Time in road: on February, 1-11st 2007
Pribliztelnyj a route: Kiev-CHERNIGOV-new JArylovichi - (Belarus) Gomel-MOGILEV-vitebsk - (Russia) nevel-oster-pskov-sankt-peterburg-vyborr-(Finland) Imatra-Vuokatti-Rovaniemi-Vuokatti-Imatra - the same route back.
The general kilometric area: 5087 km
The idea has come by itself. It wanted to celebrate birthday not houses, to see the polar lights, to look the present Finnish winter with snow, pofotografirovat deer, to be photographed with Santa-Klausom, to accept the Finnish sauna. Much from this it was possible to make, something is not present, but we do not regret. It were excellent ten days! With itself of a map, a support, cameras, the Finnish mobile card, bought half a year back, meal, things, DVD - portable, working from prikurivatelja (the piece, it is better than music), refuelling by gasoline and gas and in a way!
Day the first
Have left on February, 1st at 18-00. Basically, have safely passed border with Belarus, have paid the duty in five dollars for using their roads (it is that costs if it is fair). Belarussky customs nechishchenaja from snow, poor waggons on half an hour slip, on this all is phlegmatic smotrjat customs officers. We at first were frightened, that the same roads to Belarus, but all was good. Across Belarus to tell there is especially nothing. There is passed this line not once. In regular intervals good road and even is cleaned from snow. Have refuelled in Mogilyov gas, accept credit cards and dollars. By the morning were on the Russian-Belarus border.
This madhouse I will try to describe in detail. To fill the declaration that and how much you carry, to pay for declaration drawing up, to issue temporary import of the car to Russia, to pay for import drawing up. The insurance across Russia (grinkarta does not approach). The customs control, passport control. Any one and a half hour in turns and we are rolled in Russia. That is remarkable – we are met by the first settlement with the name "Lobok", it has turned out to be true, because was full … … further.
Under liked films on disks which I could and to look, simply enough to listen, we nespesha went in a direction of Pskov where at us room in quite decent (inside) to hotel "Transit" is reserved.
Run-950 km
For Russian 900 roubles we had perfectly a rest, having overslept practically 15 hours and attempted in the morning. Have listened to the Russian "not veiled" news, we have moved on Peter.
Day of the second
Further Pskov on Е-95 we did not go yet, and the road did not allow to go faster, than 80. Well, anything, we go. Somehow tried to overtake, like it turned out. The swill on road in height very strained of 10-15 sm because of which it was necessary to taxi up constantly. On one of passings I cherezchur sharply try to be built in the strip and the car bears. My attempts to level the car not to drive in vstrechnika come to an end is pitiable. The car runs away and takes off from road. Have regained consciousness in a ditch. I open a door, I leave and I fail on a belt during snow. I get out, I bypass the car from different directions – scratches! Pass cars which I have overtaken, nobody has stopped. Naturally! At me number Ukrainian! The car zavisla on a forward and back bumper through a roadside ditch. Behind a field, it is ahead expensive. Us has developed on 360 degrees, having lifted not sickly column from snow for the speed 80. Having estimated a situation we understand what by own strength not to get out. We stop the first lorry with a brick. The Byelorussian (thanks it huge) without problems clings a cable and tries to pull us. I have already said goodbye to a forward bumper, but the car has moved from a place and has spread aside proezzhej parts. After six perevjazyvany the torn off cable, the malicious Byelorussian removes very short but not less malicious steel cable from the car. Approaches very close lanosu, we cling and for 2 minutes the car costs on road. Having thanked financially the Byelorussian, we go to Peter with speed 60, it is no more. The fright has come through kilometres 20 from our scene under village "Zapljusse". We decide to stop and change clothes in pure and dry. Car survey has shown, that fastening of a back bumper near the muffler is torn off. I consider that to us simply extremely has carried. Consequences could be where is more sad. We crawl to Peter. Only here at us languages are on the sly untied. The city has not liked. At least that we saw. Syro, slush, marking on roads are not present. Little bit better at them with indexes. For one and a half hour have driven all city (why round such city is not present district – not clearly) and have left on a line conducting to Vyborg. We should seem in this city as here there is a gas. Our gas which we have refuelled in Pskov already on an outcome. There is still a gasoline from Ukraine, but it is useful to us in the Finn. Very quickly we find required refuelling and rulim further in a frontier direction. Frontier transition "Cowberry". Very quite good as for Russian. All is beautiful, all is shined. The personnel very precautionary, for some reason one women. We pass border for 15 minutes and we in the Finn! We get the atlas of Finland (class) and we search for our road with Lapeenranty to Imatra. There we are waited by our number and the personnel which speaks Russian. In it also there was our problem. Have found our hotel and ofigeli. Our number is given. There is one more single room, which the aunt on retseptsii (former Russian) safely names the one-and-a-half. The price 60 euros. It is necessary to agree, though after such difficult day it would be desirable to give simply in a muzzle to this specific aunt. Number uncomfortable, small and cranes Soviet. But the switched on TV set and the Finnish language on channel "YLE" caresses hearing and cheers up. We drink for expensive morning lesson, we consider under the atlas road on which us tomorrow to drive 450 km to the cottage reserved by us in Vuokatti and we fall to sleep
Run about 500 km, the heaviest
Day the third.
