: We experienced some extreme weather on our paddle but it is one of
: the most spectacular places I have paddled. If I ever become
: wealthy I am going to create a foundation to build public saunas
: in paddling places in North America, what a wonderfaul Swedish,
: Finnish tradition. Slide show will be out in a couple of weeks.

I know exactly what you mean, and I've never been to Scandinavia.

A few years ago when I saw pictures of paddlers, like the one you posted
I was sure it was from the 30,000 Islands area of Georgian Bay of Lake Huron,
in Canada, where I've paddled for over 25 years.

Then, when I heard it was the coast of Finland I realized there was a connection
with the large Finnish population in Northern Ontario. Immigrants from Finland
must have thought they were "home" when they saw an identical landscape of
lakes and islands and glacially sculpted rock.

My family had cottages on a lake in Northern Ontario, where all the local carpenters
were Finns, who built all the cottages on the lake. The Finns all had saunas at their cottages
right next to the lake. So pretty soon we all had saunas.

We learned their secret. After a hard day of work, or paddling, a sauna and a swim
will leave you feeling cleaner than you've ever been in your life, more relaxed than a
boneless chicken, and you'll sleep like Rip Van Winkle.

I hope to complete my sauna building this year. It's been a dream of mine for a long time.

It's been way too long since I had a good steam and a swim!

The picture below is in the 30,000 Islands of Georgian Bay. You don't have to
go to Scandinavia for an identical paddle and a sauna experience.

Rob