2023-11-09 64 23

Thu 9 Nov 2023 in 64,23: 64.0351866, 23.6722308 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox

Location

In a field near Velhonperä, Himanka, Kalajoki.

The point on a topographic map: [1]

Participants

• Kripakko

Plans

Looks like a good opportunity to get the virgin graticule. My current plan is as such:

• Take the bus from Oulu to the nearest bus stop (16:30–18:52), bring the bicycle
• Cycle to the geohash and to Kannus railway station (1 h 41 min to cycle 23 km)
• Take the train from Kannus to Oulu (20:33–22:15)
• If the bus is too much late, I can abandon the expedition, stay in the bus all the way to Kokkola and board the same train there at 20:14.

It will not be easy to pull off, but I believe I can do it. I still have time to consider if I want to go or not.

Six hours later: ready to go!

Expedition

I left from work at about 16:15 and cycled to the bus station where the bus to Kokkola was already awaiting passengers. In hindsight, I could have gone to the Oulu slip road bus stop which would have been closer but perhaps less convenient on the whole. The weather was nice and cool: cloudy and around −1 °C. Roads in Oulu were frozen and covered in slippery ice in places, but I have studded tyres, so it was no issue. The temperature in Himanka was expected to be 0–1 °C, so not freezing, but gravel roads might still be frozen and fast to cycle.

In Raahe, the bus was ten minutes late. Not too bad yet, but every minute lost would increase the required cycling speed to reach the railway station on time. Then, an hour later in Kalajoki, the bus was eight minutes late, so it was still looking good.

To be continued...

Photos

• 

  At Oulu bus station, the bus is about to depart.