73.26km –10H05’
Altitude : 212 m
It’s great because our journey into Lapland has brought us lots of messages and inspires much comment. Indeed, the first indigenous people to inhabit the land above the polar circle were not the Lapps but the Sami.
Lapland, in the wide sense of the word, is not located only in Finland but extends in the north to Norway and Sweden and to the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Finland’s Sami population is small compared to that of Sweden and Norway.
« We, the Sami are one people united by our own culture, language and history, living in the regions where, until historic times, we were the only inhabitants and the only ones to work these lands. »
The Sami Council motto
(Don’t hesitate to consult Wikipedia, which is full of information)
Now that we know how to tell an elk from a reindeer, we find we are seeing lots of them in the woods and along the road. Some of these deer live in captivity or on farms and others are at semi-liberty, but generally speaking they belong to someone who can be reimbursed if, for example, a vehicle kills one. You just have to go to the police with the number on the ear of the animal and its owner can be reimbursed for the loss. Reindeer is edible and the entire animal is of use to the Sami, for the fur and the antlers. It amuses Serge to observe them as he passes, when he doesn’t scare them off, because without being ferocious, they seem to keep a reasonable distance between themselves and human beings.
Good or bad weather on the Around the European Union Race? Both, Sir! The cold is almost Arctic at this end of May; only 3°C, and an icy rain falls from the clouds. Then, thanks to a north wind, at 2:00 PM the sky clears, giving us bright sunshine which warms the bones of Eliane and René, who are bundled in their jackets with hats screwed onto their heads. Serge removes some clothing and has only to face the headwind until the end of the stage, but at least with sunshine. There are always two ways of seeing things and since we have to put up with the weather we have, let us be optimistic and focus on the sunshine rather than the wind. I can hear Serge gnashing his teeth because the headwind is exhausting him!
Lastly, the National 4 from Vikajarvi runs along a military zone and the team advances to the rhythm of loud booms, which make the earth tremble and which we think come from armoured tanks firing. The Finnish troops are exercising…and during that time, Serge is running.
Town : Torvinen