:mwink: Hi, it is just me, I got her yesterday and we made it back to home today. :scooter:
Edit: (After travelling about 370km together.)
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:mwink: Hi, it is just me, I got her yesterday and we made it back to home today. :scooter:
Edit: (After travelling about 370km together.)
(Ok I make a combined ride report and introduction in this thread. I know there is a designated place for ride reports, and I will use it after this report, but for this report I feel the introduction thread is a proper place.)
The Long Wait finally ended. I never got Galaxy 250 XTR, but I got a Skyteam 250 ST enduro. I took a train to Tampere and said goodbye to the train. As much as I like to travel by train, I much more prefer to travel by motorcycle.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...tam_nainen.jpg
I felt so abandoned I almost cried because I called three people to take me to the Skyteam dealer and everyone of them were unable to do it. One had to get his kids and wife and bring them here and there, one had to lead a meeting, and one had to go get wheels and tires for himself. People have so much life I at times wonder could they share some.
Luckily there are professional transportation services. I took a taxi from the railway station and proceeded to the Skyteam dealer. There was much love in the air when I saw my Skyteam for the first time.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...am_sky_eka.jpg
She was not perfectly brand new but still quite unused.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...ds/tam_mit.jpg
Would you buy a bike from this man? I did happily. It was a blast to do business with him.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...m_sky_luov.jpg
After leading an important meeting Tomas had time to come check my bike.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_tomas.jpg
When I drove around Tampere I met two guys drinking beer and racing with these little bugs. The Ferrari used to be the winner but for some reason things has changed.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...s/tam_bugs.jpg
My Skyteam stares coldly at the fuel prize in Finland.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...m_eka_tank.jpg
To be continued...
Good to see you got some wheels! Looking forward to hearing more. What is May in Finland like, is it warm enough to really enjoy riding?
When I drove around Tampere I met two guys drinking beer and racing with these little bugs. Sounds like Finland is like Australia, without the flies and sun! Fuel prices here at present are about equivalent to just over a dollar US a litre.
We had extraordinary warm weather here for about almost two weeks. The temperatures were +25 Celcius (77 Fahrenheit) and more. According to forecasts it will be much colder in the upcoming week. Colder than it should be normally.
Fuel costs here 1.5 euro one litre. It is quite some more than 1 euro per litre. Flies we don't have that much but we have mosquitos.
It can take some days before I can continue the story, work issues, but I can't complain of that even though I need to photograph funerals. Such can be life.
Great buy, Moilami!! We used to have the 200 Skyteams imported and distributed by United Motors, but they lost interest in the dual sport, and now UM is no longer in business here. I know that Skyteam had an exclusive deal with UM, but now they might be able to bring these over. They seem more interesting than the 200, that is for sure!
Hi Moilami,
great to see that you finally got your ride. Very nice bike and popular color... You report is really nice and funny. Hope to see more coming up from you and the bike. I didn't look much around in China on local bikes besides the XTR and the JH600. Is this bike being sold in China too? Anyone knows the maker?
Wishing you many fun miles on the bike :riding::riding::riding: - and lot's of pictures for us...:deal:
Cheers,
AW.
I am not sure of the extended name in China (i.e. Shadong Chongqing Lifan Zongshen Factory Company, LLC ), but the compan's main name is actually Skyteam.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pfaelzer
OK, found the company http://www.skyteam.cn/
And the company's name is not just Skyteam, but aka Jiangsu Sacin Motorcycle Co., Ltd.
Thanks all and sorry for my bad English. I am happy with my bike and very curious to see how it goes. Will write more of the bike as the report/introduction goes on.
The journey continued and after feeding myself with a “panilla” or something and with fuel my bike I inspected it. The Skyteam looked all good, except it was dropping oil. Or so I thought, it was oil coming from the chain concentrated on the one specific place in the chassis. The dealer at least had lubricated the chain well.
