A quieter start to the day after three pretty hectic ones! On the agenda today was a trip to the local hockey stadium for a match between local team Roki and a rival from the south.

We set off for the walk down to the stadium (some 4km away...but given that our public transport option was a 20 minute walk to the bus then a 20 minute walk from the bus stop to the stadium...we walked) at lunchtime. First stop was the centre of Rovaniemi to check out the shops and to get a replacement set of ice/shoe covers for Bronnie as one snapped as it was being put on...they've had some use. One of the hazards of the unseasonal warmth has been the partial melt of the snowy ground, that on cooling becomes shlick ice!!! The footpaths though had mostly had a fresh layer of coarse sand put on the surface which makes a huge difference. Can still be a bit slippery, even with the spikes on but without...no chance.

As we continued on towards the stadium, on crossing the river we were treated to spectacular clouds similar to what we've seen in Norway, but covering most of the sky this time. Stratospheric clouds with tiny ice crystals that refract the sun in a really pastel rainbow way just as it dips below the horizon. Took the mind off the trudge for a while anyway!

The rest of the walk was a challenge with google maps insistence that if you're walking somewhere, that it ONLY takes you along the route that uses paths ONLY...even if it would be shorter to do a short stretch on a road. Case in point, 7km to get there but 4km back...oh well.

The match was super exciting. The local team Roki were one place below their opponent on the ladder and had lost to them a few days ago. They got to a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minute third, and went on to win 3-1. Ice hockey = great spectator sport. Lots of whamming each other into the walls and amazing skills on the ice. Bit of a long walk home but saved a few euro on an uber anyway and wasn't too cold. It remains a challenge for temperature regulation when it's cold. When walking, it's easy to start sweating, but if you loosen clothing too much, suddenly it feels REALLY cold. Probably master it just before we leave Finland on Wednesday but will probably help in Scotland in the coming weeks! Good day again.