29 juni 2012

Hold on to your dreams!


Is that the doorway to heaven? Maybe the entrance to the time yet to come? No, that's the mirrorcube, one of Treehotels exciting rooms..! They were very kind to offer us lunch as we passed by and this morning I had the luck to get my own private guided tour. We've just said farewell to our talkative and sweet landlords by whom we've been hosted like royalties. I wish more people would seize the chance when opportunities comes along. Life is full of possibilities and we make choices every day which eloigns us or brings us closer to our dream.

Despite the pouring rain we've come to the point when it's time to hit the road again.

So long!
Elin

26 juni 2012

It's not gone just 'cause you've closed your eyes

With fluffy Eriophorum scheuchzeri swaying innocent in the wind we're still heading for the summer. Concerning one of the reasons of why we do this travel, a conversation we've had the other day strikes me all of a sudden. We all have the right to a decent life, right?

I talked with a wise teacher about the (swedish) school system and why the disorderly conduct increases in many places. He stressed that we cannot rationalize a system which is in chaos. We have to solve the problems first. Teachers nowadays are bound to carry out more than what's healthy in long term. Their schedule is so crammed so that on their short pause for breath between the class room and their staff room they don't have the energy to deal with pupils' conflicts. Yes, teachers are often aware of bullying and harassment. Yes, parents are also playing a big role. I claim that we all have a responsibility for building healthy surroundings. As class mates, as family, as neighbours, even as pedestrians. It's not gone just 'cause you've closed your eyes.

The only thing that needs for evil to win is that the good people are doing nothing.

/Elin

24 juni 2012

Wuthering heights

We've left the polar circle and Nordkapps wuthering heights far behind us. Lately we've explored opencasts and devastated mines in Gällivare, experienced the solitude of a hotel in Vuollerim. When we were sure of being the only ones left we couldn't help being overwhelmed by a prankish mood. Jesper and I looked at each other, increased the volume of the stereo and danced like maniacs in the lounge. Funny indeed, you should try it!
The following morning we had our first fellow accompanying us for a few kilometers. Congratulations Andrzej Augustynowics! :D

Hugs! Elin

23 juni 2012

Life is not a duty but an opportunity

Look again. That's not a steamy beach we're melting on ;)

Jesper wanted some time for himself while I went with our host Johnny to enjoy the landscape from within a Swedish hot tub. Afterwards he brought me to a mountain with great view where you can see almost 10 % of the area of Sweden.

On our way back home he said "Hey, let's make some snow angels here. Midnight sun on Midsummer Eve and everything!" Hell yes, I thought, this very moment won't return. Hm.. and shouldn't we eternalize this crazy impulse somehow? Let's find some tourists, I suggested. And we found two sleepy mobile homes. I chose one of them and knocked at the door. Out stumbled a slumbrous and surprised man. I explained our little whim and the man seemed glad to be in our service.
Well, the experience was coooold.
Exalted and giggly we drove back in our beachwear to see if Jesper was still awake..

Life is not a duty but an opportunity!

Elin

22 juni 2012

The story about Elin and Jesper


In the end of January 2012 I received an email via CouchSurfing.
A guy named Jesper was looking for a couch in my town for this summer. He would travel Europe from north to south with no more means of transportation than his unicycle. Thereby Jesper needed somewhere to stay in my town for one night. Of course he could stay at my place! In the email he also invited me to cycle along as many kilometers as I wanted.
Three days later I had carefully studied his project and had come to the conclusion that I just Had to join him on this crazy and important travel. (Note that we still hadn't met in real life.) One or two weeks later we met in Stockholm and I still had a good feeling about it all.
Shortly after I communicated the news at work and they immediately accepted my wish to be on leave for five months.

The following four months went quick with all intensive planning.
Jesper and I have travelled together for three weeks now and mostly we stay with people we've never met before. Thanks to the brilliant network CouchSurfing! It's liberating in a way to realize that we're all part of the same world. I'm more and more becoming aware of how far we can reach when we're collaborating and helping each other.

One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching ;)

Hugs ♥ Elin

Wonders of nature



I have to say that we've been quite lucky so far. Hardly no muscle fever and Jesper felt pain in his knees only the first days. Could it be because we're using the Heat Lotion and the dietary supplements ARGI+ from Forever Living Products? Or is it owing to all good vibes we're getting from everyone? ;)
Until now we've met many pleasant and likeable people and we haven't paid for any accomodation. We've beholded hordes of reindeers feeding, sea eagles hunting, mustelids peering outside their hiding-places and majestic black ravens taking the sky. Fantastic flow!

21 juni 2012

Caressing a moose


Weeha!
We've reached warmer latitudes (Lappesuando) :p Yesterday we've had 4 °C and now it's 10 °C.

