We drove in two cars to south end of the Porkkala peninsula -- 50 minutes away -- to explore three bunkers there. The best map that we have of the abandoned Soviet-era bunkers comes from Lynx, the local orienteering club. Unfortunately, this time their map oversold what was to be found at the location.
Full story
February 2021
Maakellari 1, Lähteelä, Porkkala, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Maakellari 2, Lähteelä, Porkkala, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Rauniot, Lillkanskog, Porkkala, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Vesi- tai lietesäiliö, Friggesby, Porkkala, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Ruins,Containers)
We visited the Högberget cave today, to test drive the LiDAR sensor in the iPhone that got today. Pretty interesting!
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2021
Högberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock-Gneiss,Morphology-Erosion,Equipment)
Covid. Lines everywhere. Commercial skiing... maybe not for us this year. Fortunately, Jarmo knew a place where we could get some forest skiing in. And even the sun was shining!
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2021
Mynttilän kukkulat, Espoonkartano, Espoo, Finland
Skiing
Full story
(TGR version)
December 2020
Lohkarepuristimen luola, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock,Rock-Gneiss,Morphology-Boulders)
Tero and I stayed at the "Duck" (Ankka), a cabin near Ruka. We had driven up with Tero's car to avoid having to use flights or get too exposed to viruses.
Full story
October 2020
Mökki Ankka, Ruka, Kuusamo, Finland
Sauna (Normal)
I recently watched the new mini-series "White Wall" on YLE Areena. This is a Finnish-Swedish production. The plot is about a mine being converted to store nuclear waste... until they hit something strange.
Full story
November 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Media); Sauna (None,Media)
The third issue of this year's Grottan -- Swedish Caver's Association's magazine -- came in mail today.
Full story
November 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Research,Media)
Tero and I were on a trip... while caving was not the main purpose of the trip, as usual I also wanted visit a cave. A promising-looking hole at the Pyhä ski area turned out to not be a human-sized hole. But while returning to the airport in Rovaniemi, we drove south of the city to look at Tapulikallion onkalot (Tapulicliff holes). We founded a very weird, large boulder.
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2020
Tapulikallion onkalot, Rovaniemi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Basic,Rock-Other,Morphology-Boulders,Morphology-Weathering)
It isn't broken. It just needs more duct tape.
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2020
Ruka, Kuusamo, Finland
Skiing
Jouni had organized a tour of the Löpärö island in Sipoo for us, including the local guide Jukka showing is the cave locations. I think all of us were expecting a nice walk but pretty small caves. But were were really impressed by what we found! Just take a look at these photos by Jarmo Ruuth! (Also some by Jari or Elena.)
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2020
Dyviksbergenin luola, Löpärö, Sipoo, Finland*; Dyviksbergenin luola 1, Löpärö, Sipoo, Finland**; Långbergetin lohkareluola, Löpärö, Sipoo, Finland***; Långbergetin lohkareluolan sivuhuone, Löpärö, Sipoo, Finland***; Långbergetin toinen lohkareluola, Löpärö, Sipoo, Finland***
Caving* (Basic,Rock,Rock-Gneiss,Morphology-Crack); Caving** (Basic,Rock); Caving*** (Basic,Rock,Rock-Gneiss,Morphology-Boulders,Morphology-Crack)
I've been putting this moment off for some reason. But now they are there: both of my main skis are in maintenance and repair holiday at the Ski Service. Lets see how shiny they come out!
Full story
November 2020
Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (Equipment)
Nice cave, but I had to reverse my car out of the road that led to it. No way to turn around, and road got impassable after a while.
Full story
November 2020
Laukkosken luolakallion onkalot, Pornainen, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock,Rock-Gneiss,Morphology-Crack)
More car maintenance. Winter tires, first oil change since 2019, fixing brake lights, fixing something in the undercarriage that had been slightly damaged on some excursion :-)
Full story
November 2020
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
I spent at least an hour trying to find the cave, despite a tag on the Google Maps from someone, as well as coordinates from the book of Finnish caves. It turned out that the cave can be entered from the middle of the sloping rock face, in the cracks that have opened in it. But what a wonderful cave there was!
Full story
October 2020
Urtvuoren luola, Sammatti, Finland*; Urtvuoren kalteva rakoluola, Sammatti, Finland**; Urtvuoren lippaluola, Sammatti, Finland**
Caving* (Basic,Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Morphology-Boulders); Caving** (Basic,Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack)
The book Finnish Caves (Suomen Luolat) lists several caves in Perniö. I had already been in the 'Hiidenkellari' (Devil's basement), but since I needed to drive through Perniö today on my visit to Tero's summer cottage, I wanted to visit more of the caves. I chose 'Antinmäen Hohteen kellari ja paja' (The basement and workshop at the Antinmäki shine).
Full story
October 2020
Antinmäen Hohteen kellari ja paja, Perniö, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Morphology-Boulders)
Right in the middle of Tammisaari there's a classic "stone table", Ramunderinkiven onkalo (The Hole of the Ramunder's stone). Stone tables are stone formations where a rock sits on other stones. Ramunder is the strong man of old tales, and the story is that he threw a large boulder to crush some giants, giants that are now the stones holding up the boulder.
Full story
October 2020
Ramunderinkiven onkalo, Tammisaari, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock,Rock-Gneiss,Morphology-Boulders)
I had a nice, refreshing dip in the sea, mid-October. Twelve degrees. Cold, but if you compare it to the usual summer sea water temperatures, not that much lower yet...
Full story
October 2020
Rantasauna ystävän mökillä, Töllinkari, Salo, Finland
Sauna (Normal); Swimming (Water,Outdoor,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
This month's skiing was a bit of a challenge. Travel is difficult, unlike in August. Many of things that one could do were already done.
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor,Grass,Snow)
I got a tip from Johan at work about an interesting book, one that deals with underground wonders. The book is Underland by Robert MacFarlane. I don't really know yet what's inside, but there was a recommendation in New York Times, that can't be bad :-)
Full story
September 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Media)
Need some excitement? Maybe crawling inside a blown-up bunker in the middle of dark forest would help. Hope the Nazi command is no longer on site... and that the ammunition laying in the ground isn't dangerous.
Full story
August 2020
Lager Koralle, Wandlitz, Germany
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Military); Caving (Man-Made)
Lilla Karlsö. A paradise for birds, enough to warrant ban on entering except during special times and only with a guide. Of course, we didn't know any of the stuff about the guide, but wanted to visit some caves. Turned out that we had to follow a guide, and that it actually was a very good idea to follow the guide.
Full story
July 2016
Kuren, Lilla Karlsö, Sweden; Suder Vagnhus, Lilla Karlsö, Sweden; Norra Vagnhus, Lilla Karlsö, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Basic,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Morphology-Erosion)
Cracks... cracks... and ladders.
Full story
August 2016
Solbergagrottorna, Uppsala, Sweden
Caving (Basic,Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack)
Small cliff.. but such a nice cave and rock!
Full story
August 2016
Kasbergsgrottan, Väddö, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Basic,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack)
Getsvältan offers great views onto the sea and a nice crawl into small caves.
Full story
July 2016
Getsvältan, Visby, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Basic,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Erosion,Morphology-Weathering)
Icy holes. Those are the best ones!
Full story
April 2016
Mäyrämäen kellari, Lapinjärvi, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack)
Bombergsgrottan has a small entrance, a hole at the bottom of a big cliff. But the small hole hides a big (25m, big by Finnish standards) cave that extends left and right under the cliff.
Full story
April 2016
Bombergsgrottan, Liljendal, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock,Rock-Granite)
Jarmo went further on our search in Vihti, and found some small roof caves.
Full story
August 2020
Lippaluolanen 1, Isonniitunmäki, Vihti, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack)
Such beautiful pure calcite in the ceiling and floor. And cut so exact, as if by man... but it is the works of chemistry and water.
Full story
August 2020
Hiidenkellari, Vihti, Finland*; Kololuolanen 1, Isonniitunmäki, Vihti, Finland**; Kololuolanen 2, Isonniitunmäki, Vihti, Finland**; Hylätty kellari, Isonniitunmäki, Vihti, Finland***
Caving* (Rock,Basic,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst); Caving** (Rock,Basic,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders); Urban-Exploration (Buildings,Ruins)
Searching for a cave listed in the Finnish book of caves as "unconfirmed". Came up with nothing.
Full story
August 2020
Lähderannan kolo, Lähderanta, Espoo, Finland
Caving (None)
We visited this magnificent hole without really knowing much about what to expect. We had seen it listed in the book of Finnish caves, and in Retkipaikka, but the name told us little. Devil's church?
Full story
July 2016
Pirttimäen hiidenkirkko, Perniö, Finland
Caving (Rock,Basic,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders)
Sammatti. Hemmetti. Wipers not working on my Volvo. Oh well. But on the other hand, we visited a very nice little cave, Sipilän luola. Beautiful forms of rock.
Full story
January 2017
Sipilän luola, Sammatti, Finland
Caving (Rock,Basic,Granite,Morphology-Crack,Morphology-Erosion)
I recently visited three nearby places that had been listed as having large roof caves (by Finnish standards). And they did indeed deliver on that promise! In addition, I found that the three actually had three roof caves each. Nine cave visits on three trips :-)
Full story
August 2020
Limpanin iso lippaluola, Siuntio, Finland; Siitoonmäen lippaluola, Nummi-Pusula, Finland; Siitoonmäen lippaluolan sivuluola 1, Nummi-Pusula, Finland; Siitoonmäen lippaluolan sivuluola 2, Nummi-Pusula, Finland; Hyypiänmäen lippaluola, Nurmijärvi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Basic,Rock-Granite,Surveying)
An evening outing to a promised 30+ meter cave. Turns out there are three, with the biggest one 45 meters. Roof caves, so not so cave like, dark holes. But rock above your head nevertheless. Also, deer flies. Oh how I love deer flies in my hair.
Full story
August 2020
Limpanin lippaluola 1, Siuntio, Finland; Limpanin lippaluola 2, Siuntio, Finland; Limpanin iso lippaluola, Siuntio, Finland
Caving (Rock,Basic,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack)
Inspired by Ralf's observation of cave-like names in the countryside, I searched for more caves from the Finnish map databases, and came up with some more placed called "Luolamäki" or cave hill. This time near Nummi-Pusula, Lohja, and Vihti. Jarmo, Ralf, and me set out to explore... with no prior knowledge of any caves in this area reported anywhere. Not in the book of Finnish caves, not in Retkipaikka, nowhere.
Full story
July 2020
Kyynärjärven Luolamäen lippaluolanen, Nummi-Pusula, Finland*; Kyynärjärven Luolamäen pieni lippaluolanen, Nummi-Pusula, Finland*; Kyynärjärven Luolamäen lohkareen alusluolanen, Nummi-Pusula, Finland**; Huopinmäen Luolamäen lippaluolanen 1, Nummi-Pusula, Finland*; Huopinmäen Luolamäen lippa 2, Nummi-Pusula, Finland***; Huopinmäen Luolamäen lippaluolanen 3, Nummi-Pusula, Finland*; Huopinmäen Luolamäen lippa 4, Nummi-Pusula, Finland***; Huopinmäen Luolamäen kolonen, Nummi-Pusula, Finland**
Caving* (Rock,Basic,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Surveying); Caving** (Rock,Basic,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Surveying); Hiking***
I've been using the new Luolaseura map app and database to look for nearby caves that I have not been to. This is now much more convenient than it was before :-) You can easily look at, say, all caves bigger than some number of meters and look around you. So, I wanted to go see another 50 meter roof cave that was just 40 minutes drive away.
Full story
August 2020
Siitoonmäen lippaluola, Nummi-Pusula, Finland; Siitoonmäen lippaluolan sivuluola 1, Nummi-Pusula, Finland; Siitoonmäen lippaluolan sivuluola 2, Nummi-Pusula, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Morphology-Boulders)
I had already visited Luukki earlier, And had parking trouble, had to pay fees, etc. But it turns out the Luukki area has another lake as well, Kaitalampi. Kaitalampi is actually even better suited for swimming, and no parking fees!
Full story
July 2020
Kaitalammen oma uintipaikka, Kaitalampi, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
It looks pretty. But on my side of the lake, there's maybe half a meter of water, and ... at least a meter, maybe more of organic mush, mud, soft icky stuff. I'm afraid I'll sink in.
Full story
July 2020
Häkläjärven oma uintipaikka, Häkläjärvi, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
There's a nice road going alongside the Velskolan pitkäjärvi (Velskola's long lake). Unfortunately, parking is very difficult to find. Or public swimming spots!
Full story
July 2020
Venepaikka, Velskolan pitkäjärvi, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
After the Munkkiniemi swim I wanted more :-) and went to Seurasaari ("Social Island"). By now it was past 9pm, and there were only a couple of people on the island. No one swimming on the beach. Again, I had not been here before, but what a very nice beach! Much better than the one in Munkkiniemi.
Full story
July 2020
Seurasaaren uimaranta, Seurasaari, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
When my work runs late in the evening (as it often does, due to working with other timezones) that causes a problem for hobbies later in the evening. I'm not super hot on going on a hike in dusk or darkness. Or the mosquitos :-) Fortunately, for my July swimming tours I still have many easily accessible places left.
Full story
July 2020
Munkkiniemen uimaranta, Munkkiniemi, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach,Nature)
Another day, another beach, another blue-green algae warning. I was at the Långvik beach in Kirkkonummi.
Full story
July 2020
Långvikin uimaranta, Långvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
My swim at the Träskbyträsket yielded an unexpected benefit: a boulder cave. A huge piece of rock standing on four other rocks, as if by design.
Full story
July 2020
Träskbyträsketin lohkareluola, Långvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders)
I wanted a swim, but it turned out that recent floods had made the Schliersee lake larger. Much larger.
Full story
August 2020
Schliersee, Germany
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
The whole Tegernsee area was crowded with people. And cars jammed on the roads. But miraculously, out of nowhere appeared first a parking lot, a walking path, and then path through the bushes to a nice beach.
Full story
August 2020
Tegernsee, Germany
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
Another fresh swim in the Hintertux valley, this time on the Weitentalbach, a small river that joins the Tuxbach. It does feel good to shed the sweat and dirt of a ski day in the guaranteed-fresh-water of these rivers.
Full story
August 2020
Weitentalbach, Hintertux, Austria
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-River,Nature)
What do you need after a hard day of skiing on the glacier? A small refreshening, perhaps? I wanted to swim at the waterfall in Hintertux, but it turned out to be both forbidden and not feasible. However, the water from the glaciers falls through the waterfall and then onto the Tuxbach, the river running through the Hintertux valley.
Full story
August 2020
Tuxbach, Hintertux, Austria
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-River,Nature)
Achensee was on my way back from the slopes, on the way to the Berghotel. Why not dip in for a swim?
Full story
August 2020
Achensee, Austria
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
I managed to find a very nice, remote mountain hotel to stay at: Berghotel Sudelfeld. They also had a sauna!
Full story
August 2020
Berghotel Sudelfeld, Bayrischzell, Germany
Sauna
I took my first flight during the pandemic. Nervous.
Full story
August 2020
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying
Another visit to my mom's place! While I was on my way to the airport (yikes!) I wanted to put in one more swim at the Finnish lakes. Or pond rather, the pond at the Tuusula's sport complex in Hyrylä.
Full story
August 2020
Tuusulan urheilukeskuksen lampi, Hyrylä, Tuusula, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
Biking underground, in a cave/mine? Why not when that's available! And in Maastricht it was!
Full story
July 2010
Sibbergroeve, Valkenburg, Netherlands
Biking (Bike-Mountain,Underground); Urban-Exploration (Mines); Caving (Man-Made,Biking,Rock,Rock-Marble)
Second to last day of July, having swam every day so far. But again, not much time for this after all the work and home stuff. I'm late, but I haven't yet been in Hietalahti or Hietsu as it is called. Since it is late and weather is kind of sketchy, I'm guessing there won't be many people. What a treat I got, wonderful sunset/storm clouds. And a nice swim!
Full story
July 2020
Hietaniemen uimaranta, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
I saw my mom today in Hyrylä, and on the way back wanted to drop in for a swim, and visit a swimming place that I remembered from my childhood: Rusutjärvi in Tuusula.
Full story
August 2020
Rusutjärven uimaranta, Tuusula, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
Late, again. Past 9pm, and I'm in the back-areas in Nuuksio, at the Siikajärvi lake beach. Still, while I'm swimming the RC airplane enthusiasts manage to show up to give a flying demonstration :-) Cool.
Full story
August 2020
Siikajärven uimaranta, Siikajärvi, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
Another day, another late start for trying to find somewhere new to swim in. I ended up driving to Lauttasaari, and visit their great beach on the west side. A good swim, there was a few people still on the beach after 9pm, but no crowds.
Full story
July 2020
Lauttasaaren uimaranta, Lauttasaari, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Beach,Water,Waterbody-Sea)
With the new cave map service that we've been building with Ralf, I was able to make more sensible searches for known caves. In the cave map I can select the length of cave, for instance, and look for the bigger ones (albeit all Finnish caves are small). It turned out that there's supposed to be a 50-meter roof cave in Hyypiänmäki, near Klaukkala.
Full story
August 2020
Hyypiänmäen lippaluola, Nurmijärvi, Finland; Hyypiänmäen pieni lippaluolanen 1, Nurmijärvi, Finland; Hyypiänmäen pieni lippaluolanen 2, Nurmijärvi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic)
I needed some freshening-up after my cave explorations in Klaukkala. And headed to the Valkjärvi...Another blue-green algae warning sign! But the water seemed free of at least visible algae. As far I could see... in the darkness. A quick swim and then head home to have a shower to wash off any residues.
Full story
August 2020
Valkjärven Tiiran uimaranta, Klaukkala, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
I wanted to swim somewhere near Berlin. I thought Wukensee would be a nice place, but they were closing... so I drove to Bernsteinsee. They were not closed yet, but they also had way too many people. A little worried about the crowds...
Full story
August 2020
FKK Strand am Bernsteinsee, Marienwerder, Germany
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
Well, it is a turn. And I was desperate.
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2020
Kauniaisten jäähalli, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
If this cave wasn't next to Torhola's great karst cave, it would be remarkable. Now, it is largely ignored.
Full story
February 2016
Torholan luola 2, Lohja, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
Today's swim was at the Träskbyträsket ("lake village lake"). Nice swim. The only thing was ... that the lake is in the middle of nowhere, and as I approached it, it became apparent that is surrounded by a swamp. Getting wet before getting wet in the lake.
Full story
July 2020
Träskbyträsket, Långvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
Tuesday was difficult. The first place that I attempted to swim at in Matinkylä was signposted as having the dangerous blue-green algae in the water. And there was plenty of it, slushing green slime throughout the water. The same in the next spot... and the third. Or, there was a sign, but water actually seemed clear, so I did swim.
Full story
July 2020
Soukanrannan uimaranta, Soukka, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach,Nature)
Ralf and I wanted to dip into the lake after a sweaty hike where we searched for possible new caves. Hiidenvesi was on the way... it looked nice, but I had never really stopped there. We went to the water... and found (eek!) oil barrier snakes drying on land. Maybe swim on other side of the peninsula?
Full story
July 2020
Hiidenveden venepaikka, Lohja, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
One of the most well-known recreation areas in the Helsinki region is Espoo's Luukki. Too well known, perhaps, too many people, crowds. But when I visited Luukki on a grey evening, I found absolutely no one else there. A peaceful, calm lake. Oh, and a parking police checking my own car was properly parked :-) It was.
Full story
July 2020
Luukki, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach); Car
A beach far in the south... of Espoo's Suvisaaristo :-) It is late, it is starting to rain, and there's no one on the beach. Nice.
Full story
July 2020
Svinön uimaranta, Suinonmäki, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
Late is the key. Almost no one at the Vetokannas ex-sandpit, current beach & hangout place.
Full story
July 2020
Vetokannas, Kaivoksela, Vantaa, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sandpit,Beach)
I was looking for a place to swim in Sundberg, Kirkkonummi. My first attempt was to get to the apparent harbour on the west side, near Morbacka. Could it be a Soviet-occupation era harbour? And maybe a swimming would also be possible? This needed investigation.
Full story
July 2020
Sundetin uimaranta, Sundberg, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Sundbergetin satama, Sundberg, Kirkkonummi, Finland**
Swimming* (Outdoor); Urban-Exploration** (Harbours)
Today's swim was at the lake Tampaja, which I had never heard about before. It is a medium-sized lake near Lapinkylä in northern parts of Kirkkonummi. There's a nice public beach, but unfortunately not much space around for a more socially distanced swims.
Full story
July 2020
Tampajan uintipaikka, Tampaja-järvi, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Tampajan rauniosauna, Tampaja-järvi, Kirkkonummi, Finland**
Swimming* (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach,Nature); Urban-Exploration** (Buildings)
Today's swim was at the lake Vitträsk, right across the shore from the famous Hvitträsk villa for the architects Saarinen, Gesellius, and Lindgren. There's a public swimming beach, Luoman uimaranta, but I wanted to stay on my own. There was ample. space and decent way to get to the water on both sides of the official beach.
