August Blog

After more than a year hopping around the continent, I finally ended my trip "Around Swedish America in 548 Days" on July 2. At lunch time, I arrived at Victory Square in Vancouver where Swedish Press saw the light of day 82 years ago. You can read about all the places of Swedish interest on nordicway.com

This trip was of course “virtual”, even though my original dream had been a real road trip.

So for now I am following the Mongol Rally on the internet (http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com). Starting from England, Spain and Italy at the end of July, the rally finishes, around four weeks and a whole heap of adventure later, in Mongolia. GPS is not allowed and the vehicle used for the trip must be a minimum of ten years old and for extra challenge have only a tiny 1.2 liter engine. Speed is not the object and all participants who make it to the Mongolian capitol of Ulan Bator have to donate their cars to an aid organization.

The 10 000 mile rally is organized by The Adventurists to make "the world a less boring place". There were six teams in the first "festival of slow" in 2004. Three years later the Mongol Rally sold out in 22 seconds with 200 teams participating. This year’s participants include my cousin's son, Mats Horn and his three friends from Sweden (http://swedentomongolia.com). They are travelling in a Mercedes ambulance from 1999 that, with a 2.4 liter engine, had to receive special permission. The Swedes bought the car for SEK 25 000, and they each invested SEK 20 000 for gas, supplies and visas for some of the 14 countries they are going to cross. As participants they also have to raise money for charity and you can help them at http://justgiving.com/swedentomongolia1. Last year’s rally raised more than $300,000.

What a great adventure! I can't help thinking of August Larson from Sweden who went to Mongolia as a missionary in 1892 and became a titled hero. You can read about Duke Larson of Mongolia, who turned up in Silverhill in Alabama, on day 433 of my trip around Swedish America!

Have a nice August

Anders