Repovesi Kansallispuisto or Repovesi National Park, about 2h north-east of Helsinki, 100km east of Lahti is something that should definitely be experienced in a canoe or kayak and camping. Beautiful…

Kayak at rest in Karhulahti

6am @ Mustavuori
A few surprises while in Finland:
- Roads go up and down constantly but you never go high enough to see what’s around you. Flat and bumpy at the same time.

Ruskeasalmi from Mustalamminvuori tower
- Roads as smooth as tarmac, yet just well compacted fine gravel.
- You can drive forever yet the landscape hardly changes.
- How people obviously don’t want to live too close to others. They just call it a village but it’s really not ;)
- How much of what is Scandinavia you can directly relate to the US.

farmhouse near Jaala
- How much they love summer cottages on the lakes (I want one!)

summer cottage on its own private island
- How every summer cottage also has at least a row boat or two, more often a nice big speedboat (I want those!)

Olhavanlampi
- How there are no old trees anywhere. Sustainable exploitation they call it.

near Elvingin torni
- How every building must have a built in ladder to the roof. Must be a health and safety issue demanded by burglars.
more photos in the gallery as always