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Nigeria: From the bush to paradise

2009-03-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

Folks in Nigeria enjoy my trip

My trip is constantly full of contrasts. Currently I live in my own apartment and I’m being fed by my own cook.

Coming to Nigeria was a different experience. The country has a lot of oil and therefore a fleet bigger than all other countries in West Africa.
Biking in Lagos, which is one of the largest cities in Africa with 15 million inhabitants, was a headache. .Driving style is not exactly like home, and here, it’s the largest car that gets the right of passing first. Chaos and noise without equal. But it gave me a little kick to follow the stream in this crazy traffic. People shouting and screaming at each other and I wasn’t any better, shouting and shaking my fist. A car bumped into the back of my bag and rear wheel, slashing my bag.

Everywhere accidents

R ode towards Nigeria Delta, where most of the oil is found. I had an address of a Nigerian’ friend where I could go to. He had been in Norway for many years and wanted to welcome me at his home. He was a former professional singer who sung for the president and now has his own music studio. I lived for free a few days in his studio with music around the clock.
Music Studio.
Singer Rolly and his children.

My budget was getting low and I wanted to put on some kilos before I rode on. I was now down to 70 kg and my weight should actually be 90 kg. Also my "wife" Frøya needed to have a break and be tuned a little before she biked further.
I had heard that the Norwegian oil companies were here so I started looking around to see if I could find a job. I found nothing, since most companies had left town due to the kidnapping of foreign oil workers.
After a couple of days I came in contact with a Canadian, named Paris, who worked here. We got to talked a lot since I rode through the town where he was from in Canada. He has his own transport company that works with the sale of oil. I also met with many of his friends and heard many stories about Africa that one could hardly believe. For sure these guys could be writing a 10 volume encyclopedia! But as they say, no one would believe it and this is the reason why they are not going to write it when they get home. One of them was kidnapped but was released a day later when they saw that they had taken the wrong man!

From Left. Herbert from Germany, he works for an oil company and write travel books. Nr2, Paris W Lebouf from Canada, he ownes a truck company, Falchem Mega Concept Ltd. Nr3 another german once was kidnapped . Nr 4 is are from Germany as well.

Paris also helped me to fix up my bike. My storage tray was not far enough from the wheels and constantly scratched my tires. This is the typical Canadian I that I know from my trip through Canada- extremely helpful and friendly.

Paris helped me to repair my bike

Some days later I found a Norwegian sub sea company called RUE.no, from Haugesund. This is one of the few firms that is still here in Port Harcourt. They took care of me when I told them about my problem of being under weight. They gave me a nice apartment with air conditioning, internet and cable TV. I even have my own cook and laundry woman. I must admit that I feel like in paradise after six months in the bush. The cook there puts his soul into preparing meals and I can eat all day.

She prepare me food all day long. She smiles all the time

The system of the companies around here is very safe. I can not move around as I please, etc. It is a little unusual for me after 3 years of absolute freedom, but I understand why.
A working man here, Bill, said he can help me find a job in the oil companies all around the world if I ever need it.
Bill Jaffrey from Scotland.

My "wife" was complaining of pain in the gears. I asked the bicycle company Trek if they could help me with new and stronger wheels. It’s the heavy load and the bad roads which always give her problems.

There is one thing I missed and that is protein powder. I have used this many times before when I was training for strength and I know how effective it is. No criticism of the food, but it is a completely different bacteria and flora than what I'm used to. Some times I need to use the toilet before I finish eating.
I contacted the Norkost.no company and they will sponsored me 3 kg powder for me as a roughneck from Norway.
I am excited to get back on the road again full of muscles.
I found a couple who will help me to create a new web site, Marit and Knut Rønningen. I am happy to see the results.
I have sold 3 calendars and one picture after my first day of publishing.Was little pride rest of the day.
I will stay a little longer until I head out for South Africa.

Greetings from Frøya and Rune

Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria

2009-02-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

Croos river Togo.
Ghana

Ghana, slave castle on right.

Keyword: I spent a sad Christmas in an orphan home; stayed over in a Norwegian Danish slave fort in Ghana, voodoo in Benin and a surprising friendly welcome in Nigeria. Read also about my new “Wife” Frøya.

Ghana
I stayed a while in Ghana working in an orphanage where I also spent Christmas. I was expecting to see and take part in some of the Christmas and New Year’s traditions of Ghana but as time passed it turned out that there wasn’t really any celebrations to be had so I spent Christmas alone in my room, very depressed and wishing so much to be with my family. When I finally received a message from them I couldn’t help but shed a few tears. This has to be the saddest Christmas I've had in a very long time.
I eventually thanked everyone for their hospitality and continued on my journey.
This is my niece and nephew who I left Norway for 3 years ago and I do miss them so.
Castle

I rode for many miles along the coast, with its beautiful beaches and scenery. I also came across a Danish / Norwegian slave-fort which is now in ruins. I went and checked it out, and it was difficult not to imagine all the cruelties which might have taken place there. The slave trade created a spiral of wars across Africa. Whether they had to capture people and enslave them or become slaves themselves.
I told the guide about my small travel budget and he said that he would allow me to stay inside the fort.
At first I was excited, but then I started to think... It wasn't that I was afraid of the dark or anything like that, but thought that perhaps the old buildings could make my imagination run wild and make me see images of some of the things that occurred there some 150 years ago. Nevertheless, I accepted the offer and the night went smoothly without any visits from ghosts or other weird things.... Somehow it was a very special feeling to lie there under a mosquito net and to think about all those sad times of many a year ago.

My bed in the castle.

Keta Castle.
You know, there is still Danish and Norwegian spoken here, with words such as "saks, gaffel, kniv osv" which mean "scissors, fork, knife, etc.". Many people also have Scandinavian surnames like Quist, Hansen ............. Some even have lighter skin most probably as a result of mixed relations of Scandinavians co-inhabiting. Of course, that is only my belief.

Togo
As usual, it is very hot and so I bike mostly in the mornings and afternoons but not in the middle of the day as it is far too hot then.
I have now arrived in Togo which is a very small French speaking Country.
The border authorities granted me a 7 days visa without any problems as well as often being invited to their homes' for overnight stays, which is naturally always nice for me.
Get problem with my skins, to hot and humid.

Benin
Benin is another small African country. No problems with the visa at the border. They only gave me a 2-day visa, which I had to renew as soon as I arrived in the capital.
Benin and Togo are all “voodoo homes” and I saw many different voodoo-symbols and sacrificial sites. Normally they offer chicken, etc. as around 40% of the population completely believe in this method of worship.
I participated with a bit of sacrifice, wishing for a safe and happy ride for the rest of my trip.
I have been told many times that there are many people in Africa praying for me.

