Kokkola

Finland

We sleep in, but not too late.

I am starting to think the sleep experts may be on to something when they suggest alcohol impacts sleep. The jury is still out.

We take our morning walk. Past our hosts’ wonderful horses. On the right, dressage and jumpers. On the left, thoroughbreds for riding, not racing.

If there is a more noble animal than a horse, I have yet to encounter it.

A breakfast of porridge, yoghurt, and blueberries made in the kitchenette, and we are ready to embark.

A relatively uneventful drive until we are 80km from Kokkola when a thunderstorm hits. The temperature plummets to 12 C and the roads are flooded.

The rain lessens but stays steady after we grab some food and beer for dinner.

Our apartment is a converted garage and well appointed. Dinner is some pasta, salmon gravlax, rosolli, porkkanasalaatti, and perunasalaatti, all served on the local dark bread – ruisleipä.

We buy a few cans of local Karhu beer and settle in to listen to the rain and read our books.

Tonight’s beer –

Karhu Solar Indian Pale Ale, an IPA made from wheat.

Karhu Indian Pale Ale, a traditional IPA.

Karhu New England Indian Pale Ale, one of the better NEIPA’s I have had.

Tomorrow we head further north. A two night stay and some time for recovery.

“The things of Scandinavia tend to be secret, as if they were a dream.”

Jorge Luis Borges