There was another problem too. It was too long way back to home for my bike without any oil changes. So I had two nice choises: either drive on and try to find a place on the way where engine oil can be changed or find a nice place to sleep and go in the morning back to the dealer. I opted for the latter and called one lady I knew near Tampere. Unfortunately she was not at home but in a work related trip and would not come back untill the next weekend. It meant I had no choises except to hit the road.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_jarvi.jpg
My left foot was almost numb because the second gear was at times next to impossible to enable in the city after the first gear (the problem now non existing). Leaving the city dealt with that problem. So I was enjoying big time of the incoming early night and warm weather with no problems, picking up photo opportunities here and there.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...tam_ohitus.jpg
Since I didn’t had unlimited time with me I had to buy a map and do some planning on which route to take. It was not hard to ignore bigger roads for nice small roads, for the small roads I had time.
I thought that maybe I could change the engine oil in some fuel station. The first one I found was so called “cold station”, no luck this time.
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The cold station refused to sell me fuel in small enough quantity to refil my bike.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...olt_lahto1.jpg
After turning to a nice small road and driving it some time I saw a small village general goods shop and a backyard with two men and one ATV quad in the backyard. I kept driving untill I came to the next crossroads. There I stopped and begun to think what I saw. The bearded one looked like he could understand something of engines, and ATV quad suggested the same. I watched kids playing near me and thought I better go ask for help from them. The conversation went like this:
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Do you know where I can change engine oil to my bike here? It is a brand new bike and I have a long way back to home, it would be really awful for the bike if I would have to drive all the way back to home with the same engine oil.
- Hmm.
- I can pay you something, say 20 euro.
- Is that KTM?
- No, uhm, err.. it is just a china bike. I like KTMs a lot but unfortunately I had to buy this and see how it goes.
- Do you have engine oil?
- Yes, the dealer gave me a bottle and said I should change the oil somewhere on the way.
- No problems mate, I will change the oil for you.
- Great! I pay you.
- No, you don’t have to pay anything.
- Really?
- Hey, this is now a different situation. You don’t have to pay anything. Now let me change the oil for you.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...mekaanikot.jpg
In addition to being a merchant in the shop he was also a professional mechanic, repairing all kind of engine powered stuff around. I had hard time in believing how lucky I was to meet them. For one it felt great to be a Finlander in Finland, and to meet other Finlanders. They seriously saved my day and for sure the day after too.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...am_irrotus.jpg
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...s/tam_irti.jpg
The used engine oil in the bike looked nasty! I had only drived 65km at that time! The dealer said he changed the oil too. The sight of the engine oil made me even more happy I got the oil changed! For my Skyteam!
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_oljyt.jpg
After I told them I am going to write a story of my trip and publish it in Internet he laughed and said write in it too that be welcome all people to come change the engine oil by Service Chief Esa Laakso at Nikkilä’s village general goods shop. I say highly recommended! Seriously guys, I hope you read this someday and know that I am more than very eager to give you a hand in turn anytime. You rock, let the flag stay high.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...tam_kauppa.jpg
Now everything was more than perfect, my Skyteam got the oils changed and I was darn good to continue my journey back to home.
Great story moilami and nice looking bike too. Just a note, make sure that you get the filter changed soon if it already wasn't. That oil looked pretty nasty for such a short time riding. Your filter is grabbing the bits of metal as the motor is braking in and is sure to be full.
Great report.
That's what happens when traveling. Always meet good people. More, more, more,...:clap::clap::clap:
My bike doesn't have a regular oil filter. It only have stuff like this:Quote:
Originally Posted by david3921
Attachment 1608
Great story Moilami!! Keep the photos and the story coming. I don't get to see many photos of Finland, and from your perspective, they are even better.
