17km’s to Ylämaa

Turning the corner I saw the back of the road sign that would let me know how long was left to go. With the sun setting and the temperature quickly plummeting into the minuses, the body was starting to suffer. With complete ignorance of where I was came hope, hope that I was close, close to the warmth of a heated lodge and being reunited with the feeling in my limbs. This was my first time in Finland and a delayed return home had allowed me to rent a mountain bike. A full days touring in the wild wilderness, looking like a kid who’s forgotten his PE kit but still made to take part, my makeshift riding gear had held up fairly well. However, my rig did lack one key feature; warmth. Not such an issue in the tolerable daylight temperatures but held nothing in reserve. As usual, my ambitious route planning had seen me overreach and I found myself racing a setting sun with empty legs. ‘Ylämaa 17’…more than the hoped for 10 but less than 20, every cloud. Every meter of the next 17km’s will live with me forevermore. I’m not sure at what point you officially transition from ‘blooming freezing’ to ‘hypothermic’ but I got as close as I ever want to. I’m not a stranger to being very cold but when it takes half an hour to turn the key in your front door, you know you’re at the bitter end. ‘17km’s to Ylämaa’, a close call, a true test and an appreciation for life. Never Follow, stay warm this winter!

Wrap up warm and cover the short distance to the next Jotting: 'Chronophobia'