Woodoo docktor. He offers things on the right side .

Nigeria
In Benin, I had to arrange my Nigerian visa and I must confess that I was expecting many problems as I had previously read in the Lonely Planet magazine that in order to enter Nigeria you must have a written invitation, a pre-booked hotel, the documentation to prove that you have money and an airfare ticket out of the country etc. I walked into the Nigerian Embassy without any of these things hoping that everything would go well. I explained my mission and showed them a newspaper with some reports about my trip. Amazingly it only took me 10 min and I received a 1-month visa without any more questions asked.

Whilst here, I spent one night on the streets sleeping with some homeless people and alcoholics. I couldn’t find a good place for my tent so I asked if I could stay with them. They enjoyed hearing stories about my trip. Surprisingly, I felt very safe the whole night, and for sure they all kept an eye on me that night. This is something I've noticed several times before, people looking out for me. It's in these sort of places where I feel the safest. To tell you the truth, I have come to feel really safe in most places.

Bush meat Nigeria
When I arrived at the border there were an unusual amount of control posts along the way. Everything went without any problems, and everyone were very curious about my journey. I think I was stopped at least 20 times that day. The reason for there being so many control posts along the whole Nigeria border is because of the large amount of crime.
But I must say that Nigerians impressed me with their happy nature. People smile all the time. So much in fact, that I found myself smiling a lot and always in a good mood. They love to hear what I do and they thought how nice it is to be able to make friends with a white travelling man on his travels around the world. I’ve been here a week now and I have been given free accomodation in a hotel, food every day and actually some people actually supported me by giving some money. The police also gave me bananas, oranges and water.

Police give me orange.
One day I heard a noise from the rear wheel of my bike and discovered that 7 spokes had broken. The wheel was twisted and I couldn’t ride my bike any more. I didn’t have spare spokes and I was a long distance from the nearest city so I spoke to a policeman about my problem and told him that I needed some help. That a biker should have problems in their country was unusual. He stopped a truck and told the driver to take me to the nearest village. There, the city’s town Chief offered me accommodation.
I couldn’t find spokes or an ATM in that place and I was just as far as I had been before. One of the guys from the village kindly gave me $20 so that I could take a taxi to the nearest town. I rode in the taxi with the rear wheel and finally got it repaired and returned to the country town. Some families invited me in to share some good food and palm wine.
Sure, all this has made such a good impression on me. The humility and happy disposition of the Nigerians. Now, to me, it seems strange to hear of all of those warnings about crimes and things. Nigeria is one of the countries which I had been warned many times not to go to. Naturally, they have their problems, but I think they are on track for the better. So, when I got there, expecting all those warnings to come to pass, it turns out that Nigeria is actually one of the friendliest countries I have visited so far.

My "new" wife
I called my bike Frøya. She is my wife; she is not especially beautiful, in fact, a bit heavy-set and chubby. But she is strong and resistant. I have been very fond of her up to now. We had a little turbulent start in Africa and needed constant breaks from each other. But now, we have found the tone and things are going better. Africans are very respectful towards my wife and there is such a full meaningful understanding between us that I want her next to me all the time specially when I sleep.

Yours Frøya and Rune

By Calendar: "Vikings never give up".

Week 50. Donation, New seat and Merry Christmas.

2008-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

I will be staying at the orphanage for Christmas and then I will be leaving with an improved plan and hopefully some money.

My seat was not good anymore. Because I have been in hospital 3 times for problems with my butt I have now been able to get hold of some Gel to cover the bicycle seat even though it has started to age so I do need to fix it.

Here is how my seat look now,which is not exacly what I ordered. But you have to make do with what you have which is a Jeans seat.

African style viking helm.

Preparing food.

Playing soccer.

Some people have very kindly donated some money to my PayPal and I wish to thank each and every one of you for your generosity in answering my call for help. Foto from left. Namely, these people are:

Petter Guttotmesen. He is my hobby agent and on picture you can see him when he was the worlds hardest Ironeman, Norseman. He also gratefully gave me some money last month. Thank you so much Petter.

Jarred Kalweit who is from USA and has a plan to cycle throughout the US. If you're interested to check his progress you may find him on his blog www.jarredkalweit.com
It's always nice to see cyclists help each other. Thank you.

Ivan Pivan Plosj who is from north Norway and who we used to work together on a fishing boat for six months. He is now working towards bringing Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland closer together via a Viking Union. Previously he has also shown his generosity by donating some money to me which I thank him for.

Also a dear friend of mine, Maria Haugeland who is also from Norway and who works as a personal trainer in Oslo (Boy is she strong or what!!) I thank you.

Line and Bjorn Brekke. They are from Norway and work together at Brygga Resstaurant. They have just be parents. Thank so much to both.

I received a donation from yet another Norwegian, Anne Marthe Carlsen who I also have worked with in Tonsberg. Im not sure what she ís doing now, but last time I spoke to her she was working as an actress or something and as you can see she is another very beautiful lady who I also thank.

Further thanks go out to an Austrian, Dietmar Duft (no foto) who for the time being I´m not quite sure what he does but I do know that he likes cycling.
To you all I can´t tell you just how much your contributions have helped towards my goal and determinatiom to complete this tour.

As well as these kind people I wish to also thank everyone who I have met so far and who have helped me in one way or another and shown their hospitality on this incredible journey, oh and of course my family and friends.

May I take this opportunity to thank evryone a very Merry Christmas and a very succesful New Year.

With much affection,

Paco (Rune)

Week 49, Orphan

2008-12-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

Show movie from my trip. Orphan.
At the Orphanage

I am still staying here at the orphanage which I like very much and have found to be very rewarding helping out but I do have to make plans for touring the rest of the Africa´s. I have to admit that this Africa trip has been the most craziest thing that I have ever done.
After experiencing intense heat in South America and biking in below zero conditions in Canada during the winter I thought that there could not be any worse or alternative conditions to be had. Then I came to Africa! How wrong could I have been!
AFRICA is definitely something else as anything and everything goes. To date I have cycled in torrential rain as well as intensily hot sun and during those times I have contracted malaria, worms running around the insides of my body and if that´s not enough, gone and got myself a long bout of diarrhoea. Originally I believed and had planned to be cycling in beautiful weather and to travel throughout the Africas with sufficient money. So you might understand why I lost some of my motivation and was getting concerned with my health and now understand what all of my friends back in Madeira had been saying was true but at the time I thought what could they possibly know having not done anything or experienced any of the things that I have?! But now I am here and have a very supportive family who give me what they can to be able to at least eat each day........ for the next six months anyway ($5 per day).
I predict that the forthcoming problems will be that I will need a separate visa for all of the countries that I´ll b e biking through which is will cost approx. $50 US for each country, three of which I am planning to pass through in the next 500kms.
I am grateful to the donations that I have received on PayPal from Margaret Wiig, a Norwegian lady who now lives in Canada and one anonymous gentleman from Seattle who had heard of the time that I was robbed in Seattle and and who felt sorry for me. My goodness, that happened two years ago and people are still talking about it. Simply amazing! My eternal thanks and gratitude go out to you both.

