Rob,
I think you just helped me choose my next paddling destination.
Scott
: 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