The sun has met us in the street. A buffet – neotemlimaja a part of the Finnish hotels (even with Russian retseptsiej). In hotel one Russian, on a TV set in a dining room there is ORT. Well 15 minutes are fine to us here even. We are got, have gone on a highway number 6 in direction Vuokatti – a ski resort of Finland. Road excellent. Each 20 30 kilometres nespesha we go round snowplows which for the speed 80 throw out strip of snow hardly appreciable on asphalt for chippers. Here you on the Pskov road! Somewhere in the middle of our way we stop on so-called refuelling which switches on in itself modestly refuelling, table on system "buffet" in which for 7 euros can take all that is and how much want, and then still to approach and approach, a small market and more whole infrastukturu. The stop reason is simple. I half a year waited, when I can buy to myself a litre package of pear juice. It at them without pulp and very tasty. I receive unprecedented pleasure for 0.69 euros. I am simply happy. While I finish smoking a cigarette, three gallant guys approach on snowmobiles and go in "stolovku". We even have noticed here an abundance rokerov in the summer, it is visible in the winter they overcome lomku on snow. After a dinner we find in village Vuokatti the snow tunnel in which to us give our keys from a cottage and the original map of a small village printed on the printer in which our small house it is led round and drawn as to it to reach. What to tell about Vuokatti! Places simply super, practically Carpathians. Only life level, cleanliness and is a lot of snow which on footwear does not remain. We look at a thermometer – a minus 20. Snow crackles, as in the childhood. Very beautifully. We find our small house. The car in 5 metres. We come inside – beauty! One big room in which has gone in both a bedroom and kitchen. All is made very beautifully. We have the musical centre which at once we adjust on the Finnish music (beautiful language), the TV, DVD, the videorecorder and a class wide soft bed. We have brought bed-clothes with ourselves, so owners have recommended a little to save. Is 16 euros a day a little. The kitchen is a full set of ware, a coffee maker, mikrovolnovka, a teapot. Tea, coffee and sugar are already put by owners. A bathroom – as usually plus a sauna. The sauna is kindled at once, that with class beer «Lapin culta» to be delayed after legenkogo a frost. Day comes to an end. Tomorrow at us here still all the day. We will try to drive on skis.
Run of 500 km
Day the fourth.
Basically – anything especial. Have gone also in local obltsentr Kajani. The small town has very much liked. No more Cherry, but on such city of 4 usual markets and 3 supermarkets. Small small towns of type of the Polish us very much please. There are the high-rise buildings, in the street no any haste and vanity. In one of shops one Finn sticks to us
- You whence? - In English
- Kiev.
- And, Russia?
No, it is Ukraine, the SEPARATE state.