Here in Africa I am being called Paco as everyone found Rune to be too difficult to pronounce.

When to Cycling West Africa.
More info, click here.
Rune

Week 48. Slave Castle,

2008-12-04T07:58:00.000-08:00

Ghanaian Ladies.
Elmina Castle, fishing villages.

A few kms from the orphanage there are many castles the most famous being Elmina Castle. Built by the Portuguese in 1482 it is one of the oldest castles in Africa and has since been captured by the Dutch as well as the British.
Most of the European slave market was generated from Ghanaian castles and as many as seven million slaves were shipped out from there.

All of this week at the orphanage, which is a non profit organisation, I have not only been working a little like a teacher with the children but have also been living with them. See more atwww.sankofachildrenshome.org

I have got a bit of a problem getting motivated these days and always being short of money does'nt help. My family have helped me by sending me some every month which naturally I will have to pay back when I eventually return to Norway. This is sufficient enough for food only which of course, I am most grateful for.

I met a French couple at the orphanage and stayed with them for a few days.

Week 47. Orpanhage, Rat hunting, dancing....

2008-11-26T04:40:00.000-08:00

The Town priest hunting for food.
Dancing
Two Towns' chiefs.

God
God is everywhere.

I will be here for one more week and then go on to Krokobite, Accra and Togo.

Rune

Week46. Still at an orphanage.

2008-11-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

They dance all time.

.

Week 45, Working at an orphanage

2008-11-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Hallelujah.
Me on school.

Week 44, Picture.

2008-11-04T02:24:00.000-08:00

Week 44
Some people have shown an interest in buying my photos and others have said that I should try to sell them on the internet and I'm going to do just that. So, if you are interested then simply click on any of the above pictures make me an offer....... that I can't refuse! Ha Ha

Also please check out my 2009 Calendar.

Week 43. Ghana. About Ghana.

2008-11-04T02:23:00.000-08:00

Ghana has to be the most peaceful country in all of west Africa. After some months of war in the area as well as being an extremely poor country it was so very different just crossing the border to experience people smiling all of the time, and being greeted with a big hello....in English which is widely spoken here.

History.Some information about Ghana.
In present day Ghana which has been inhabited since 4000 BC by the 13th century several kingdoms had developed growing rich from the country's massive gold deposits.
By the 16th century one of the kingdoms was taking control of trade routes to the coast. And it wasn't long before the Europeans discovered this African kingdom. First the Portuguese came sniffing around the coast, and then the British, French, Dutch, Swedes and Danes. They all built forts by the sea and traded in slavery, gold, and other merchandises with the Ashanti Kingdom.
Castle Cape coast.

The slave trade was eventually abolished in the 19th century, and with it went Ashanti's domination. By that time the British had taken over the Gold Coast and created the British colony.
After some years of bloodiful problems Ghana finally won its independence in March 1957 and Nkrumah became the first president of an independent African nation. His speeches, which denounced imperialism and talked about a free, united Africa, made him the darling of Pan-African movement.
However back home he was not popular and he tried to turn Ghana into a one-party state which was when things began to unravel. Nkrumah made his personal bodyguard into an entire regiment, while corruption and reckless spending drove the country into serious debt.
He made the fatal mistake of going on a state visit to China in 1966 because while he was away his regime was toppled in an army coup. But few things changed.
By 1979 Ghana was suffering food shortages and people were out on the streets demonstrating against the army "fat cats"!
Onto the scene came Jerry Rawlings: a good-looking, charismatic, half-Scottish air force pilot who always had a cigarette stuck behind his ear and spoke the language of the people. Nicknamed Junior Jesus, Rawlings caught the publics imagination with his calls for corrupt military rulers to be confronted and being held accountable for Ghana's problems. The military jailed him, but he had fellow junior officers free him after they staged an uprising.
Rawlings then handed over power to a civilian government and started a major `house-cleaning` operation- which entailed executing and jailing of senior officers.
The new president, Hilla Limann, was uneasy with Rawlings' huge popularity, and later accused him of trying to subvert the constitution. Rawlings party toppled him in a coup in 1981, and at this time he stayed in power for the next 15 years. During part of the 1980s Ghana enjoyed Africa's highest economics growth rates.
By 1992 Rawlings was under pressure to introduce democracy, so he lifted the 10-year ban on political parties and called a general election. Rawlings won the 1992 and 1996 election freely and fairly.

Culture.
Ghana consists of around 15% Muslim, 70% Christian but 100% obsessed with spiritual worship. It is a land of glory, gold and God, after all God is everywhere: You will find, `God is Love Hair Salon`, `Jesus Loves ME Forex Bereau....etc etc.
But this is not to say they can't have fun as they love to dance and party, old and young together.
BP

Environment.
Ghana is roughly the size of Britain and much of it's terrain consists of wooded ranges, wide valleys and low-lying coastal plains. The damming of the Volta River in the mid-1960 created the worlds largest artificial lake.
Logging, mining and the use of wooden fuels have reduced Ghanas forest from over 8 million sq kms in the early 20th century to less than 2 million sq km now.
Ghana is blessed with hundreds of kilometres of coast shared by beautiful beaches and the remains of European slave forts.
There are a lot of national parks and wildlife, including elephants, baboons and antelope species.
(Lonely Planet)
More about Ghana, click here.

I met a very nice family this week and have been with them all of the time. Life isn't so bad cycling the world you know, with some amazing memories and extremely happy times.

Week 42. Monstadbygg pay school to children.

2008-11-04T02:22:00.000-08:00

Bush food.

I didn't do much cycling this week but still managed to meet some nice people as well as staying with this family of about 10 who all live together in a back garden. I can tell you that you are never alone there and there is always something happening. I sat watching some people preparing food, others washing clothes, children playing, animals roaming around........total chaos all the time! One kid was so unhappy because he had to kill a chicken for the first time, that the grandfather who is the chief was quite angry and so the kid just run away.
Boss
There were 3 children aged 8 - 9 years old who never went to school because you have to pay for school and which parents' can't simply can't afford. There are so many poor people here who don't understand the point of school as they never went themselves.
I called my brother and asked him if he wanted to help pay for them to go to school and he said yes so I went to the school and paid about 200 us dollar which will be enough for 5 years food and schooling.
I don't think that I have ever seen so many happy children going to school before. They were smiling all day and were so proud. They got their school books and I bought a school bag for them.
I felt so good that day, and it goes to show that it doesn't take too much effort in order to change peoples life for the better.
Some of the children were orphans and there was also one father who has mental problems due to the war. Mostly all the families were poor and all living in one room.
A girl going to school for the very first time.
I have never seen kids being so happy to be going to school.