Full story
July 2020
Vitträskin uintipaikka, Vitträsk-järvi, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature,Beach)
There are a lot of interesting data sources for searching for new caves. There are databases at the national geology research institute [1, 2, 3]. There are reports and books of boulder fields [4,5]. There are websites [6, 7, 8, 9, 10]. Old newspaper keyword searches [11]. And regular maps [12]. But in addition, there are also names of places. Ralf had found the names Luolaniittu (cave field, on a small hill) and Luolassuo (cave swamp, an actual swamp) in Paimio. I have to say we felt pretty silly standing in the swamp with all our caving gear.
Full story
July 2020
Kukonharjanmäen kivenalusluolanen 1, Kukonharjanmäki, Paimio, Finland; Kukonharjanmäen kivenalusluolanen 2, Kukonharjanmäki, Paimio, Finland; Kukonharjanmäen kivenalusluolanen 3, Kukonharjanmäki, Paimio, Finland; Kukonharjanmäen lippaluolanen, Kukonharjanmäki, Paimio, Finland; Kukonharjanmäen kallionalusluolanen, Kukonharjanmäki, Paimio, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying,Researching)
This is the furthest the Volvo has been in two years, 220 km away. There and back, and even on one 40L tank of gas. Apparently, I had only half a liter left in the tank when I got home...
Full story
July 2020
Arkko summer cottage, Teisko, Finland
Car
Aunessilta is a classic rock arch bridge in Kämmenniemi, Teisko. It is perhaps the most beautiful bridge in Finland. At least in my opinion! So why not swim under it, on a hot summer day?
Full story
July 2020
Aunessilta, Kämmenniemi, Teisko, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Waterbody-River,Water,Nature)
Swimming on your own beach... on a hot summer day, having taken a couple of days off... with your youngest with you... bliss!
Full story
July 2020
Arkko summer cottage, Teisko, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
The Volvo needs fixing again. Not a surprise. But it is a surprise that I was able to fix it. Such a great skill, great tools, beautiful result. Painter's tape to hold it in place.
Full story
July 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
The Bodom lake is a wonderful lake with sandy beaches in northern Espoo. It is also the scene of a gruesome murder in 1960, a murder that goes unsolved until today. The site of the murder is one of the most beautiful swimming spots. But obviously a sober spot as well.
Full story
July 2020
Murhaniemi, Bodom-järvi, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
After-caving swim is very useful, to get rid of that mud and moldy basement smell. And replace it with the scent of freshly sprayed muddy forest pond. Nice!
Full story
July 2020
Tuohilampi, Vihti, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
It felt VERY good. To dive in clear water, on a sandpit lake. To wash the sweat of the day's hike away.
Full story
July 2020
Hiekkahelmi, Paimio, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sandpit,Nature,Beach)
After the failure in Matalajärvi, I looked for another place. The nearest one that I had not been to was Vuohilampi, also in Espoo and Nuuksio. After a short hike from the road I found a nice little lake, and no houses on my side of the lake. Nice!
Full story
July 2020
Vuohilampi, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
Fail. And fail again. My first choice of a lake turned out to be the water intake for Espoo. Maybe not swim there, in case someone doubts how well I wash my swimming pants :-)
Full story
July 2020
Salakoski, Sahajärvi, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature,Waterbody-River)
While walking to Vuohilampi for a swim (and eating blueberries), I found a small cave in the woods.
Full story
July 2020
Vuohilammen luolanen, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
An attempt to swim in Matalajärvi... ended in a failure. I decided the slimy, still water and the extremely muddy bottom was not for me.
Full story
July 2020
Matalajärvi, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (None)
Saturday's swim was in Saunalahti. At an official beach -- but since it was raining heavily, I figured there'd be no one else. I was right, except as I was leaving two groups of kids showed up, as the rain had ended.
Full story
July 2020
Kallvikin uimaranta, Saunalahti, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
Today I went to Hepolampi for a swim. It is a medium sized forest pond, with clear but dark waters, soft bottom, and warm, quiet waters in the middle of nature. And -- guaranteed -- no one else around. There are 2-3 houses, but even they are well hidden and appeared empty.
Full story
July 2020
Hepolampi, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
Tomorrow I'm going for a caver's association meeting in Rokokallio, Vihti. I've been there before. Actually several times, and I have an unfinished mapping project to complete...
Full story
July 2020
Pääluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Sivuluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Päällysluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Nuotiopaikan luola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Nimetön luola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Kivenalusluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Syvä halkeamaluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Toinen nuotiopaikan luola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Kallionalusluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Kysymysmerkkiluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Kahden kolon luola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland; Lippaluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
Time for a swim in the sea?
Full story
July 2020
Karhusaarenranta, Karhusaari, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
One more swim! This time I headed to a place that I've always dreamed about but never visited for some reason. Finnträsk is in Sarfvik, just along my bike or car route to work.
Full story
July 2020
Finnträsk, Sarfvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
Tuesday's swim was at the Nupuri lake. There's no official swim spot, and I thought I'd not find a place to get to the water, given all the water plants on the shores. But then there was an opening, a small rowing boat harbour...
Full story
July 2020
Venepaikka, Nupurinjärvi, Nupuri, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)
Lippajärvi has a nice sandy beach swimming place. But I wanted something more private, and with less people. After some map browsing, I discovered that there's a short walking path behind the memory illness hospital. Maybe there's something there? A forgotten beach?
Full story
July 2020
Lippajärven salainen laituri, Lippajärvi, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
It is cold today and raining heavily. But I made a plan to go out for a swim every day.
Full story
July 2020
Gallträsk, Kauniainen, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
Another swim! In heavy rain, but hey, not too bad. The water is warm. In Myllyjärvi, north of lake Bodom and south of lake Sorvalampi.
Full story
July 2020
Myllyjärven luonnonranta, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland*; Myllyjärven uimaranta, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland**
Swimming* (Outdoor); Hiking**
On my way to swimming in Myllyjärvi, I noticed a bouldering cliff, with an overhang. Quite a spectacular roof cave, maybe 35 meters long and 4-5 meters deep.
Full story
July 2020
Myllyjärven lippaluola, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic)
Another evening, another swim. Trying to find a crowds-free and virus free swimming places in the hot Finnish summer :-)
Full story
July 2020
Kattilajärven luonnonranta, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland*; Kattilajärven uimaranta, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland**
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Nature)*; Hiking**
The day was nice, very sunny. I worked hard... and wanted a swim on a remote, uncrowded lake or pond in the evening. Of course, by the time I left home in the evening it was already dark and raining :-)
Full story
July 2020
Sorvalampi rocks, Sorvalampi, Espoo, Finland*; Sorvalampi beach, Sorvalampi, Espoo, Finland**
Swimming* (Outdoor); Hiking**
The new Grottan magazine came in mail. Grottan is the magazine for Sweden's Caver's Association, published I think four times a year.
Full story
July 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Media)
Parking practice between tightly parked cardboard boxes. Front, back, parallel. Oh and the Volvo has been running nicely for ALMOST THREE DAYS by now.
Full story
June 2020
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing
I was a bit busy among picking up groceries, work in the yard, and fetching some medicines for the kids that I almost had no time to celebrate midsummer on the eve. But, I did get a chance to put in a very nice swim!
Full story
June 2020
Jupperinranta, Kuninkainen, Espoo, Finland*; House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland**
Swimming* (Outdoor); Sauna**
Whoa, the repair guys at Latokaske's Tiikeritarha really pulled a miracle this time. The cost was only 190€, despite estimate of 700€ and a mid-way statement that "they've run into issues". I was expecting at least a 1000€....
Full story
June 2020
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
I'm told that the Volvo works. Now dreading to go inside to learn about the bill. Any guesses?
Full story
June 2020
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
This isn't a busy place. In fact, on my first visit I didn't see a single person on my way in through one terminal and half-way on the walkway to the other one where I needed to pick up a rental car.
Full story
June 2020
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying; Travel
As I was driving back from Ylläs, I came across an odd sign about Pakasaivo, which translates roughly to "Frozen Brain". What was it? I had to stop and look it up. Soon I was driving the tiny 11-kilometer road to go see it.
Full story
June 2020
Pakasaivon pieni kivenkolo, Pakasaivo, Muonio, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic); Hiking
After the clutch broke, I felt the situation is critical.
Full story
June 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car; Biking (Outdoor,Bike-Road,Track-Road,Track-City,Equipment)
Oops, fluids have left the clutch.
Full story
June 2020
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Car
Volvo is helping the next generation to drive. Or at least get used to gears, clutch and the works before entering the real driving school. First parking by the soon 18yo: car could be more center perhaps but no walls were hit. Success :-)
Full story
June 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
My earlier post was about data sources for finding new caves. I've now been reading the Suomen Lohkareet (the book of boulders in Finland) book, and it is great.
Full story
June 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Research)
Onkalonperä means "the backside of a hole". Fortunately, not "hole in the backside"! I saw this as I was driving towards Ylläs. I don't know anything about it, but are there are any holes or caves in that village? Maybe worth investigating...
Full story
June 2020
Onkalonperän risteys, Simo, Finland
Caving (None)
I decided to do my own Ylläs 24 event, to replace the one cancelled in April. It is already June, not a lot of snow remains. But some, and what a wonderful sunshine for the entire 24 hours - midnight sun was shining, as Ylläs is far above the arctic circle.
Full story
(TGR version)
June 2020
Ylläs, Finland
Skiing
Haavikkolehto - a protected site with many boulders left by the ice age - is also very interesting from caving perspective. Likely not everything here has been found. But the most spectacular cave is known from this Retkipaikka article.
Full story
May 2020
Haavikkolehdon karhukiven luola, Suonenjoki, Finland; Haavikkolehdon karhukiven luolan sivulohkareluola, Suonenjoki, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying)
I'm looking for caves... not for bears. But heard some growling and saw some big piles of sh*t, so decided to do a roundabout tour to return to the car.
Full story
May 2020
Ryömittävä lippaluola, Mustikkamäki, Nilsiä, Finland*; Kololuolanen, Mustikkamäki, Nilsiä, Finland*; Korkea lippaluola, Mustikkamäki, Nilsiä, Finland*; Pieni kulmalippaluolanen, Mustikkamäki, Nilsiä, Finland**; Pieni lippaluolanen 1, Mustikkamäki, Nilsiä, Finland**; Pieni lippaluolanen 2, Mustikkamäki, Nilsiä, Finland**
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic); Hiking**
Wow. Three closed ski areas on one day. 500 kilometers of driving, though, on this avoid-contact-with-others trip.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Himos, Jämsä, Finland; Kasurila, Siilinjärvi, Finland; Tahko, Finland
Skiing
What a wonderful experience, hiking up the 200 meters high ski hill in deserted Tahko, in sunshine. And taking a sunset ski run back to the lake, almost all of it on still preserved snow.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Tahko, Finland*; Tahkolahden ranta, Tahko, Finland**
Skiing*; Swimming** (Outdoor)
Yay, a delivery! I got the third book in the series of cave, canyon, and boulder books from Tuomo Kesäläinen and Aimo Kejonen! Very excited to read this as well!
Full story
June 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Media,Research)
Röylä. A place with an ugly name and no one with interest to visit there? Not so. The forests are quite big, and full of cliffs, and indeed, no one goes there so one gets to hike alone :-)
Full story
May 2020
Röylän halkeamaluolanen, Röylä, Espoo, Finland**; Röylän lippakolonen, Röylä, Espoo, Finland*; Röylän siirtolohkareluolanen, Röylä, Espoo, Finland***
Hiking*; Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying); Caving*** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying)
I go hiking on a different spot on most days, as my evening exercise. This time in Kaupunginkallio, Espoo.
Full story
May 2020
Kaupunginkallion halkeamakolo, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
Skiing in the summer takes waxing skill. But, this time I think I managed it.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing
Tiny cavelets on my evening walk again.
Full story
May 2020
Högabergetin siirtolohkare, Espoo, Finland*; Högabergetin lohkareluolanen, Espoo, Finland**; Högabergetin kalliolippaluolanen, Espoo, Finland***
Hiking*; Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic); Caving*** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic)
The Volvo is running fine, although not very much, drive only a bit every second day or say. And today I've started hearing some odd noise... and now I'm a bit worried.
Full story
May 2020
Högabergetin siirtolohkare, Espoo, Finland
Car
During the quarantine, I've taken up trying to hike almost every day. It turns out that I can go within just a few kilometers from home and still end up in areas that I've not been to before. The forests not marketed as the hottest hiking areas, etc. And almost every time, there are some tiny rock holes that one could call "cavelets".
Full story
May 2020
Gåskärrin lohkareluola, Gåskär, Espoo, Finland*; Gåskärrin lippaluolanen, Gåskär, Espoo, Finland**
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic)
I was sure that the season is over. Then... it started snowing.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Now THIS is really the last snow. Two meter long snow patch left... it will be gone by tomorrow. Skied the slope, nevertheless :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Snow,Grass)
Tero and I went to Vihti to see if we could still ski it. Vihti is the best, much snow left! A few parts not covered in snow, but one can ski through them!
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing (Snow,Grass)
Today's exercise was an excursion to Kattilajärvi, which was reported to have interesting cliffs. There were a couple of small caves and two interesting roof caves.
Full story
May 2020
Kattilajärven iso lippaluola, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Kattilajärven kallion lippaluola, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Kattilajärven kalliokolo, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Kattilajärven pieni lippaluola 1, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Kattilajärven pieni lippaluola 2, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Kattilajärven pieni lippaluola 3, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic)
Research pays off! I wanted to explore more boulder caves, but where to find boulders? I kept looking for data, and it turns out the geologic research institute had made a listing of the most valuable boulder fields in Finland. One of them was nearby, in Nuuksio, so I headed out to investigate on Sunday. No caves had been listed at that spot, but the report already made some promises about cave-like holes between the rocks. And a 50 meters wide and 10 meters deep field! I was hooked. Although it turned out the location was listed after all in the book of cave in Finland (albeit with a different name).
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Katajasuon kivikon pääluola, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Katajasuon kivikon luola 1, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Katajasuon kivikon luola 2, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Katajasuon kivikon sivuluola 1, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland; Katajasuon kivikon sivuluola 2, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying)
Niko Nordström's art appears throughout the forests of Kauniainen. This chainsawed tree stump seems appropriate for today.
Full story
May 2020
Star Wars veistos, Kauniainen, Finland
Other
For May 1st, I also wanted to see if I could add Kauniainen to the map with regards to having mapped caves.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Kauniaisten koululuola 1, Kauniainen, Finland*; Kauniaisten koululuola 2, Kauniainen, Finland**; Siirtolohkareluola 1, Kauniainen, Finland*
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
Wappu. There's still plenty of snow for a ski run in Vihti.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing
One headlight is always on. Even when the car is parked. The other is always off, even when driving. Sigh.
Full story
May 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
Still in quarantine! So, I'm hiking in a forgotten forest in Kirkkonummi. And found two caves that aren't listed in any of the cave books. One roof cave, visited by climbers for the overhang. But the other one I liked a lot. It is small, but much cave-like, dark, and with a very tight entrance :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Goddarsbölebergenin lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Goddarsbölebergenin luola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Goddarsbölebergenin kolmiokolo, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Goddarsbölebergenin pieni lippaluolan kaltainen kalliojyrkänne 1, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Goddarsbölebergenin pieni lippaluolan kaltainen kalliojyrkänne 2, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
Downgrade your skis, and your ski season will become longer!
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
It is the end of days. A meltdown, of the snow on the local ski hill.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Now THAT may have been the last run of the season.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Jukka performed a search on cave references from the database of the Finnish National Board of Antiquities during our recent virtual meet-up. He came up with a reference to a potentia cave in Espoo that none of us had heard about. Yesterday I went to look for it...
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Johannesbergetin halkeamalaluola, Espoo, Finland*; Johannesbergetin lippaluola 1, Espoo, Finland**; Johannesbergetin lippaluola 2, Espoo, Finland**; Johannesbergetin siirtolohkareen alusluola 1, Espoo, Finland***
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic); Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic); Caving*** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
One more skiing run? Why not. Also, I have not been to Swinghill in Nuuksio yet this winter. So Tero and I decided to go see if we could ski it. While staying far enough apart to not infect each other :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Swinghill, Espoo, Finland
Skiing
No, it is not a rat. It is a Swedish caver's magazine. Grottan is cave in Swedish.
Full story
April 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Media)
Another caver's club virtual meeting! Nice! Since the others played around with nice picture backgrounds, I decided to have a background of my own: in a cave in Korkberget, Kirkkonummi.
Full story
April 2020
Korkbergetin lohkareluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Pieni lippaluola 1 pohjoiskärjessä, Korkberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Pieni lippaluola 2 pohjoiskärjessä, Korkberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Social)
My best caving light broke down last week on a nightly skiing excursion. I measured it and determined that the likely culprit was broken battery. Today the mail delivered a spare battery, and I installed and voilá, the light works again! Happy about not having to look for a new light.
Full story
April 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (Equipment)
The official statistics are in: in southern Finland, the thermal winter lasted only five days. But, I should note that first of May and the Midsummer are still ahead of us.
Full story
April 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
I did *not* have anything to do with this. Really.
Full story
April 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
It's a snow day! We can stay home! ... Oh... wait
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
It still wasn't the last run of the season! Vihti rules!
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing
As I visiting Vihti anyway, I also wanted to see something abandoned, something not likely to have other people. I found an abandoned railway car in the middle of the forest.
Full story
April 2020
Hylätty junanvaunu, Vihti, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Vehicles)
Time-division multiplexing; reserving a time slot for different entities. A telecommunications concept that can also be useful for skiing in the virus-infested world. With too many people going about during the day, I wanted to isolate myself by going to the ski hill at 1am. It was great, but I also had some equipment breakage.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
I wanted to go skiing with my friend Jarmo. But, the dangers of infecting others... Fortunately, we found a solution: skiing at the same time on two separate slopes.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing
For the last three years, the highlight of my caving year has been the fun, warm, and social camping week at the Lummelunda cave in Gotland. Sadly, I just received a cancellation for the flights to Gotland, due to the virus. I think this year's caving week is therefore cancelled.
Full story
April 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
Today's good news is that my insurance company paid the expensive medicine I've started taking this year, costing around 6000€ per year. Usually in Finland the medical costs are negligible but this drug is not yet on the list, yet it is at least slightly better. Timely positive news, given all the economic worries in the world plus my house loan and the teenager's costs :-) Now if I could only find an insurance company to cover for the unexpected maintenance costs from the Volvo ... :-)
Full story
April 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
Today I woke up and saw that it was sunny... warm, almost 10 degrees even at 9am. A busy day ahead, but I thought I'd go for a brief ski run while taking the first conference call.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
100 years ago, Frans Stockmann (Nov 1920) and his wife (Apr 1919) died in Spanish Flu. Their house project in Kauniainen was left unfinished, and remains as ruins in the forest. Today, in April 2020, lack of sales due to the Coronavirus, the famous Stockmann department store has applied for protection from its creditors ("yrityssaneeraus" in Finnish, roughly equivalent to Chapter 11 in US).
Full story
April 2020
Stockmannin rauniot, Kauniainen, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Buildings,Ruins)
Bunker... in Jorvas. With a ladder leading down a tight concrete shaft. How could I resist?
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Sähköaseman bunkkeri, Masala, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
I realised last week that I need exercise, and sunshine. Today's exercise was to go caving in Kirkkonummi. But I didn't want to visit places that other people would likely be in. So I took the approach of visiting forest areas where there have been NO caves listed.
Full story
April 2020
Masalan siirtolohkareen luolanen, Masala, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Nägelsin siirtolohkareen luolanen, Hirsala, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Nägelsin lippaluolanen 1, Hirsala, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Nägelsin lippaluolanen 2, Hirsala, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Nägelsin halkeamaluolanen, Hirsala, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic)
What a wonderful experience - forced to not not have in-person meetings, all kinds of organizations are realising that their meetings *can* be done over network connections, and that the results are often better. We just had a caver's meet-up in Finland, and we chatted longer -- six hours -- than we ever have and had many more people participate than before.
Full story
April 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Social)
Another day, another conference call, another ski run
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
I don't often quarantine myself, but when I do, I do it next to a ski slope.
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
The last run of the season, under an increasingly tight lockdown. No police barricades were bypassed when making this video, though. And no people approached closer than the 100 meter social distancing limit.
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
The Keflavik airport in Iceland had a very beautiful roof.
Full story
March 2019
Keflavik airport, Keflavik, Iceland
Flying
Back in the pre-Covid world, I had order cheap Black Friday for a quick stop in Israel, to collect yet another country for skiing. Yes, you can ski in Israel, at Mount Hermon on the border towards Syria and Lebanon. The trip turned out to be apocalyptic both because of the virus and impending world shutdown, but also because of skiing on an area that was just recently a war zone, and near the borders. Got told by the solders multiple times to not continue further.
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2020
Mount Hermon, Israel
Skiing
An hour and half from Sofia lies the Prohodna Cave. This is a massive and easy-to-visit cave for everyone, including busloads of tourists. And who wouldn't want to look at the Eyes of God?