How to you our frosts?, the Finn jumps off from a policy
-Was cool, govorim. - the minus 20 impresses
-Minus 20 it yet that, here a minus 40 it winter
Having wished each other "baj", we go on the affairs. We come back in the small small village. We go on ski descent. All lifts work trouble-free. Descents and lines for running skis are shined till the morning. There is a snow tunnel for snowboards under the earth. The tunnel starts to work, if the temperature in the street falls more low-18. At the very end of ski descent to such itself of plagues in which it is possible to get warm and have a drink coffee. The frost becomes more malicious, we feel literally on eyes. The board over chumom shows, that inside plus 10. We go to drink coffee. Skiers inside sit and are heated by mulled wine, then jump out to go for a drive with new force. Having had a drink kofejku also we go home. It is necessary to collect things, tomorrow in a way – our last point of travel – Rovaniemi. Providently I rent from the car the accumulator in a warm room – whether a little …
Day the fifth
It has appeared a little …. Long I will not tell. The car has died. Candles have not helped, has not helped nagretyj the accumulator, blinking by light. The car simply lifelessly stood on a frost. In the street a minus 35. My numerous attempts have not resulted in what. In general. Nearby build the same cottage and two Finns working on building (in such frost!), at them "conveyor". We approach – «Du ju spik an English?». The Answer - "nou" … brevity – sister of talent. We leave. The handle of transfers has frozen to a reverse gear. The next cottage leave on rasslabone 5 Russian with skis which we there and then on pleasures have put to push our car, hoping, that if to push it from a hill, it zavedetsja. IN PROCESS OF pushing Russian make comments on the car stamp "It that - Uzbeks? And, well all is clear... Not Uzbeks? Koreans? And, well all is clear... Poles? And, well all is clear..." We think, say, that want, the main thing not otvelkajtes from the main task - to push. Having noticed our diligence, the Finn whom not «spik the English», silently gets "Conveyor" which is connected to the socket directly in the street (such hren is called Webasto – then have already learnt, that all of them use it - sockets stand practically on all parking), hands over back to us and throws to us a cable. To put it briefly, for the speed 80 I could cut the fourth and start up coupling. We were got! We do not suppress, we heat, we carry belongings and we dump. Ahead of 450 km to load the accumulator. Already far zatemno, about 7 evenings we drive to capital of Lapland, the city of Rovaniemi. We find our hotel "Aakenus", excellent service, number modest (but also the price to measures Rovaniemi too – 75 euros), a buffet. What is necessary? Still the warm place is necessary for our car. In the small city of Rovaniemi of 5 large network expensive hotels - Sokos, Scandic, Rantasipi, Cumulus, Clarion, but all are hammered so, that to warm underground parkings at them not to get. About, a miracle! In 500 metres from us there is supermarket K-Market, in which underground parking. 5 minutes of conversation with protection in English which is known there almost by everything, and we absolutely free of charge store all three days the car in garage with temperature plus 10. All three days the car is got without problems. All three days we are simply happy (as it is necessary for happiness) a little. We celebrate birthday of my liked navigator, we are photographed on area Lordi (the main area of this city, native for winners of last Eurovision in which honour have named this area), we go to village to Santa-Klausu which wishes my wife happy birthday, we are photographed with it. We find olenju a team. Really such small deer in a condition to take for a drive pair the person?! We decide to come back to a polar circle also at night. It is remembered, when web cameras in Kiev these places saw looked, that here very beautifully all is highlighted. And it has appeared. The support of has paid back. The car we come to warm up each half an hour. But practically it is not cold at temperature in a minus 27. Little bit got tired, but happy, we come back home, to park on parking in a supermarket and it is possible to celebrate birthday in a local bar on the main area.
Next day the city-border of Sweden and Finland where we already were last summer have gone in Tornio-Haparandu. Border to name very hard, there is an old customs, but it is memory. Small river you have moved also in Sweden. Borders are not present, but at once behind the bridge other currency, absolutely other language and disappointment … On the Internet we have learnt, that in Sweden there is a gas for the car and the first refuelling is in Haparande, and from us it only 100 km. Here also have decided «to go to Sweden», unfortunately gas at them is not present. And our Ukrainian gasoline already on an outcome. The first refuellings by the Finnish gasoline approximately on 10 griven for litre have gone. But, if is fair we this situation assumed. But have walked to Sweden. But have seen peacefully grazed deer who stood on a belt in snow in someone's kitchen garden and tried to discover to itself livelihood underfoot.