Washing

Week 41, Visa to Ghana

2008-11-04T02:21:00.000-08:00

Week 41. Abadjan.
I am now in the capital and waiting for some money and a visa to visit Ghana. I'm not very fond of the big city, but have no alternative as it is only there that I can obtain the necessary visa for which ever country I am going to next. This time it is going to cost me anything between 50 to 100 US dollar. I have discovered just how expensive it is for Europeans' to get a visa in Africa.
Whilst "in town" I was invited to lunch at the Norwegian Embassy and it was so nice meeting and talking with Norwegian people again.
On other occasions I would just be hanging around doing nothing whilst waiting.

Week 40, Voodoo

2008-11-04T02:19:00.000-08:00

I stayed in Daloa for one week trying to restore my energy after having worm extracted from my body. A family invited me to stay with them. Although they live simply, there is so much love in this house.

While I was walking I saw a lady being arrested because she tried to sell one handicap boy to be used in voodoo. She had taken him from a small village and brought him to the big city. It's the Presidential election now and some people believe they will win if they do ritualistic killing. They said that handicapped and young people are preferred, because they are the cleanest. I understand that I am a long way from Norway but it is still very hard to understand and accept.

Week 39, Cote D Ivoire. Anguillules.

2008-10-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

Now I've only gone and got worms crawling about under my skin so I saw a doctor who said it was something called "Anguillules" which is contracted from water or food. I must tell you that I have never felt quite as bad as this ever before in my life!!

Week 38, Cote d Ivoire.

2008-09-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

The land is flat and boring again but I can cycle faster because you want it to finish.
Stopped in a small town and asked for a place to sleep. I was invited to stay at the town chiefs house.
The whole town called a meeting in my honour. They were fascinated with the stories I told about my trip so far. The one they liked most was the story about the Cobra in Guinea Bissau.
We drank palm vine and they showed me the chicken and pig that they will kill for me tomorrow. Some ladies sang to me as well.
I am now an honorary member of this town and the town chief has said that I am his adopted son now.

I was prepared and ready to leave this morning but they said I had to stay as there is going to be a big party in my honour. Well, seeing as time is not of importance I stayed.....of course!!
So I spent the day walking round town with the chief and saying hello to the people. The town chiefs' father was King of a very large area here before. I saw his throne which was almost like the one that the King of Norway has.
They killed the chicken today and it was very tasty. Later on they killed the pig.
Before we went to the party I heard that it was because one lady had died 3 days ago. They mourn for 3 days and then have a big party for all of the town. I did my butt dance and it was fun to see so many people laugh at this. They played with instruments and everyone of all ages danced.

King of Bangolo

I did little cycling after the party, what with a hangover from yesterday. I said goodbye to the town chief and everyone else and left with the fond memory of being the "Son of the Town" now.
I came to another town and met some radio people who invited me to their home. One was really like Bob Marley and smoked all of the time whilst playing the guitar.
They told me a lot about the war and what happened when the good time came here. A lot of people from Burkina Faso came here to work. However, when the economics weren't so good, the local people wanted to send them back. Most of them live to the north and are Muslim. Then the war broke out.

Everything is still so green. There are only a few flowers around.
11 spokes have broken on my back wheel and 2 more got broken today so I will have to fix them before moving on.
I met a teacher who invited me home and kindly gave me food and a bed. I'm sitting here with his family now and having a nice time.
People are very poor here, but nothing like in Liberia. Here they have power everywhere and the food is better. I don't have anymore diarrhoea from last week and think maybe my stomach is strong enough for the African food now. Not before time I say.

Met some French army people here and talked with them. They said I was crazy to be cycling here.
They gave me 2 bottles of water before leaving and warned me that there are a lot of problems here, where sometimes the rebels come out from the bush and rob people on the road where I will be cycling.
I use my water cleaner a lot and when I finish I clean the pump which is very often full of muck. I cannot believe that people actually drink this water.
I got real proof today as to just how poor this country really is. When I was cycling into the town I got myself a flat tyre and stopped by a cycle repair shop where this man could fix it. Whilst I was waiting a power line fell down onto the road where, only 5 mins after, I had passed. There were a lot of people walking there as well as there were cars. It was lucky that it didn't fall on anyone or me for that matter. Must have been some insects that had eaten their way through the tree.
Wooden houses don't get to grow old here as it is too wet and many different insects like and live in these trees.
My brother gratefully sent me 100 dollars today. I found a visa machine here which is a first time for long time.

Week 37:Liberia, Bad roads.

2008-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Bad road, but was beautiful nature and nice weather with sky for the sun. Think I past 4 check point today. No problem, they only wont to know what i do, how far i cycling........
I come little to fast to one big dump and i almost fall down. I hear a terrible sound from the bike and was sure my frame was broken now. Look everywhere and my frame was ok. But 2 spoke in front wheel and 7 spoke in back wheel get broken. My back wheel is bad now and I jumping up and down when I cycling on my crooked wheel after thats..
Was invited to stay with the border police in Cote d Ivoire today. They speak French, but one of they speak English so I have a nice time with them.
I show them some picture from my trip and they love the picture from Colombia where I stay with the army.

The Ivory Coast has 17 million inhabitants. There has been civil war here to and it is still quite unsafe. People hope for peace in the near future, but many believe that there will be war again. The UN are here of which I have passed 2 UN checkpoints and 4 military checkpoint in one day.
One good thing that comes out of the rainy season is that everywhere everything has turned into vibrant shades of green. There are more mountains here and so much more beautiful nature. It is so pleasant and rewarding when biking in with so much beautiful nature around.
I stayed in a guest house for 2 dollar per night. There was a shower that actually had water, albeit cold and there aws even electrical power. I have to say that it's been a very long time ago since I've seen anything like that in a guest house.
Would you believe it, I've gone a got diarrhea again! I can't tell how boring this is. Usually the stomach gets stronger after some weeks with different bacterias but that's certainly not happening to me! I got so little sleep as I was on the toilet all night. I really hope that things will be better tomorrow.

