Hi,
Rest. The body is increasingly deprived of it. One rest day doesn’t fully restore you, but gives some recovery, yes. When allowed to place oneself under a warm shower, on the benches of a sauna, at a ready set dining table in good company, so at that point if there’s no feeling of joy, then an interruption should be considered. I still sit hunching over in a tent and melt water for food from the snow into a thermos.
At dusk, I reached the agreed road in Onkamo, and after a few curves Saku and Eija came forth. They are my familiar and reliable maintenance crew as well as my friends. They had set off again from Seinäjoki to take care of the skier. All ready in the car was coffee, a donut, a banana and juice waiting to start the immediate recovery. Yes, it was a pleasure to see them again and drive from that place to a rental cottage at Sallatunturi. Again to the ready set table to launch into a chicken casserole and potatoes. However, I did first rinse myself in a quick shower so that the table company wouldn’t be frightened.
The beautiful table setting with its wines distracted me so much that I didn’t even remember to photograph the table setting. It still bugs me. I blame the delicious smell and taste. Fortunately, Eija took photos of the next day’s table setting and these pictures in the article were taken by her. Even though I ate to my heart’s content, there was a dessert delicacy from South Ostrobothnia in the fridge: Piimävelli! (sour milk soup) Ordered from my mother with a text from the middle of nowhere and now it was there in front of me with squeaky cheese and raisins, wheat flour-egg climps and rice cooked in sour milk. Dark syrup on top and voilà! Good food and company makes you feel better. Thank you!
After the meal it was into the sauna, after which I dragged myself upstairs on to the mattress. I opened the window and turned off the radiator. I quickly fell asleep.
In the morning, when thinking about maintenance, I realized to ask the equipment rental company of the adjacent Salla Skiresort for a lubrication service on the skis and toboggan. I was so pleased when there were a couple of worries less about maintaining the equipment. The friendly staff provided grip cream and antifreeze to take with me. Thank you very much for these.
Eija darned a woollen mitten and a merino wool glove. Saku drove me to pick up the skis and merchandise. The number of supplements packed into the toboggan was again outrageous. The side fabrics and binding straps were just about enough, and when the toboggan was then lifted out with the end loops, the use of language was rough. I think it weighed 75-80 kilos again.
As Saku and I drove back to the pick-up point, it felt difficult. As departing from all the other rest days. To get your mind back in the position that Heikki Moilanen had when he looked into the foundation pit of the tower block: ”This is where it begins again.”
-Jukka
