Eeva-Liisa Hakala

Working for sports and forests

This place is called a "bird pond". And that´s what it really is! I fhinished my forest job for now and headed to northern where I´m starting "a new career in indoors". It means also new surroundings and new paths to discover. And this bird pond has nothing to do with my next adress. It was just some place to see on my roadie  .

I needed a rest day and used it for total different activity than the physical one. With my friend we visited some cultural places and monuments near cities Kotka and Hamina. Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge was one of those: https://www.nationalparks.fi/imperialfishinglodge/history .

This is where I´m currently "living". Weather has not been and will not be very nice for forest works during these days: +25 to +30 °C daily. Heat brings extra stress for my body. But this will be my last forest project for now which is why little physical overstress is ok. I can do it (biceps emoji)!

On my way towards next workfield I had time to meet friends. Last time we´ve seen some 8 months ago  ! We went for little cruise to this island which is located in Tampere city. I hadn´t never been on that island before. It´s small enough to go through in a couple of hours as we did. Now, time to pack equipments and tomorrow I´m heading to new surroundings. I am mentally prepared to receive a fairly heavy working days that await me. See ya  !!!

Many things that I couldn´t imagine at the beginning of this year has hapened during past months... Forest works are somethig that I really like. But I was already heading more towards new career as a physioterapist. You just need to give a shrug and say Covid -19 and everyone understands. Yep, as I´ve told I went back to forest works. First I was working with our own farm projects and then I went to plant trees for external employer. One thing lead to another. Soon I´ll bee heading to south for works. Which means temporary relocation for my living facilities (note: not moving  ).

Before my "relocation" I had chance to see these rocks that I´ve never visited before. They are called Kälviän pesäkivet (or Lohtajan pesäkivet: https://kartta.kokkola.fi/IMS/?layers=Opaskartta&cp=7088804,23531916&z=4&title=K%C3%A4lvi%C3%A4n%20pes%C3%A4kivet). Especially in these times when it is good to favor domestic tourism and especially nature sites I recommend that you´ll take a look at map and find some spots you´ve never seen before. I bet there are enough new places to visit for you. Even for me who´s been kind of living in forest there are still millions of places that I´ve never seen. Good luck with exploring  !

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...