Recently there have been issues with the air controllers in CPH airport as their employer believes their contracts require them to take extra hours (whereas the controllers disagree) as they are understaffed and need to fill shifts. This has resulted in numerous delays and cancellations. I noticed that my flight’s departure a few days ago was app 2 hours late, a minor inconvenience if it hadn’t been for my 1½ hour layover in Helsinki.
Fortunately the departure today was on time without a hint of delay and we were off on an as expected uneventful flight. Finland seem to like blueberries – the only free option apart from water was “Finnair’s signature blueberry juice” which was surprisingly good. After the layover in Helsinki the flight to Kajaani was boarded, a small 2+2 seater plane with an overhead compartment just large enough to be able to contain my bag. With a bit of fiddling around I finally settled into my seat and realized to my joy I had an empty seat next to me. Until 3 people were asked to move to the rear due to balancing the plane – me being one of them. So I quickly scrambled to gather all my stuff (my bag was at least easier to pull out than shove into the compartment) and moved to the back row – getting seated next to a very large man who didn’t seem to enthused about the situation either as he had also been moved from where he had had an empty seat next to him. There was no more room in the overhead compartments but I was allowed to keep my bag under a seat at an empty seat despite part of the luggage hold was accessible from the rear of the cabin. Apparently “camera equipment” and “batteries” are magic words to letting you keep your bag with you.
Apart from it was another uneventful flight – stocking up on more water and blueberry juice – and we arrived in good time at Kajaani; basically a single building and a landing strip. Close to arriving I noticed that there was snow laying around on the ground which was surprising to me as the forecasts had said it would be up towards 20°C during the days and 3-6°C during the nights. I assumed I had been looking at forecasts in a different area until exiting the plane and feeling the warmth. Apparently they had gotten quite a lot of snow in the beginning of May and thus the weather was still working on melting the remains.
I picked up my checked in bag – it was literally the last one out, but also maybe the 10th bag so the waiting time was limited – and was met by a short French woman who turned out to be the owner of the place and company I had booked with. Reaching her car she recommended getting my camera out as “you never know what you will get to see along the way” and off we went. The 1½ hour drive did end up being a bit longer than planned as we along the way ended up seeing forest reindeers and a bunch of birds at such a distance, I wouldn’t even be able to recognize them even if I was reminded of their names.
Apparently I’m the only one who has booked the entire 8-day tour, but I will be joined by others who are doing single nights at in the hides.
On arrival my hostess spent around half an hour to dish up with a delicious chicken/mushroom risotto around 2100 before I excused myself and left to my room to get some much-needed rest. The stairs to the first floor ware probably the steepest I have ever experienced. Have to be careful walking up and down to make sure you don’t put your weight wrong on your feet. On the other hand it ensures you always get down – one way or another.
The following morning after a quick breakfast we went for a 3-hour drive-and-walk to have a look around. 20 minutes by car we had to stop abruptly as ahead on the road just turning the corner towards us we saw a mother bear with 3 cubs from last year. I got to shoot couple of quick photos through the windshield and a few out the window before she spotted us after which she turned running into the forest and with the cubs following (after showing a bit of curiosity towards us) following along. The last we saw of them was the adult’s back when racing away among the trees. Apparently people can live in the area for years without seeing a single bear, and I had only been here for 15 hours so far.
During the walk we didn’t get to see any animals, but I was introduced to the local fauna; lichens, birch, pine, blue-, black- and lingon berry bushes. There were no bears on the return to the house and lunch was homemade falafel on a bed of roasted eggplant and potato salad. Half an hour or so later it was time to leave for the hide.
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