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2019
Prohodna Cave, Karlukovo, Bulgaria; Prohodna Cave side caves 1, Karlukovo, Bulgaria; Prohodna Cave side caves 2, Karlukovo, Bulgaria; Prohodna Cave side caves 3, Karlukovo, Bulgaria; Prohodna Cave side caves 4, Karlukovo, Bulgaria
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
Massive cities carved inside rock towers. Luxury hotels carved inside cliffs. Sometimes a bad weather closure day can lead to interesting other things. I'm glad we got to visit Cappadocia, Turkey.
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2020
Göreme Open Air Museum, Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey
Caving (Rock,Man-Made)
Check-up formally cleared! Now I can drive a year with this thing, nothing more can break!
Full story
March 2020
Herttoniemen Autokatsastus, Espoo, Finland
Car
What a shitty bunker! Literally.
Full story
February 2020
Abandoned bunker, Mount Hermon, Israel
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
It really was the last trip... for a while.
Full story
March 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Travel
One particularly interesting thing about Mount Hermon were the military installations. Many of them. in active use, but also many that had been abandoned or that lay in ruins.
Full story
February 2020
Abandoned watchtower, Mount Hermon, Israel
Urban-Exploration (Towers,Military); Skiing
Having been delayed, rerouted, and cancelled umpteen times, we spent a short night sleeping on the benches of the new Istanbul airport. But our eventual flight turned out to be in the next evening, so we asked for a hotel room for the day.
Full story
February 2020
Novotel Istanbul Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
Sauna
My main requirement for our hotel in Kayseri was that it should have a sauna... which is fortunately quite likely in Turkey.
Full story
February 2020
Holiday Inn, Kayseri, Turkey
Sauna
As we returned from the skiing in Israel, I wanted to stop at a cave in Israel. Most of the show caves are closed in the winter, but there should be enough natural caves to visit, right? Not so... we failed to enter the ones we found for various reasons.
Full story
February 2020
Пещера, Tiberias, Israel
Caving (None)
I have now put up all my Finnish cave maps at the Planetcaver site. There's maps for 34 different caves, almost all of which are in the Kirkkonummi area. A few maps are in the works.
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
Despite one diversion, one unplanned return to origin, one cancellation, and one delay, our ski bags arrived in Kayseri. What a miracle in the airline system!
Full story
February 2020
Kayseri Airport, Kayseri, Turkey
Travel; Flying
While coming back from the grocery store, I swing by the local ski hill in Kauniainen. To my amazement, they were up and running, with a bit more than half of the slope covered by snow.
Full story
March 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Somewhere behind the wheel are the new working, unrusted brakes and suspension. Estimate was 300€, actual bill 1300€. Apparently many hours of work to remove the old junk.
Full story
March 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
My Volvo went to the shop today to fix the repairs that were ordered. Wish me and my wallet luck.
Full story
March 2020
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
Ha! Skibag returned home. It got left behind last Wednesday evening as we were leaving for Israel, due to a baggage handler strike in Helsinki.
Full story
March 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
This is how great my fix to the bulbs was. Came off while driving. Twice. #greatmechanic
Full story
February 2020
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Car
It blinks again! Only had to change the 29-year old detoriating relay. And take apart half car to get to that relay :-) #volvo
Full story
February 2020
Motonet, Espoo, Finland
Car
Funnily enough, our hotel was called Alaska Inn -- even if it was in Israel.
Full story
February 2020
Alaska Inn, Metula, Israel
Sauna (Infrared)
I celebrated the great checkup result by investing in new car... smell. Technically, the result was "failed" but I'll note that 1) I can drive the car still for a month and 2) the necessary repairs are not in the hull but in some insignificant parts like breaks, tires, and suspension.
Full story
February 2020
Herttoniemen Autokatsastus, Espoo, Finland
Car
Important maintenance before yearly checkup in 10 minutes. Wish me luck, I *do* need it this time.
Full story
February 2020
Shell Suomenoja, Espoo, Finland
Car
Is this the ski mask fashion 2020?
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2020
Mount Hermon, Israel
Skiing
While skiing on the rainy Titlis, I saw a crack cave by the slopes, and also visited an ice cave for tourists.
Full story
February 2020
Titlis ice cave, Engelberg, Switzerland
Caving (Glacier,Basic,Showtour)
When an opportunity opens up, one has to take it, even if the weather is -- as the Engelberg tourist office said -- "very bad". I had a couple of friends joining the trip, originally, but they all bailed out citing "heavy rain" and "100 km/h winds" as reasons. But, I had a nice ski day.
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2020
Engelberg, Switzerland
Skiing
It seems insane to stay at airport hotels, but this time it worked well for me. Convenient for the early morning departure, free train ticket to my meeting site, and, most importantly, a nice sauna department!
Full story
February 2020
Hilton Zurich Airport, Kloten, Switzerland
Sauna
I got a parking ticket today on my work trip in Stockholm. Grr...
Full story
January 2020
Kista, Stockholm, Sweden
Car
I always book different hotels on my trips to Sweden, to try out different areas for fun, but also to test drive different saunas. This time I booked the Ariston Hotell in Lidingö, a nice island community near Stockholm. With ski a ski hill... no snow during this bad winter though.
Full story
January 2020
Ariston Hotell, Lidingö, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
Kopaonik is the premier ski resort in Serbia. And I got the premier weather arriving there, in heavy snowfall.
Full story
(TGR version)
December 2019
Kopaonik Ski Area, Kopaonik, Serbia
Skiing
While in Serbia I stayed at the Dvori apartments, about 10 kilometres from the ski slopes. They had a quite nice spa area, with a jacuzzi and four saunas. Very relaxing!
Full story
December 2019
Dvori Apartments, Kopaonik, Serbia
Sauna (Normal,Steam,Infrared); Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
It feels like I'm destined to find closed caves during the winter period. This time I wanted to visit the Vela Spila cave, an archaeologic cave site near Vela Luka, on the island of Korčula in the Croatian archipelago. But, it was closed. Figures.
Full story
January 2020
Vela Spila, Vela Luka, Korcula, Croatia
Caving (Rock,Basic)
Google maps promised that it would be open. And it took hours for me to get there. But, no, in the winter season there's no one at the Vrnjača špiljar or the Vranjaca cave, and the gates are closed. What a disappointment!
Full story
January 2020
Vrnjača špilja, Kotlenice, Croatia
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
Kettils Grotta (Kettil's cave) near the Rosersbergs Castle for an evening hike in the darkness and rain.
Full story
January 2020
Kettils Grotta, Rosersbergs Slott, Stockholm, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
Remember how I broke my Volvo keys last week? This week, obviously, I lost the remaining key...
Full story
January 2020
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Car
Another Volvo story, now from the 2020s...
Full story
January 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
During the Ylläs 24h race in 2019, around 2am I was heading down the Worldcup run at, I guess, at a bit over hundred kilometres an hour. And then something happened. I lost my skis, I tumbled, and hit myself to the icy slope pretty hard.
Full story
April 2019
Ylläs, Finland
Skiing; Sauna
I was skiing in Kopaonik, Serbia, to collect yet another country that I've skied in :-) but on the way back I made a HUGE mistake.
Full story
December 2019
Serbia-Kosovo border, Kopaonik, Serbia
Skiing
While skiing off the Gamsleiten 2 ski lift in Obertauern, we spotted a potential small cave. It was outside the pistes on a steep slope, but I skied to investigate. And found what would in Finland be classified as a cave: 2-3 meter long roof cave on a cliff. But not in Austria...
Full story
January 2020
Small cave, Obertauern, Austria
Skiing; Caving (Rock,Basic)
At the Vienna museum of military history (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum ), we saw a funny "kugelbunker", a concrete boulder for one person shelter from the world war times.
Full story
January 2020
Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna, Austria
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
Our quick start for year 2020 involved skiing in the Austrian alps, about an hour south of Salzburg. We found a nice, affordable hotel, LUFA in St. Michael im Lungau. While being affordable at only a bit more than 100€ per night, it had nice sauna facilities.
Full story
January 2020
JUFA Hotel Lungau, St. Michael im Lungau, Lungau, Austria
Sauna (Normal,Steam,Infrared)
I was in Vienna already in 2018, but for 2020 Janne and I toured the Vienna museums befor e heading to the ski resorts in Austrian alps. This allowed a new visit to Haus des Meeres, the refurbished bunker-turned-into-and-aquarium, and visits to three other bunkers.
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2020
Haus des Meeres, Esterhazypark, Vienna, Austria; Flakturm Stiftskaserne, Vienna, Austria; Feuerleit Flakturm Arenbergpark, Vienna, Austria; Flakturm Arenbergpark, Vienna, Austria
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Military); Caving (Man-Made)
I don't go caving often, but when I do, I want to do it indoors in a dry, clean environment that is safe for everyone. I have to say that I did not expect much from the caving adventure park at the Tampere shopping mall, but I was blown away by how good this place was. Much recommended!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2019
Irti Maasta, Tullintori, Tampere, Finland
Caving (Man-Made,Social); Swimming (Indoor,Balls)
We have a new Finnish cave squeezing record! At the "little xmas party" of the caving association, Jukka Palm and Mike Kushy both pushed through the squeeze box at just 166 millimeters. And I can't even get my fat head fit inside that distance, let alone other body parts! :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2019
Kangasala, Finland
Caving (None,Man-Made)
This seemed like a good time of the year to go explore the start of Nobel industries in Vinterviken. Bunkers, tunnels, testing grounds, and simple factory buildings.
Full story
December 2019
Nobel blasting tunnels, Vinterviken, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels,Historic); Caving (Man-Made)
Today I managed to acquire a copy of Jimmy Petterson's "Skiing Around the World" book, volume II: "Collecting Ski Resorts". Can't wait to read this. Jimmy is the world's most widely travelled skier.
Full story
December 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
I've been trying to do this for almost six years. Obviously, it is not easy to find skiing in Singapore. I've been forbidden to ski when there was snow, arrived right after a skiing place had bankrupted, found alternative skiing on off-limits sand, and hidden in despair in caves and abandoned bunkers. But Sport Quest to the rescue! Today I finally managed to ski in Singapore with the help of Sport Quest's indoor facilities at the Snow City. Snow, ice, cold, and on skis. Wonderful!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2019
Snow City, Singapore, Singapore
Skiing (Indoor)
I was on a business trip in Singapore, and stayed a few days at the Conrad Centennial hotel, before the prices got higher than in the conference hotel. And first things first, even if I was tired from the trip, I went straight to the pool on the first night.
Full story
November 2019
Conrad Centennial, Singapore, Singapore
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Every time I fly out from the non-Schengen side of the Helsinki-Vantaa airport, I visit the new Finnair lounge sauna. Dark, hot bliss!
Full story
November 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Sauna
On the following week, I managed to score a luxury accommodation, a hotel room with a window!
Full story
November 2019
The Studio Hotel, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
Connect Hotel: In my quest to try all the saunas in different hotels in Sweden (or Kista, at least) I booked this hotel for a very special price... only for me. Cheap, but the room didn't come with a window. That was fine, it was a hack-documents-until-2am day anyway.
Full story
October 2019
Connect Hotel, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
I visited yet another free mountain sports related evening of talks at Helsinki's Partioaitta. This a great program for interesting talks, much recommend.
Full story
November 2019
Partioaitta, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing
Sigh, lights on the Volvo need to be checked *every* time I park the car.
Full story
October 2019
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Car
Because the bunker was close to the Sentosa island, we decided to stop in Sentosa for a quick dip into the sea. By now I was running out of time to get to the airport for my flights home, so I just stood in the sea for a bit, rather than change clothes and actually swim.
Full story
November 2019
Siloso beach, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
Once my meeting ended, I wanted to use the couple of hours I had for exploration, and got Tero to join me. I've already covered the Singapore caves and skiing... what remained was bunkers!
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2019
Seah Im Bunker, Keppel Hill, Singapore, Singapore
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Before the Red Cross camp opened for the caving conference, I had to stay one night somewhere, and have a place for some work conference calls. I ended up selecting the Tsarsko Selo Spa hotel. An interesting place, with many saunas and pools :-)
Full story
September 2019
Tsarsko Selo Spa hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria
Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal,Steam)
I stayed one night at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, on a work trip. They had a pool... and a jacuzzi. Not bad.
Full story
October 2019
Hilton Santa Cruz Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
I felt the urge to visit odd places, and an old Nike missile base seemed to fit the bill. But, I was quickly losing light on the only day that I could do this. Then the shortcut turned out to be non-passable, and the short hike turned into a 8-kilometre trek on steep hills. In darkness. And, somebody had removed the ruins. Trip ruined? Not quite, the moon and the sea were wonderful in the darkness.
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2019
Nike missile site SF-51, San Francisco, California, USA
Urban-Exploration (Ruins,Military)
Today's busses are #350 and then #380.
Full story
October 2019
Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom
Travel; Flying
... of this starter motor. Hopefully fixed by tomorrow.
Full story
October 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
I got an advertisement today from Verkkokauppa.com, a Finnish electronics store. The advertisement goes "everything for any cave" (or "kaikkea löytyy luolaan kuin luolaan" in Finnish). I think they meant to man caves etc, but I immediately headed to the shop to see if there was caving equipment to be bought :-)
Full story
October 2019
Verkkokauppa.com, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Equipment)
This evening I'm at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in Helsinki. The movies are about skiing, mountain biking, surfing, and caving. Looking forward to the film's, they've always been powerful stories.
Full story
October 2019
Savoy Theater, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (None); Caving (None)
I went to a marketing show of the Canadian Heli-ski operator, the legendary CMH, as they were visiting Helsinki.
Full story
October 2019
Amer Sports, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing
If you go deep into a cave, you may encounter monsters! Or at least, white stalactite dental work :-)
Full story
September 2019
Duhlata Cave, Sofia, Bulgaria
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
The base is not easy to find; there's a lot of tours on sale to visit the military wonders of Vis, but little actual information. I discovered the location of the base by looking at Google Maps satellite photos, but the Secret Croatia blog also helped...
Full story
August 2019
Vis missile base, Vis, Croatia
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Jukka and I wanted to continue our photography experiments further up in the Lummelunda cave. The most interesting stalactites are in the Snow White Hall (Snövitsalen), beyond the half-way point in the cave. This turned out to be a very long trip, however, and one where we run out of all of our lights...
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2019
Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Boating,Swimming); Swimming (Indoor,Water,Underground,Waterbody-Cave)
My vacation started after midsummer. And the first thing one does on a vacation is to go on a beach, of course. Underground.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2019
Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Boating,Swimming); Swimming (Indoor,Water,Underground,Waterbody-Cave)
In the summer I hiked around the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. It has some well known caves (more of them in another blog article) but I also run into a small cave on the path to the biggest, 78-meter waterfall, Veliki Slap.
Full story
(TGR version)
August 2019
Veliki Slap cave, Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
Such a nice beach... also, a red tourist submarine!
Full story
August 2019
Primošten, Croatia
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
Another swim at the Kekkola Manor (Kekkolan kartano). This time in the morning. Refreshing!
Full story
September 2019
Kekkolan Kartano, Mikkeli, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
This is how to serve champagne in Palju (a hot outdoor tub heated by wood fire): floating.
Full story
September 2019
Kekkolan Kartano, Mikkeli, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
Volvo says hi from the airport parking lot at 6am. It was already parked and off, but I had to return inside to pull the circuit breakers, to turn off lights and MCAS.
Full story
September 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Car
Before heading back home, we stopped at the little Siófoki to view lake Balaton. Siófoki has a nice old water tower for the views. And the best party beach is also in Siófoki, the Siófoki Nagystrand!
Full story
August 2019
Siófoki Nagystrand, Siófok, Lake Balaton, Hungary
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
The taxi drivers are a great information source. This time I asked about a hole in a cliff face, and got all the information I needed to visit it later. And it should be a safe place to go to...
Full story
(TGR version)
August 2019
Mali Hum Tunnels, Vis, Croatia
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Tunnels,Bunkers)
Tito was hiding out on the Vis island during WW2, reportedly on small mountaintop caves. Steps lead to the caves today from the Mount Hum road, and they can be easily visited.
Full story
August 2019
Tito's Cave, Vis, Croatia; Tito's Headquarters Cave, Vis, Croatia
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Erosion,Man-Made)
The Volvo... keeps having issue starting. Here's what a typical good start sounds like:
Full story
September 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
Returning back from Budapest, Janne and I found a small but remarkable aviation museum next to the Ferenc Liszt airport. A different museum, at least from our point because it featured more of the eastern aircraft than the western ones we've seen more often. Iljushin, Tupolev, Yak, etc.
Full story
August 2019
Budapest Aero Park, Budapest, Hungary
Flying; Travel
Having researched the locations of the Russian bunkers in Porkkala for years, I was surprised to learn the location of another bunker from Dutch tourists on their first day of visiting Finland. They pointed us to a small bunker few hundred meters from the large one we had visited earlier, based on their geocaching explorations.
Full story
August 2019
Siuntion täytetty pikkubunkkeri, Siuntio, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
It is always nice to dip in to sea for a swim. Even if you're visiting an abandoned underground submarine base.
Full story
(TGR version)
August 2019
Ex. Yugoslavian military shelter for submarines, Rogačić, Vis, Croatia
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels,Bunkers,Harbours); Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Underground,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Waterbody-Other)
Korkberget is probably Finland's largest cave, with 300+ meters of tight tunnels underneath massive boulders. But, there's also a cliff... and if you climb half-way up the cliff, you will find an amazing crack that leads underground.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2019
Korkbergetin halkeamaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic); Climbing (Rock)
A sign for a cave? Intrigued. It turns out that it leads to the "Cave Bar More", one of the bar's listed in Business Insider's 50 incredible bars you should drink at in your lifetime list.
Full story
August 2019
Cave Bar More, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
The lights on my car are on. Again. On without the engine running... need to check them every time.
Full story
August 2019
Högberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Car
Budapest's Gellérthegyi Barlan (or the Gellért hill cave) is a cave turned into hermit's hideout, turned into peasant home, turned into a church, and then closed and sealed behind a concrete wall by the communists. Oh, and the communists also executed the head monk.
Full story
August 2019
Gellért hill cave, Budapest, Hungary
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
What a mixture of styles! The Diósgyőri vár or Castle of Diósgyőri sits in the town of Miskolc. A medieval castle, next to a traditional church, next to regular houses, next to a massive wall of Soviet-rule era apartment blocks.
Full story
August 2019
Diósgyőr Castle, Miskolc, Hungary
History
Janne and I visited Castle Eger in Hungary (Egri Vár in Hungarian). I loved the sign, "no ballet dancing on the top of the walls"?
Full story
August 2019
Castle Eger, Eger, Hungary
History; Urban-Exploration (Tunnels)
Today I washed the sweat and dust of the day off at the Harmony Spa. Very, very nicely coloured sauna. Hot too. And a nice blue pool.
Full story
July 2019
Harmony Spa, Budapest, Hungary
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
The museum of Communism's Achievements? Also known as the Museum of Terror... terrible stories about the killings, beatings, and imprisonments of the communist era. People who didn't follow the party line, or just happened to have a house that a party official wanted.
Full story
July 2019
House of Terror, Budapest, Hungary
History; Urban-Exploration (Prisons)
A maze of caves and underground prison cells, cages, darkness, fog, and Dracula? Sign me up please!
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2019
Labirintus, Budapest, Hungary
Caving (Man-Made,Rock); Urban-Exploration (Tunnels,Prisons)
A vacation isn't a vacation unless one can visit another nuclear bunker!
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2019
Hospital in the Rock, Budapest, Hungary
Caving (Man-Made,Rock); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
Influence ... one has to be careful with that. I took my sister's twins today to their first cave. At first they were a bit scared, but soon they had helmets on, one was holding my camera and the photographing the other one going through the cave. I wonder where they learned that? :-)
Full story
July 2019
Hiidenkiven luola, Nurmijärvi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
I've lived 25 years in Kauniainen, but today was the first time that I swam in our lake, the Gallträsk. A perfect, hot day for that.
Full story
July 2019
Gallträsk, Kauniainen, Finland*; House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland**
Swimming* (Outdoor); Sauna**
Cave in a park in Philadelphia? Unreal...
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2019
Gorgas Creek Cave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Tunnels,Quarries)
Once again in Kista, Stockholm. For work. In the summer everything seems to be better, though. Like hotel pricing. Apparently Kista is not a big vacation destination, so even the best hotels go for 60€ a night, so this time I'm staying at the Scandic Victoria.
Full story
July 2019
Scandic Victoria, Kista, Sweden
Sauna
I am heading to the IAB workshop & IETF but not before trying the new black sauna at the Finnair lounge with Ari.
Full story
July 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Sauna; Travel
I went on a long bike trip today with Jarmo, to explore the Sarfvik area in Kirkkonummi. This large area of farms, forests and seafront is blocked for public road access by the local residents. Why? You can still explore the area on foot, but the walks are long. But in the summer biking is an option.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
July 2019
Abramsbyn bunkkeri, Sarfvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Golfkentän pieni siirtolohkareluola, Sarfvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland**
Urban-Exploration* (Bunkers); Caving** (Man-Made,Rock)
It turns out one can recycle the pine bath whisk. Just stick it in a terrace flower box, just like people normally decorate their terraces with evergreen tree branches.
