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Norway – not only Nordkapp (2009)
60 days of lonely cycling through Sweden, Norway and Finland. A hunger for a lot of adventures and beautiful views. Two months living in a different reality, taking difficult decisions and fighting with my own weaknesses (http://norwegia.gtwertep.org).
Road to my dream
Expedition to Norway was conceived in my head a few years ago, but I have had some problems with the project’s realization. I had been motivating myself with reports of succesful trips and photographs. Three years ago I decided to realize my project. I started preparations, which were abruptly ended by an unfortunate bike accident. I had to treat an old, renewed injury and I had long pause from using my bike.
In a few months I will have finished my study, but my not my greatest dream. In September I have attended a research seminar in Førde, Norway. Seeing those landscapes urged me to return to my project. Additionaly I was motivated by those words, author unkown, I have found on the internet: Each human would like to travel through distant countries, yet many of them don’t have enough strenght to fight for their dream. I have decided to fight.
Project schedule
- Return from science seminar in Norway and making a decision about project realization [October 2008].
- Collecting guide books and maps and searching for information about polish bike expeditions [November 2008].
- Working on web page http://norwegia.gtwertep.org [December 2008].
- First draft of expedition route [January 2009].
- Skiing and winter bike trainings [January - February 2009].
- Making contacts with other polish travellers and gathering first tips [from February 2009]
- Starting trainings according to the prepared plan [from 20 February 2009]
- Bike service after winter and starting intensive trainings [from 30 March 2009].
- Preparing offers for media partners [to 5 April 2009].
- Looking for sponsors [to 25 May 2009]
- Expedition [to 15 August 2009]
Expedition mission
- Travelling trough the most interesting bike routes in Norway
- Promotion of bike tourism & lifestyle
- Photographic documentation of wild nature’s beauty
- Showing benefits of taking care of natural environment
- Documentating Norwegian architecture
- Gathering and publishing useful information for other travellers
Expedition map
Participant
Michał Pawełczyk: Computer Science student on The Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice (5th year). In daily life he negotiates with computers in a binary language. In his free time he follows bike expeditions and plans his own bike trips.
In high school he bought his first good quality mountain bike. From this moment on he has been fascinated with bike tourism. He promotes this model of spending free time among his friends. He has cooperated as a journalist with Histmag.org and wRower.pl (the biggest Polish bike web page). He is the creator of gwertep.org – a website dedicated to qualified tourism.
He finds it hard to explain why vehicles such of such simple construction occupy so much space in his head. He is convinced that bikes and expeditions are always worth talking & writing about.
Expedition data
- date: 12 June – August 2009
- duration: 2 months
- countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany
- vehicles: bike, ferries
- accommodation: tent
- trip length: 6000 km
- project web page: http://norwegia.gtwertep.org
- contact: m.pawelczyk [at] gtwertep.org; mobile phone: +48 600 829 964, Skype: anghan_pl
Problems
- Big expedition budget (especially for a Polish student)
- economic – 12 000 NOK (~6000 PLN)
- optimal – 18 000 NOK (~9000 PLN)
- Choosing photo accessories for expedition documentation (price/quality)
- Choosing specialistic bike equipment (panniers, carriers – price)
- Looking for media patronage
- Looking for sponsors
- Phone & internet connection with Poland (live report from expeditions – big costs)
- Limited access to hot water sources, especially in terms of showers (most accomodations outside)
- Limited food options
- Greater number of ferry crossings because riding bikes through tunnels is prohibited
- Finding a compromise between taking clothes for changing weather and taking a minimal amount of clothes (using modern clothes)
- Handling bike failure en route (a lot of good luck)
PayPal – the easiest way to help me (NOK)
Komentarze (1)
Norwegia - nie tylko Nordkapp » Modyfikacja stałych stron:
20 kwi 2009 o 9:35.
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