Eeva-Liisa Hakala

Working for sports and forests

My life has looked like work pretty much last weeks. And I´m glad about it  . This project will end soon and I'm looking forward the next projects. You never know what´s waiting behind the corner. Just have to go and figure it out!

During covid-19 pandemic I chose the best work solution you can imagine: forest works. Staying alone all day long deep in the forest, no contacts with other human beings and fresh air. Spring is time to growth. After cutting some trees it was time to pay back to Planet Earth by planting new ones. No need to train after workdays. Take a look at that picture and you might get some image about my work physicness. But hey, you gotta do your part what comes to saving this planet  !

In these days there are lots of uncertainty over everything. As I can´t finnish my school at this Spring as was planned I´ve been doing "corona projects" like forest works and construction works. There are also some things that just stays as they´ve been. Like my hobby to ride new trails and marvel at the diversity of place names in the finnish language  . Despite my picture, summer is approaching. But it´s still long way before one can ride with summer equimpents.

For a cyclist there´s nothing you can compare for that feeling when you get a new bike. Described the feeling in one word would be awesomeness! It´s also much more than one word and I´m not going to write a story from that. You´ve better test it by yourself  . So yes, I recivied my new bike at yesterday and today we made our first ride together.

My new bike represents high German quality. Made by Müsing Bikes GmbH (https://www.muesing-bikes.de/en/index.html). It´s quite small company in Freirachdorf, Germany. They build bikes by order. For example as a customer you can individualize your bike by choiceing it´s colors and other parts.

As with any bikes but especially with electronic bikes it´s good to have maintenance close enough for you. We made co operation with Finnish company Move & Go FInland wich is located in Kangasala. For you who is looking a new bike or need maintenace for your bike I highly recommend to take contact with this company: https://www.movego.fi/etusivu.html

...In these spring muddy conditions an electronic mountain bike was perfect. I could keep cadence nicely joyable on the soft wet ground without having to push over the limits. After our first and quite dirty trip my bike needs care. I will make my best that we´ll become close partners! That means adjusting, fixing and adaptating her to understand the same biomechanics as my body. And yes, it´s she. I just haven´t gave a name for her yet  .

Ps. My thoughts are with you guys who has to stay #lockdown

Couldn´t guess that this World wide situation would affect for my life so much. Week ago things started to change also here in Finland. Now it´s obivulsy that my graduation date is moved to "somwhere in the future". Mostly all I can do is to wait. But sure I try to also do something usefull and re-organize my life.

I will move to home soon. As soon as I can. Before that there are some days I´can enjoy the lakeside view from my appartment and ride as much as I want  . Things could be way much worse...

Photo: Helena Hakala

After 4 weeks break I finally found some snow for skiing. Well, I didn´t find it, I just travelled to North  . What a Winter Wonderland with it´s 110 cm deep snow cover!

I haven´t been skiing since the last post, neither have been biking. Mostly I´ve been walking in forests with sticks (some could call it Nordic walking) and with our family dog Ruka. What I´m exited about is a new bike that I´m reciving in a month. Then it doesen´t matter that much even we wouldn´t have skiing condititions. Besides it will be already good time to get back on biking before real summer  .

There were just enough snow for skiing on Monday. But then I travelled to West where skiing is not the best idea to do if not even impossible, so little of snow... I have had time to take care of myself after Spain. It has meant time to train, relax and do some school things. But also time to look forward and make plans for the spring. Seems like I´m moving again in few months. So far summer and life after school is still big question mark. Now I´m enjoying this "unplanned" stage and take the things that pop up in my life with joy  !

Photo: Raija-Liisa Hakala

At least once a year I try to get myself on the startline of skiorienteering race. Firstly cause it´s fun and secondly cause it´s good to keep the touch for orienteering in every way. Yesterday I made it at Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium. Nice to ski on the same tracks that world class biathlon athletes are going to race on again at March  . For us (skiorienteerers) there were new race system in test. They made it fit for television. If you live in FInland you can chek that program from here: https://areena.yle.fi/1-50425766 .

From polar night of Lapland under the sun of Spain. Couple weeks sunny days for the beginning of this year  ? Why not! That what I was thinking when decided suddenly take the chance. I took part for team Finland National Orienteering Federation camp as a muscel maintanancer. It was camp for the youngsters (age 16-22) located at the southest part of Spain. We had some combained trainings and the same accommodation with whole Sweedish national orienteering team. That´s why it was also good chance for our youngsters to see how the professional orienteerers are training and living between trainings.

I´ve got a good experince since the 2008 from these sort of trips. Mainly I´ve been travelling with mtbo´ers. Now it was camp without bikes. It didin´t bothered me at all even it was different people. ´Cause orienteering people are always kind of same wether they do it by running, by bike or by skiis.