Before brekkie today we had our first "urban sauna" experience. Every house and unit in Finland has a sauna. We had tried the rustic variety before - cottage beside a lake, sauna with hot coals, birch branches to thwack you with, lake to jump into and beer. The one in Johanna's flat was electric, but nonetheless authentic. I lasted about 3 minutes, John maybe 5, before the heat defeated us and it was only on a "low" 60 degrees! Still, it is the experience that counts, isn't it?

Leena and Jarmo came to admire the Boomer before we set off for Hanko, the southern tip of Finland (after the northern tip of Norway) .

Johanna took the train and we drove, to meet at the family's holiday beach apartment. Drinks and icy gazpacho soup then we rode bicycles to dinner! I had not ridden for years, and no helmets. Fortunately not much traffic and lots of bike paths, so we arrived safely. Admired stately mansions of the rich, and sandy beaches en route. Dinner overlooking the harbour, and then a bike ride home again. About 4km round trip. More riding tomorrow, I am told.

It is relaxing just to be able to sit and read or chat. Like a mini- holiday.