Full story
June 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Sauna
Kinnerstugan, north of Visby in Gotland, Sweden, has a nice sauna. Plenty hot! And it is free... except that you need 5 crown coins for the showers.
Full story
June 2019
Kinnerstugan, Gotland, Sweden
Sauna
For a work meeting, I stayed at the Crowne Plaza in Hague. It turned out that they had a nice spa area, with four different saunas and good pool.
Full story
June 2019
Crowne Plaza, Hague, Netherlands
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Today's abandoned mine exploration was in Leppävaara.
Full story
June 2019
Kaivoskallion louhos, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Kaivoskallion siirtolohkareen alusluola, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Quarries); Caving (Man-Made)
On Sunday I went biking with Jarmo to look at some more advertised Espoo natural wonders.
Full story
June 2019
Friisinkallion graniitin rakoilu, Espoo, Finland; Friisinkallion rapakivilohkare, Espoo, Finland
Hiking
While driving around in Germany, I had an opportunity to visit the Spreewald area.
Full story
June 2019
Spreewald Therme, Burg, Germany
Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
Wow. This was something else, a vihta (bath whisk) made of pine branches.
Full story
June 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Sauna
I needed some exercise, the weather was great, and there's a directory of Espoo's natural wonders in the Internet. So I went a biking tour to look at some of the Rapakivi boulders.
Full story
June 2019
Tillinmäen rapakivilohkare, Tillinmäki, Espoo, Finland; Malminmäentien rapakivilohkare, Espoon keskuspuisto, Espoo, Finland; Espoon keskuspuiston rapakivilohkare, Espoon keskuspuisto, Espoo, Finland
Hiking
I had a chance to fly the new Airbus A220 plane the other day. Wonderful, efficient, hi-tech plane! And new airplane smell!
Full story
April 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying
Quiet place, green grass, views, a rocking chair... at an airport. Hard to believe, but there is this lounge at HEL called KAINUU.
Full story
June 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying; Travel
Well, it isn't really a sauna, except that it is hot, it is packed with people. And it is a decorated bus at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport, affectionately known as HEL.
Full story
June 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying
Lummelunda week is coming up AND I'M GOING AGAIN! WOOHOOO!
Full story
May 2019
Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Boating,Swimming); Swimming (Indoor,Water,Underground,Waterbody-Cave)
I attended a workshop at a private corporate facility in Kirkkonummi, and it turns out that there was both a very nice sauna, swimming place, as well as ruins from the Russian occupation times: a railroad leading to a rock, almost disappeared harbour pier. Nice surprise!
Full story
June 2019
Corporate Sauna, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool,Waterbody-Sea); Urban-Exploration (Ruins)
My colleagues had organised an event at the Lähteen Sauna, in the area of the Lapinlahti mental institute. Ex. institute... and Lähteen sauna is as far as I know, the oldest still operating sauna in Helsinki that is still open to public.
Full story
June 2019
Lähteen sauna, Lapinlahti, Helsinki, Finland
Sauna
Today I managed to sign up for the EuroSpeleo 2019, this time happening near Sofia in Bulgaria!
Full story
June 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
Spending the night right in Stockholm's old town? On a yacht? With an excellent sauna heated up just for you? For 1000 SEK (100€) a night? Enter Mälardrottningen... not bad at all!
Full story
May 2019
Mälardrottningen, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
Besides the hot pools, volcanoes, and caves, I also find Iceland wonderful in other ways. On my recent two trips, I managed to find some time for quick tours of some of the usual attractions near Reykjavik, on the Golden Circle for instance.
Full story
May 2019
Gulfoss, Iceland; The Great Geysir, Iceland
Travel
I knew that there are tectonic plates, but I had no idea one can walk in the crack between them. But in Thingvellir, Iceland it is possible.
Full story
May 2019
Thingvellir, Iceland
Caving (None)
While driving around a bit after the meeting ended that day, I came across a modest looking community swimming pool in Laugarvatn. But it turned out to be a luxury sauna - thermal bath facility, the Fontana. And it was on the beach of a lake where the warnings say the lake water is boiling at some places. Care for a swim?
Full story
May 2019
Laugarvatn Fontana, Laugarvatn, Iceland*; Hot Pot, Laugarvatn, Iceland**
Swimming* (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool,Thermal-Bath); Swimming** (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Thermal-Bath); Sauna* (Normal,Steam)
While in London, we happened to walk through the Banksy Tunnel, a pedestrian walkway tunnel where graffiti is ... tolerated if not legal. Pretty nice!
Full story
May 2019
Leake Street, London, United Kingdom
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
Booze tunnel in Helsinki... not from prohibition times but built between Alko's factory and warehouse. Decommissioned, now as a reserve shelter. The tunnel is underneath the Ruoholahti mall, in floor -6... deep under everything else. So deep that it is even underneath the kid amusement park Hoplop in floor -5 :-)
Full story
May 2019
Ruoholahden kauppakeskus, Helsinki, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
I was worrying about the fate of the locked-up snow, when all of a sudden, some guy in black clothing and black miniskis jumped over the fence and liberated the snow. Amazing!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2019
Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo, Finland
Skiing
Jarmo and I visited the Leppävaara area fortifications, inspired by Tony Hagerlund's excellent blogs about them. There's plenty of trenches and also bunkers! These are World War I era fortifications built in a circle around Helsinki. We also found a small natural cave under a boulder!
Full story
April 2019
Bunkkeritunneli 1, Vallikallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Bunkkeritunneli 2, Vallikallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Romahtanut bunkkeri, Vallikallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Bunkkeri 1, Laturinkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Bunkkeri 2, Laturinkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Siirtolohkareen luola, Laturinkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Bunkkeri 3, Laturinkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Romahtanut bunkkeri 4, Laturinkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Iso bunkkeri, Laturinkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Tykkiasema 1, Nupukivenkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Tykkiasema 2, Nupukivenkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland; Tykkiasema 3, Nupukivenkallio, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
I saw snow today! Outside the Leppävaara skating rink... behind bars. What did that snow do, and why is it locked up, and we're not allowed to play?
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2019
Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo, Finland
Skiing
Car off lights on, because too old relay and no one makes it anymore. Fortunately, fuses work as a backup. #volvo
Full story
April 2019
Nimismiehenpelto, Espoo, Finland
Car
An el cheapo weekend activity: at Ylläs up North but since we're doing the 24 hour race, u don't need a hotel. 2 hours in, 22 to go. A lot of fun, old friends and, well, basically going fast & non-stop
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2019
Ylläs, Finland
Skiing
Volvo. It runs nicely. After refuelling I calculated how much fuel must have been left before the canister, and got to "-2 litres", so... And all this time I have been blaming the car.
Full story
April 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Car
Today's Volvo story is first two buses to get to buy a fuel canister. Then...
Full story
April 2019
Shell Bemböle, Espoo, Finland
Car
Today's car repair: signal light wire loose. Fortunately 0€ (in a different shop than yesterday).
Full story
April 2019
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
Didn't start. Leaving it at the office parking lot and taking the train, will return to investigate after some travel. Maybe broken, maybe fuel.
Full story
April 2019
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Car
After two weeks with stiches, finally got the OK to go back to the sauna again. Bliss!
Full story
February 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Sauna
After the Ylläs competition, I first had a quick shower and sauna at the Pöllö next to the slopes. But since I had a long wait for my flight, I wanted to visit a proper spa. I had not been in the Levi Hotel Spa near the airport in a long time, so time for that today!
Full story
April 2019
Levi Hotel, Levi, Finland
Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
Today I renewed my primary passport. With the recently renewed secondary passport, and the just expired one, there's now a stack of three passports in front of me! The expired has served well though, and will be decommissioned properly.
Full story
April 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Travel
I had an opportunity to visit Tallinn for a couple of hours yesterday, and the obvious question was whether there'd be anything underground to visit. And there is, Kiek in de Kök bastion tunnels. But, they were closed on Monday. Luckily, however, we run into an old bunker under the Tallinn Meremuuseum.
Full story
April 2019
Tallinna linnamüür, Tallinn, Estonia; Bunker under Eesti Meremuuseum, Tallinn, Estonia
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
While I've already skied in Czech Republic, I wanted to see if I could briefly visit a nearby ski area after my monster 8-day meeting was over. And I found Skiareál Klínovec!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2019
Skiareál Klínovec, Klínovec, Czech Republic
Skiing
For afterski, I felt like I needed a shower. But maybe not just that... perhaps a sauna, or a dip into a pool. How about the divine thermal bath waters of Zámecké Lázně in the nearby Karlovy Vary?
Full story
March 2019
Zámecké Lázně, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool,Thermal-Bath)
Cool ride this morning, only for 750€ for the repairs
Full story
April 2019
AVJ-Autostyling, Espoo, Finland
Car
Lets say that the tour guide was not a big fan of communism.
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2019
Parukarka Park bunker, Prague, Czech Republic
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Greetings, a picture... and a doubled bill. Uh. More rust than expected.
Full story
March 2019
AVJ-Autostyling, Espoo, Finland
Car
A bunker. A ventilation shaft. R2-D2 mod. What's not to like?
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2019
R2-D2, Folimanka Park, Prague, Czech Republic
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
My car is now left for good care for the next week and half while I'm on a business trip. They are fixing the rusted corner... crossing fingers that the budget won't be exceeded. Also, my dishwasher and oven broke, so there's a repair guy fixing them as well today. Luckily, same brand, so one repair guy only... sadly he didn't do cars though :-)
Full story
March 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
Building the future of HEL... yeah right. It is hellish right now, as the traffic to the airport and parking arrangements are pretty unbearable.
Full story
March 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying
Not a photo of my car, but of another Volvo in front of the repair shop. I'm here because rust in my car, only in one corner, but needs a fix to stay legal. Cost estimate: ~350-450€. Need to think though. What kind of car would I get for that money? Or, 100 train tickets...
Full story
March 2019
AVJ-Autostyling, Espoo, Finland
Car
Another week, more work for me in Stockholm. But, I also got to visit another ski hill. My friend John also joined to try out Ekholmsnäsbacken in the small community in the Lidingö island.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2019
Ekholmsnäsbacken, Lidingö, Sweden
Skiing
Two crashes within few months have put the Boeing 737 MAX airplanes into doubt. I'm flying today, not on a MAX due to a world-wide grounding of the plane. I sometimes flew MAXes, as Norwegian flies them between Helsinki and Stockholm.
Full story
March 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying
I was inspired by this recipe for sauna scents, and wanted to try my own variants, one with juniper and another one with tar. But the experiments failed...
Full story
March 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Sauna
I had earlier visited Hvitträsk with Janne for the rock painting there's on a cliff. Back then we had also seen a small boulder cave. This time we returned with Jarmo, flew the drone for some video, and also found a total of seven small caves, three of which may be too small to enter but the others are clearly small caves.
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2019
Luola 1, Hvitträsk, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Luola 2, Hvitträsk, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Luola 3, Hvitträsk, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Luola 4, Hvitträsk, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Luola 5, Hvitträsk, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Luola 6, Hvitträsk, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Luola 7, Hvitträsk, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
It was great weather, and the evening lights actually made the weather less of an issue. But most importantly, it was even more fun because my friend Heidi happened to be in town and joined me on the trip. Very nice!
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2019
Hammarbybacken, Stockholm, Sweden
Skiing
We had half a day in Reykjavik, and besides visiting a thermal bath, what could we do? Obviously, visit a cave... a lava tube. Or the Lava Tunnel, few kilometres outside the city (coordinates: N 63.9402 W 21.3971).
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2019
The Lava Tunnel, Reykjavik, Iceland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Volcanic,Morphology-Volcanic,Basic,Showtour)
I've been working and travelling in Stockholm for decades, oddly enough this week's trip is the first one where I took my skis with me. Weather on the local hill looks great; in the evening when I get off work it will also be dark. Looking forward to this! Anyone else want to join?
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2019
Hammarbybacken, Stockholm, Sweden
Skiing
Abandoned fish factory in the cold winter of Icelandic north shores. But with a hot thermal bath! What's better than lying in the pool and trying to spot whales on the sea? For 4€...
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2019
Hjalteyri, Iceland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Thermal-Bath,Waterbody-Pool)
On our search for thermal baths in Iceland lead us to Hjalteyri on the northern shores of Iceland, north of Akureyri. We found an abandoned fish factory with storage tanks for fish oil and herring. It was fun to explore, luckily there was no rotten fish smell left :-)
Full story
March 2019
Hjalteyri, Iceland
Urban-Exploration (Industrial,Silos,Smokestacks)
Amazing! The Laugaskard swimming pool is a community-run, swimming pool, gym, and sauna facility. What a wonderful, hot swim outside in the cold weather.
Full story
February 2019
Laugaskard swimming pool, Laugaskard, Iceland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Steam)
I took the train route to the Helsinki-Vantaa airport this morning, wanting to both see the deep underground station and to test the route should my 27-year old car some day not work :-)
Full story
February 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels,Railways)
Incredibly, it passed the check!!
Full story
February 2019
K1 Katsastus, Finnoo, Espoo, Finland
Car
Scared... going into the annual check-up.
Full story
February 2019
K1 Katsastus, Finnoo, Espoo, Finland
Car
Car wash before going into the annual check-up. Very scared.
Full story
February 2019
Shell Suomenoja, Espoo, Finland
Car
I was in Kista once again, and this time tried out the new hotel, Comfort Hotel Kista. A new hotel building, and very, very nice. Modern rooms but still with a warm feeling. But WTF, how can one have a new hotel without a sauna???
Full story
February 2019
Comfort Hotel Kista, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna (None)
Learning to do major maintenance on the Volvo myself... now I have new windshield wiper blades, and can see out again #volvo
Full story
February 2019
Biltema, Espoo, Finland
Car
What a wonderful sauna. So Finnish... or so Belarussian... or, really, Russian. The Russian sauna culture is similar to Finland's, except only more so. More hot, close to 110 degrees Celsius in my case. More snowplay. More cold water. More funny hats. Maybe also more vodka.
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2019
Silichy, Belarus
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Badeschiff! A great idea to swim in the middle of Berlin, in the river but yet in a clean pool. In a ship, or barge converted to a pool.
Full story
August 2017
Badeschiff, Berlin, Germany
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Janne and I visited the cathedral of Milan, Duomo di Milano. This magnificent piece of art, construction, and religion was a wonder to visit, particularly from the upper floors and roof. The cathedral took a whopping 600 years to complete, and is the fourth largest church building in the world.
Full story
January 2019
Duomo di Milano, Milan, Italy
History; Urban-Exploration (Ruins)
The "Luola" magazine from the Finnish Caving Association dropped into the mailbox today. Nice! And of course, we got two copies because there's two members in the household...
Full story
February 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None,Media)
No sauna for me for the next ten days. I had a small operation on my hand... and the wound has to heal
Full story
February 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Sauna
While at Gudauri, we stayed at the Marco Polo hotel. The hotel has a spa, with a small sauna, pool, and a jacuzzi. The sauna is small but fiery. It was also fun to meet Russians who wanted to talk about the infamous (and sadly, deadly) Finnish-Russian sauna world championships...
Full story
February 2019
Hotel Marco Polo, Gudauri, Georgia
Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
This week I've been touring the mountains of Georgia with my friends.
Full story
February 2019
Gudauri ski resort, Gudauri, Georgia
Skiing
I only have an evening, not enough to take a Shinkansen to the real mountains. But I do have time to visit yet another Tokyo indoor ski place. This time, the Snova Mizonokuchi! It was fun to ride through downtown Tokyo with my skis and boots, through the train system.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2019
Snova Mizonokuchi, Kawasaki, Tokyo, Japan
Skiing (Indoor)
I had an opportunity to swim twice this week. At a spa in the Tokyo evening, the water was so hot that my skin was hurting. And having come back home, I joined my colleagues for a visit at the Löyly in Helsinki. The water in the sea was ... also hurting my skin. But, on the average is was pretty nice temperatures. And in both places the views were great.
Full story
January 2019
Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan*; Löyly, Helsinki, Finland**
Swimming* (Indoor); Swimming** (Outdoor); Sauna* (Normal); Sauna** (Normal,Smoke)
The Löyly sauna & restaurant in Helsinki has been the most notable architecture and experience thing of recent years in Helsinki. I've been there, but not yet in the sauna side. Today it changed because my co-workers organized a very nice event there for our surfing club...
Full story
January 2019
Löyly, Helsinki, Finland
Sauna (Normal,Smoke); Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Ice,Waterbody-Sea)
Love the new luggage tags Finnair hands out, not to mention the Moomins in their Tokyo check-in desk.
Full story
January 2019
Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan
Flying
... of the car even if it has been a week in the cold without heating cable. I take my wins where I can.
Full story
January 2019
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Car
Janne and I got to visit the Enrico Toti, an Italian submarine on our through trip to Milan.
Full story
January 2019
Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, Milan, Italy
History
The icemen don't speak much, be they Finnish Formula 1 drivers or ancient frozen dead guys from the alps.
Full story
January 2019
South Tirol Museum of Archeology, Bolzano, Italy
History
The Hotel Milano in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, was our home for couple of days after the new year. I used their sauna every day... a typical small hotel basement sauna.
Full story
January 2019
Hotel Milano, Madonna di Campiglio, Finland
Sauna
Huh, pretty hot weather. And hot sauna. Burning in both, almost. And thick carpets in the sauna! But what a view over the sea, Tokyo downtown, and the rainbow bridge.
Full story
January 2019
Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan
Sauna; Swimming (Outdoor,Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Better Off Dead: This is the best teen movie, ever. Really. There's skiing, romance, crappy cars, great music, ... what's not to like?
Full story
January 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Over the years, I've stayed many times at the Hilton in Slusseln, Stockholm. Usually it is priced too expensive for me to be able to book it for business trips, but this time it was on offer at the same price as my other alternatives, so I took it. I had a visit in the sauna early in the morning before heading to my meetings.
Full story
January 2019
Stockholm Hilton, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
It did start... barely! Even on warmer conditions, the engine wants to quite, and does not run unless there's enough RPMs, until the engine warms up for couple of minutes.
Full story
January 2019
Kehä II, Espoo, Finland
Car
Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets: it is -23, will the Volvo start?
Full story
January 2019
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
Today I got my Volvo back from the shop again. It has had a well-deserved two-week vacation, having been broken before Christmas.
Full story
January 2019
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
Volvo replacement... at least for now. Comes with extra exercise which is always good :-) Oh, and the repair shop decided to have holidays so no fixes yet.
Full story
January 2019
Kauniainen station, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
Given that I like underground places, it was surprising that it took me a year to visit Länsimetro, the new subway towards west from Helsinki. The new stations are spectacular and modern.
Full story
December 2018
Tapiola, Espoo, Finland; Iso-Omena, Matinkylä, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Railways)
The new central library in Helsinki opened a few weeks ago. Today I had a chance to visit this widely acclaimed piece of architecture. It is wonderful!
Full story
December 2018
Oodi, Helsinki, Finland
Other
There's a guy in Kauniainen that makes art out of cut tree stumps. They are all over town... and they are wonderful. This stork is wonderful!
Full story
December 2018
Gallträsk, Kauniainen, Finland
Other
No car, no skilift, no problem! My car is broken, but fortunately, since I live in the world's happiest town, I can walk to the ski hill, ski down to the bus stop, take the public transport to the public swimming pool, and lock my skis in the bike rack. And return by train.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2018
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland*; Keski-Espoon Uimahalli, Espoo, Finland**
Skiing*; Sauna**; Swimming** (Indoor)
It turns out that warning lights may actually mean something :-) I got left by the roadside. Again. But by miracle my friend Lars happened to drive by and notice my car, and me, already on a cold, long walk home. He picked me up from the darkness, so I got home :-) thank you!
Full story
December 2018
Nihtisilta, Espoo, Finland
Car
Now with all warning lights on. Still runs though, at least at the moment. Christmas tree mode? #volvo
Full story
December 2018
Iso-Omena, Matinkylä, Espoo, Finland
Car
I often go to various exotic saunas and swimming pools (or holes in ice), but I have to lift up also my home town swimming hall in Kauniainen. Small, old, and not particularly fancy. But, a very nice place to put in some laps.
Full story
December 2018
Kauniaisten uimahalli, Kauniainen, Finland
Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
What now? #Volvo
Full story
December 2018
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Car
Weather dried up, car works again. In possibly unrelated news, the repair shop changed more parts (two sensors) for 290€.
Full story
December 2018
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
I recently blogged about a possible new cave in Laajalahti. But I didn't go there to look for a cave, I wanted to see the fortifications from before World War I, built by the Russians. I found many, including many small bunkers that one can easily visit.
Full story
December 2018
Laajalahden bunkkeri 1, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 2, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 3, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 4, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 5, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 6, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Visited the patient today at the car hospital. First operation failed, but the doctors are hopeful.
Full story
December 2018
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
I follow the Caving Podcast when it appears every month. Usually the stories are pretty local to US and Indiana, where the podcast is made. But this time the story they told was very interesting for anyone.
