Summer - sun - lots of blueberries - great sunsets - many customers - perfect conditions for all our activities. That's about how we could describe the last almost 3 weeks in short words. Because summer is really showing its best side, the sun is shining almost daily from a blue sky (still 18 1/2 hours per day), the forests are full with blueberries and we have a lot of customers. Short-time-guests for 1 - 4 nights, spontaneously arriving campers, week-guests, known faces and unknown faces. The conditions for all our activities are just perfect at the moment.
The first family-week "Bike & Hike" was succesfull. Hiking to/from Aittokoski, biking to the border, paddling on Lake Puuruu: all was done with perfect weather and an acceptable number of mosquitos. We look forward to the next "Bike & Hike" Families!
Last week we had one more edition of the 4-day paddling-trip "Pankasaari". A real challenge for everyone, also this year! Day 1 is long and hard, especially when having a lot of wind and waves, needs a tough head and strong muscles. Day 2 is a special challenge because of the upstream-part on river Pudasjoki. Pulling the kajak upstream through the rapids is hard and teamwork is needed. Passing by Ruunaa, a cold beer, before continueing to the next campsite. Day 3 is easy and short, compensates for the previous 2 hard days an has 4 refreshing rapids (downstream this time). And then back home on rivers Mukajoki and Jongunjoki on day 4. Awesome sunsets, visible at late night from the tent make this tour unforgettable, as well as wet shoes & clothes and sore shoulders do.
During this week we have 2 Families "Fit & Fun", our second family-week-program. They have all already proven their hiking-qualities. Tomorrow we start out to an overnight-paddeltrip with tents. We hope to have perfect conditions again. And also during this week plenty of other clients, short-stays with activities and campers, up to 22 persons in the restaurant for breakfast and dinner. Yes, there is a lot to do, but that is how it should be. The season is short, so we speed up and get the most out of it.
Our puppies are growing and growing... soon the first vaccination has to be done. The group of 9 from Mulan and Tosca switched places yesterday with the 16 from Happy and Susi. The 9 olders are living now in the puppy-house next to the New Kennels. The 16 younger ones moved to the puppy-fence near the Old kennels. The mums are backin their normal groups during daytime, but happy to be reunited in the evening with their kindergarden for the night. Talvi has already shut down the contact to her 9 puppies, she is happy in the New kennels with her old friends. So these 9 celebrate daily puppy-parties all alone and have a lot of fun.
What else you need to get motivated to a visit and holiday at Eräkeskus? Maybe a hint from the kitchen? Tonight we serve as starter potatoe-bread with dips after a recipe from Julia's grandmother, followed by the famous oven-salmon with lemon-sauce, and as dessert a fresh fruit-salat. Enjoy your meal and see you at Eräkeskus!