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Mikael Strandberg

Producent av dokumentärer, expeditioner, bloggar, foton, böcker och guidar turister då och då.

Grönland från väst till öst, förberedelserna (på engelska)

PS. Ursäkta att jag skriver på engelska, men jag hinner inte annat!

Preparing for an Expedition is a full time job. Sure I have done for many years. Like 35 years. It helps, but I still want to feel that I m in control. Which I am most of the time not. This year it is Expedition defender X, the Cycling Expedition with my daughters and now the Expedition I have prepared for over two years. The crossing of the Greenland Icecap. From West to East. Together with a team of 4 others.

Since I returned from Outer Mongolia i have worked day and night. I only do this, do rehab work, eat lots of fat and try to get us much sleep as possible. Experience have taught me to rest up before a huge effort. I manage all in all an average of 7 hours of sleep a night. The mother of my girls are helping ut a lot. I don´t have to cook, do laundry and so on, just concentrate on what I need to do.

Getting an Expedition like this onboard is challenging, expensive and extremely timeconsuming with an enormous amount of expensive and, oftenly, out of date unnecessary paperwork. Without the help of energetic team members, a professional Canadian-Greenlandic logistic expert and very helpful sponsors, it would have been impossible. Great thanks!

We will be heavy on this Expedition. I am old school eat lots and rest comfortably well. Be prepared for whatever situation. We have a very strong team though, see https://greenlandexpedition.carrd.co/ so we will be slow but well fed and happy!

My daughter Eva will do all the social media work for me. I will call her on the sat phone and send texts to her to publish every day. You can follow the journey here at https://share.garmin.com/EXPLORERGLOBAL

The Expedition is in honour of the first Swedish Expedition to Cross the Icecap unsupported back in 1988. Leader was my buddy Lars Wallgren, who i wish was on the trip, but preferred to stay home tend his garden. He will be very much missed! I will bring his book with me!

Follow the reports either at https://www.facebook.com/explorermikaelstrandberg/ or https://www.instagram.com/explorerglobal/

Postat 2022-04-23 08:32 | Permalink | Kommentarer (0) | Kommentera

Expeditions musik

11 days before the Greenland Team leaves for Kangerlussuaq. And the start of the Greenland Icecap Crossing.

Just back from Mongolia, jetlagged, nurturing bodily issues and getting the final details ready. E.g packing all the stuff. And hopefully doing it without mistakes. Which seldom happens. In Siberia we forgot to bring potholders for the stove. And we had to use stones instead. Almost a disaster.

There are days on the crossing which are harder than others. And you need a bit of help. Like good music in the tent!

I have an Expedition play list on Spotify, made to inspire me.

Here´´s five new songs which will make me rock!

Good Morning Midnight by Backyard Babies, https://youtu.be/h39Cot39k9s
Tush by ZZ Top, https://youtu.be/P7iPkiyG2jQ
Pink by Aerosmith, https://youtu.be/ZfbBqBOSXlU
Wash It All Away by Five Finger Death Punch, https://youtu.be/l9VFg44H2z8
And finally one from my home state of Dalarna.
I ain´t beggin´by Sky High, https://youtu.be/d0AbYrcqQso

These 5 will put me in the best of spirits!

Postat 2022-04-18 07:07 | Permalink | Kommentarer (0) | Kommentera

Expedition Defender X. Yttre Mongoliet.

Yttre Mongoliet.

Jag är tillbaka i Malmö nu efter två veckor på denna fantastiska plats. Bättre än jag hade förväntat mig. Storslagna öppna ytor, fortfarande en förhållandevis nomadiserad och stolt befolkning. Och fortfarande med en fot i det postsovjetiska samhället. Även om Ulan Bataar, huvudstaden, moderniseras snabbt.

Målet var att vi skulle få ut bilarna från Tjita i Sibirien till Mongoliet innan de konfiskerades av den ryska staten. Efter ett oerhört jobb av många involverade lyckades det och hela Defender X teamet samlades i Ulan Bataar. Delmål ett var avklarat, nu ville vi göra en tur i detta fantastiska land för att stämma av allt som hänt sedan krigets utbrott. Och vad vi skulle ta oss till.

Under tio dagar gjorde vi en mycket krävande tur. Vägarna är av de mest krävande på jorden och bilarna tog stryk, men klarade av det hela. Yurtor, nomader, dubbelpuckliga kameler, vilda hästar och öppna landskap. Helt fantastiskt och jag kommer att återvända med döttrarna en dag. För att färdas genom landet med kamel.

Så är planen. Hur det blir är en annan sak. För tillfället lämnar vi bilarna i Mongoliet innan vi är helt säkra på vad vi tar oss till. Expeditionens ledare Jeff Willner får ta det beslutat. Oavsett fortsätter färden!