Today we move on to Kuusamo. It's a three hour drive and we had some sites to visit on the way.
The roads were wide and clear. Domesticated reindeer grazed by the roadside.
The thaw created rivers in spate and flooding in some areas.
As we gained elevation there was more snow, wintery showers and cooler temperatures.
Mountain hare moulting out its winter coat.
There are many interesting old, deserted buildings.
We took the mire trail at Hirvisuo but there wasn't much to see. Many migrants were
still to arrive. We did see the other three people doing the same self drive tour though.
We visited the visitor centre (closed) at Syote National Park where we bumped into Richard, took a brief walk then went to Vattukuru gorge. It was still under snow cover and I stayed in the car while Chris took the walk. He met Ian with the camper van whose wife had also given it a miss. they both struggled with the trail, Chris going in a stream twice and Ian once. Both were pleased to have a companion. Of the expected species at these walks, Hazel Grouse, Willow Grouse, Capercaillie, Siberian Jay, Three-toed Woodpecker and Red-flanked Bluetail, we saw none of them.
On arriving at Kuusamo we found the meeting place for our next guided tour then went to the hotel.