Full story
December 2018
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
Kirkkonummi is a gift that keeps on giving! Near the caves that we had investigated in Kauhala there's a very interesting roof cave on the cliffs surrounding Kittelberget. We set out again to hike the area with Jarmo, and found more interesting things, again :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2018
Kittelbergetin iso lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin toinen pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin kallionalusluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic)
This isn't really an unknown place as such -- the geocachers and climbers regularly visit these cracks and the cliff. But it hasn't been noted in any of the usual places where Finnish caves are listed. Jarmo found this place on his hike in November, and we've been exploring it on several trips since then.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2018
Kauhalan luola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kauhalan luolan lohkaresivuluolat, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kauhalan luolan halkeamasivuluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic,Surveying)
Espoo. While looking for the remains of fortifications in Laajalahti, I came across a possible small roof cave. Small, but maybe worth documenting since there are really very few caves in Espoo. But the question is, is this a natural cave or remains of fortifications or quarry operations in the area?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2018
Laajalahden lippaluola, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Basic,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Surveying)
I didn't need this today... car not starting... rain... tough week.
Full story
December 2018
Ilmeenkuja, Laajalahti, Espoo, Finland
Car
The season's first run on the Streif, the famous downhill run from the Hahnenkamm. Why first? Because it was partly on grass...
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2018
Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel, Austria
Skiing
Local slopes are open! Peuramaa opened on Nov 30th, Serena on Nov 27th, Vihti Nov 23th, and I don't know about Grani or Swinghill but both are running their snow guns so hopefully soon!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2018
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing
An infrared sauna in the middle of the living room? What an idea!
Full story
November 2018
Cordial Golf and Wellness Hotel Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel, Austria
Sauna (Infrared); Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Today I went to a fashion lecture... apparently.
Full story
November 2018
Scandinavian Outdoor Store, Tammisto, Vantaa, Finland
Equipment
Today I'm staying at the Elite Hotel Stockholm Plaza. My usual hotel search includes the condition that it must have a sauna. Elite has one, too :-)
Full story
November 2018
Elite Hotel Stockholm Plaza, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
Walked through the Kunsträdgården underground station again today. While the "greek findings" in the station are fake, they are nice!
Full story
November 2018
Kungsträdgården subway station, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels)
This week I'm working in Stockholm, and did not manage to get my usual cheap hotel near the office. Staying at the city center, I noticed a tunnel that I had not seen before: Brunkebergstunneln. A nice walkway from 1880s, 231 meters long.
Full story
November 2018
Brunkebergstunneln, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
I've heard stories about the logging tunnel through Pispala, but today I finally got an opportunity to go see it myself.
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2018
Pispalan uittotunneli, Tampere, Finland; Pispalan ensimmäinen uittotunneli, Tampere, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
I'm in Paris for a meeting, and on the way to the airport we visited the abandoned underground railroad line. What did we find? An art show and sculptures deep inside the tunnels! And also wonderful graffiti!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2018
Old Charonne Station, Paris, France
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
Today I flew to Tampere for the first time, and was happy to find out that they've decorated the airport with Moomin pictures. This makes total sense, given the world's only Moomin museum is in Tampere. Nice!
Full story
November 2018
Tampere-Pirkkala Airport, Tampere, Finland
Flying
I also had to test the sauna at my meeting hotel, the Marriott Marquis Queen's Park Bangkok.
Full story
November 2018
Marriott Marquis Queen's Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Sauna; Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
I may have stayed too much inside, do I need some sunshine? My hotel in Bangkok, the Hilton Sukhumvit, had a nice pool and pool bar at the 26th floor.
Full story
November 2018
Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Missed windows. I just arrived in Bangkok, for a working conference, with exciting technical topics filling the next nine days. But I had also been looking forward to escaping the meetings for an hour or two and skiing at the local indoor ski hill, Snow Town. But sadly, I missed it just by few months... it opened only in 2015 and closed in July.
Full story
November 2018
Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand
Other
I got stuck at an elevator in Frankfurt the other day.
Full story
October 2018
Frankfurt Airport, Germany
Flying
Today I went to Mustavuori to get a small hike and too see the tunnels and canyons.
Full story
October 2018
Linnoitustunneli 1, Mustavuori, Helsinki, Finland; Linnoitustunneli 2, Mustavuori, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Tunnels)
Today I went to Helsinki for the Liquorice and Salmiak Festival, held in Katajanokka.
Full story
October 2018
Wanha Satama, Helsinki, Finland
Other
Jarmo, Jukka, and I spent Sunday testing cave photography techniques again. I also got to show the Korkberget cave to Jukka who had not been there before. Hopefully he liked it.... to me it is by far the most interesting cave in Finland.
Full story
October 2018
Palloiluhalli, Kauniainen, Finland*; Korkbergetin lohkareluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland**
Caving* (Man-Made); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
Different kind of post. Nothing to report, car works. Nice dry warmish parking spot at the airport this evening, too.
Full story
October 2018
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Car
The book "Suomen Luolat" gives a hint of a cave in Kirkkonummi, near someone's yard, with fuzzy coordinates that could be off by kilometres.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2018
Lohkareluola, Bastuberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic); History
On Thursday I attended the short film screening of Antti Autti's new film "Get Closer".
Full story
October 2018
Scandinavian Outdoor, Helsinki, Finland
Other
Crisis! Blomi tells me that Jimmy Petterson -- who "has spent most of the last 40 years as a ski bum" -- has collected skiing 76 countries. Me, sadly, only 58... and some of those aren't even on snow, but sand, grass, or ash.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2018
Scandinavian Outdoor, Helsinki, Finland
Other
On my recent trip to Austria, I stayed for a few days in Hintertux at the Berghof Hintertux Wellnesshotel. Hintertux is already by itself an amazing environment with the green hills and towering mountains and glaciers. But the Berghof turned out to be perhaps the best sauna & spa hotel that I've been to!
Full story
August 2018
Berghof Hintertux Wellnesshotel, Hintertux, Austria
Sauna (Normal,Steam,Infrared); Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Intake manifold sealants changed, valve sealants changed, fuel injection relay changed, crankshaft position sensor cable changed, idle speed controller cleaned, and winter tires put in, 510€. Runs, at least at the moment.
Full story
October 2018
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
Temporary replacement car, because Volvo is still giving trouble. Specifically, it is giving the trouble that in the repair shop it is not giving the trouble that left me on the road. They are going to replace manyparts in case it helps.
Full story
October 2018
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
What a wonderful metro station in Stockholm. Even if these are fake, they are nice...
Full story
October 2018
Rådhuset metro station, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels)
Banff mountain film screening @ Stockholm.
Full story
October 2018
Skandia Theater, Stockholm, Sweden
Other
In the 1990s I used to spend a lot of time at the Amaranten hotel in Stockholm. It has been a long time... but now I visited it again. It is still quite a decent hotel, nice rooms. However, the sauna ... leaves something to be desired.
Full story
October 2018
Clarion Hotel Amaranten, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
The Finnish Caving Association was having a course on basic caving. I've been on that course... but it seemed like a fun thing to do and a nice visit to Turku. And I ended up doing more practice with cave photography using multiple flashes and radio triggers.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2018
Luolavuoren luola, Turku, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic,Training)
*Every* cave that I go to in Finland seems to have at least one beer can. Lets clean them up!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2018
Luolavuoren luola, Turku, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
I guess I will have my conference call from here, until the tow truck arrives.
Full story
October 2018
Laaksotie, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
"I'm not starting" -day.
Full story
September 2018
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
I'm stuck at a meeting in northern China, somewhere between North Korea and Siberia. Abandoned concrete housing projects fill the rainy horizon in this city that no one seems to have heard of. But this does not mean that the locals cannot have nice things. Or me. World's largest indoor ski hall, for instance?
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
September 2018
Wanda Ski Park, Harbin, China
Skiing (Indoor)
Every time I go on a business trip, I try to look for places that I could either ski or go caving in. In Harbin, China, the language and Internet information differences were too big for me to figure out if there were any caves that I could visit. However, there was a reportedly nice bookstore that was built to resemble a cave.
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2018
Cave Bookstore, Harbin, China
Caving (Man-Made)
I was on a business trip in Harbin, China, at a decent hotel, the Songbei Shangri-La. It turned out that they had a VERY nice pool and sauna area.
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2018
Songbei Shangri-La, Harbin, China
Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
Janne and I visited St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.Wonderful structure, and great to see the not-for-us gardens of the Vatican from above. Would be wonderful to visit. But can you ski in the Vatican?
Full story
August 2018
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Vatican
Other
Is it an aquarium or a construct of the evil nazi regime? Well, both...
Full story
(TGR version)
August 2018
Haus des Meeres, Esterhazypark, Vienna, Austria
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
There's a big contrast between warm summer evening in the countryside, and what you find a few meters under your feet: a massive, blown up Soviet-era bunker. Damp darkness, rebar that is difficult to crawl through. And we're here to practice photography!
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2018
Inkoon jättibunkkeri, Inkoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Saw something in the darkness on the walk back... is it a bouncy castle or a space station? Nah, turned to be just another data center. #Kista
Full story
September 2018
Kista Space Station, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Industrial)
Swoosh, flushed down! This cave makes me feel like going down the drain.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2018
Saubachlhöhlen, Yspertal, Austria
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Swimming); Swimming (Outdoor,Underground,Nature,Water,Waterbody-River,Cave)
I was again at Hintertux for summer skiing, at the low point of the yearly snow cycle. The glaciers were dark... black even.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2018
Hintertux, Austria
Skiing
Moonmilk. Bats. Artefacts from 1800s. Still, inexplicably, all the other 15 participants have cancelled this excursion, including one of the guides. Why? Last nights party? Perhaps, the last guy to cancel says he partied too long. Or maybe it is the rain. It has been raining cats and dogs.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2018
Nixlucke, Ebensee, Austria
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,SRT)
My first visit to a large cave system, in the wild. An all day adventure with geology lessons, and climbing steep and slippery clay tunnels!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2018
Dachstein Mammuthöhle, Dachstein, Austria
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
Had a nice swim in Austria's Attersee when driving past the area. Water temperature was just right, cooling me down on a hot day.
Full story
August 2018
Attersee am Attersee, Attersee, Austria
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
Had a nice swim today, up the road from Ebensee. At the Langbathseen lake. Very nice, clear, blue, greenish water, and a wide beach with plenty of room even on a hot day.
Full story
August 2018
Langbathseen, Ebensee, Austria
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
This week some of us Finnish cavers are attending Eurospelo in Austria. The first session for Jukka, Tor, me, and our Canadian friend Andrew turned out to be cave photography, learning to use backlight with Philippe Crochet and Annie Guiraud. Amazing stuff, very happy that we were able to join.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2018
Gassel-Tropfsteinhöhle, Ebensee, Austria
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Training); Photography
During World War II, the Nazis built so called Flak Towers -- fortified air defence bunkers -- in three cities, Berlin, Vienna, and Hamburg. I had previously been in the Thumboldthain tower in Berlin. Now I was able to visit two similar bunkers in Hamburg.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2018
Heiligengeistfeld Flaktürme, Heiligengeistfeld, Hamburg, Germany; Energy Bunker, Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, Germany
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Skis for the summer acquired, from Ski-service in Pitäjänmäki. They opened the shop for me :-)
Full story
August 2018
Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland
Equipment
countries_skied++; San Marino!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
July 2018
Cesta, Monte Titano, San Marino, San Marino
Skiing; Climbing
Catacombe di San Gennaro is one of the underground burial sites in Naples. Janne and visited this on a tour, and were surprised.
Full story
July 2018
Catacombe di San Gennaro, Naples, Italy
History; Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Catacombs)
What a find! A secret garden, but with a keyhole that reveals the most beautiful view onto it, with St. Peter's Basilica exactly in the centre of the view.
Full story
August 2018
Priory of the Knights of Malta, Rome, Italy
History; Urban-Exploration (Historic-Sites)
I did not realise there was a pyramid in Rome. Not huge, but still impressive Cestius Pyramid! Modelled after Egyptian or other pyramids, perhaps
Full story
August 2018
Cestius Pyramid, Rome, Italy
History; Urban-Exploration (Historic-Sites)
You have to feel sorry for this little museum, as their resources are probably tight. But seriously... cave stalactites made of urethan without painting... bears with zippers... all-white plastic giraffes.
Full story
August 2018
Museo di Zoologia, Rome, Italy
Caving (Man-Made,Research)
On our last day of the Italian tour, Janne and I drove to Lago Albano, an old volcanic crater that is now filled with water. On the rim of the crater you can find Castel Gandolfo, one of most beautiful Italian towns, the Pope's summer cottage, and wonderful views.
Full story
August 2018
Lago Albano, Castel Gandolfo, Italy
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach); History; Climbing (Volcanoes)
This week I'm on a tour through Italy with Janne. I had mentioned this to Tero, who suggested that we visit Grotta di Frasassi east of Ancona. He had made a visit earlier, and saw an incredibly large cave hall. Still, I had not realised how big it was. Over 100 meters in free height, and 240 meters to the natural opening at the top.
Full story
July 2018
Grotta di Frasassi, Italy
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
While touring the Naples area, we stayed in Sorrento, at the Hilton Sorrento Palace. They had a nice pool, with a view of the Vesuvius!
Full story
July 2018
Hilton Sorrento Palace, Sorrento, Italy
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
I had a nice bike ride with Janne today.... more than 70 kilometres, and through Vantaa to look at the airport, visit my mom in Tuusula, and back via Espoo.
Full story
July 2018
Hyrylä, Tuusula, Finland
Biking (Bike-Road,Track-Road,Outdoor)
We tried to get to the St. Peter's Basilica twice today, but no luck. Too many people. However, we did take a look at the train line running into Vatican City.
Full story
July 2018
Vatican Railway Entrance Gateway, Rome, Italy
Travel
After a day of waiting in lines for sights in 36 degree sunshine, it was time for a sauna. Fortunately, the Hilton Garden Inn at Calridge had one. Or two, really, a Finnish and Turkish saunas. Quite nice, quite hot, and there was a bucket of water to throw on the heater as well.
Full story
July 2018
Hilton Garden Inn Rome Claridge, Rome, Italy
Sauna
Went to see the Vesuvius crater with Janne, quite interesting and of course the source of many sad fates in destroyed cities around. Overdue for eruption, too.
Full story
July 2018
Vesuvius, Naples, Italy*; Small cave at the Vesuvius, Naples, Italy**
Climbing*; Caving** (Rock,Rock-Volcanic,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
In my series of biking in the world's cities: Montreal. And visiting Mount Royal for the views and nice park experience. I particularly like the lake on the backside.
Full story
July 2018
Mont Royal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Biking (Outdoor,Bike-City,Track-City,Track-Road,Track-Trail); Climbing (Volcanoes)
I'm staying at a conference in Montreal, at the Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth hotel.
Full story
July 2018
Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Tero and Peter convinced me to join the the AURA lightshow at the Notre-Dame basilica in Montreal. Wow, what a show. Much recommended.
Full story
July 2018
Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Other
The LivingWell gym club has a facility at the Terminal 4 Hilton in Heathrow. Is it any good?
Full story
July 2018
Hilton Terminal 4, Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Travel
I had a free afternoon on an otherwise busy business trip in Montreal, and I wanted to visit Caverne de Saint-Léonard, a famous cave right under a city park. While this is a small cave, what I found was not your typical touristy show cave, but an adventure.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
July 2018
Caverne de Saint-Léonard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
I had a great Sunday, starting with work work work, with some progress I think, then went skiing, and finally returned to have a nice sauna and a swim at the hotel. And afterwards met some fun new Argentinians from my meeting at a late reception.
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2018
Mont Saint-Sauveur Versant Avila, Quebec, Canada
Skiing
I had an opportunity to interview Bo Lenander, Swedish Speleological Society, about cave electronics and communications equipment. In this video he explains the equipment that he has built and what it can be used for. And then we try it out in the Gotland's Lummelunda cave!
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2018
Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Boating,Swimming,Equipment); Swimming (Indoor,Underground,Water,Waterbody-Cave)
While at the caver's camp, I felt like I needed a shower... and a sauna. Solbergabadet in Visby to the rescue!
Full story
June 2018
Solbergabadet, Visby, Gotland, Sweden
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
At the Lummelunda campsite, someone had constructed a sauna out of tarp. Rocks would be heated in a nearby fire pit, and then brought inside for the heating of the sauna.
Full story
June 2018
Lummelunda campsite, Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden
Sauna
Evening exercise, drive to Nuuksio and visit Sikalammen Luola ("Cave of the Pigpond"). I found it, although the forest in the area is difficult going.
Full story
July 2018
Sikalammen luola, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
+10C, raining, high winds, cleaning up ratshit in the cabin, a fallen tree on our swimspot... HAPPY MIDSUMMER!!!
Full story
June 2018
Arkko summer cottage, Teisko, Finland
Sauna; Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
I spent the last five days on the beach in Gotland, camping with Swedish cavers in their yearly meet-up. A lot of fun, sunshine, grilling and old and new friends. And caving... more about that later. Heading home now.
Full story
June 2018
Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden
Caving (None,Social)
Rare vihta from own garden. I should cut down an overgrown jungle of trees, but first things first: using the branches for a good purpose :-) And the tree-cutting... maybe some day.
Full story
July 2018
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Sauna
This weekend I was at Tero's cottage in Särkisalo, and decided to check out local caves, if any. It turned out that there's quite a nice set of cracks, roofs, and boulders in Utö, at the Vårdgasberget.
Full story
June 2018
Vårdgasbergetin luola, Utö, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
Back in the Soviet times, pioneer camps were known to be a place for kids to have summer camps, as well as a forum for pushing socialism ideals. But can you find powder at a winter pioneer camp? Apparently you can, as long as you are ready to ride the death trap lifts. And pay your lift rides with vodka.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2018
Elik-Sai Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Almatau Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Skiing
Helsinki's recreation islands are interesting, also from the point of view abandoned military structures and ruins. Today's excursion was to Sirpalesaari.
Full story
June 2018
Pihlajasaaren öljysäiliön rauniot, Helsinki, Finland; Pihlajasaaren bunkkeri, Helsinki, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Ruins,Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
While on my way to a conference, I wanted to do a small detour to visit a bunker that I had read about. A Stasi bunker.
Full story
June 2018
Stasi bunker, Machern, Germany
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
100 meter commute to the office from the hotel. Free bikes at the hotel. And a nice beach a bike ride away. Cannot complain!
Full story
June 2018
Tegelhagens Badplats, Sollentuna, Sweden
Biking (Bike-City,Track-Trail,Track-Road,Outdoor); Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
For the last two days, I've had the opportunity to be trained for techniques that are needed to traverse vertical cave shafts.
Full story
June 2018
Myllypuron Urheiluhalli, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Climbing
More after-work bunker scouting. I thought I had already explored all the underground structures in the northern Korvlinjen, but apparently not. This "batteri" as they called it is a set of defence structures for guns, with small tunnels going from one structure to the next.
Full story
May 2018
Karby batteri 1, Täby, Sweden; Karby batteri 2, Täby, Sweden; Karby batteri 3, Täby, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Mystery metal hut. I was looking for an entrance to a tunnel I saw in Rotebro, but was in the end unable to find a way in. I did, however, find an odd, round metal hut at the top of the cliffs.
Full story
May 2018
Metal hut, Rotebro, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Buildings); Sauna
Benvengudo, near Arles, France. Nice pool!
Full story
May 2018
Benvengudo, Arles, France
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
While in France, I happened to get a number of brochures for tourist caves. One of these brochures was about the Chauvet Cave, the cave with earliest known paintings from 30 000+ years ago. But, that cave is off limits to visitors, so they built a replica of the cave nearby!
Full story
May 2018
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None); Travel
I was on my way to Marseille for a conference. And on the way observing other interesting things... like caves.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2018
Baume Obscure Cave, Cote d'Azur, France
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
Wow, that was a nice tour. Another brief cave visit while driving to my conference, but this time with a specialist guide, Eric, who has been exploring the depths of this cave.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2018
Grotte de Saint Cézaire, Cote d'Azur, France
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
45 minutes before I need to be at the airport. But I'm sweaty. Is there a sauna that I could visit? Yes there is. Santa's sauna.
Full story
May 2018
Santasport, Rovaniemi, Finland
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
While in Rovaniemi, of course I needed to stop at Ounasvaara, the local and legendary ski hill. They were also equally obviously no longer open, but obviously I hiked up.
Full story
May 2018
Ounasvaaran hiihtokeskus, Rovaniemi, Finland
Skiing
Will software update be enough or should I stop at the repair shop?
Full story
May 2018
Pyhä, Finland
Skiing; Equipment
Coming back from Pyhä and Ruka, we had a day to spend in Rovaniemi. So we visited among other things the Arktikum museum. Complete with a northern lights simulator!
Full story
May 2018
Arktikum, Rovaniemi, Finland
History
Reject spring. Ski in Pyhä! Party glasses on and champagne in backpack!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018
Pyhä, Finland
Skiing
I'm feeling a bit alone here. The tunnel ends are too far to see even that pinhole of light. I'm in a long railway tunnel on the Petite Ceinture, the "little belt", an abandoned (I think) rail system under Paris.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018
Old Charonne Station, Paris, France
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
Jeff and I were taking a walk after our meeting in Paris, and happened to run into an "elevated linear park", the Coulée verte René-Dumont. Such a beautiful creation! Also with some old railway tunnels.