Ah, the screen. Well, it looks like you're up on your knowledge, have fun.Quote:
Originally Posted by moilami
Actually I am a very poor mechanic. Had friends who did practically everything for my previous bike.Quote:
Originally Posted by david3921
So, my bike was in excellent condition and I was succesfull in my first priority mission to get the oils changed. I had all night long time to drive anywhere I want, if I so desired. I asked from service chief Esa Laakso is there any dirt roads towards Lahti, and he gave me directions to one. It was the time to take one last picture of this very nice village called Nikkilä and move on.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_talot.jpg
I found the dirt road and had tons of good time driving on it. On dirt my Skyteam really shined, even though it was still a little bit shy of me and did not yet show its best performance. That I understood well.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_mutka.jpg
All good things come to an end and eventually the I found myself driving in tarmac. I visited yet another fuel station and ate a sandwich there. I had no idea where I was, so I had to ask from the merchant lady about my location. The map told me I was about 30km from Tampere, if I remember correctly, so can’t speak of progression distance wise – a minor detail I just laughed at.
However the night was surprisingly cold and I wondered if I should find an inn and rest. I thought that well alright, I can do it IF I happen to find a very cheap place. It meant in practise that I wont sleep on clean sheets. After some driving I found an old mansion now used as an inn. It looked cool and for the sake of curiosity I went inside and routinely asked for a price of a room. The nice lady told me that unfortunately she does not have any rooms left. We pondered the situation and I finally said that it is fine, I can easily drive more. The house were populated by very drunken Finnish people singing Karaoke upstairs loudly. Even though it was cool I don’t think I would had been not able to sleep there.
I went out of the house near my bike and after a while the lady came out too and said she is going to lock the doors and go home. That certainly inspired me to think about asking her how much a sofa at her home would cost. There was just a problem, maybe she would be unable to handle a real man like me? Then suddenly the real problem arised. Would I be able to handle a lady like her? I shrugged in my mind and replied to her drive safely wishes that I will.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...s/tam_talo.jpg
The night was even colder and I stopped a couple of times on the way to warm up a little. I wore only my enduro driving suit and a t-shirt under it. Was rather stupid to not take more clothes to the trip but can’t say it was an issue, I had time to travel slowly and enjoy. The breaks from driving also did good to my rear, the bench was hard to sit for long periods of time.
Before I arrived Lahti while I was taking a break somewhere I felt for the first time compassion and love at my bike. It was a great moment I enjoyed. This can be hard to understand for those who don’t drive motorcycles, or maybe not, I don’t know if people can feel the same for cars. I can’t feel the same for cars so it could be hard for me to understand.
Anyway, I knew we would make it. Me and my bike. I trusted my bike and appreciated I can drive it. The Skyteam felt like a woman who is not fine tuned artificially to please eyes and body. It felt like a good real woman I don’t have to fear leaving me for another man. I thought that one good thing in china bikes is that they probably don’t attract thieves. I watched my bike standing on the tarmac and waiting for me to give life for it. Suddenly I realized that dang, I can’t compare women to my Skyteam because my Skyteam is like a dog. It just waits for me patiently and says come as you are, I don’t judge you and I will come with you anywhere you take me, no matter how you are.
Pity I did not take a picture of that moment but it was too personal private moment to capture on a camera and publish in Internet.
I arrived to Lahti city at night and drove around watching night life on the streets. There was not much to see, except near some entrances to the bars.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_lahti.jpg
My mind got again distracted by warm and clean sheets in the hotel so it was the time to eat something before finding a nice place to rest or even sleep.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_safka.jpg
I looked for one place I knew which could be fine for camping without paying, but were unable to find it. Instead I found the harbour of Lahti for the first time in my life. I walked around and thought about waking up there in the morning. I did not like the idea so I chose to just rest on the bench and wait for the morning to come and bike shops to open. A woman with two dogs walked past me and the other dog pooped to the grassy area in the front of the bench. Oh well, who cares, the bench was good and the air was fresh.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...tam_satama.jpg
Some time passed and one scooter police passed me too. The early morning came, within came screams of hundreds of seagulls. The seaguls had plenty of good time in the nearby breakwater construct. This was their home. Alright, time to change place after taking a couple of pictures. I never wanted to sleep there anyway.
