HC/CS midsummer camp in Åland, June 2008

Here are photos from the Hospitality Club and CouchSurfing midsummer cycling camp in the Åland archipelago, June 19-23, 2008. The route of the camp was Turku - Kaarina - Parainen - Nauvo - Korppoo - Kökar (by ferry) - Lumparland (by ferry) - Lemland - Mariehamn.

The page includes pictures taken during my trip with Dalia Motik from Helsinki to Kaarina (June 16-18), where we met the rest of the group. Our route was Helsinki - Espoo - Siuntio - Lohja - Mustio - Kisko - Perniö - Teijo (Teerisaari half-open shelter) - Salo - Kaarina. The midsummer pole and sunset photos taken on Friday 20th are from Kökar while most other participants were already in Mariehamn.

Some of my favourite moments on the trip were:

• Stopping by the roadside to eat wild strawberries, many times.
• Hiking across swamps in Teijo, and spending a quiet evening in the laavu (half-open shelter) with Dalia.
• Bicycle 40000 km celebration.

• The whole midsummer eve on Kökar, with peaceful walks on the rocks, adding some leaves to the midsummer pole and watching it being lifted up, cycling on the roads in the middle of the night.
• Having Åland pancake near Mariehamn with Tuula.

I also remember the young German couple whose tent and tandem were parked next to ours at the campsite on Kökar. The girl had some sickness in her legs so she could barely walk. Still, they had chosen to explore the world by bicycle. It certainly demanded a lot of courage from her, patience from him, but without doubt gave also a special feeling of freedom. I had only a brief chat with them but I've thought about them several times afterwards. There was something incredibly beautiful in the way they supported each other.

You can also download all the 800x533 resolution photos in one zip file. Please ask separately for full resolution photos. A gallery of selected pictures with captions might appear here later.