Full story
April 2018
Coulée verte René-Dumont, Paris, France
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Hiking
Well, that was dangerous. We're very careful when we visit blown-up bunkers. But, we did not expect intentional traps, at least not recent ones. Next to a bunker in Siuntio, Jarmo almost fell into a 5-meter deep well that was covered with fresh tree branches. Would he have hurt himself if he fell in, or even if not, would he have been able to get out if he was alone? Who does this sort of thing?!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018
Ansabunkkeri, Siuntio, Finland; Kallionreunan bunkkeri, Siuntio, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made); Hiking
Ski pole bouquet, five poles! Should be enough for redundancy, now.
Full story
April 2018
Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland; Ylläs, Finland
Equipment; Skiing
To be honest, I did not expect much. My old helmet was broken in the back, I was flying to the Ylläs competition next day, and the Ski Service shop was closing. They had only helmet model that was even close to what I was looking for. I had to buy it.
Full story
April 2018
Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland; Ylläs, Finland
Equipment; Skiing
Many things are better in Sweden than in Finland. Take their appreciation of small city airports, for instance. Bromma is a small but thriving airport in Stockholm. Whereas in Finland... the idiots are tearing down a historic airport.
Full story
April 2018
Bromma Airport, Stockholm, Sweden
Travel; Flying
I had a long day at my Kista office today, but on the way back to the airport I managed to scout ruins of fortifications and bunkers at Tivoliberget in Bergshamra, Solna, near Stockholm.
Full story
April 2018
Bunker, Bergshamra, Solna, Sweden; Ruins, Bergshamra, Solna, Sweden; Fortifications, Bergshamra, Solna, Sweden
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Ruins)
Tero and I are joining the Ylläs 24h race. They hold the ski lifts running for 24 hours straight... and whoever skis most vertical, wins. There will be no rest :-)
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018
Ylläs, Finland
Skiing
My old helmet broke (maybe in transport), and since parts are now sticking out, I needed a new one. I got a helmet with an integrated visor, and it will be interesting to see how it works.
Full story
April 2018
Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland
Equipment
Olli and I went to Sepänkylä to visit more bunkers, and to fly our drones. We found a standard Soviet Porkkala bunker model, relatively intact except for the room under the gun hole. But what wonderful flowstone!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018
Sepänkylän metsäbunkkeri, Sepänkylä, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
April 2nd and the Easter. I'm back from the US, and far too jet lagged, but managed to go out on a walk in Kauniainen. Walked around the lake, through the small nature reserve swamp, through the underground tunnels... and also saw an easter bunny :-)
Full story
April 2018
Gallträsk, Kauniainen, Finland
Hiking
When visiting the Big Bear Lake ski areas, I stayed one night in the village, and obviously had to try their pool. Even if there was no sauna...
Full story
March 2018
Big Bear Frontier, Big Bear Lake, California, USA
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
The service industry is about experiences rather than products. These guys have taken that to the heart, also in a refreshingly honest manner!
Full story
March 2018
Home of the Hangover, Big Bear Lake, California, USA
Other
Cave of Munits is a wonderful cave and a sacred site on Simi Hills in San Fernando Valley, half an hour from Los Angeles downtown.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2018
Cave of Munits, Los Angeles, California, USA*; Bronson Caves, Los Angeles, California, USA**
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Sandstone,Morphology-Other,Basic); Caving** (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration** (Tunnels,Quarries)
Another guest blog article from Jarmo: He found a previously unmarked and unmapped bunker from Stubböle area.
Full story
March 2018
Stubbölen peltobunkkeri, Inkoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
Another guest blog entry from Jarmo: When I visited Stubböle a few months ago with Jari and Olli we met some local people. They pointed us to a bunker that is not shown in any maps. At that time we did not have time to check it. When Eino wanted to join me on a Sunday adventure in a perfect sunny weather we decided to go and check this bunker.
Full story
March 2018
Stubbölen iso bunkkeri, Inkoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
Another guest blog entry from Jarmo: Perfect winter finally arrived and sea and lakes are frozen. Time to go skiing at the sea and at the same time check for some potential bunker locations at the islands.
Full story
March 2018
Södra Svartö bunkkeri 1, Inkoo, Finland; Södra Svartö bunkkeri 2, Inkoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
The winter is running out, and even the HR department though that I had too little vacation. So I decided to take some last-minute cheap flights to Romania to ski in my #57th country.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2018
Sinaia, Romania
Skiing; Urban-Exploration (Ruins)
When you have to make a call... you will find the way.
Full story
March 2018
Sinaia, Romania
Skiing; Urban-Exploration (Ruins)
Last year I bought a book on ancient rock paintings in Finland. There's a painting nearby that is very hard to reach, but with the recent low temperatures, Jarmo and I figure we could cross the lake to go see it.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2018
Juusjärven kalliomaalaukset, Kirkkonummi, Finland
History; Hiking; Urban-Exploration (Historic-Sites)
Saw a magazine about Porkkala in the shop today. Bought it and need to read it, it will be interesting to see what material they've got, and if there's any discussion of the bunkers.
Full story
February 2018
S-Market Grani, Kauniainen, Finland
History
Volvo... again. Generator replaced now, but it also needs a new cooler, new clutch, new exhaust pipe and eight other things. And, most seriously, to fix leaks, a new fuel system and I only have a month to put in. And there are no new parts for it, and my car is from the youngest batch, so no old good parts either. The repair shop will probably build something though. Many troubles to overcome, $$$ to spend.
Full story
March 2018
Autofit Latokaski, Espoo, Finland
Car
Kiven kivi? Today's trip to look for cave underneath the large boulder in Nurmijärvi that may have inspired Aleksis Kivi in the writing of a the first significant Finnish language novel, "Seitsemän veljestä" (seven brothers). And there was a nice, 10m meter cave under the rock.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2018
Hiidenkiven luola, Nurmijärvi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying); History
I visited the Itäkeskus swimming hall after many years of not being there. It is one of my favourite community swimming pools.
w Full story
February 2018
Itäkeskuksen uimahalli, Helsinki, Finland
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Underground,Waterbody-Pool)
1/ It is -15C 2/ I had a nice smoke sauna & dip to lake 3/ But my car... dead. Now waiting for the tow truck.
Full story
February 2018
Kuusijärvi, Vantaa, Finland
Sauna (Smoke); Swimming (Outdoor,Ice,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
I wonder what happens to human-made underground structures, when enough time passes by? Will they turn into caves. or cave-like environments, eventually?
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2018
Solbackan bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
I went for a swim in the Allas Sea Pool today, again. Except that now it is February, and it is -5 C outside.
Full story
February 2018
Allas, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Ice,Beach,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
Europe... the continent of many countries. So many that it is difficult to ski all of them... but on Christmas break I was able to visit Croatia, and finally ski its nice ski areas. What a wonderful experience to ski on mountains towering above the Adriatic Sea, sunshine, powder...
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2017
Sljeme ski area, Zagreb, Croatia; Platak ski area, Soboli, Croatia
Skiing
Janne and I visited Interlaken, and stayed at the Grand Hotel Beau Rivage. A grand, old style hotel, and I of course also wanted to visit their pool & saunas department.
Full story
January 2018
Grand Hotel Beau Rivage, Interlaken, Switzerland
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Uh... a museum... a ride... of chocolate. But we are in Switzerland, so it is all as expected.
Full story
January 2018
Swiss Museum of Transport, Luzern, Switzerland
Food
Jarmo and I have been looking for a lost cave. The Finnish Caves book notes a rumour of the "Skevabackgrotta" cave in Kirkkonummi, but does not give exact location. And notes that the cave entrance has collapsed.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2018
Peuramaan pieni vaakahalkeama, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Peuramaan pieni pystyhalkeama, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Peuramaan pikku halkeama ja juuttuneet kivet, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Peuramaan luola-hiidenkirnu, Kirkkonummi, Finland**; Peuramaan iso vaakahalkeama, Kirkkonummi, Finland*
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Erosion,Basic)
We got a chance to fly Aeroflot on our trip to Kazakhstan... I was hoping for a real historic Soviet experience, and Tupolevs. Or at least a Sukhoi Superjet. But no, sadly I was disappointed.
Full story
February 2018
Almaty Airport, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Sheremetyevo Airport, Khimki, Russia; Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Travel; Flying
It turned out that our hotel, the Uyut in Almaty had a sauna, and a small jacuzzi. The sauna was almost too hot, and there was no way to throw water on it.
Full story
January 2018
Hotel Uyut, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Good morning Kazakhstan! More room to think about stuff. And search for that turn.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2018
Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Almaty Airport, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Skiing; Travel
Maps of the Peuramaa area in Kirkkonummi show a pothole or devil's churn near the ski area. Jarmo and I set out to find that, along with other potentially interesting features in the neighbourhood.
Full story
January 2018
Peuramaan pyöreä hiidenkirnu, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Hiking
Hiking in the woods of Kirkkonummi, thinking about life, universe, and everything. And keeping an eye open for that rumored cave somewhere.
Full story
January 2018
Peuramaan luola-hiidenkirnu, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Erosion)
It was worth waking up at 6:45am for this. If I wanted to visit the Upper House Spa at the 20th floor of this Göteborg skyscraper, I had go early before my meetings.
Full story
January 2018
Upper House, Göteborg, Sweden
Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
I was determined to find a few hours on some evening, even if my meeting seemed to be running from 8am to at least 8pm or even 10pm... but then the local ski hill closed.
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2018
Isaberg ski area, Hestra, Sweden
Skiing
A quick set of runs in Switzerland... of Hyvinkää. Small local hill. I was here as a kid long time ago and it looked different. I only now understand why... they moved it :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2018
Hyvinkään Sveitsi, Hyvinkää, Finland; Hyvinkään Sveitsin hiihtokeskus, Hyvinkää, Finland
Skiing
The Swiss Museum of Transport in Luzern had also nice displays about the building of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. And the tunnel boring machine's sharp end!
Full story
January 2018
Swiss Museum of Transport, Luzern, Switzerland
History; Urban-Exploration (Tunnels)
Kuusijärvi smoke sauna and beach. Great public sauna, maybe best around Helsinki (?)
Full story
January 2018
Kuusijärvi, Vantaa, Finland
Sauna (Smoke); Swimming (Ice,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Outdoor)
At the Swiss Transport Museum, we were able to visit Auguste Picard, a passenger sub built for the 1964 World Expo.
Full story
January 2018
Swiss Museum of Transport, Luzern, Switzerland
History
Janne and I visited the Swiss Transport museum in Luzern, and were able to visit the Convair CV-990 "Coronado", in the cabin.
Full story
January 2018
Swiss Museum of Transport, Luzern, Switzerland
Flying
While I was travelling for work and fun for the last couple of weeks, Jarmo had scouted several bunker sites. His visit to an incredibly large bunker in Siuntio's Östersolberg provoked our interest as well, and last Saturday Janne, Olli, and me went there as well.
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2018
Knapantien suuri bunkkeri, Östersolberg, Siuntio, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Jarmo, Olli and me explored the Stubböle area on Sunday, and played around with drones. This area is in Siuntio, on the Soviet occupation area of Porkkala, and they seem to have had bunkers on every little hill around the fields.
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2018
Säiliön raunio, Stubböle, Inkoo, Finland; Pohjoinen bunkkeri, Kasabergen, Stubböle, Inkoo, Finland; Eteläinen bunkkeri, Kasabergen, Stubböle, Inkoo, Finland; Kellari, Sunnankärrsbergen, Stubböle, Inkoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
After some prodding from friends in the Finnish Caving Society, I finally decided that I should travel to my first caving conference, the EuroSpeleo!
Full story
January 2018
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
Einstein museum! I did not know there was one in the world. As we were returning from Interlaken with Janne, stopping at the museum in Bern was easy.
Full story
January 2018
Bernisches Historisches Museum, Bern, Switzerland
History
I have done some Bunker hunting with kids during the last few weeks. In December I did a walk in the forest with Eino. First we visited a natural cairn that was in a list of prehistoric sites maintained by National Board of Antiquities (Museovirasto).
Full story
January 2018
Dalkullan kivikasa, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Lödängen bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Knapantien mahdollinen bunkkeri, Östersolberg, Siuntio, Finland; Knapantien suljettu bunkkeri, Östersolberg, Siuntio, Finland; Knapantien ilmeisesti tuhottu bunkkeri, Östersolberg, Siuntio, Finland; Knapantien suuri bunkkeri, Östersolberg, Siuntio, Finland; Sarfvikin liittymän bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Memorial)
Janne and I were in Switzerland, and we met Barry, the famous St. Bernard dog.
Full story
January 2018
Museum of Natural History, Bern, Switzerland
History
For sale: cosy apartment with flower decorations, strongly built, safe and in the middle of nature. In good condition. Also largely underground and abandoned 100 years ago.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2018
Lugnetfortet trenches, Arninge, Stockholm, Sweden; Lugnetfortet, Arninge, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
I thought I was being smart, staying at a cheap hotel, at a Stockholm suburb I've never been to before, Järva. But there were surprises...
Full story
January 2018
Ibis Järva, Järva, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
Eve of the eve... not much time, heavy rain, slush on the road... but I wanted to get out and about. And visit another bunker.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2017
Tammitien bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
The Lynx map about the remnants of Soviet occupation in Porkkala pointed to a bunker in Vårnäs, next to Kabanovintie. But, I think what's on the site is more likely remains of farm houses and wells/sewers.
Full story
December 2017
Vårnäsin rauniot, Porkkala, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Ruins)
Another guest blog entry from Jarmo: Before visiting a very nice bunker in Fagerkulla with Jari, I went to a walk in a forest. The plan was to visit some interesting spots I had found from a map. I did not expect to see any bunkers but when I stepped out of the car I saw a bunker just a few meters from me.
Full story
December 2017
Sepänkyläntien parkkipaikan bunkkeri, Sepänkylä, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Jarmo and I were scouting for bunkers or other interesting underground findings on Sunday. Besides finding the inaccessible Ingels bunker, we found no other bunker despite the promise from the Lynx information that there'd be a "ruins / bunker". There was only ruins!
Full story
December 2017
Juoksuhauta 1, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Juoksuhauta 2, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Juoksuhauta 3, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Huvilan rauniot, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kivipöytä, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Juoksuhauta 4, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Rantamökin rauniot, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kukkulan rauniot 1, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kukkulan rauniot 2, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kukkulan rauniot 3, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kukkulan juoksuhauta 1, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kukkulan juoksuhauta 2, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Mahdollinen louhos, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Sisällissodan muistomerkki, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Ruins,Quarries,Trenches)
Jarmo and I visited the Ingels bunker. Unfortunately, it turned out that we could only find a concrete slab, and found no way to enter or peek inside, or even figure out if there was anything underneath.
Full story
December 2017
Bunkkeri, Ingels, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
I went for a sauna and swim in the Allas Seapool today. Late arrival, after 8pm... and they were already closing at 9pm.
Full story
December 2017
Allas, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
I had a tough week, basically trying to survive on 4-5 hours of sleep for every night, due to travel and meetings. I had talked about possibly exploring something with my friend Jarmo on Saturday. But by the time I woke up, it was already afternoon...
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2017
Fagerkullan bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
This is a difficult bunker to get to. Not because being covered by dirt or blown up. But the whole area is guarded by, well, people who do not like other people to visit their part of the country. I have seen plenty of blocked roads, but the Sarvvik people have managed to block more than ten square kilometres of land.
Full story
December 2017
Näsbacken bunker, Sarvvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
The "Shades of Death Road" address was odd, but the day and the nature was wonderful. I found the Faerly Hole cave easily on the shores of the Ghost Lake, and walked in. It wasn't before I had crawled through a small hole that I realised something the rock walls above me were covered in layers of spiders and crickets. Thick enough to form a dark mass. And that mass had now awakened and was dropping and jumping on me.
Full story
December 2017
Faerly Hole, Jenny Jump State Forest, New Jersey, USA
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic); Hiking
I finally managed to test the pool area in the Homewood Suites hotel in Reno. It was OK, even if there was no sauna... at least there was a hot jacuzzi! :-)
Full story
December 2017
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Reno, Nevada, USA
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Sacred cave. Sacred place. Secret place. This place has suffered, but is still sacred for those who believe in it.
Full story
November 2017
Sacred cave, Nevada, USA
Caving (Rock,Morphology-Erosion,Basic); Climbing; Urban-Exploration (Historic-Sites)
Made the classic "SIN to HEL" trip again.
Full story
November 2017
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Flying; Travel
Eight days inside a shopping mall. Enough! The question for the ninth day though was if I could find something interesting. Are there any caves in Singapore? There was scant information in the Internet, but it seemed like there could be beach caves on the Sentosa island, if we only could find low enough tide moment to reach them.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2017
Cave 1, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore*; Cave 2, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore*; Cave 3, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore*; Cave 4, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore*; Cave 5, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore*; Cave 6, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore*; Cave 7, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore*; Triangle stone, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore**
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Sandstone,Morphology-Erosion,Basic); Hiking**
No swim for you Sir... because thunderstorm. Ok, but at least I got wet from the rain as I walked to the pool at the Swissotel & Fairmont Singapore.
Full story
November 2017
Fairmont Hotel, Singapore, Singapore
Swimming (None)
I arrived... and needed a sauna. Or at least an excuse to completing that document. Actually, I really needed a sauna to wash off travel and to warm me up from the freezing aircon climate.
Full story
November 2017
Fairmont Hotel, Singapore, Singapore
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Mmm... should have ordered this.
Full story
November 2017
Tatsu, Singapore, Singapore
Food
Today's exercise was to visit the Jolkby and Lindal bunkers near Kirkkonummi center. The designation "Command Bunker" promised much, but unfortunately, we could not get in. Digging might help, but while the tunnel started promisingly, it ended in dirt and a big stone. But we were able to enter the one in Lindal!
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2017
Lindalin bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Komentobunkkeri, Joklby, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Leikkijuoksuhauta, Jolkby, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jolkbyn potero 1, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jolkbyn potero 2, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Trenches,Vehicles); Caving (Man-Made)
Olli and I went again to the Kalasberget bunker, to take some video and drone footage. It continues to be an amazing-looking bunker in the middle of the forest. Olli took some great pictures, and we got decent drone footage, too. The drone took some hits though.
Full story
November 2017
Bunkkeri 1, Kalasberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Buildings); Caving (Man-Made)
An abandoned cowshed? Or abandoned building to store abandoned cars? Not sure. But it is for sure about to collapse. The concrete looks very shaky. We were on top of the building before realising how sketchy this was.
Full story
November 2017
Hylätty navetta, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Buildings)
I visited the "GoExpo" this weekend, the merge of previously separate Vapaalaskuiltamat (Freeskiing Festival), Helsinki Adventure Night, and SkiExpo.
Full story
November 2017
Messukeskus, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing; Climbing
The darkness falls early, before 4pm. Exit from the office then at 15:10, while having a conference call as you ride an Uber again; fortunately, the call ends by the time I am at the bunker.
Full story
October 2017
Gribbylundsfortet, Täby, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Visited the Memory Hotel sauna. Free, but needs to be reserved. Sauna reservations are not my thing. But not a bad sauna at all! There's also a pool.
Full story
October 2017
Memory Hotel, Kista, Sweden
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Guest writer article from Jarmo: There was snow and rain, kids did not want to join and I had a schedule mismatch with Jari so I decided to stay at home. But after a while I figured that it would be nice to do some Sunday walk in the forest anyway. From local orienteering club Lynx map I had checked a bunker with an interesting description, "blasted big bunker".
Full story
October 2017
Kärinberget quarry, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Quarries)
Project! Having done the survey work last year for Korkberget, the massive cave (in Finnish class, at least), this fall I've been trying to visit other underground places in Kirkkonummi. And I have now visited and surveyed all nine known/reachable caves in Kirkkonummi. There's three more but they are either on military area, their location is not known, or they have collapsed.
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (Surveying,Research)
Busy busy... more than half of my weekend goes to editing documents. But I decided I would too today go out, once I complete the doc. I should be able to still go out at 4pm, with sunset at 5.30pm. Except that by the time I'm hopping onto my car, I realise the daylight savings change is making the sunset at 4.30pm. Sigh. But no matter, I have a head lamp. Onwards!
Full story
October 2017
Viinakallion luola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic,Surveying); Hiking
Another weekend, another set of bunkers. Today me, Jarmo, and Velma went to explore further bunkers in the Sonnimäki and Kalasberget area. We found two interesting bunkers.
Full story
October 2017
Bunkkeri 2, Sonnimäki, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Bunkkeri 1, Kalasberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Bunkkeri 1, Sonnimäki, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
While searching for possible bunkers, we came across a tiny roof cave. Probably not enough to be classify as a cave, but now that I've seen it, I wanted to record its location.
Full story
October 2017
Pieni lippaluola, Kalasberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
It is the usual story, a "Suomen Luolat" book tells that there's a cave at certain coordinates. But when we show up, our GPS and the coordinates don't quite match. And there are caves around, possibly several, although we're not quite sure which ones the book referred to.
Full story
October 2017
Vuorenmäen kulkurin lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Vuorenmäen kulkurin lohkareluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland**; Vuorenmäen kulkurin kivenalusluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland**; Vuorenmäen kulkurin nuotioluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland**; Vuorenmäen kulkurin ylälippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland*
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying)
Apparently, we like caving so much that we're willing to search forests in darkness, with headlamps, to look for caves.