Week 36: Liberia, Voodoo

2008-09-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

I've been 14 days with UN Tom and have got a little fatter due to eating a lot of Norwegian food. I had to stay that long because I am waiting for my new camera and mini laptop. My brother helped me with some money to get this stuff, which is very nice of him. The camera is an Olympus SP 560 with a great 18 optical zoom. Not too heavy nor expensive. My laptop is an Aspire One which has a 8.9 screen and weighs 1 kg. This is perfect for me as I don't want to have too carry too much stuff in my bag but there is not a lot that you can do with the laptop except to write or check my e-mail. I am happy now as I don't like to cycle without a camera as you never know what surprises you can encounter on the road, lions etc.....

I have brought lots of good nourishing food with me as I really don't want to be getting diarrhoea again. Tom was very nice and gave me loads of Norwegian food, about 20 kg actually. I bought 3 kg groats which makes a good breakfast and also with Banyan I am able to cycle for 5 - 6 hours without eating again. He also gave me 2 months supply of malaria pills which are very expensive here to buy. I have also got some Norwegian books which were kindly donated by Tom and another Norwegian UN police working here. There was many a time when I missed having a good book to read.

There are many signs and large posters on the road side,giving out messages like, "Rape is a crime", "Stop mob violence" etc. It's so sad to read things like this. War can make life so difficult.

The cycling has been very good this week because I have ate a lot of good food. You can well imagine how terrible it can be cycling on an empty stomach as well as having chronic diarrhea . Remember that a hungry man is an angry man!
The scenery here is so spectacular and beautiful with lots of jungle and river. However along the coast a lot of it is cut back. I also saw a lot of rubber farms the most being in Firestone Bay. America aids Liberia much and I see many things with USAID.......written on.
I am often told that people are nicer from this region and I am not getting people begging me for money or being asked to be taken to Europe. It really can be too much sometimes, but in saying that I do understand why.
I saw some pictures of myself today and I must say that I was surprised to see just how very thin I've got with hardly any real muscles left on my upper body, only on my legs. I really must get back into training and get my body finely tuned.

Some people from a small bombed out village invited me to their home. They had some really ugly scars all over their bodies. Just before we got to the village I saw a sign saying "No to ritualistic killing, keep murderers in jail and say no to sassy wood and forced initiations". I had no idea what the hell that was all about! I know that religion is a tradition here, but not ritualistic killings! I tried asking someone about this, but they didn't want to say anything.

They live here similar to what we did a 100 years ago with all of them, the parents with their four kids all sleeping together in the only room and on a mattress in the middle of the floor and all of the kids running around with the chickens, dogs, cats and pigs. I have to say that it is so nice to see this simple kind of family life. You know they don't even have electricity.
There has been great curious interest shown with my digital camera because nobody around here has ever seen this sort of thing before and they loved seeing photos of themselves and their friends. I gave them a slide show on the camera which really got them laughing a lot. It is so rewarding to see someone getting so much pleasure from something so simple.

When I went into town I met a journalist who told me about a recent ritual killing.
Many people around there still believe in voodoo. They practice this in the belief that this will increase their power. Due to the war they have also been known to take peoples' body parts and eat purely from hunger. However, he told me that most of the time they use them for voodoo rituals.

I tried to get him to write down the religion which is practiced as well as the name of those people involved but he wouldn't as he said that this could be dangerous for me if I were to know. He said that they can easily inject me with evil thoughts and I could get myself killed. Wow! is religion ever strong here.

We drove around the city today and met the town chief, an old man who inherited the title from his father. He has so much power that the city government can get problems if they don't accept his wishes. He told me many other things like the biggest problem they have in town is water as all help organizations' think the city has sufficient water and the only help required is in the countryside. He also said that there had been some ritual killings' and in the war there were lot's of them.
The journalist also took me to a hospital for Lepers. I really did think that this virus had completely disappeared from the earth. It was quite disturbing seeing people without legs, fingers and deformed bodies.

During the rainy season the road looks like a muddy river. I saw two trucks had toppled over and there were a lot of cars that stuck and couldn't move. I fell over two times and literally ended up covered from head to toe in mud.

The Town Chief.

A little distance from town there was a small village with people who believe in the old traditional religion. They believe firmly in mother nature such as mountains and rivers. The town Chief promised me that there was no voodoo happening there as that is a different religion to the one they practice.
When the mining company was formed back in 1959, the people moved away from the area and in so doing didn't receive any compensation from either the mining company or government. He also told me that one of the company's' was from Sweden.

Liberia

2008-08-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Nice time with somebody from Sierra Leone

After being hospitalized for malaria , cycling in the rainy season and having a rough encounter with some Diamond prospectors made me think that I would rather like to return home. But then I found out about “Gilde "Grillpölser in Liberia ........!!!!!!!!! (Norwegian hot dogs)

After my stay in prison in Freetown I moved in with an Irishman working there. During my stay I only went and got malaria which I think I contracted in the bush. Not very clever specially after suffering two months of diarrhoea. I think I now know where it came from. The pain in my loins were the worst and whilst in the hospital they took blood samples. A nice female doctor from India told me that my health was very bad and started to talk to me as though I was a child. No alcohol for the next few weeks, eating as much as I can and lots of fruit juices. She also advised me to take vitamin pills. Amazingly, she was actually able to detect from my armpit hairs that I was undernourished.
I found that Freetown, which was named by the freed slaves, to be a very interesting city.
Some of it is colonial, but what I did notice was just how many wooden houses there were. These houses are small and I am sure had once been very beautiful, but the ravages of time and poverty have since changed their characters.
Whilst there I lived in a more European style house. I met with so many nice people working on aid, housing and school projects etc.
I thanked them very much and cycled on. It was difficult riding now due to the rainy season reaching it's peak. It was torrential rain most of the day which meant me having to wait until it eased off a bit before continuing. Even so, if it rained for a few hours it was enough to get me saturated even though I was wearing rain gear.

I experienced very bad flooded roads making riding very hard and slow. The area is very flat and the jungle has been stripped down. One advantage of the many streams here is that you can cool down when it gets too hot. I was in a diamond area where they are dug up from the river bed. There were many stories told from over the years which the people related to me. Theft is common and if you get caught you will find yourself in real deep shit.
The whole city is full of diamond shops.

I went further into Liberia where I met a former military officer who said that these were the 20 bloodiest years of his life. I told him that I served in the military for a year and that we could therefore be brothers.

Officer Balla Musa

What I didn't tell him though was that I spent my whole service life in an office writing bills for the Air Force.
I was invited by the battalion to spend the night there and we spent the evening drinking Palm wine and he told us stories. I could hardly believe my ears hearing of the atrocities that had occurred. Killings and amputations of women ,children and older people's limbs. No one was spared. I met many rebels and asked them why they did these things and no one wanted to admit to any of it. However, they did tell me that it was more often than not whilst under the influence of drugs. One man, with a bizarre sense of humour, told me after a few beers what exactly went on there. Can you believe it that before amputating they often asked whether they preferred one arm longer or shorter. The short arm meant amputating from the elbow, while the long arm meant from the wrist. No matter how sad it was I did laugh a bit as to the way this story was told. In addition, most people don't think about it much these days and only smile. Now he says he is without any bitterness as, for him, it was simply an unpleasant chapter.

