The Survirally 2025 is located in a delightful location on the Gulf of Bothnia (so the Baltic Sea). The rally is to celebrate Juhannus or Mid- Summer; to us it is the Summer Solstice. Exact location is attached. The rally was small, cozy and attended by 50 or so people with a fair few day visitors.
So it was my intention to leave at 0600 on the Friday (Finnish Rally’s seem to start on Thursdays incidentally) however having had six pints on Thursday I pushed that back to 1000 and still felt like shit for the first couple of hours on the road.
All was well until the motorway came to an abrupt end and the sat nav said continue on route 4 for 438 km, yes you heard that correctly, the main route 4 or the E75 is not a motorway but two way traffic for the remaining 600 Ks I had left.
On arrival I found a lovely location as I said the North East tip of the Gulf of Bothnia. I quickly parked the Pan and got the Wingman tent set up and headed to the bar. Found initially people were a bit stand offish but warmed to my drunken charm later on.
Nothing much more to report for Friday other than it was a good night with a great Finnish rock band, lots of beer and good food the latter included in the €60 weekend ticket price.
On Saturday I woke up with a hangover and headed to breakfast (full continental). Once the hangover sorted itself out I jumped on the Pan and headed off for a ride North. Ended up going to the border towns of Tornio (Finland) and Haparanda (Sweden) and took advantage of Sweden’s cheaper petrol and tobacco prices. Quick bite to eat then back to the rally.
Upon arrival I seemed strangely popular unlike the previous afternoon. So much so I was invited to swim in the sea followed by a Sauna (yes they have saunas at bike rallies). I initially and timidly said I had no gear to which a rolled set of eyes from my host followed by “you are in Finland we do all of it naked.” “Ah right, well okay then” I nervously stated and we were off before I knew it, by which time I felt I’d swallowed a wasp. I quickly forgot about any body issues I had (there were some states involved) and nobody gave a fuck anyway. Once I was in the water, which in male terms the temperature was about 5mms cold. Needless to say that didn’t last long and we were off to the Saunas. Ladies in the ladies, gent’s in the gents.
One problem arose at this point the Sauna takes 4 max and we were twelve. So it was 3 groups 5 mins each. I was in the last group and the only one without a decent sized towel so it was beer outside bollock naked while we waited, then in to the sauna (naked if course) this continued for an hour or so. Then showered dressed and off to the bar for food, music and lots of beer.
I won a prize for farthest travelled male 702 KMs and the night was great.
Gordo