Full story
October 2017
Iso lippaluola, Kakarberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Pieni kulmaluola, Kakarberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Matala lippaluola, Kakarberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
I managed to stop at the small roof cave in Majvik when going to the office the other day. And took measurements. So here's a map!
Full story
October 2017
Majvikin pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Majvikin pienen lippaluolan sivuluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
I said that I only knew four caves in Kirkkonummi. I should have checked the Suomen Luolat book, however. Or even my own archives which said I've been to five...
Full story
October 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
Bunkers... where we were supposed to find a bunker was what seemed the remains of two regular houses, one with a basement. But a hundred meters away we found an almost intact Soviet bunker.
Full story
October 2017
Rauniotalo, Sonnimäki, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Rauniotalo ja kellari, Sonnimäki, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Bunkkeri 1, Sonnimäki, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Ruins,Vehicles); Caving (Man-Made)
Kirkkonummi underground <3 And Retkipaikka told us of yet another cave in Kirkkonummi.
Full story
October 2017
Gruvbölebergetin lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
The flights from Sweden were incredibly booked this week, so I ended up in returning home on an airline that I've never heard of before, 2N or Nextjet. And interesting routing, via Port. And there was an interesting rust on the airplane...
Full story
October 2017
Arlanda, Sweden
Travel; Flying
On the way back to the airport and home, I stopped at the yet another place on the Korvlinjen, this time in Arninge, a village in Täby. There was supposed to be two fortresses or bunkers here. I found one fortress, but could not get in, and did not find the other one.
Full story
October 2017
Västra Arningefortet, Täby, Sweden; Östra Arningefortet, Täby, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
The 2nd Korvlinjen article was the 100th blog article I've written this year. Quite a number. I've attempted to do more explorations, often local things like caves and abandoned bunkers or interesting swimming pools, in addition to the usual skiing articles.
Full story
October 2017
Arlanda, Sweden
Travel
Mera korv, more sausage? Once again I'm in Kista, but wanted a quick outing in the evening after a long day. The answer was once again Uber to another bunker on the Korvlinjen.
Full story
October 2017
Prästgårdsfortet, Täby, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
And now, with batteries in my flashlight... I stopped at another bunker in Majvik on the way home from the office.
Full story
October 2017
Majvikin bunkkeri 2, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Ralf and I went to Torhola on Sunday to draw a map. We made some progress in that, but oh boy, there are so many problems, question marks, and on top of that, it is a lot of work in cold damp place!
Full story
October 2017
Torholan luola, Lohja, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Surveying)
There's just a little bit of warning tape, but most of it is gone. And one danger sign in a tree, visible from one direction only. The bunker is gone though, or hiding underground, with no easy way to enter. Just some holes in the ground that one needs to be careful of not stepping into.
Full story
October 2017
Killinmäen bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Googling for more information about the Kirkkonummi bunkers, I found out more bunkers, obviously. But also a tidbit that there maybe 250-300 bunkers in the Kirkkonummi area.
Full story
October 2017
Degerbyn bunkkeri, Inkoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
It is getting dark very early in Finland, so today I stopped to see a possible bunker in Majvik on the way to the office. I found a bunker with clear entrances go inside, as well as a small roof cave on a cliff near the bunker.
Full story
October 2017
Majvikin bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Majvikin pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland**
Urban-Exploration* (Bunkers); Caving** (Man-Made); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
I used the "Parenteesi Suunnistuskartalle" database from Lynx and coming home from work, stopped at bunker location in Sarvvik.
Full story
October 2017
Tulikukkakujan bunkkeri, Sarvvik, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
How can one work somewhere for 25 years, and NEVER visit a lake just a few hundred meters away? I really don't know, but in my defence I went there today. And found trenches and flooded bunkers.
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2017
Jorvas bunkkeri 1, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jorvas bunkkeritie, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jorvas juoksuhauta, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jorvas potero 1, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jorvas potero 2, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jorvas potero 3, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Jorvas potero 4, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers,Trenches); Caving (Man-Made); Hiking
Got the "Kotinurkilta kallioille -- Espoon luontokohteet" book today in mail. Very interesting, can't wait to go through this book, and what treasures it will reveal!
Full story
October 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Hiking
Is that a green mushroom, or is somebody trying to exit a forgotten and blown-up bunker? Jarmo and Eino joined today for a walk through Masala, in an effort to again find bunkers left from the Russian occupation of Kirkkonummi. We found three bunkers, one of which was very interesting. Even if dangerous.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2017
Masalan bunkkeri 1, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Masalan varastorakennus, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Masalan bunkkeri 2, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made); Hiking
I've been a couple times at the Hotel Neuhintertux in Austria. A wonderful place, great saunas, very nice views from the top floor pool department, and very friendly staff. And, of course, next to one of the two around the year open ski areas in Europe.
Full story
September 2017
Hintertux, Austria
Travel
One of the large, round oil silos in Helsinki's Laajasalo has been decommissioned, and turned into a light show. Nice!
Full story
October 2017
Öljysäiliö 468, Helsinki, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Silos,Industrial); Art
I've been resting my feet last couple of days, after some treatment by doctors. But today I felt the urge for at least a small visit, somewhere. Maybe an abandoned bunker from the Russian occupation times?
Full story
October 2017
Sundsberg bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
This is the cheap and far-away hotel for my office visits in Sweden. But it is comfortable and the staff is friendly. I like it, now even more when I realised there's a sauna.
Full story
October 2017
StayAt Kista, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
... or was it urban exploration? Today's evening exercise was to find an abandoned bunker in Sweden. And when I got inside, there was shooting outside. Fortunately, it turned out to be a shooting range.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2017
Skogbergafortet, Täby, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
In better daylight and with Jarmo's help we now found the quarry. I must have walked 20 meters from the quarry wall (a 10+ meter drop, btw) yesterday.
Full story
September 2017
Österbackenin päälouhos, Vantaa, Finland; Juvanmalmin louhos, Espoo, Finland; Juvanmalmin tuhottu louhos, Espoo, Finland; Österbackenin mahdollinen historiallinen louhos, Vantaa, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Quarries); Caving (Man-Made)
Today's newspaper had a story about the difficulties of the Stockmann department stories. Will they make it? However, in 1920 an even greater tragedy hit the Stockmann family and left the family house in ruins. The ruins are nearby in Kauniainen, so the day felt like a good day to visit them again.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
September 2017
Stockmannin rauniot, Kauniainen, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Buildings,Ruins)
There's supposed to be an old quarry in Juvanmalmi. But I kept going up and down near the coordinates, but found nothing. Wrong coordinates? As the darkness came, I did manage however to put my painful foot to a hole in the ground, have it get twisted, and stuck.
Full story
September 2017
Österbackenin päälouhos, Vantaa, Finland; Österbackenin mahdollinen historiallinen louhos, Vantaa, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Quarries)
Since my foot didn't like the walk I did few days ago, an obvious thing to do was to go try more quarries, and this time climb a fence. Without noticing that the fence would have ended if we had walked 10 meters further.
Full story
September 2017
Laaksolahden kalkkikivilouhos, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Quarries)
Today we visited the ruins of a gazebo in Laaksolahti (Dalsvik). The gazebo, or pavilion belonged to the Dalsvik Mansion. If all this sounds funny, in Finnish place was called "Laaksolahden kartanon huvimaja".
Full story
September 2017
Laaksolahden kartanon huvimajan rauniot, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Ruins)
Smocza Jama. Or Dragon's Den, an ancient cave. Despite the puffing, fire-breathing dragon, there's nothing to be afraid of, as long the dragon is fed enough cattle every week. Either cattle .... or equivalent number of humans.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2017
Smocza Jama, Krakow, Poland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
I had an opportunity to visit a sauna in Poland. Obviously I took the opportunity!
Full story
August 2017
DoubleTree Krakow, Krakow, Poland
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
I've been sick, and with painful feet problems for a long time. I wanted to get out today, to test if I can move around. Or breathe outside air. I chose to visit the Elfvik Quarries in Espoo, near Villa Elfvik.
Full story
September 2017
Elfvikin louhos 1, Espoo, Finland; Elfvikin louhos 2 ja 3, Espoo, Finland; Elfvikin louhos 4, Espoo, Finland; Elfvikin louhos 5, Espoo, Finland; Elfvikin louhos 6, Espoo, Finland; Elfvikin louhos 7, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Quarries)
Nepperi is at the center of the big controversy: is the largest cave inside Ring III in Vantaa as currently believed, or perhaps in Espoo?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
September 2017
Nepperin luola, Espoo, Finland; Nepperin kulmalippaluola, Espoo, Finland; Nepperin sivukololuola, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic,Surveying)
Imagine bright, white snow, gently covering a mountain. Now imagine all that snow black, dirty. Melting hard ice, covered by an accumulation of pollution and dust from air. This is reality.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2017
Hintertux, Austria
Skiing; Health; Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
This is the world's oldest and biggest hotel room. And it is 64 meters underground, in a cave in Arizona. Sadly, we did not have money to for the night (850 USD) but we did get a tour.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
July 2017
Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, USA
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
Take an outside slide from the 70th floor? Yes please. But, we were a bit disappointed when the slide didn't take us all the way down, just to the balcony one floor down.
Full story
August 2017
US Bank Tower, Los Angeles, California, USA
Sliding
A small announcement in the newspaper -- Mannerheim's bunker to open for visitors. Of course I had to go...
Full story
August 2017
Tamminiemi, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
For some reason, one of my favourite places in the greater Los Angeles area is Santa Monica. Maybe it is because on my first trip I stayed there, various fun memories from all my time there. Or the beach.
Full story
August 2017
Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica, California, USA
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Sea,Beach)
When Janne and I were in California, we made a pilgrimage to the SpaceX headquarters. In front the building stands a used Falcon 9 booster. Impressive feat of space technology!
Full story
August 2017
Space X, Hawthorne, California, USA
Flying
Janne and I managed to see yet another space shuttle, the Endeavour at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. They also have the one remaining external fuel tank on display.
Full story
August 2017
California Science Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
Flying; History
Getting tired with my foot hurting. Another re-occurrence of the problem in May. For the last two weeks its been hurting again, on several days I've been unable to walk and on others it has been at least disturbing. All tests and X-rays show nothing. So maybe it just hurts...
Full story
August 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Health
Vegas. Glad we visited it briefly. Never been here before. But, all in all, and considering the breakfast options, I think it is time to move on.
Full story
July 2017
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Food; Travel
I hadn't really known about this, but one of my favourite places in L.A., Santa Monica, played a large role in early commercial aviation. The Douglas Aircraft company was based here, for instance, and many iconic aircraft, DC-3 included, were designed here.
Full story
August 2017
Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, California, USA
Flying
I never thought I'd visit a presidential library in the US. Couldn't imagine anything more boring. But, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library hosts a VC-137C SAM 27000, or more commonly known as the Air Force One.
Full story
August 2017
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California, USA
Flying
Janne and I are on a trip through California (and few other states). We dropped by the Crystal Cave at the Sequoia National Park.
Full story
July 2017
Crystal Cave, Sequoia National Park, California, USA
Caving (Rock,Rock-Marble,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
I'm on vacation with Janne, a road trip through western US. Our hotel in Flagstaff turned out to have a sauna. Great!
Full story
July 2017
Flagstaff Hilton Garden Inn, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Sauna; Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Had plenty of meetings, but now I'm on vacation for a bit. Janne and I are headed to California for an epic road trip. With skis!
Full story
July 2017
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Travel
When I finished my term as a chair, my friends at the IETF gave me a truly wonderful gift: skis tagged with stickers from our meetings and little notes and signatures from everyone.
Full story
July 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Equipment
Cool. Got a certificate in the mail from the caving course earlier in the summer :-) and clearly they were focused on things that needed improvement on my side, like responsibility and safety.
Full story
July 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
Patrick and I share the same hobby: skiing in as many different places around the world as we can. We had run into each other in the Internet and chatted often. But I had never met him. In spring 2016 I finally got an opportunity to do that *and* go skiing in Killington for the first time.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2017
Killington, Vermont, USA
Skiing
Most people visit the Askola potholes or devil's churns (hiidenkirnut in Finnish) as a part of a school trip. Me too, but it's been a long time since then. I remembered almost nothing.
Full story
May 2017
Askolan hiidenkirnut, Askola, Finland
Hiking
The Finnish Speleological Association arranged a basic caving course in Turku in June. The course started from the basics, like crawling. A slide to teach crawling! And walking, for that we had another slide.
Full story
June 2017
Luolavuoren luola, Turku, Finland*; Ispoisten ranta, Turku, Finland**
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic,Training); Swimming** (Outdoor)
Long meeting... but for once, I had a free Sunday morning, so I went to the sauna and pool at the Prague Hilton. Hot... spacious and well-maintained sauna.
Full story
July 2017
Hilton Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
I had an opportunity for a brief visit to the Bozkovské Dolomitové Jeskynĕ or the Bozkov Dolomite caves. The cave system is 1060 meters long and hosts the largest underground lake in Czech Republic.
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2017
Bozkov Dolomit Caves, Bozkov, Czech Republic
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
Late arrival... quick dinner... and then onto testing the wellness area at Dresden's Hilton hotel. Usually, hotel saunas are simple, but not this one!
Full story
July 2017
Hilton Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
I'm between Czech Republic and Germany, on my way to a conference. Late night arrival... tired. But, the sauna at Hotel Grunt rescued me.
Full story
July 2017
Hotel Grunt, Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic
Sauna
This is an exceptional opportunity that only opens once a year. Janne and I are crawling in the cave, guided by friendly cavers from the Swedish Speleological Association. We get to see amazing things, from stalactites to "Inre Sjön", a small lake (or rather, a pool) a kilometer into the cave.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2017
Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden*; Kanalen, Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden**; Bryet, Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden***; Galgbergsgrottan, Visby, Gotland, Sweden***
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Swimming,Boating); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Digging); Caving*** (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic); Swimming* (Indoor,Underground,Water,Waterbody-Cave)
Earlier this week I was on caving at the Lummelunda caving week. Afterwards... I needed some refreshing. Sauna to the rescue!
Full story
June 2017
Lummelunda Vandrarhem, Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden
Sauna
On a Friday night I was at the airshow in Kaivopuisto.
Full story
June 2017
Kaivopuisto, Helsinki, Finland
Flying
I was just going to walk around in rain, but the sign for ice swimming caught my attention.
Full story
June 2017
Allas, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool); Sauna
... and we started from the basics, like crawling.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2017
Cumulus Hotel, Turku, Finland
Caving (None)
It is a bad sign if you get a frequent customer card from the local military surplus store. Or the "Frequent Pig" card as they call it.
Full story
June 2017
Varusteleka, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Equipment)
Earlier this week I took some of my colleagues to see the interesting Högberget cave, near our office. I also took some measurements, and drew a map.
Full story
June 2017
Högberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Erosion,Basic,Surveying)
I had an opportunity to get an upgrade for my room at the Tallinn Hilton Park the other day. I don't usually care for upgrades, but this one had a perk: a sauna!
Full story
June 2017
Hilton Tallinn Park, Tallinn, Estonia
Sauna
I was searching for a place to visit this Sunday... with pretty much the only requirement being that a teenager would be interested in going. We ended up going to Kasaberget in Kirkkonummi.
Full story
June 2017
Abandoned warehouses, Strömsby, Kirkkonummi, Finland*; Kasabergetin luola, Strömsby, Kirkkonummi, Finland**
Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic,Surveying); Urban-Exploration* (Buildings,Ruins); History
I was looking for a quick, interesting exploration for Saturday morning, and finally drove up to Kalkkikallio caves (Limestone Hill caves) in Vantaa. Kalkkikallio is a rock hill area on the other side of the Ring III road from the IKEA store. The hill is next to a secluded, quiet area of houses.
Full story
June 2017
Kalkkikallion ketunluola, Vantaa, Finland*; Kalkkikallion matalan katon luola, Vantaa, Finland**; Kalkkikallion nuotiopaikan luola, Vantaa, Finland**
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Surveying); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying)
Can you drive by something for 20 years, and not be aware of the wonders just few meters from the road? You can. I had not heard about the Bemböle watermill ruins.
Full story
June 2017
Bembölen vanha mylly, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Ruins); Caving (Man-Made)
This is how we do picnic in Finland. Rain, hail, cold, jackets, sulking under what cover we might find.
Full story
June 2017
Vallisaaren niityn bunkkeri, Helsinki, Finland
Other; Caving (Man-Made)
This week I'm working in Kista, and it seemed like someone had hogged all hotel rooms not just in Kista but Stockholm as well. I was lucky to get one night in a hotel in Kista, and now another night in town in one of the few remaining rooms in the city.
Full story
May 2017
Elite Palace Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
Sauna
Yesterday we went to the Solamäki caves (Solamäen luolat) in Siuntio. We found a crack system, with a large cave hall by Finnish standards, and many interesting small cracks.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2017
Solamäen luola, Siuntio, Finland*; Solamäen kivenalusluola, Siuntio, Finland**; Solamäen lippaluolanen, Siuntio, Finland***
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic,Surveying); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Surveying); Caving*** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Basic,Surveying)
Plenty of snow. Greatest snow! Biggest snow. How is skiing in Quebec today, on the third week of May?
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2017
Mont Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada; Mont Saint-Sauveur Versant Avila, Quebec, Canada; Mont Habitant, Quebec, Canada; Ski Chantecler, Quebec, Canada
Skiing
I'm wet. Cold. Sweaty. And have 16 hours of travel ahead of me. Auberge and Spa Beaux Rêves' sauna to the rescue!
Full story
May 2017
Auberge et Spa Beaux Reves, Quebec, Canada
Sauna; Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
I am making turns on a fresh norwegian moss, when I see something strange. A dramatic outgrowth of moss on a rock? No, it was art wrapping! The Woven Stone by Lise Wulff, a norwegian ecoartist. And a cave underneath!
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2017
Woven Stone, Hemsedal, Norway
Skiing; Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
The swelling has dissipated, the redness has reduced, and I am no longer in pain.
Full story
May 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Health
Foot barely walkable today 😟 doctor thinks it is not broken, but something else. Hurt it briefly when putting on ski boot on Saturday. Was fine then, worse now.
Full story
May 2017
Aava clinic, Helsinki, Finland
Health
This morning I woke up and asked myself what would be the most stupid thing I could do today. Can you bike to a ski hill, on your ski boots? Turns out the answer is yes. Although maybe not advisable...
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2017
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing; Biking (Bike-Road,Track-Road,Outdoor)
On my way back from Hemsedal, I ran into a sign for a meteorite crater near the highway at Nesbyen. The Gardnos meteorite crater is the site of a 200-300m meteorite colliding with the earth 500 million years ago. It must have been quite a hit...
Full story
May 2017
Nesbyen, Norway
Meteorites
Suffering... with no sauna after skiing. Skogstad hotel to the rescue!
Full story
April 2017
Skogstad hotel, Hemsedal, Norway
Sauna; Food
Norway: No wet rain, no darkness, no sign of summer
Full story
April 2017
Hemsedal, Norway
Skiing
On Sunday I needed some exercise, and decided to take a walk in the area of Pitkäjärvi in Espoo. I picked a route that would allow me to visit the Nepperi cave and took my drone just in case I needed to peek from the sky at some point.
Full story
April 2017
Nepperin luola, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
Dead cats were blended into margarine and fed to humans. We're going to a secret, abandoned tunnel to meet the ghosts of the cats. But it won't be easy to get there.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2017
Undisclosed Finnish location, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
I'm on a business trip in Kista, Sweden (probably a frequent occurrence from now on). I've previously reported about the sauna in this hotel, which I had a chance to use today. I also tested their 34th floor sky bar today. Was almost entirely empty on a weeknight, but at least they had a decent Toast skagen (traditional Swedish toast with shrimp). Recommended for small hunger.
Full story
April 2017
Scandic Victoria, Kista, Sweden
Travel
We went out on Easter Monday, for an "hour long walk". Turned out no one looked at the map, distances, or time, or took into account time for driving or gathering gear. So, we walked for three hours and returned home probably five hours later.
Full story
April 2017
Hiidenkirnujen ryhma, Sipoonkorpi, Sipoo, Finland
Hiking
I've been meaning to start a hobby of taking long walks... I need to get to much better shape. Partially inspired by the new sports watch I got, which reminds me when I sit still too long, and knows how many steps I've taken during the day. I'm also excited that the biking season is soon starting, hopefully with warmer temperatures than today (-1 C).
Full story
April 2017
Nokkalan Majakka, Espoo, Finland
Walking; Food
A few weeks ago I got a present from my IETF friends: a Mavic Pro drone. Thank you! We've already played a lot with it, me, Olli, Janne, and many of our friends, with everyone having loads of fun with the device!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2017
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Sahara, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing; Equipment; Flying
Today's evening excursion was to an abandoned railroad tunnel. The tunnel is 600 meters long, and in the middle of everything, at a place I've been many times, but I had never heard about the tunnel before.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2017
Undisclosed location, Helsinki, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
Welcome to the US, the land of lawyers and liability wavers! I had to sign a long liability waiver for just getting the ski pass for the day. Not seen that for mere tickets, though it is of course standard for hiring guides and the like.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2017
Granite Peak, Wisconsin, USA
Skiing
I'm staying at the Chicago Swissotel for a conference. There was a break in Internet connectivity while we were setting up our network, so I decided to visit the sauna and pool at the 42nd floor of this high-rise hotel.