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One last photo and onwards.
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I inspected my bike and found that something is going to break soon. It was a rubber thingy separating the plastic fairing and muffler. At the time I write this it has not yet breaked.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_rikki.jpg
Lahti is famous in being a winter sport city in Finland. I saw the Ski Jumping towers and it was a must to go take a closer look of them. Maybe I could get some pictures of the city from there in the early morning light. I was sleepy but had to find some view for my bike and the towers.
Near the roots of the towers were very comfortably looking grass, the sun shining on it. It was just a fine place to rest some more. The ground was a little bit cold, but I had warm driving pants and the rising sun warmed me more. My last thoughts before I fell asleep were: alright, not a good idea to sleep here, someone can come pick my pockets while I sleep and get my wallet and keys to the motorbike. Not good to fall asleep before I hide the keys and wallet somewhere inside my driving pants rom where people can’t get it without me waking up. So can’t fall asleep.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...am_hyppyri.jpg
I woke up and saw a man walking near me asking is everything alright. I said yeah no problems, I just rest here a little. The man said aha ok and went away. I was very sleepy and wanted to sleep more. I watched as the man begun to do some maintenance things around the towers, and I fell asleep again.
The next wake-up came from a big school bus full of little kids yelling. I watched the clock, it was three to ten in the morning. About just a fine time to continue my journey. The maintenance man begun to drive some noisy vehicle so I did not have much choise either. I started my bike and drove near the maintenance man and greeted him as thanks for everything.
(To be continued... next time with more pictures, explosions and stuff with less text, was tired and did not photograph much at this part + lack of light, sorry.)
Some great pictures and a fun tale ... keep it up! The calm glassiness of that sea shot is amazing and it is good to see the picturesque houses old and new. Australia is such a new country they worship shacks that are just a hundred years old ( and meant to last just 20 yrs) and they put protection orders on ugly cement sheet shops from the 1970's. I thought Finland was all log cabins and birch trees .... lol. That dirt road is just like the roads round me that I use daily, except mine are all corrugated and potholed because another things the Ozzies never learnt was how to build dirt roads that last. They don't crown them or put in ditches, hence they scrape and smooth them every few months (to no avail, filling the holes with dust only lasts a few days). Your forest road looks like you could get some speed up and drift ...
Thanks Jape (sidenote: it is a lakeside view, not a seascape). I am not sure but I think people rebuild dirt roads annually here. We have a hard winter and the spring makes dirt roads very messy when the snow melts. All dirt roads I have seen are messy in the spring, and a little bit later they are like new. Then during the summer and autumn the dirt roads go again a little bit bad, the snow comes, and the cycle gets repeated next spring.
By the way you wrote somewhere you have there +10C or so, we have had now about a week around +10C also and will have that kind of temperatures for some time according to forecasts. So as for now our "summer" is like your winter :rolleyes1: It should not be that cold here though.
The morning in Lahti city was very pleasant even though I had to drive here and there while looking for a repair shop. I at first called to the Skyteam dealer and asked where in Lahti there is the approved repairing shop. The dealer asked how much I had driven. I told him about 190km and that I managed to get the oils changed yesterday at 60km. He said I can drive to Mikkeli without changing oils. I said I want to change the oils, I haven’t spent a night in Lahti in vain. The dealer gave me contac details for the approved mechanic, but we however agreed that I can go change the oils to any shop and maintain the guarantee of the bike. So I chose to go to Riku Motors, of which I have heard good things.
At first I found Riku Motor’s motorcycle and gear shop. There I met the head of the shop himself in person. I asked from him how much it costs to change oils. He said I must go ask about it from the Riku Motor’s repairing shop and gave me a card with driving information. Then another customer came and said he wants to buy a bike. Riku said alright and asked me what bike I have. I said I only have a small enduro and proceeded to walk out of the shop. Riku followed me outside even though he had a customer who wanted to buy a bike. Outside of the shop Riku was impressed of my poor little Skyteam and asked how much it does cost. I said 3000€ list price. Riku Said “It is nothing”. I disagreed and he said it can still be a lot of money. This time I agreed and we kept chatting about my bike for some time before I left and he went to serve the customer wanting to buy a bike. Amazing! Stories of the owner of the Riku Motors appear to be very much true. Just a freakingly big pity I did not took a photograph of him observing my Skyteam. Lazy shy me!
