Midsummer 2025
My friend Shahriyer planned a midsummer bike packing tour on early April or late May with me, in and around Jyväskylä, Finland. However, we booked our train tickets from Helsinki only on early June.
Jyväskylä is famously called Lakeland and popular for gravel bikes. The plan was for 3-4 nights and camping or lodging based on weather. Eventually, we planned to camp first night on Leivonmäki national park. The weather forecast was not at its best but we went ahead with our plan.
Everything went wrong
In Jyväskylä, it was cloudy and windy. We had a quick lunch in the station. As we started our journey I noticed that I totally forgot my water bottle in the train. After purchasing a new one, I thought now everything will go according to our plan. First day, We had to bike around 60km. However, after 5km, my bike gear stopped working. We were in shock, leaving our plan and going back to Helsinki looked like only possibility.
One positive aspect was we were still inside the main city. Shahriyer smartly web searched couple of bike repairing shop and the second one was luckily open. I had to leave my bike at the store; in exchange I got an old fixed gear and paddle brake bike to continue our journey. Long way to go ahead. Now this bike has no space to carry my stuff, not even my water bottle 🥴. After being thirsty (no cafe in these gravel path) and driven more than 40km I got my bike back. I was feeling lucky that now we can finish our tour.
In the late evening, we reached our beautiful camping site in Leivonmäki. After well desrved swimming and dinner, I went inside the lean-to-shelter. Throughout the day I kept looking for water in the lakeland 🤣.
Midsummer eve
The day started with a bright morning. It went as planned. Two other friends also joined us in the evening near Huikko. We watched a perfect bonfire of midsummer eve. Is it the starting of summer?
Oh no!! little we knew that winter was still around the corner 🥶 ❄️!!
We found a resort like camping area with super clean facilities. The evening was delightful with grilled foods and drinks. Thanks to our friends who drove all the way from Helsinki and bring those snacks. Eventually we went to sleep inside our summer sleeping bags. But hardly we could sleep as the temperature started to drop and at some point it was close to 4°C🌡. One of us literally spent whole night awake next to the bonfire.
That was one of the coldest midsummer night in the history 🥶.
Time for shelter
After the freezing night, the weather was still not favorable. It was going to rain whole day. Therefore, we decided to refuge in a cheap hotel, 25€ twin bed room and sauna. Sounds like paradise. We treat ourselves with good foods in lunch and dinner.
Finally a beautiful day
The dark clouds flew away and the sun 😎 is smiling above us. Our motorist friends are also ready to say adieu to us. And we are of course, ready to paddle our bikes through. The day took us through beautiful roads, landscapes, and many lakes. In the evening, we returned to Jyväskylä.
While having salmon soup 🥣 on the train 🚂 the next day, I realised this trip had really turned out adventurous, but with a good ending.
Thank you