I received the friendliest of welcomes at the Liberian border where I was invited by an immigration officer to have a beer to celebrate my arrival in the country.. Norwegians work on many major projects here building schools, etc. Plan Norge (Norway) is one of the companies.
After two decades of civil war, UN soldiers from all over the world ensure that peace is maintained which happens to be the most expensive UN operation in the world and now Liberia is one of the safest countries in Africa. At present I am living with a friend who I had previously swum with. He is the operation area manager of a UN department. We spent a few pleasant evenings with Norwegian politicians. I must admit that I do live well here almost like I was at home. One feels best in his own culture. There is a lot of Norwegian food here, Norwegian hot dogs, etc. It’s been a long time since I tasted really, good Norwegian food. Unfortunately, I don't have many new photos to illustrate all of this.
Tom at work

Haircut between norwegians and the UN police

My camera only takes dark pictures but I do have a new one coming hopefully arriving next week which was ordered for me by a Norwegian UN soldier.

Ironman Petter

Norseman(Ironman) movie from Norway

On the other hand, my hobby agent, Petter Guttormsen did the world's hardest Iron man contest (Norseman)which entailed a 4 km swim through the Eidangerfjorden, 180 km cycle to Hardangervidda and 42km run to Gaustatoppen. I took part in 2005 in this same competition and it was then that I thought the whole world belonged to me and that nothing else was impossible thereafter. Petter , I congratulate you on your success.

On the road with girls.

Cross River

Sierra Leone

2008-07-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Cool tatooing

NEWS ITEM: A white man who claimed to be from another planet was arrested in small fishing village on the outskirts of Freetown. Biking in Africa with most rare Requirement

I am now in Sierra Leone heading for the capital Freetown. In Guinea Conakry where I lived with the brother of the president who I met through other people who also thought cycling was cool. Actually, I should have met the President but he had to go with all other African presidents to Egypt. Everyone was very friendly which made me happy. Since my diaorrhea came to an end, they drove me to the hospital to get me checked through. The medics there gave me a lot of pills which didn't really help very much. I had a nice nurses who cared a lot for me but it didn't help much. But a little care is always a good thing.
I drove to Sierra Leone where I was received in a friendly manner at the border. So many former soldiers had wounds from the war.There were a many with amputated arms or legs as a result of the Civil War. Before many rebels took drugs which made them very brutal and now they are suffering. For security reasons I was requested to check in at each police station.

As usual the roads were very bad.

Because of my feeling so weak due to the diaorrhea I decided to take a boat to Freetown. The journey should take 5 hours with an outboard motor boat. Everyone was asking me whether I was a good swimmer because they stated that at least one boat sinks every year.
The weather was bad so I went to a fishing village where I could spend the night. What really happened, I can't say, but it defintely got very loud there. A fisherman family invited me to sleep there and everything looked good until a neighbour came who presented himself as an informer of the authorities. Then my host and the informant began to argue indigenously. It looked as if it was getting pretty serious and my host said that it was'nt so important for me to report to the police. But the informant said the contrary and it ended up that a former soldier wanted to end the discussion and since he had no luck, a crowd started gathering in front of the fisherman's house.
Later came a higher officer and other authorities. All this happened in front of the house in this small fishing village. It got increasingly critical and I started to get concerned. The authorities asked me whether I was stupid and didn't I know that it was very dangerous to ride through the country by bicycle and he guaranteed to inform his boss and send me home immediately .
I told him that I had a visa and had no intention of going home.

This discussion went to another level amd became increasingly louder which I had never experienced before.
They then discussed what should happen next. By now there was almost certainly a 100 people gathered around the house who got involved shouting that I had to be from another planet. This village was so isolated from the environment on the basis of the civil war that many had never seen a white man before. I knew that I looked different but that I could be from another planet, was really something else. After some time, they agreed to take me to the neighbouring village to talk to the police chief there.

Further discussion I could'nt follow as they used an indigenous language. Then, after 2 hours my visa was void and I was arrested. They wanted to bring me to the headquarters to stay over night. Everything I had with me was seized and the police picked me up at 3am after being on a jungle road for 2 hours and I was sure that I would be expelled without knowing why. After the interrogation they allowed me to sleep.

The next day, thinking that I was about to face another interrogation and as my visa was in still order and that they now realised that I was cycling around the world they started to mellow and became friendlier. Now that they were treating me in a better manner I knew that the only remaining formality was to let me go. Later I discovered the reason for the whole facade. Many things happened simultaneously. Maybe the people in the village were right thinking that I was from another planet, and they wanted that I should leave for my own safety. At the same time, they wanted to know what I wanted here. Not very many tourists ever went there.
Only days earlier an aircraft with 600 kg of cocaine had been seized. It might have come from Colombia or Venezuela and the pilot had hidden in the bush. Therefore, the informant thought that I might be involved.
Then the police chief wanted to prevent any further embarrassment so he invited me to his house to have palm wine and to stay over. He also informed me that some of his colleagues from the north of the country which is diamond country would allow me to check out some of the mines. So it all ended happily.

Police Boss in Lungi(Freetown)

Farewell to the police

My camera was damaged and I needed another one. Now I have to think which type of camera would be best for me to buy.

My diaorrhea is a little better and hopefully I am back to power and new inspirations.

Now I am staying with a young Englishman; Connor Doyle is his name, who works for the Finance of Ministry here. He lives very comfortably in the embassy zone.
I was very impressed by his career and his ability to use his brains.

I miss company somtimes and if someone would like to bike with me for a week or more, please contact me. Believe me when I tell you I that it will be a new exciting and interesting event!

Playing games in Guinea

A red headed Monkey.

Cobra

2008-06-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

Make food

I am now in Guinea Conakry, and I am in its capital, Conakry. Here, I must apply for a visa to Sierra Leone
I had crossed the border of Guinea Bissau to Guinea Conakry by a path which was shown on the map as a solid road. The last cars that had passed here must have been a long time ago because it now looks more like a jungle path. It took me three days to cross that way which left me totally exhausted.

The trail started well.

