Collaborative article - Alexandra Parkkonen/Retkeile lakeuksilla
Original text in Finnish- Alexandra Parkkonen
Translation into English - Kupilka
I could camp more lightly if I did not love beautiful breakfast so much. That’s what I have heard said, and I can relate to that. I am more of a day-camper myself than the long-distance hiking type, but I really enjoy those one-night tent trips where I can pack food and gear without worrying about the weight. I love the slow mornings when nature wakes up with me, accompanied by the scent of coffee and the sound of porridge cooking. Maybe that’s why my backpack now includes Kupilka’s beautiful, Finnish-made and durable camping dishes. This time, I took them with me to enjoy a morning in the Kauhaneva-Pohjakangas National Park located in western Finland.
My adventure with Kupilka started in 2020, at the very beginning of my camping hobby, when I got myself the classic Kupilka cup. I remember spending a long time carefully considering which color would suit me best, but in the end, chose the traditional wood tone – the Original brown. Over the years, that one cup has gradually grown into a full set of tableware, which has accompanied me on nearly every trip without exception. In fact, just a few weeks ago, I realized that the classic cup – personalized with my own ‘Retkeile lakeuksilla’ logo I received as a part of a collaboration – has, over the past year, already visited every municipality in South Ostrobothnia. I suppose I can say that Kupilka’s tableware has become my best camping companion.
Kupilka's Finnish-made, timeless and beautiful tableware is suitable for many occasions and adventures.
Amidst the hustle of the springtime, I found myself dreaming of a slow morning at Kauhalammi, and now, finally, this dream came true. As afternoon turned into early evening, I arrived at Kauhaneva-Pohjakangas National Park. I pitched my tent right at the edge of the wetland, which looked like a white sea of cottongrass. I got to experience the first hot evening of this summer, with the sun shining directly onto my tent, but in terms of scenery, I could not be happier with my choice of campsite. Thanks to a gentle breeze, there wasn’t a single mosquito in sight this June evening. I was able to see the last rays of the sun with the tent door open, lying next to my sleeping bag.
In the morning, I woke up to the call of a cuckoo. Unlike what the weather forecast had said, it was drizzling outside. I decided to wait for the rain to stop before starting my day. When the weather finally cleared, I stepped outside to boil water on my gas cooker, to make coffee and cook porridge. For breakfast, I always have rice or millet porridge cooked with milk. Powdered milk is convenient to carry on hikes when fresh milk is not an option. This time, I had berries and granola with my porridge, along with croissants, clementines and kiwis. Summer is a wonderful time, with store shelves full of fresh products. Moreover, soon I will be able to pick the blueberries for my morning porridge straight from the forest.
This is what a perfect way to start the day looks like.
While enjoying a slow and delicious breakfast, I followed the courtship display of two cuckoos. They flitted among the trees, cuckooed, babbled and croaked together. One of my favorite things about camping is having a second cup of coffee. While sipping it, I have time to observe nature and what is happening around me. This is why I have been wondering whether the larger Kupilka cup would be a better choice for me. Still, I have been happy with the classic cup – it lets me enjoy several cups of coffee.
If you are planning a camping trip for this summer, I recommend you prepare your breakfast at home as much in advance as possible. Personally, I like to peel all the fruits and pack them into containers and measure out the exact amount of porridge oats I will need. These things make the mornings in nature more effortless and help to avoid creating extra waste that you’d need to carry out. Furthermore, it is easier to choose the right Kupilka items to bring along. On particularly warm days, I pack some of the food, like fruits and berries, into a small cooler to keep them fresh longer.
After breakfast like this, it feels good to start packing the backpack and taking down the camp. Even though the clouds hid the dreamlike, misty sunrise, I enjoyed every moment. Maybe I will return to the same campsite again later this summer. At least it is certain that I will enjoy my coffee from my personalized Kupilka cup – maybe even tomorrow.
I do not think I could be happier with Kupilka’s outdoor dishware. They truly elevate the snack break, and on top of that, they are made in Finland. Kupilka’s large plate is especially versatile and works well for all kinds of outdoor dining. Its design makes it good to hold on your lap. The plate also slips easily into the back pocket of a backpack – sometimes so neatly that I’ve had to search for it before heading out on my next trip. The bowl, on the other hand, is frequently used during breakfast and with soups. I like that every Kupilka dish is easy to handle even while wearing winter gloves, thanks to the design of their handles. Best of all, they are light enough to hold with one hand, leaving the other hand free to pour coffee, for example.
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