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I found the Riku Motor repairing shop. There were plenty of bikes waiting to be served inside. I told to workers I have a new bike and I am breaking the motor in on it and need to get the oils changed, how much it would cost. They said 50 to 60 euro, which made me start complaining at once of the price. I however agreed after they answered that the price of the oil is included in it, also again I had no plans to spend a night in Lahti in vain.
I drunk a cup of free coffee for the customers from the selection of different refreshments in liquid form. It took about 5 minutes before they were ready to take my bike in for the emergency maintenance. Another 5 minutes and I got my bike back. The bill was 46 euro. Now it was just a matter of driving about 120km back to home. I got the oils changed two times as I had planned. The reason for so many oil changes were a new theory on breaking in the motor. I don’t go to the reasoning of it but the theory suggests one to drive harder and change the oils more frequently.
After driving about 20km from Lahti and driving through Heinola, a small village, I saw a car blocking the way and smoke coming from the distance. I saw an adventure!
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_lah_2.jpg
The car turned and went away. I had already dismounted and begun to walk towards the smoke when I heard a series of loud explosions. Puzzled on what is happening I took photographs of explosions and cursed I had no zoom or tele lense in camera. As you can see, the explosions were quite big when you compare the size of fire to the street lamps and street lamps to the road worker. This is very unusual in Finland.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_lah_3.jpg
I was worried if the road workers would turn me back if I try to drive closer with my bike, so I had to keep walking. And now comes a pro tip (even though I am not a pro photo journalist): act like a pro and you will be treated like a pro. I can’t count how many times people have asked to what newspaper I do photograph. There was a problem that the road worker would turn me back even though I was not driving my bike. To counter it I begun to take pictures of him while he closed by.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_lah_4.jpg
It worked or he was not interested of me, he just ignored me and turned the cars away. Note my great little Skyteam parked on the side of the road.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp.../tam_lah_5.jpg
Another road worker came to guide the traffic and the same trick worked. Act like pro and don’t begin to ask stupid questions. I don’t actually know how the pro photo journalist work but I guess they god damn take pictures xD And since I am a photo journalist and adventurer wannabee I god damn take pictures too.
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The first fire department rescue car came.
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To the opposite direction went a road working vehicle.
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Two men were watching the situation. After I photographed them I got confirmed I was acting good like a pro since they asked me do I photograph to some newspaper. I said no I don’t. Unfortunately I had no time to have a chat with them. Duty called!
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It was going all good from my side, I managed to get closer without being asked to go away.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...tam_lah_10.jpg
Act like a pro; get access and get the pictures.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...tam_lah_12.jpg
Seriously, it is good if someone documents what kind of work these firemen do. They are the first to go literally in to the fire. Even I were fine letting them go first. The best wisdom of life I have been told is “it is okay to be crazy but it is bad to be stupid”. I heard that when I was 18. I can say it has ever since been my motto.
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I was told that there can be some gas bottles which has not yet exploded.
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Firemen discussing about the situation.
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Fight fire with water!
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Great work firemen.
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The firemen did their job, and thanks to their judgement skills they let me do mine as a wannebee photo journalist. The world is now a little bit better place.
http://moilami.weebitila.org/blog/wp...tam_lah_18.jpg
Unfortunately my memory card became full of pictures so I chose to go away. My little but great Skyteam was waiting for me faithfully. It was great to meet her again, I can say it was relatively long time no see! I got an ad hoc surprise adventure, of which I have to admit I was very happy and my spirits were high big time, yet I could not help it but to think how nasty the smoke looked and how much firemen get exposed to it. Have to treat them with respect.