Full story
March 2017
Swissotel, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Sometimes skiing isn't just about the skiing. I can also be about hot springs in the middle of the backcountry skinning trip. We climbed Mt. Niseko Annupuri (1308m), skied the backside of the mountain and found an onsen, a Japanese hot spring.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2017
Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Skiing; Swimming (Outdoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool,Thermal-Bath)
Finally, the long awaited trip to Japan is starting. Janne and I are sitting on the Finnair plane at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport, and ready to fly to Tokyo, and then continue on to Sapporo, and finally Niseko. There are two bus trips along the way, but hopefully we'll get there without problems.
Full story
March 2017
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Travel; Skiing
I ended up going around Kauniainen's Gallträsk as my activity today. The day had been sunny, but the night wasn't bad either, nice evening views. I also included the underground sports arena on my tour, and got to walk long tunnels and stop by the climbing wall in the tunnels as well.
Full story
March 2017
Gallträsk, Kauniainen, Finland
Walking; Climbing (Wall)
Sunday. Nothing particular going on, but a pressing need to get some exercise. The sun is shining, so I decided to hike around the Laajalahti area in Espoo.
Full story
March 2017
Laajalahti, Espoo, Finland
Hiking
Janne and I often visit Tampere on his winter vacation from school. We did that again, and again went to explore some caves. This time in Kangasala.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2017
Lempokiven luola, Kangasala, Finland; Ohtolan Pirunkallion luola, Kangasala, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
Bird Horniness Swamp Eye cave. A great name, at least. But is the cave great?
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2017
Lintukiiman Silmäsuon luola, Nummi-Pusula, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
"Can you take my skis to the clothes check?" "Why not, we also take baseball bats." Dressed in a black suit, I'm on my way to a bar, to Zach's birthday party in Sotkamo. With boots and skis... my hotel is at the top of the hill.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2017
Vuokatti, Finland; Sotkamo, Finland; Paljakka, Finland; Vimpelinvaara, Kajaani, Finland
Skiing
"It is not about your experience with backpacks, it is about PEOPLE DYING". The ski patrol's inexplicable rule prohibits me to take my backpack to the ski hill in New York.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2017
Thunder Ridge, New York, USA
Skiing
We took an airplane. A train. And hiked. For this? A kid slope half the size of my home slope in Grani. But it turns out we got to ski a route down liike no other: down the railroad tracks. And collect seven more ski areas.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2017
Obergoms, Switzerland; Realp, Switzerland; Gemsstock, Andermatt, Switzerland; Nätschen, Andermatt, Switzerland; Oberalppass, Switzerland; Sedrun, Switzerland; Disentis, Switzerland
Skiing
This is a brilliant idea. The Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn doesn't just take you to the ski slopes, it also serves beer and after-ski music on the way there. Even on the 9:30am train.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2017
Nätschen, Andermatt, Switzerland; Oberalppass, Switzerland; Sedrun, Switzerland; Disentis, Switzerland
Skiing; Afterski
The sky is dark, but I can see lights behind. Suddenly a small object flies through the air. A small man. I think.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2017
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing; Equipment
Uh... my skis are delaminating. They already were doing it a bit earlier, and that got fixed in Skiservice. But they warned that the skis are not going to last long. I'm trying to glue the skis back together, lets see if it works.
Full story
January 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Equipment
Today I was Pata Degerman's travel and adventure photography lecture at Helsinki's Partioaitta. Cool lecture, he's a great speaker, and had many stories and good advice.
Full story
October 2018
Partioaitta, Helsinki, Finland
Photography
What's it going to be, Tero? Shall we fly tomorrow morning for a day trip to Kazakhstan? Or for day and half in Bulgaria? We opted for the latter, because that Tero disliked the ten hour wait at a Moscow airport.
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January 2017
Vitosha, Sofia, Bulgaria; Borovets, Bulgaria
Skiing
The pump in my windshield wipers failed. I drove around for a week, while periodically opening the window and spraying water to the windscreen.
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January 2017
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Car
I have finally visited the refurbished Leppävaara swimming pool centre. Generally, a very positive experience! So many new pools!
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January 2017
Leppävaaran uimahalli, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Indoor,Outdoor,Waterbody-Pool,Water); Sauna
I was contemplating going hiking when Jarmo sent me a message; he was going skiing to Vihti. I decided to join, and I'm glad I did. The late afternoon and evening lights and colours on the hill are great.
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January 2017
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing
Today's morning was too slow to do anything else than to scramble to the car to get to a local museum before it closed at 4pm.
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January 2017
Tarvaspää, Espoo, Finland
History
Nippy a bit? Swimming at a lake when it is -18C.
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January 2017
Kuusijärvi, Vantaa, Finland
Sauna (Smoke); Swimming (Ice,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)
At first I thought it was just an oversize advertisement. Then the ski lift took me inside it. I kept wondering what they would do to the lift, it the ski area suddenly switched to advertising M&Ms. Or worse yet, how about insurance or toilet seats?
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December 2016
Lenzerheide, Switzerland; Arosa, Switzerland
Skiing
The world's leading eskimos meet every winter in Davos to collaborate in shaping global, regional, and industry igloos. Well not really, but to my surprise the skiing in this village mostly known for the political and business elite is quite decent.
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December 2016
Parsenn, Davos, Switzerland; Jacobshorn, Davos, Switzerland
Skiing
The sign in Malbun caught my attention: "lustkurven", lust for curves. I think they meant the skiing.
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December 2016
Malbun, Liechtenstein
Skiing
I want to take you to a special place. Janne and I have spent there over 20 days by now. And every day of exploration rewards us with more finds. It is nearby. An old friend. But did we know all of its secrets before? I certainly didn't. Caves in Finland are small. What if I told you about a complex system of caves, with hundreds of meters of tunnels and fifty entrances, including one that you can drive a boat in?
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December 2016
Korkbergetin lohkareluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic,Boating,Surveying)
Really funny. More drawings on natural stones, really nice graphics this time. This is in Torhola cave in Lohja, Finland.
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October 2016
Torholan luola, Lohja, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Surveying)
Lazy Saturday, and all nearby caves have already been visited! Janne and I decided to visit a rock painting in the lake shores of the Hvitträsk lake in Kirkkonummi.
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November 2016
Hvitträsk cliff, Kirkkonummi, Finland
History; Hiking; Urban-Exploration (Historic-Sites)
I was on a work trip in the wonderful city of Kista, Sweden. I stayed at the Scandic Victoria. Our days were packed, but even if I came back very late from dinners, I wanted to do a quick test of the sauna in this fancy high-rise hotel. On floor 22, they have a gym and a sauna.
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December 2016
Scandic Victoria, Kista, Sweden
Sauna
It is darn cold outside. Storm. Better go inside to the Hesburger, because they have an indoor half-pipe. The world's only burger place with one! Also, as far as I know, the only full-size half-pipe indoors in the world! Or is that only half-size, ha!
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November 2016
Vuokatti, Finland
Skiing
I wish I was a gardener, watering plants is so relaxing. Or a ski patroller, spraying the snow on the slopes. I also wish that I'd have a wall socket in my home for "snow" in addition to "power", "Internet", and "vacuuming".
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November 2016
Bucheon, South Korea
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
When I travel, I try to find places where I can go to a sauna. It relaxes me... Last week I was in Seoul, South Korea, staying at the Conrad. This new hotel has a very nice gym & pool & spa area on the 8th floor. The pool is free of use for hotel guests, but the sauna costs 39,000 local (about 35€) to use. Nevertheless, I needed the relaxation. Badly.
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November 2016
Seoul, South Korea
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Fortune favours the unprepared, as long as you pick the destination in the right Korea. I didn't know where I was going, or even if there'd be snow, but suddenly I was at the 2018 winter olympics village. Country #53.
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November 2016
Yongpyong, South Korea
Skiing (Outdoor,Snow,Grass)
Apparently you *can* arrive at the airport 25min before intercontinental departure and still make it. Weather, taxi failure, clearing my own car from snow, stuck behind a fallen truck on the highway, not leaving enough time for these troubles, etc. Phew.
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November 2016
Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Travel; Flying
I'm packing for a business trip to Seoul. I have the formal clothing needed for my meetings, i.e., t-shirts... and USB charger... very heavy stuff. And a boatload of equipment in case I'll manage to find some ice climbing, hiking, or skiing. I'll need three checked bags just to haul all this stuff, and I still have to leave my caving gear out because it won't fit :-)
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November 2016
Seoul, South Korea
Travel
I'm tired for working too hard on an upcoming business trip, but I'm also happy that two long weekend ski trips early next year are coming together.
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November 2016
Jorvas, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Travel
This lazy Saturday's program for me and Janne was to visit some of the bunkers and moats around Helsinki's WWI defence structures. There are plenty of these structures, sadly all slowly rotting away. Historic sites, officially almost forgotten and certainly not cared for.
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September 2016
Pirkkola, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
Nauvo is a large island in the archipelago south of Turku, Finland. Varberget is a set of small caves on a cliff ridge that rises on the island.
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September 2016
Vargberget, Nauvo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
Another visit to a sauna in foreign land! This time in 杭州市 or Hangzhou, China! The sauna was in the Courtyard Marriott hotel that I stayed at. A bit dark and basic, but still large, and most importantly, the temperature was high enough and you were allowed to pour water to the heater!
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October 2016
Courtyard Marriott, Hangzhou, China
Sauna; Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Third time's a charm! I finally managed to ski down from Breithorn. Two failed attempts... and what a wonderful third one, with a high speed ski run down. So much fun to pass the climbers on a long trek, me going at 80 km/h while screaming from the top of my lungs as I passed them :-)
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August 2016
Breithorn, Zermatt, Switzerland
Skiing; Climbing
Today I had an unnatural 0700 wakeup so that I could enjoy Nuuksio morning and caves with Janne before taking off to a trip later.
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October 2016
Vähä-Hauklammen luolat, Nuuksio, Vihti, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
We had a disturbing visit to a cave today. Somebody had not only blocked access to this cave, but also smeared vaseline all over the cave, spread broken glass, and so on. Sigh.
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August 2016
Mätikän luola, Masku, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
As a saunablogger, I had to report that I've been to sauna in a new city: Shenzhen, China. The sauna was in the Pavillion hotel. Not a great sauna, but I'm glad I went anyway. Turning on the temp setting made the experience better.
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August 2016
Hotel Pavillion, Shenzhen, China
Travel; Sauna
I've been accidentally flying the Finnair A350 on short routes, without knowing I'd be on it and expecting the usual A320s. But this week I was on the A350 for the first time on long-haul flight, Helsinki-Hong Kong-Helsinki.
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August 2016
HKIA, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Travel
The Swiss are clever innovators. The latest example of this that I saw were the lift towers in Saas Fee. Floating in mid-air, not standing on ground like regular towers. Anti-gravity in action!
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August 2016
Saas Fee, Switzerland*; Eispavillon, Saas Fee, Switzerland**
Skiing*; Caving** (Glacier,Basic,Showtour)
It is late May, and Saint-Sauveur is one of the only two open ski areas in the east. And I've already been to the other one, Killington. And what's more, all the ski crazies are here!
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May 2016
Mont Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada
Skiing; Sauna
I wanted go far this summer, ski the untried countries. But it was not to be, because work. And because Peru was cancelled.
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August 2016
Hintertux, Austria
Skiing; Hiking; Travel; Sauna
I don't often relax, but when I do, it has to be muddy. Wet. And underground.
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July 2016
Kluterthohle, Ennepetal, Germany
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
I guess we can blame ourselves, as we were looking for the wormhole. We didn't realise the world would change if we went through it. Lost in time for a while, but managed to return back to our universe by going through the wormhole again.
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July 2016
Pirunpesänkivi, Nokia, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Other,Morphology-Erosion,Basic)
Hulubergsgrottan. Sipoo, Finland. Tiny hole, only crawable. And now filled with dirty water. What could be more fun to explore?
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June 2016
Hulubergsgrottan, Sipoo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
We often have just coordinates. While Finnish caves are small, they are often also non-obvious, mere collections of holes under boulders. Would be nice to have a map, to even know if we're in the right hole.
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June 2016
Torholan luola, Lohja, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Training,Surveying)
Brussels has run out. They do not have enough for themselves, let alone for Greece. The Eurocrisis is getting worse. We're out of snow.
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April 2016
Yeti Ski, Brussels, Belgium
Skiing (Outdoor,Plastic)
The morning was warm and sunny both in Canada and US, as it should be in mid-May. Ted was planning to have a sunshine-filled ski day. But by the time we reached Killington, it was snowing. Winter conditions!
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May 2016
Killington, Vermont, USA
Skiing
Wappu, or first of May is a huge celebration in Finland, traditionally celebrated by hiking to a hill and drinking alcohol. This is very different from other festivities in Finland, where the part about the hill is omitted.
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May 2016
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Taking sports seriously. Or Siriously. Sirious Sports is an adventure place in Pyhtää, Finland. They have skydiving and surfing simulators.
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April 2016
Sirius Sports, Pyhtaa, Finland
Surfing; Skydiving
Salo, southern Finland. More than an hour away by car, and we've been in the forest for an hour now. The cave is nowhere to be found. I have coordinates, but in the wrong coordinate system and Google isn't co-operating to interpret them in the right way.
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April 2016
Rosvoluola, Salo, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic)
Have skis, can carry snow, will ski anything. First descent of Paraguay's highest mountain, Cerro Tres Kandu.
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April 2016
Cerro Tres Kandu, Paraguay
Climbing; Skiing
I had an accident on a horse, skiing an ancient volcano in Africa. As people do. Broken ribs and a horseshoe-shaped bruise on my side. But I did manage to ski the remaining ski areas in Morocco. And ski down with the broken ribs.
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March 2016
Michlifen, Ifrane, Morocco; Jbel Habri, Ifrane, Morocco
Skiing (Outdoor,Snow,Hiking,Horse); Climbing (Mountain,Volcanoes); Riding
Tampere. A great destination for the winter vacation. But can you take the city bus to the slopes? Yes you can.
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February 2016
Mustavuori, Tampere, Finland*; Tampereen rinteet Hervanta, Hervanta, Tampere, Finland*; Hirvi-Simunan luola, Lempäälä, Finland**
Skiing*; Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
Caves in Finland may be small, but fortunately also claustrophobia-inducing. Caves are also not well known, but this one has an actual road sign and a parking lot!
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February 2016
Torholan luola, Lohja, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic)
I like caves and skiing, of course, but it is rare that the two mix. But in Cervinia there's small cave that you can ski through. If you dare.
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February 2016
Cervinia, Italy*; Small cave, Cervinia, Italy**; Small cave, Cervinia, Italy***
Skiing (Outdoor,Snow,Lifts)*; Skiing*** (Outdoor,Underground,Snow,Lifts); Caving** (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Morphology-Crack,Skiing)
I am envious of Tero, because he managed to ski on horse shit. I still haven't managed that.
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January 2016
Kaivopuisto, Helsinki, Finland; Tähtitorninmäki, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing
Sun shines on Påminne, the southernmost ski area in Finland. The hill was in bright sunshine under a blue sky, even if the parking lot, the beginning of the lifts, and the rest of Finland was under cloudy skies.
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January 2016
Paminne, Aminnefors, Finland
Skiing
It was a cold night in HEL, -29 degrees at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport. I felt like I needed to go south to find better skiing weather.
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January 2016
Kekestetö, Hungary*; Palvolgyi Cave, Budapest, Hungary**
Skiing*; Caving** (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
Imagine rocks thrown together, all sizes all the way up to house-sized boulders. Korkberget doesn't get more than a brief mention in "Caves of Finland". But it is one of the biggest caves in our area, and quite a maze.
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December 2015
Korkbergetin lohkareluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Boulders,Basic)
My sorry life, episode two.
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November 2015
Snova Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
There are usually no great views from caves, at least not of the sunset. Except at Rokokallio.
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December 2015
Päällysluola, Rokokallio, Vihti, Finland*; Kuusijärvi, Vantaa, Finland**
Caving* (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic); Sauna (Smoke)**; Swimming (Ice,Water,Waterbody-Lake,Beach)**
He spends his days in meaningless office tasks, like shifting papers around or destroying planets. But he also has a dream... of skiing.
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December 2015
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
I thought there are no caves in Finland, but there are some! This weekend's adventure was to visit the specially formed Högberget flow-erosion cave.
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December 2015
Högberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Erosion,Basic)
You have to take six lifts to get to the top. And we were late, because travel. But it turns out you can also stay late. By the time we started our final 2km vertical descent, it was already dark.
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December 2015
Engelberg, Switzerland
Skiing; Caving (Rock,Rock-Granite,Morphology-Crack,Basic); Sauna
Chamonix is open, and there's powder! And under all that light powder, there's ... rocks.
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December 2015
Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France
Skiing
Sunday morning and the first snow! Well, a bit of white here and there. But a time to open the season in my local hill in Grani!
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November 2015
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
What's the point of working so hard that you cannot do the things you love? I feel like I'm far too busy. To add insult to the injury, this week I'm visiting one of the greatest ski destinations in the world, Sapporo, but there isn't yet any snow, and even if there were, I would not have time to go to the mountains.
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October 2015
Mt. Moiwa, Sapporo, Japan
Skiing (Outdoor,Grass); Climbing
I like caves, but feel suspicious of touristy tours. They usually leave a bland feeling, too easy, too packaged. Not so with Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennesee!
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October 2015
Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Caving (Rock,Rock-Limestone,Morphology-Karst,Basic,Showtour)
No Abierto. The police has blocked the road. For a moment, we accepted our fate and considered having lunch. Or going riding in the nearby ranches. But we quickly recovered, and started searching for a shortcut that would allow us to bypass the police.
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August 2015
Lagunillas, Chile
Skiing
When skiing or hiking at a new place, suitable maps are essential. These maps can be hard to come by, however, and most GPS maps do not contain information about walking paths, ski slopes or lifts. OpenStreetMap, however, has a lot of good information, and I have been using it in off-piste skiing, finding ski areas, and hiking around the world.
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August 2015
Los Arenales, Araucania, Chile
Skiing; Climbing; Urban-Exploration (Ski-Lifts)
That moment when you realise that the ski area you were going to ski at next week is closed due to the volcano erupting. The obvious next question is, of course, if I was packing skins.
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August 2015
Ski Pucón, Villarica, Chile
Skiing; Climbing
There are references to it in the Internet. And a sole road sign point to it. But it is nowhere to be found.
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August 2015
Los Arenales, Araucania, Chile
Skiing; Climbing
It is a hot summer. Perfect time to test avalanche gear?
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August 2015
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Equipment
Hi! I am from the United Nations. I have a tank, but it is small, white and not scary at all. Honest! I also have skis, beautiful light blue skis.
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August 2015
Hämeenlinna, Hämeenlinna, Finland; House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor,Grass)
A blown-up bunker. Debris. Darkness. Bats. Concrete rising to the heights. Walls hanging where they should not be. An ideal climbing place, if it wasn't for the grim past of this place and the morbid pictures of soldiers.
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June 2015
Humboldthain Flaktürme, Berlin, Germany
Climbing (Wall); Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
Avalanche pack, check. Skis, check. Mule, check. I am sitting on a mule, on my way to the ski slopes in Oukaïmeden in the Atlas mountains of Morocco.
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February 2015
Oukaïmeden, Morocco
Skiing; Climbing; Urban-Exploration (Ski-Lifts,Buildings)
Have ice axe. Will travel to London to go ice climbing. My cab driver thinks that is the weirdest thing he has heard his customers do. I think that if it is true, then his rides have been pretty boring.
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May 2015
Vertical Chill, London, United Kingdom
Climbing (Ice); Urban-Exploration (Buildings)
Week and a half in Hawaii in a meeting, properly dressed. For some reason people stared when I visited the beach.
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May 2015
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Skiing (Outdoor,Sand); Surfing; Climbing; Hiking
Last week I was in Moscow to talk about the benefits of open Internet. And, of course, I wanted to check out the local skiing scene. Fortunately, as I was leaving, СНЕЖ.КОМ offered indoor skiing on the way to the airport. Country #48 is therefore Russia.
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April 2015
Snej.com, Moscow, Russia
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
This is how we do ski lifts in Finland. I wanted to give you a taste of one round of the 24-hour ski competition in Ylläs, Finland. As if doing 30+ miles of vertical in one day wouldn't be enough.
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April 2015
Ylläs, Finland
Skiing; Sauna
I bet you have not heard of Volvo skis. I did not either, nor has the Internet. But today I am testing blue Volvo 740 skis that feel almost brand new, and taking them to the ski hill on my blue Volvo 740 car.
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April 2015
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing; Equipment
Argentina is too big. It is winter, but getting to the slopes in Las Leñas takes a two-hour flight and four hours of driving. My weekend is too short for that, as I have be back in my meetings in Buenos Aires soon.
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April 2015
Pinamar, Argentina
Skiing (Outdoor,Sand)