Day 19 and 20: Virolahti to Helsinki

Thursday, June 6: 109 km, 840 altimeters, not a cloud in the sky, over 30 degrees

We temporarily leave the Iron Curtain Trail, which now leads to St. Petersburg. In Tallinn, we will meet it again.

It is high summer in southern Finland and we are approaching Helsinki and actually 2000 kilometers by bike.

In the morning, the usual routine, today with the additional dismantling of the tent. In perfect weather and well guided by the Teasi, the GPS device, we cycle not far from the Gulf of Finland on the King's Road through lovely landscapes with blooming wild lilac bushes to Hamina. There was a lot of fighting there, so tanks and a military museum remind us of that. We reach Loviisa in the late afternoon via Kotka and the beautiful campsite in an old manor complex right on the Baltic Sea. There we meet two other cyclists who are heading north with heavy bikes and plenty of luggage. The two take it rather leisurely, took a day off today and have time until the end of September.

In the evening, we have dinner at the small harbor enjoying the almost Mediterranean atmosphere with music from the Gipsy Kings.

Friday, June 7: the last day of cycling in Finland, the 2000 km mark is reached

48 km, 450 altimeters, bright sunshine

During breakfast at the campsite, we exchange information with a German couple who have already done parts of the Iron Curtain Trail in Poland and the Baltic states and are now doing the Helsinki-St. Petersburg-Tallinn tour.

We embark on the last stage in Finland. We have decided to only cycle to Porvoo and return to Helsinki by bus. It's going well and quickly, so there is still time for a visit to the old town with its old wooden houses and the cathedral. Everything works out fine with the bus as well, bicycles and luggage go into the compartments - it's amazing how quickly about 50 km can be covered without your own muscle power - and shortly after 3 pm, we are already in our beautiful apartment. From there we explore the city, visit the new library, which architecturally resembles the hull of a ship and is wonderfully designed with many reading corners, quiet zones, and small work areas. All designed very generously for general use! The white cathedral with the Senate Square is also very beautiful. In the evening, we linger in the famous Rock Church, which is built directly into the granite rock and is also impressive due to its architecture.