(To be continued..)
You are doing well in life's small adventures mate! There is unlikely to be a law against impersonating a journalist/professional photographer but you should try and get some credentials .... :lol8: Not necessarily a Union, it could be a Professional Association and you might get in by offering your services to be listed as a self-employed local representative for a nearby newspaper or TV station. Or as I did, many moons ago, start and print and edit your own local journal and get the credentials started that way. Offer pictures to local news services and try and get some high res. video as well, inexpensive and very portable these days. Local interest pictures you offer for free but wanting attribution at first may be the way to go, gets you some status and a portfolio, then you can move up.
Don't forget, all though you gave up on Computer technology as a career, these days you can justifiably start, run and publish a web magazine and gain credentials that way. Use a modern internet connected phone or wireless netbook all set up for quick uploads.
Get up to date with the laws of privacy as apply in your country (spend a bottle of whisky on a session with an experienced journo, never met one yet who wouldn't enjoy that, male and female). Think about insurance too. Third party as well as your own. Good luck, follow the dream - many photo-journalists started out on a motorbike I am sure!
Moilami,
I hope you called the local newspaper and sold them your pix -- at least 46 euros to cover your oil change! One sale like that and you are no longer an amateur. Actually, all my photojournalist friends will hate me for saying that. It's almost impossible to make a living as a news photographer because everyone now has a camera in their pocket, and the news media like getting things for free or almost free...
I once had a neighbor who was a medical doctor as well as avid photographer who liked nothing more than covering firefighters in action. His office always crackled with the sounds of a police scanner and he'd rush out the door at the first word of a fire or accident. There were plenty of occasions when he had to put down his camera and help treat the injured, but he always came away with powerful images.
Thanks Jape of the good suggestions. I wont however give my pictures for free to any commercial company or organization. It is a matter of principle I developed after reading and hearing pro photo journalists. Commercial entities don't deserve to get my work for free. If it means I will never make money with photography then so be it. If I get some kind of apprentice/trainee position then that will be a different thing.
Euphonius, I paid attention are there any other photographers and there were none except one held a compact camera in his hands far away of the situation and one kid photographed with a camera phone from far too. I knew I would have some photographs for the local newspaper and more; I would have the best photographs. Anyway I were too busy in continuing my journey and disliked a lot the idea of giving the memory card with all the pictures of my trip away to unknown people. I thought about driving quicly back to home and offering the pictures from my home via Internet. In that I failed however since it took longer than expected to get back home xD Not too long though, again lazy me for not reaching for the opportunity to sell the pictures which would had given some colour to the article of the accident in the local newspaper. I also think I owe that to the firemen :gaah:If I could do something differently I would go in person to the local newspaper right away after filling the memory card. Would had made a different kind of additional adventure too.
You are welcome, I enjoyed my short time in the game, opened lots of doors and was fun taking on local Council, politicians and so on. When I said 'free' I also said for 'attribution' which used to count for something, a published picture with your name is (or used to be) worth money in the bank when you start. Most famous photojournalists have an iconic pic of some sort that got them recognised. Anyway, good luck and looking forward to seeing more.
Hmm, okay have to think about that. After all a picture unpublished is a picture wasted, except as part of personal memories.
So... judging by the photos, not all Finns are blond and blue eyes... ;-)
xD Well yeah, not everyone... but brunettes are almost considered to be exotic here xD And naughty :rolleyes1: blondes are considered to be potentially good wifes xDQuote:
Originally Posted by Zorge
Attachment 1696
Actually women here can often have grey and green eyes, in addition to blue. And brown of course which is exotic for sure. But go to Sweden, I almost freaked there when someone told Swedes have the most blue eyed people per capita, and I begun to pay attention. Everyone I saw had blue eyes! Brunettes and blondes alike!
