I had been thinking of doing a trip to the forest where I roamed in my childhood and youth. This is mainly the
Västerby area and parts of the Hanko peninsula. This is in Finland in northern Europe. The
Teijo area also seemed interesting. I had some winter vacation remaining and get away from work for two days.
Day 1.The Salsa Fargo is packed and the ride has just started at 8:15.
Trying to get to Teijo using the smallest roads possible, which means forest roads and country roads of different size.
Finally at Teijo around 13:30.
The trails of Teijo do not disappoint.
Hamarijärvi.
Refilling the water supply. The risk of getting sick from the water is probably quite small, but it is not that much work to filter it either.
Dinner at Puolakkajärvi.
The Teijo area was everything I expected. It might be worth visiting it with an FS bike. There should be enough trails for at least 3 hours of riding.
Continuing towards Västerby along the smallest roads possible.
Lost. I took a wrong turn and the road ended. There was a nearby lake which I figured would have at least some animal paths, which would lead me to a road at the other end of the lake. The plan worked.
A short break at Hamarjärvi.
Finally in Västerby, around 21:20.
The trails seem to have grown lately.
Lillträsket.
Finally at my destination for the night, Västerby Storträsk, after riding for almost 14 hours and 160 km. Actual riding time was around 10.5 hours.
The lean-to was not here the last time I slept here.
A refreshing bath after a long day on the bike.
Because of the mosquitos I took a tent this time.
Making pancakes. Yumm!
I went to sleep maybe a little after 23:30.
Day2.I slept quite well, after some initial problems catching sleep, and slept much longer than I had planned. But, after all this was vacation, so I got up maybe 6:45.
Morning porridge.
Finally moving again at 8:15.
Some trails have grown a lot.
Vitsjön, the first one.
Riding along Grabbskog Storträsk.
It seems that someone has designated the area for outdoor recreation. I found no less than four relatively new lean-tos in the area, all in very nice places. I guess it is a good thing if it gets people out to the outdoors.
Långträsk.
Some trail destruction was also found.
Going from Västerby to the Harparskog area I found myself bushwacking at a certain place. 20 years ago there was a (poor) path just around here, but no longer. At least the mosquitos got some food.
Vitsjön, another one.
Some remnants from the war 70 years ago.
Vitsjön, yet another one.
At this point I was running out of time, so I had to take the fastest way back to Turku, which meant around 120 km and almost 6 hours of riding, including a food break.
I rode for 140 km and approximately 9 hours, of which a little under 8 hours was actual riding time.
This time I did not have time to check out the trails west of Skogby. I guess I will have to come back and do that at some point.
Here is a slideshow with more pictures.