Today we had the chance to caress a moose. In a moose park, but still..! The horns felt a bit like the skin of a kiwi and the vast creatures faithfully jogged along when the owner whistled. Quite a peculiar view..
He informed us about the number of roughly 300 000 moose in Sweden and the fact that in average 15 moose per day are killed in the traffic, all year.

Furthermore, approximately 4000 bears inhabit our oblong country and within the space of a century not more than four people have been killed. To see a bear one must be more than lucky he meant.

Jesper interjects that we have now made 660 km. Chapeau!

18 juni 2012

A touch of golden berries


Yo people,
Rainy roads bordered with moss, small lakes, pine trees and reindeers have filled 67 km of our day. Happy bus drivers and holiday-makers in motor caravans have greeted us all along which kept us in a good mood. Some hours ago we reached Sweden and we're currently drying in the home of tonight's host. Behind us we've left many handmade fortune flowers as a symbol of gratefulness to all our fantastic hosts :) ..and more will follow..!

I insist for you who have never travelled up north that it's an experience worth to get. People are surprisingly friendly and the air is vital and sweet. Between the fine blades of grass in the marshland you might also catch sight of flowers of cloudberries-to be.

Dear, how I enjoy to feel free!

13 juni 2012

Time is never time at all



What's new?
This morning we woke up before the sun (haha), very early I wanted to say.. and the reason was because our friend who I smiled at the other day had to catch a plane. After a quick good bye Jesper and I were dropped off at the radio station in Alta.
And then we posed for the local newspaper Altaposten :) 
People we've met so far have been surprisingly helpful and friendly.
We're accurate in a cozy cottage of Suolovuopmi and have been very good taken care of. In this area there are several Sami people and loads of reindeers. Time seems to be waiting at this place. Not standing still but more floating like a silent creek, breathing harmony and reflecting our thoughts. Mysterious and yet so peaceful.

11 juni 2012

Smiling in the rain

These two days have been just awesome.
The smell of sunny mire and hush ocean merges into the wild nature as we pass this landscape with only a few breaths.

Yesterday we were lucky to meet the very kind man Svein at Repparfjords Ungdomssenter. Svein showed us great kindness and provided us very well with food and service.

Today we have been cycling a lot in the rain and suddenly one man and his car appeared. He had seen me waving and smiling at him and wanted to let us know what joy he felt. Stephan offered us strawberries and bananas and invited us to his house. Tomorrow we will stay at his place and if we're lucky we'll see some whales outside his window..!

For sure I'll keep smiling :D

9 juni 2012

Discovering hidden labyrinth

Woha :D

Biking almost 50 km today in a cloudy landscape. We've had the chance to be guided by the owner of Repvåg Fjordhotel. After offering us a delicious breakfast she brought us upon a small mountain and showed us a 5000 year old labyrinth..! Last year in September five maya indians had arranged a ceremony at that very spot for the paradigm between the period of pisces and the period of aquarius. The end of the maya calendar so to speak. The mountain was full of dead lemmings. Spooky but mighty indeed!
This evening we're hosted by Olderfjord hotel and a very nice german man with his wife (Christian and Gertrud) has offered us dinner and some good laughs :)

Getting internet connection is still tricky up here in the wilderness so we still need you to be patient with our updates.

Cheers dears!

P.S. More information about the labyrinth here.

8 juni 2012

Från Skipsfjord till Repvåg


Efter några mils missberäkning har vi nått Repvåg fjordhotell med härlig personal och alla tiders service! Jesper och jag är mätta, trötta och glada :)
Under dagen har vi träffat en tokglad dam som sålde egengjorda glassmycken. Hon hette också Elin. Med oss fick vi hennes glada tillrop och så även "midnatssolen" som inom kort kommer att dimpa ner hos den underbara lilla varelsen bakom http://virkiskinna.blogspot.se/.

På lunch hamnade vi hos en av Europas allra nordligaste couchsurfer, Aarnt. Huset han bodde i var helt lustigt och färgglatt och invändigt dekorerat med allehanda upplyftande meningar. I källaren snickrade fransmannen Bezard Alain. Han såg rätt gammal och vis ut och vi fick veta att han hade gått från Helsingfors till Nordkap på lite drygt fyra månader. Alain hade visst tänkt vara på besök hos Aarnt i ett par dagar men nu hade det gått flera år sedan han först stod i farstun(!) En högst inspirerande och nytänkande människa som jag mer än gärna pratar med igen :D

Idag har vi cyklat ca 7 mil.
Totalt: ca 10 mil.

Vi har också tagit oss igenom Nordkapptunneln på nästan 7 km med en över tre kilometer lång uppförsbacke med 10 % konstant lutning. Tro det eller ej men jag cyklade hela vägen!

Jesper har klarat sträckorna med bravur och jag måste säga att jag är imponerad!
Nu gör vi natt.

Kram!

