arc through the old part of town. There are many nice old buildings, but also quite a few Soviet-looking concrete and steel boxes.

We are to meet up with Noora and Otso at 1pm at Robert’s Coffee near the harbor. We met them in 2022 in Hachita NM on the first day of the Great Divide Bike Route. We ended up bailing after less than a week, they continued on and completed the route. It was good to re-connect and hear about their tour. We had mailed boxes with supplies along the route and they were able to pick them up and use the stuff.

Finnish couple, Noora and Otso in Hachita NM first day of the Great Divide Bike Route

Group pic before Trevan sets off for Separ: Otso and Noora, the Fins, Trevan, Rob and us

We walk around a bit more and they show us the New Library near the train station. It’s a very impressive building with additional offerings beyond just books. There are machines that can be used like a 3D printer, sewing machines, and woodworking machines. We say our goodbyes and hope to see them come visit us in Boise and ride the Idaho Hot Springs Loop.

After going back to our hostel, we can check-in. The room is nothing fancy, but it is clean and comfortable. There are nice bathrooms and a kitchen on every floor. We venture out one more time for Thai Food. Our time in Scandinavia is coming to an end except for the end when we return to Stockholm via the ferry from Gdnask.

Today's ride: 3 km (2 miles)
Total: 2,703 km (1,679 miles)

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