Inari, Finland, 15 July 2008, 16:40, 68 deg 53' N, 27 deg 00' E
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Well, I reached the Arctic Circle a few days ago and have now reached the region of 24 hour sun. Because of daylight saving time, I've had midnight sun for a few days now! I just have a short time on this terminal in the Tourist Information Centre in Inari, so I'll have to be brief. Actually, I wanted to eat first, but this place will shut if I do that first. I've been "running on empty" for the last 50 km today, and could desperately do with some food. I left the campsite in Pokka at 8:50 this morning and have done 107 km to here without so much as a house along the way, not to mention a bar or restaurant. The campsite main building was locked up when I left, so didn't even get my water bottles filled up completely. I'd drink the water from the streams around here if necessary, but there are quite a lot of reindeer around, which makes me hesitate a bit.

Anyway, there's a café next door when I finish this report so all's well with the world. I then intend to eat (no doubt pizza or hamburger - it's the universal offering for days now) and then tootle on another 20 km to a listed campsite. That will make it a short day to the Norwegian border tomorrow, and then it's only a few days more to the Nordkapp.

The last 2 days have been really excellent. The weather has improved and the road from Kittilä to here was a dirt road for 60 km, and so had very little traffic. All in all, it's been a wonderful time in Finland. I can heartily recommend it.

OK, the shandy and food are calling. Hopefully the next report will be to announce project completed.

Regards, and thanks for your patience with my rambling reports,

David