Programs and Events 2008
Ambassador Barrett Cycles from Nauvo to the Russian Border
From my first day in Finland as Ambassador, I resolved to get a closer look at this beautiful country so I decided to bicycle through the countryside and smaller communities outside Helsinki. This week I cycled over 250 kilometers from Nauvo to Turku and across the southern coast, eventually reaching the Russian border. For part of the trip we cycled the famous King’s Road – one of the most historic roads in northern Europe. During my excursion, bicycling friends and I visited industries, historical sites, shops, farms, ports, town centers and oats fields, along with the Kotka Maritime Festival, local political leaders and cultural points of pride.
From our bicycles we observed dynamic, modern Finland. But beyond modernity, we connected with Finland’s military and cultural origin as we viewed masonry, ironworks, churches, castle ruins and manor houses. We saw orderly farms, neatly trimmed forests and bustling harbors. We picked sweet blueberries and evaluated wild mushrooms. We relished the spectacular panoramas and clean environment and, at the same time, observed nuclear, wind, fossil and hydro-power facilities.
The best part of the trip was the joy of interacting spontaneously with Finnish people. Without exception, the Finns we met were warmly hospitable. To my great appreciation, they willingly shared their homes and their ideas.
And imagine: we bicycled for five days without a drop of rain... good fortune on all counts!
Update: See also Ambassador Barrett's later bike trip - Ambassador Barrett Cycles from Historic Raate to the Bay of Bothnia.