hi moilami,
what beautiful pics from your part of the world mate great to see another part of the world from another perspective
look forward to more photos and reports
cheers matt
Thanks Stromnes. I like a lot these motorcycling forums because in here people demand photographs as opposite to my relatives and friends who could not be less interested, or worse as it is regarding my relatives who begin to ask question and interrogate me for being in the wrong place in the wrong time -.-
After photographing the accident on the road I knew I would have the best pictures of it since I were the only photographer around. I had an option to try sell some to the local newspaper or even to a nationwide newspapers since it was a very unsual accident. The options did not interest me much anyway because it could had meant giving the memory card away for strangers, which in turn would had put at risk all my pictures from my trip. There was a tiny theoretical chance of losing all my pictures, and I didn't want to take it. After all my main audience were in Internet, not in printed media.
A new memory card I had to get, so I drove back to Heinola city. From there I found one and tried it outside of the shop. Below is the picture taken, published here for Jape for him to see cityscapes in Finland. Cities does not interest me much, they are dull, dirty, messy, noisy and boring places full of regulations and limits. I don't get it why to travel with haste through all kind of wonderfull places in the rural areas just to sit in traffic jam in some city with issues in finding a good place to eat etc. It is cool? Eh... not for me.
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The road where the acident happened was still closed. I had to find another way to Mikkeli, which was not hard. There are tons of roads in Finland. I just drove somewhere and let o'Fortuna chose my way. As usual she smiled upon me warmly and I found much more interesting road which even led me eventually to Mikkeli. Were I in need of a bath I could had done it along the way.
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Things begun to look really good when I saw a road sign saying "possibly nasty damaged road ahead". I did not know where I would end up. It mattered little.
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I found a small nice general goods shop, and it was a time to get some refreshments. I bought Coca Cola and went to sat on the opposite side of the road on the shade of an old barn. There I enjoyed the best moments on my trip. The weather was very sweet, and I was very relaxed listening birds singing watching people come and go.
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"Unfortunately" however my friend again asked me in phone when I am back to Mikkeli and come quicly if you want to get some excellent Thai food. Hell yeah! I grabbed a map of the improvised saddle bag made of my old helmet (travel light they say) and figured out which of the two road choises would be the fastest way to Mikkeli.
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The journey to get the bike was coming to the end. Had I shipped my bike it would had costed me 140 euro. On my trip I spent less money and got a priceless journey. Not a grandiose epic around the world trip, but I had no reason to whine about that. I took the last travel picture 40km away of the Mikkeli and felt very good of my little Skyteam. I felt also a burning desire to plan a tour to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, then back to Sweden and Finland. Or more extreme touring Kola Peninsula in Russia. I had developed a trust bond between me and my Skyteam, now named unoriginally as "Orange" (thought about Mandarin too, but it felt too much of mockery and I love Netherlands). Here she waits, asking for more.
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The trip from Tampere to Mikkeli gave her 370km. Almost double when compared what would had been the shortest way. Now as I write this I have driven 1100km with no problems at all and only one nut coming slightly lose in addition to slightly too lose chains which had to be adjusted and slightly loosened mirrors.
The Skyteam ST 250 can vibrate a little, it is not highly powered, and the bench is not very comfortable for longer touring (what do you expect). Other than that it seems to be very competent and sturdy little machine. Highways are not her ground though nor mine. She shines on the dirt and excells off-road. She is fine in a city also.
I have to say I am quite perfectly happy with my Orange Skyteam. Of course more power would be great, but can't get everything for the price I paid of her. Overal she was a huge positive surprise for me and I have to bow and thank big time Sirkku Kantola, a Finnish woman, Master of Engineering, enduro racing driver, a mother, a mechanic, an independent and objective critical thinker etc etc for recommending me the Skyteam. Thank you! In addition to her I have to thank Service Chief Esa Laakso in Nikkilä and his friend, the unknown maintenance worker at Lahti skijumping towers, Riku Motor in Lahti, and the great My China Moto community (and ADVrider), my relatives and friends all for being part of making my first date with Skyteam possible as it was. Thank you! Drive safe and may the Force be with you.