Day of the eighth
Weather forecast on the Finnish channels simply frightens. The Arctic cyclone has fallen to the country, on border with Kareliya to-40, in the centre the situation is not better. In a following place of our spending the night, Haapajarvi – small hotel of all for 55 euros with a breakfast in the country where supermarkets with covered parking precisely are not present, will be at night a minus 37. Judging by forecasts the low temperature will hold on even day, and then frosts will begin to decline, to priemlimyh already for us-20. :) To steam of minutes of the family council and we decide to pay in addition and stay even day in Rovaniemi and to leave the car in a warm place that then for one day to drive all Finland on one breath and to go down at once to Imatra that on 800 km to the south from us. Basically anything heroic in it is not present, simply the sun shines only 4-5 hours per day and all rest of the time went practically at night. The road magnificent, after the Arctic cyclone which has called such sharp temperature drop, here is even more beautiful, weather varies for a day some times, but basically very pure sky and the huge orange sun. Few times we stop to make pictures. Approximately in those places where we should spend the night, the thermometer in the car shows for a minus 30 day. We pass these places without a stop. The road has appeared easier, than we assumed. Roads clean, with places even shine on 10 kilometres. We settle in Russian-speaking hotel in Imatra where we already were in the evening. After heavy road we do not turn on what attention. We drink for the beautiful country last drops of the Kiev vodka. The mood slowly grows dark. Tomorrow Russian customs …
Day the ninth
The mood knowingly fell. Finnish customs "Imatra" is in the street end on which there was our hotel. Have decided to pass here. It was not necessary. Finns have let out us very quickly and without problems. And here Russian …. In general, there were we at customs three hours. Simply so. The customs officer has told, that inhabitants of the adjacent states drive to Russia only after the permission of the chief of customs. The reason that Ukrainians import the cars and do not take out them. To whom it is necessary Lanos??? Same not Volvo. So this chief went to our car three hours. Probably on foot from Peter. Whether there was it curiosity to consider our documents or it is a policy – I do not know, but my relation to Russian has not changed. It has become stronger. I do not argue, there are at them many good people. But on a TV set at them such hren about us … is shorter, somehow we have crept to Russia. On a map like there is a road from Svetogorska to Vyborg. Vyborg is necessary to us! There there is a gas. The Finnish gasoline on zero, but a bulb does not burn yet. Refuellings are not present, a line excellent ….ot the Finnish. Holes in half-wheels, without exaggeration. Road – has simply flown down. Pure ice. Speed 40. The Finn on holennoj Volvo towards goes, having linked a teeth. As I understand it. At last we taxi on asphalt, still pair of kilometres and we get on an outcome «klevernyj sheet», the leader to Vyborg. Moving down on an outcome, the car bears, potholes in a rebag with glass ice. Fur-trees-sticks, really has again run away? Only 25 km at an o'clock! Indeed and the car on descent in turn right the rehouse leaves in a chipper. proskolziv so metres ten we stiffen. Back, and on the first hardly we go down again on normal asphalt. As-as if there was no glass descent … pass the bridge, avarijka, survey of damages. protivotumanka in tinkling sounds, a scratch on a bumper (painting is necessary). But what happiness, that a headlight of head light the whole! Simply fantasy. Has again carried. Mood an average … Refuelling in Vyborg and excellent road on Peter. We should be in time to Pskov. Russian roaming and pair sms home, that «with all of us is perfectly in order». Yet all". And still the penalty for not switched on near in territory of Russia? Good, not against, only hang up on border a board as it was made by Finns.
Last day, the tenth
Morning, road. The Russian-Belarus border. We decide to pay all the same at customs the penalty. poveselilo. The penalty – 50 roubles, bank services – 20 roubles. Circus. Lithuanians standing behind us argue in this occasion and come to thought, that the European Union it is not too bad. As the Belarus road after the Russian is good! Simply song. Has found to itself the Byelorussian and you go behind it one hundred. Road – a class. A straight line to horizon. Darkens, we get DVD and we look/is listened films to the most Ukrainian border. Border. Byelorussians let out very quickly. Ukrainians let in without examination by a simple question «that's all right?» The answer «yes!». «Pass!». Ukraine. Calls native, that we already in the Chernigov province and in 2 hours will be at home. As always – when you remove – it seems that much nasnimal. You come home – a little. It is Not enough.
Results
In the winter in Finland the main sight - snow of which there is not simple much, and is a lot of. And special winter atmosphere which not to pass photos, and it is necessary to experience.
But it is necessary to go there having two things - shipovannuju good rubber (Finns all on Nokian) and electroheaters of cars in the winter. Having these two things - no frosts will prevent you to take pleasure in this country. And the people benevolent - Finns offer often the help, stand on road with an open cowl, potter on the affairs, it approaches on you itself, asks, whether it is necessary to help... And, well and to go there not through Russia.