365 Project – Page 3

Day 168: Local Sights

August 4, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Asikkala, Finland, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Sport, Stuart, Travelling, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Finland, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Sport, Stuart, TravelLeave a comment

When something is close to home, you rarely see it as anything special.

Pulkkilanharju is a narrow esker gormed during the Ice Age. It is surrounded by the open waters of lake Päijänne, with small green islands dotting the landscape. It is often listed as one of the most scenic drives in Finland.

But because it is so close to the summer cottage, years can pass without us visiting.

This year, we decided not only to drive across it, but also to walk the short nature trail in the national park. The girls insisted the terrain was so challenging they couldn’t possibly have finished the walk without the 1,5l of bilberries they ate along the way. It really wasn’t. But the bilberries were clearly excellent.

We finished the adventure with lunch and ice cream at Vääksy Lock. Another piece of Finland’s must-see scenery.

Day 167: Bother With Boats

August 3, 2026August 3, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Asikkala, Family, Outdoors, WaterTagged 365 Project, family, Outdoors, Summer CottageLeave a comment

Boats (of any size) are hard work.

I love being on the water, but have no interest in owning, operating or maintaining a boat. I want to admire the scenery, take photos, feel the wind… and step off at the end.

I only have to look at my dad or some of my friends to understand how much work boats are. I’m lucky to be in a position, where I can help out here and there without carrying the resposibility. I occassionally drive boats, but even that I do reluctantly. Like with a car, I get no pleasure from being behind the wheel (and I’m always convinced I am bad at it).

When we moved into our house in Espoo, the previous owners asked whether we’d like to include their boat in the deal. Stuart and I did not even need to glance at each other before saying no.

Luckily, there are people more willing to put in the work. I certainly benefit from the result.

Day 166: The Art of a Holiday

August 2, 2026August 2, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Asikkala, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, Holidays, Kiara, Summer CottageLeave a comment

As an adult, it takes me several days to settle into a holiday. The girls have been in a holiday for over five weeks and have no problem being incredibly busy doing absolutely nothing.

Day 165: The Biggest Smiles

August 1, 2026August 1, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Asikkala, FamilyTagged 365 Project, Alanna, family, Holidays, Summer CottageLeave a comment

The main reason we moved to Finland four years ago – instead of choosing another ‘random’ country, as we had so many times before – was to let the girls grow up close to family. (One side of it, anyway)

It is paying off.

The next few weeks we’ll be at the summer cottage with ukki, mummi, Noora, Lassi and Masi.

The girls could not be happier.

Day 164: At 5 am

July 31, 2026July 31, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Nature, Outdoors, Stuart, Stuart, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Activities, Holidays, Nature, Scenery, StuartLeave a comment

The Football World Cup ended yesterday, with Spain beating Argentina – and with a clear difference in the quality of play if not in the score.

We followed the tournament more closely than we expected, considering it was held in North America. The time difference made many of the matches impractical to watch. Yet, we managed one almost daily.

After eight weeks invested in the Cup, we wanted to watch the final too. It kicked off at 10pm. When it went to extra time just after midnight, we started to get nervous. It ended at 1am.

The alarm went off at 4am.

The 5 am bus was the last one that took bicycles and still got us to Helsinki in time to pick up the girls from camp

The sunrise was beautiful, though.

Day 163: On To Kotka

July 30, 2026July 30, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, Sport, Stuart, Stuart, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Finland, Holidays, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Sport, Stuart, Summer, TravelLeave a comment

The clouds were heavy today, but there was (almost) no rain. The occassional drizzle – so light that the wind dried us faster than the rain got us wet – doesn’t count.

A win in my books.

The route from Loviisa to Kotka was mostly on paved roads, rather than the forest tracks and gravel roads we usually look for. In fact, we occassionally end up in paths more suited to game tracks in our determination to avoid bigger roads. Only once have we been forced to backtrack for more than a kilometer or so.

We’ve been lost at least twice.

Still, there were several interesting stops: the Loviisa fortress ruins, Strömfors Iron Works, the Savukoski Museum Bridge and the Tsar’s Fishing Lodge. What supprised us the most was finding a quite large and lovingly nurtured English Garden in the middle of absolutely nowhere (Erja’s Garden).

Finally, a note to self: Sunday evening is not the right time to find great restaurants in Kotka.

Day 162: Porvoo-Loviisa

July 29, 2026July 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, Sport, Stuart, Stuart, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Architecture, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Sport, Stuart, Summer, TravelLeave a comment

A few days before the weekend, the forecast was still predicting massive rainfall – as much rain in two days as we normally get in the whole of July. With that in mind, partly cloudy Saturday felt like a win.

The cycle path from Porvoo to Loviisa meanderered through fields and forests. A few small villages and the occassional grand manor house dotted the route.

Stuart and I have developed a tradition of betting on which animal we see first on our cycling trips (cats, dogs and birds don’t count). I played it safe and put my money on a cow. Stuart guessed a horse. He won – although technically that was only the second one. The first animal we saw was a donkey. Maybe I should have known.

We did not see a single cow during the entire trip. Not one.

Loviisa is another lovely seaside town with a wooden old town and very popular harbor district with cafes and restaurants. Fortunately, the rain gave us a good excuse to call it a night early.

Day 161: Cycling Trip

July 28, 2026July 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, Stuart, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Activities, Finland, Holidays, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Stuart, Summer, TravelLeave a comment

Start of the summer holiday.

The girls, carrying their enormous rucksacks, hopped on a bus and headed to Väiski, a scout camp in Parainen forests with 1,800 kids. Stuart and I seized the opportunity, jumped on our bikes and headed for Porvoo. The plan is to cycle to Kotka over the weekend (about 130km in total).

We have cycled from Espoo to Porvoo before, and the route is not particularily interesting. So this time, we decided to take the J.L Runeberg, a museum ship that sails from Helsinki to Porvoo. Great weather, pleasant sailing, cool ship… but too many people.

Porvoo itself, is a picturesque little town with a cobbled old town, good restaurants, quaint shops and a few decent museums, including the old home of Finland’s national poet, Runeberg.

And luckily Porvoo is worth spending a little time in. Our hotel, approx 25 km away, was in the middle of nowhere, with not even a restaurant nearby. Therefore, timing dinner at the last restaurant on the way required a bit of a planning.

The last few kilometers, with the sun setting on our backs, were beautiful.

By the time we opened the last beers on the hotel garden, it felt like holiday.

Day 160: Drinks With Colleagues

July 27, 2026July 27, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Helsinki, MakroTagged 365 Project, Helsinki, Makro, WineLeave a comment

Every year, the terraces of Helsinki seem to collude to invent one new drink or ingredient. This year it’s rhubarb – and, more specifically, the Rhubarb Spritz.

Luckily it’s rather good.

I’ve had quite a few.

Day 159: Taking Flight

July 26, 2026July 26, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Learning, OutdoorsLeave a comment

Alanna often lives in a world of her own making. She sees something, hears something, and you can watch how her imagination take flight. She tells wonderful stories and can become completely absorbed in developing the latest idea that has taken hold of her mind.

Occassionally, this habit can try my patience – especially when we are in a hurry to get something done. But at the same time I hope she never fully recovers from it.