7 juni 2012

Nordkap (videoklipp på svenskt teckenspråk)



Hello World :)

The first distance of this five month long journey is accomplished. Jesper managed very well despite all hills and heavy wind. We wove our hands to all tourist busses we met and you should've seen their faces when they discovered Jesper's unicycle! XD
Free hugs in Nordkap was a bit weird the first minutes because everyone up there were german tourists and practically noone seemed to understad our signs. It took a little while before I remembered the german word for "hug", but then...! Smiling faces and loads of hugs from everyone we met! Yeey :)
We've done about 30 km in +5 °C and it took 2 h.
No trees nor any reindeers along this first part. It was great coming back to a warm shower and a steady meal at the hotel.
Jesper is having a power nap in my room, or maybe he's fallen asleep?
Even though the sun is constantly on the sky I think I'll sleep like a baby this very first night on our journey towards Spain!
..to be continued..

6 juni 2012

På väg mot sista hållplatsen innan avfärd!


Efter 11 h bussfärd och en smaskig hotellmiddag har vi anlänt vi vid det första hotellet några mil från Nordkap där vi ska sova två nätter. Magnifika fjällandskap och oräkneliga hordar av renar har berikat våra sinnen och fått oss att förundras över Moder Jords alla nyanser och skiftningar.

Taget ur sitt sammanhang:
Alla ni som jobbar som tolkar känner väl till fenomenet att höra fel när man har jobbat färdigt för dagen, är helt slut och inte längre behöver fokusera lika hårt. Just därför kan det ibland bli lite pinsamt. Jesper och jag blev som sagt bjudna på middag (inklusive två hotellnätter) av Kenneth, en inflytelserik person här i Nordkapps kommun. Vi hade pratat en stund om ditten och datten när Kenneth berättade att han hade tänkt kontakta Finnmarksposten... varpå jag undrade vad finbajspåsen stod för..?
Som tur var fick vi oss alla ett rejält gapflabb!
Ja, det har varit en lång och händelserik dag. Dags att försöka sova ikapp några hackiga resnätter nu.

Kram på er!
Elin

5 juni 2012

Överraskningar i Finland


Detta har hänt sedan förra inlägget:
Jesper och jag har åkt lastbil Bussgods Pilen med fyra olika chaufförer, alla lika trevliga :) Från Haparanda till Rovaniemi fick vi i princip åka gratis buss efter att jag berättat om vårt kommande lilla äventyr. På bussen hamnade vi bredvid en taxichaufför som gjorde en avstickare från Helsingfors och var på väg norrut för att beskåda den exklusiva Venuspassagen. Nästa tillfälle är visst så långt fram att vi förmodligen har dött och begravts sedan länge.

Väl framme för kvällen...
Söta Eeva som vi fått kontakt med via den geniala sidan CouchSurfing.org mötte upp oss på busstationen med sin fräsiga racerbike och vi traskade trötta men muntra hem till hennes lägenhet. En av Eevas intressen var att träna cirkuskonster. Jag blev glatt överraskad av att australienska Ros, en annan couchsurfer som också skulle spendera natten hos Eeva jobbade som teckenspråks- och dövblindtolk precis som jag! Gissa om vi hade mycket att prata om :) Så berättade hon även att hon hade bokat en båttur via Lapland Safari och jag tyckte det lät spännande så jag följde med till receptionen en stund innan avfärd. Då jag förklarade vart jag var på väg och vad jag hade framför mig så fick både jag och Jesper följa med gratis. Vilket flyt!
Färden började med en tur i träbåt till en liten ö där guiden lagade mat till oss över en brasa och vi var ett litet gäng på fem personer som fick mysa tillsammans vid skenet av ljuslyktor i en fiskeinredd lada. Därefter gick turen upp med bil till en härlig utkiksplats där vi vid tolvslaget skålade under midnattssolen.
Väl tillbaka hos Eeva så hade hon bakat en tårta till mig eftersom det också var min födelsedag! :o)
Venuspassagen fick vi inte uppleva då det var alldeles för molnigt. Men vi somande ändå mätta och belåtna i Eevas vardagsrum.


4 juni 2012

Med lastbil Stockholm-Haparanda


Hej alla glada!
I morse var vi med på radio Bandit och sedan hade vi ett litet möte med Friends på deras kontor. Natten har vi sovit hos ängeln Inger Norell i Stockholm som på ett fantastiskt sätt har servat oss med allt vad vi kunde tänkas behöva. I skrivande stund sitter vi i en Bussgods-lastbil mot Haparanda och Jesper verkar ha däckat på bädden här bakom :p

Jag vill gärna berätta om en annan helt fantastisk människa som hjälpte mig i fredags att få iväg min cykel från Örebro. Jag blev lite sen från jobbet och när jag äntligen hade kommit fram till Bussgods i Örebro så hade de precis stängt. Tack vare att jag sprang på en vanlig busschaufför lyckades jag få kontakt med en kille som jobbade på Bussgods. Han hade precis kommit hem till sin familj men vände för att hjälpa mig. Tack snälla Håkan Larsson!

/Elin