Ruska 2020

[Salvatore]

This started in Helsinki less than an hour ago. 2000km or so through Finland. (ruska=autumn colours in Finnish)

Dotwatching here: https://www.randonneurs.fi/live/ruska2020/

twitter hashtag: #ruska2020

[quixoticgeek]

This started in Helsinki less than an hour ago. 2000km or so through Finland. (ruska=autumn colours in Finnish)

Dotwatching here: https://www.randonneurs.fi/live/ruska2020/

twitter hashtag: #ruska2020

Watching the photos coming out of this event, it looks stunning.

Yesterday I lost a few hours working out how to get to Helsinki, and how to get home from Varda, without flying.

Does anyone know how often the even runs? is it annual?

I'm thinking 2022...

J

[Salvatore]

Every year so far. The end destination [edit: and sometimes start] is different every year. 2019 was Tartu to Hammerfest.

In 2014 I met up with Mikka and other randonneurs.fi members in Saariselkä when they'd just finished a 1-way 1000km from Helsinki. They were preparing to start the journey home down south by bus - no problem with bikes apparently. I rode there -  the first of my Finnish end-to-ends to go with my side-to-side.

PS I like Finland

[Salvatore]

From Randonneurs Finland on twitter

Final #ruska2020 results are now in. 23 finished, one late, 6 scratched. DNS:s removed from results. 77 % finished is higher than any previous year. Last year only 50 % finished. So far every scratched rider has successfully finished their 2nd attempt. https://randonneurs.fi/ruska-2020/

[Salvatore]

Provisional route for 2021 is here:

• Start is on the coast near Tampere
• CP1 is on an island in the Gulf of Bothnia near Vaasa
• CP2 is inland from Oulu
• CP3 is in Russia - перевал Геологов - Geologov Pass (easy for Finns to cross the border without a visa, a bit of a hassle for others)
• Finish is at the top of Kaunispää ("Beautiful peak") near the ski resort of Saariselkä

I imagine there'll be plenty of challenging mud on the Russian part.

I rode to the top of Kaunispää with Mikko in 2014. It was  just after midsummer, solar midnight, and well above the arctic circle (not relevant for ruska). And the air was perfectly still.


Mikko thinking "This would make a good finish control in 7 years time"




There was even a midnight rainbow

[quixoticgeek]

Provisional route for 2021 is here:

• Start is on the coast near Tampere
• CP1 is on an island in the Gulf of Bothnia near Vaasa
• CP2 is inland from Oulu
• CP3 is in Russia - перевал Геологов - Geologov Pass (easy for Finns to cross the border without a visa, a bit of a hassle for others)
• Finish is at the top of Kaunispää ("Beautiful peak") near the ski resort of Saariselkä

I saw this on Mikko's twitter stream. Shame it goes into Russia, I won't be able to do it in 2021 Let's hope that 2022 stays in Fenoscandia...

J