From London to Helsinki on two little wheels

By Agnieszka Flak

HELSINKI (Reuters) - I was spitting dust; my face was burning after days in the sun's glare and the dead insects plastered on my windscreen were too many to count.

But the satisfaction of crossing 2700 km of Europe from London to Helsinki on a motor scooter was sweet as well -- the best part being able to say: I have arrived.

People told me I was mad and reckless to rush off to my new job in this way. Four days in all on the road, averaging 90 km/h, and more terrifying moments than I dare count.

After all, speeding on the motorway like a mouse in a herd of elephants is not everyone's idea of fun.

But the jug of beer at the end of the day -- be it German, Polish or Estonian -- never tasted better than after hours and hours staring ahead, manoeuvring in traffic, and anxiously hoping to reach the next petrol station in time.

The trip this autumn started in London where I set out with a duffle bag tied on back, a small rucksack clamped between my legs and an adventurous friend wedged behind me.

She was my personal DJ, changing tracks on the MP3 player we shared, and also the blinker when the lights of my Vespa did little to make trucks and lanes of cars let me pass.

Once on the ferry in Dover we parked right next to the Harleys and Suzukis, feeling part of the club: not dressed in black biker leathers, perhaps, but we thought we had class.