So it's going to be spring again

When looking at the pictures above it might not look like spring - but it definitely feels that way. Not only this blog but also its author have been more or less hibernating for the past couple of months or so. But the days are getting longer and the thermometre is showing milder temperatures and I have started to feel an itch to pack my backpack and hit the road. Today I went for a short local walk with a flask full of tea and a sitmat in my pack. I was breathing fresh air and enjoying the sunshine.

During the past week I have started to plan backpacking trips for the coming spring-summer-autumn season. Repovesi is likely to be one destination (not only because it was elected the Finnish trekking destination of the year, but also because my father-in-law would like to visit it with me and our son). I will also be visiting Kaunissaari once again - if only the schedule is ok I will be helping this friend of mine to set up/take down her camp (like in last September). It also seems that it might be possible for me to reach Lapland this summer. I guess that even our youngest family member has now reached the age when it would be ok for the mom to be away for a week or so. And sure I hope there will be other trips as well. But everything is still pretty much in the planning phase.

I have also gone through my kit. Is there anything I desperately need to buy? Well, not really. Is there anything I'd fancy? Probably yes. After purchasing a top mounted gas stove (the Coleman F1) last year I'd like to try a lightweight hose mounted gas stove. The Primus Express Spider would fit nicely into my bowl (which in turn fits nicely into my pot). Yes, I've visited a local outdoor shop and checked. The first aid kit needs to be checked and updated, too.

So all in all it seems that I'm gradually getting ready for the spring. The vernal equinox will be in less than a month.

PS. Contrary to the plans in my previous post, this blog has not turned bilingual. It would mean a lot of scrolling back and forth, so I'll need to think of another solution.