August Blog

Swedes love to travel but this summer many of them are staying at home. Quite a few have a second home in the countryside or the archipelago so they will be just fine, thank you. More Swedes than usual are also exploring new places in Sweden this year, like hiking in the National Parks (that we write about on pages 16-19). When asked why they are not traveling some say it is because of the environment, but the more common reason is the economy.

A lot more people in North America are also staying home or finding destinations closer to home. It can actually be quite nice to take a break without all the stress of travel, customs and other hassles on the road. Myself, I have done a lot of virtual travel lately when writing the daily installments of "Around Swedish America in 365 Days". The trip that you too can follow at www.nordicway.com/tour, is a neat way of finding out about new places without leaving home. It has been an adventure for me, with all the interesting Swedes on this continent and their amazing accomplishments.

I recently found out that the man behind the Indian motorcycle, that was the first motorcycle in America, was none other than the Swede Carl Hedström. The mechanical genius made the Indian into the world's most advanced and best-selling bike in 1907. He even set a new record, riding a mile on the Florida sands on one of his Indian machines in 1 minute and 3.2 seconds. He called it quits at a board meeting because of a disagreement over the company’s dubious practice of inflating its stock value and retired to his Connecticut estate at age 42 (see day 203).

When I saw old war movies I always wondered how they could shoot straight forward from a plane without damaging the propellers. Now I know that it was Gustaf Swebelius (Day 209), the son of a watchmaker in Vingåker, who solved the difficult problem of synchronizing machine gun fire with the airplane propeller, so that bullets could be fired between the blades.

In New Haven on Day 210 you can read about Oscar Mossberg who made a name for himself with the Mossberg rifles. Not to be confused with Frank Mossberg (Day 199) who invented an electric automobile before Henry Ford launched his internal combustion engine.

I had always wanted to do the Swedish-American trip by myself in a car. I might still do that, but for now I am quite content to do it on the internet using my laptop and basking in the sun on the patio.

Have a really nice August!

Anders

PS.

So many readers wanted to see Swedish Press in full color, that we have extended the offer of a free copy of the electronic edition of Swedish Press. All you need to do is email anders@nordicway.com with "free offer" in the subject line.