I'm on the path

As I told you before the people here are very hospitable and the jungles were no exception. I was invited in one village to stay in a straw house and whilst there I suddenly I heard a shot in the house next door. It was nearly impossible to believe that a Cobra snake had been shot.
I was a little surprised by this event in the village and the people said to me that it was quite normal. There were a lot of Cobra's here and that many children were bitten and since died. I must admit that I didn't sleep so well that night, even though I was told that there wouldn't be any more Cobra's around. Here, they do not eat cobras as they are too small and since they are shot in the head the poison spreads into the bloodstream of the animal and the meat spoils.

Cobra

Cobra

Nature is very nice here and there are plenty of volcanic formations. Many of the rivers and streams are cold. Pools are crystal clear and cold. This is almost like the Norwegian mountain lakes. I was a bit surprised by the cool water in this heat. But I was told that because pools are surrounded by trees and shrubs the water keeps cold. It's so pleasant to cool down in this heat, even if there are lots of snakes around, I like to swim. I learned quickly to splash the water and make a lot of noise.

I was invited by a man who had at least 5 women and 25 children. That was a little different experience; his family hierarchy.

I'm not feeling well; I was suffering of diarrhea and lack of appetite. The family where I live here (in Conakry) took me to the doctor. He gave a lot of pills. Let's see if they help?
I have been invited by a friend, an old colleague of mine in Freetown, to visit him. He helps support some projects. I will be visiting him in a few days. How we live in such a small world!
My brother got angry with me because I have not been writing to him and I haven’t asked his help as much as I should be. I have apologized and will be writing to him more often about the people who have been helping me so far.
Kristina Southhard,who is my friend in Seattle, has helped me a lot, had sadly contracted cancer whilst I was there and had surgery. She is now on the path to recovery. She now gets the same support and assistance that I got from friends and such friendly people from Seattle. They have often proved it many times before. She was my agent as long as I was there and she helped me with this media campaign. She also helped me throughout my travels in Canada.

Jeanette helped me during my tour through Canada in the winter. She called all Norwegian clubs, bike shops, and cycle clubs. In the meantime she has moved to South Carolina to stay with her parents. With her help, my tour became very interesting and I met many friendly interesting people through her.

In Guinea Bissau.

2008-06-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

Sennegal

Sennegal
Having started with some problems, things are going a little better now. It's still hot, but not as hot as in the inland areas.

So many things have already happened since I have started this venture that I don't know where to begin. Let me start with Gambia of which I have already told a little.
The country right now is calm and stable, even though it has been a long time since the last military coup. The same general who took over still continues to be in power.
Senegal is very similar to Gambia, except that they speak French. A stable and successful economy. Specially in Dakar which is also known as "Mini Paris". The people here are known for their discussions and arguments. I would prefer to call it, something that they have learnt from the French. The young boys are especially rude when they are together. After having ridden all day I was certainl not in any mood to argue and found a way to get out.

I must say that they are particularly concerned about cleanliness. And they are extremely conservative in their dressing. There are many beautiful colorful costumes. Both in Gambia and Senegal they are very beautiful, incredibly beautiful. One can be a little amazed of this beauty in the middle of all the surrounding misery.

People I stay with

Dancing

The rainy season has started now, which for me is a good thing. Now it's raining, and Odin has an extreme eagerness for it to last at least half an hour. For some reason he is eager several times a day. While it rains, it's cooling down the ground and asphalt. It's 35 centigrade and 25 centigrade when the rain stops which makes it a pleasure to ride a bike. When it rains I seek shelter under a large tree or rooftop and eat my food or/and wash my bike.

Bissau, the old President's house is bombed.

There were no problems at the border control when getting to Bissau. They checked my luggage thoroughly because if they find any drugs, they can earn a years income very quickly.
The first thing that I noticed was that people were less well dressed than in Senegal and Gambia. They wear dirty clothes which have holes and are well worn. They didn't greet me along the way as they did in Senegal where, regardless of age or gender I was always greeted and smiled at.
This has to be one of the poorest countries in Africa having been marked by a lot wars.

Sundown

Guinea Bissau has 1.4 million inhabitants and is about the size of Switzerland: 23 different ethnic groups, 45% are Muslims while the rest are Christian or pray to other gods. The country was originally a Portuguese colony and they had to fight a bloody war before they were freed. At the end of 1990 ended a civil war in which many buildings in the capital were bombed and you can still see some ruins.
All this has resulted in a lot of poverty. The average living age is about 35 years and 45% are under 14 years. 20% cannot read, which means it's useless to ask somebody for directions using the map. I thought there would be much criminality in the area after seeing so much poverty, but I feel quite confident and experience something that we do not feel so much in the Western World anymore. When riding through a poor small village I lost a few coins from my pocket, a 10 crowns to be exact, without noticing it when a small young boy ran after me some hundred metres to return my money. This is a lot of money for people down here. I couldn't but help be aware of all the warnings and I gave the him 5 crowns
The people are very friendly and I was often allowed to sleep in their garden. They even offered me their bed, but knowing this would mean them having to slep on the floor I graciously refused. Now I sleep on my air mattress with the goats, cows and chickens that sleep in straw houses or mud houses. A cock goes to work together with the dog watching the compound.
Always having fun after a days ride using my Spanish knowledge as they are chatting Portuguese.

Whasing

Building house

Washing my clothes.
In any case, many down here are from Gambia and who know that Norway is a good country to live in. In fact the Guineans like to go to Norway. Many people asked me how to get there and what is there to do there.
Cool box
I have mounted a cool box in front of the bicycle, but I need to find electricity points to charge it. The one that I have bought can carry 1 liter of ice cubes which can last almost 6 hours. You cannot imagine how good the cold water tastes in this heat. It is not always that there is electricity. I have saw a floodlit soccer game during which the electricity went 4 times. There was a lot of anger and outrage toward the electricity company I can tell you! But nothing happened and things calmed down. If that happened in Norway the Prime Minister would've had to resign!

Since I love history I would like to tell you a little more about Africa.
Africa is the cradle of Humanity and the continent is the world's oldest continent with some 97% of it's land being 300 million years old. From bacteria, dinosaurs, and 10 million years ago apes started to walk on two legs. 8 million years later the Neanderthal evolved himself into human beings for 200,000 years. So long we didn't rule the Earth.
The oldest and most famous human skeleton was found in Ethiopia and is 150,000 years old. She is called Eva and is called the mother of humanity . That's how we are all coming from the the same mother.
50,000 years later they started to emigrate north and towards the middle east and most every corner of the world. Impressing how they spread all over the world. They lived as nomads and lived by eating the dead animals that they found.
40,000 years later the first farmers started to seed plants where there was good soil and a little green. A few thousand years later came the first people to Scandinavia which was at that time largely covered by ice. Little sun and the cold made the peoples dark pigmentation vanish and then they became white people with blond hair and blue eyes. So it came that Vikings spread their genes all over Europe, even to the Middle east. Some years later the Viking biker came in the game. That my friends was my brief family history.

