THE LAPLAND SERIES, DAY 15, 16 & 17
RUKA – BELFAST
Reindeer Yoga, Vengeance & NYE. Today has been the day I have been waiting for. For over a week I have had to accept coming 3rd place in the last ice karting we had in Saariselka.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I don’t mean to put the pressure on me for this one but it was all I had, I could not afford to lose it!
WHERE IS RUKA PEAK?
Ruka Peak
REINDEER YOGA
First it was the calm before the storm, laying down on some deer fur and doing a few stretches before the real event. Reindeer yoga is no different to that of normal yoga besides the fact you are doing it in sub zero temperatures in a field surrounded by reindeers.
Reindeer Yoga, Vengeance & NYE
DAILY INFO….
- HOTEL – Ruka Peak 8.5/10
- ATTRACTIONS –
Reindeer Yoga
Ice Karting
NYE
Skiing - MILES COVERED -2478.6 miles
- STEPS – 7,700, 8,900, 8,100
ICE KARTING
As you will know, I have made no secret of the fact that I have been looking forward to this since I enjoyed the last race from the comfort of the snow in corner number 2. All my hopes rested on this, I am not sure I could take the abuse over the next few days if I had came up short again.
Firstly it was time to sort out the practice and qualifying. Straight from the off you could tell this was going to be a different outcome, the track was quick and suited me a lot more but it wasn’t long before I was pushed into the snow by my sister Vicki. So far infact that I nearly made it over the bank! But this time I wasn’t waiting to be rescued and jumped out to free myself from the snow.
Reindeer Yoga, Vengeance & NYE
DIRTY TRICKS
Believe it or not it wasn’t long after where mum then put me into the snow. I’m no conspiracy theorist but I can assure you it was deliberate and to be fair to mum the same was admitted after the race. Mum and Vicki would live to fight another day as I had to focus on winning this race first and any revenge would just be a bonus.
Reindeer Yoga, Vengeance & NYE
FLAG….
- WHITE – Symbolise “the white Finland” and the snow that covers the country.
- BLUE – Symbolise water in the “land of a thousand lakes”.
FOCUS
Trying my absolute hardest to forget about the sabotage that the two inflicted upon me during quali I knew I had to focus on my position in the corners and not become another target like the first race. But what I didn’t forget was dad pushing me into the banks on the 1 corner of the race back in Saariselka. If I even got a sniff of a chance I would be returning the favour. It turns out I didn’t need to wait long.
Reindeer Yoga, Vengeance & NYE
RELATED READ: POPPING MY FULL MOON CHERRY
THE RACE
The grid positions were set in reverse order – slowest at the front. This helped me as it meant I didn’t have 3 dirty drivers chasing me down on the first corner again. So after a few false starts by mum we set off. She just didn’t have the beans so the 3 of us passed her before the 1st bend on the right. Vicki to my right and dad just in front of me. The crosshairs become so vivid and the missile locked on ready for impact. Just leaving the foot on the accelerator a second too long was enough to give him the nudge I longed for and allowed me to easily drift passed him.
“DAVID!”
He wasn’t best pleased but long runs the fox dad.
I’m always keen for a bit of competition, and considered waiting for them to catch up again but I approached it the same way dad did on the last race, boring, pragmatic and effective. There were a few times were I could see mum just up ahead but going for it just brought too many risks and it was an easy race to bring home! Saying that I will be able to sleep well at night is an understatement!
NYE
There was no better way to end the year than picking up first place and bragging rights over the others. Tonight it was back to the hotel for a Sauna session and then a special dinner for New Years.
As normal, the hotel was very busy and we enjoyed a semi good bottle of wine, a few G&Ts and some great fireworks. As far as festive trips go this would have to be up there but fairly different to what I have experienced in the like of Buenos Aires, Thailand and Australia.
SUMMED UP….
- MVP – River floating guide for near scaring my mum out of the experience
- HIGHLIGHT – Without a doubt the ice karting
- LOWLIGHT – Northern lights
FINAL THOUGHTS
What an incredible last few days to end the trip, now time for porridge!
NEXT UP
That’s it for this series, all is left is the trips reflection post!! Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
158/229
This post was part of The Lapland Series. To view my Instagram highlights click here.
If you would rather read the rest of the series from the blog just click here.
