Today was mostly catch up day on the computer. Riding a bike around town was one of the other activities. I also enjoyed some of Kirsi’s cooking in the afternoon as well as a visit to Kirsi’s parents who live just down the street.
In the evening, Maki’s sister and her boyfriend (Anaka & Marco) picked me up and we drove to Kajaani. I was supposed to stay with someone else who I contacted a while ago, but that got canceled a couple days ago. Luckily, everyone was able to help me arrange someone else to stay with. On the way, I stopped at Ristijärvi, Finland. This is where one of my great-grandparents, Aino Kemppainen, was born. However I didn’t have many other details or time to look around town.
This same region of Finland is home to Säräisniemi, a very small town where Tapani Laamanen, another great-grandparent, was born. I do notice now that a train does come within 9 miles of the town, but it is so small I have no contacts there.
Tomorrow I am going to travel to Lehtimäki, Finland, which is home of Albin Leskinen. I was able to find someone there to host me for a night and maybe I’ll be able to find something out about the family.