I have been invited for a friend of mine from Tjoemme in Liberia, where he is working as a project leader of the United Nations. I hardly can wait to get there and relax with a cold beer which he has promised me.
My translator Werner Steidl drove a truck around the entire west Africa 35 years ago, and he was married to "Miss Gambia" at that time. Now he has remarried with a "great" lady from Peru and enjoying his life and helping me with my interpretations..

The shape started with is getting a little better after the long vacation, but it goes really slow . But the overweight I still have I must break at least in half.

Liberia next.

Extreme heat

2008-06-08T13:12:00.001-07:00

Extreme heat

Gambia is the smallest African country with 1.6 million people. 90% are Muslims and the rest are Christians. I think the youngsters are very liberal who call themselves hippie-Muslims. The people are very friendly and they welcome everyone. The majority speak English in addition to the local languages.
There is so much poverty here and where 45% of the population are under 14 years. This is quite unlike anything I have experienced on my trip so far
Six days ago I started biking in the direction of Mali. I chose this direction because I wanted to escape the rain on the coast. I had the choice of two evils, heat or rain and decided that it would be better to go with the heat.

In Banjul I met Omar. He lived in Norway for three years. He stayed with me for a few days. He was so helpful showing me where I could spend the night, find water, etc. I was pleased that he wanted to escort me on my tour.
But how mistaken can one be as two days in to the ride, did we ever have problems with the heat.
At 11 am, it was already more than 40 degrees Celsius, and two hours later it was over 45 degrees. I felt as if I was running in a sauna without a door. From time to time the hot wind blew from the Sahara. One might have thought that it came directly from an oven . This was too much for Omar and he went back home. I didn't want to give up so I continued.
The third day, I think my body was overheated. My lips were cracked and sheer desperation made me drink 20 liters of cold water. I spat it out again to drink more cold water . I also got diarrhea. Even at night I had trouble sleeping because of the heat and I would have paid one million crowns for a bath full of ice cubes.

I was invited by a Gambian for 2 days to regain my forces. Outside the cities, there is no electricity and I never found anything chilled enough to refresh me.
After two days I started off at 5am and continued on until11am. But by then it was just too hot, and I was told that further into the country it would be even hotter. More than 55 degrees!
Now I have decided to drive alongside the coast. Frankly the rains must be better than this heat. This has to be the worst cycling experience that I've ever had. Canada during the winter was a lightness in contrast to this heat. I actually miss Canada at this moment.
The last city that I was at was Georgetown which is where slaves were kept on an island until being taken to America by ship. In fact it was from here that the majority of slaves were shipped to America. I saw some old ruins, and also the prison where there is a slave festival and where many black Americans come to express there feeling of togetherness.

Nature here is very beautiful, typical African bush country. I saw many animals, monkeys, wild boars and a variety of birds.
The people are so nice and I was invited to stay with them almost every day. Life here is very simple with everyone always smiling. I met somebody who said that a man could feed 50 women with his salary here.
This extremely simple standard also has it's advantages and disadvantages. They have something we have lost in Europe. Family and friends hold very strongly together, even if they don't have much they still share whatever it is that they do have. It's a fact that they spend the day with the family instead of spending money and rushing off to find wealth.
I now have applied for visas for Guinea and Guinea-Bissau and as soon as they arrive it's off to Sierra Leone and to Liberia. Let's see how it works out?
I have just got a tray and a cooler in front of me. The water is extremely hot here almost to the point of boiling. Tomorrow I shall be moving on.

Update from Gambia

2008-05-26T01:27:00.000-07:00

Hello.

First i want to tell you a little bit about my bike. I got it from Foss Sykkel/Trek Norway who made it to my specifications. I didn't want any damping-fork because it might be hard to repair here in Africa. I have lots of different handle-bars so that I can change cycling-positions whenever I want. Spinn(cycling-shop in Norway) gave very nice lights to use on my bike. They have no batteries and are flashing every time when the wheels rotates because of the magnet. I was VERY impressed as they work so well. This is real high-tech stuff. I also have extra chains, cycling clothes, tyres and pumps. Spinn Cycle shop in Norway gave me the equipment and Trek Norway gave the bike. Petter Guttormsen who is my agent fixed this deal for me.

I made four real homemade water-bottles here in Gambia. My brother gave me a horn and some distress flares so that I can use if animals are getting to close to me.
Here you see a picture of the horn on my bike:

When my bike is fully laden with all of my equipment, it get to-o-o-oo heavy. So very often I have to clean it up. And having an old heavy laptop doesn't help either. Feels like I'm carrying a washing-machine. hehe. Also I have a big tent enough for three persons, because when I stop I have my bike inside the tent. Remember, my bike is my wife now. :) Madrass, food, clothes, camera, videocamera and lots of medicines.

Many locals ask me to help them with different medical problems and they are also asking me for medicines. I really do wish that I could help them, but I am not a doctor. I recommend them to visit a doctor or buy medicines, but they don't have money for medication which is bad. I really feel sorry for them.

I have visited a school in Banjul in Gambia which has links with Norway, here is a picture:

The bike is working very well so far and I am looking forward to using it more. My brother has helped me with some money which is a great help. It's now much easier to obtain money from the cash dispensers because the machines aren't so far apart as they have been.
Next step is to get to Mali, east of Gambia.

Updates and many pictures will follow soooooon.......

Africa - Here i come!

2008-05-20T02:10:00.001-07:00

I have been in Banjul for a couple of days now and have been working with my new bike and putting it together and now the bike seems to be working well.
I am not sure how long I shall be staying in Gambia but at least until I get my visa for Senegal.

With some new friends that I made here with my fully loaded bike.

A couple of monkies admiring my new TREK bike.

Sailing from Cape Verde to Gambia - Now I enter Afrika

2008-05-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

Finally I have arrived in Banjol, Gambia where I have come for a couple of days after a very nice voyage.

Cape Verde, Caribbean of Africa

2008-04-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

Hello

I am now in Cape Verde where I shall be staying for one week. During my voyage the Captain said that for the two weeks on board I had to do exactly what he says and that he rules on board....well more or less!!? He stated that :-
1. The Captain is always right!
2. At any time the Captain is wrong paragraph 1 is activated.
3. Together we agreed on a 3rd paragraph which was, every time we need to anchor HE had to buy a cold beer for both of us.

The Captain as in paragraph 1.

The sailing went so well it was almost boring . Everything went so perfectly that we arrived in harbour right on time at Sunrise. All perfect with the time and the wind.
During the trip I thought we would at least experience a small storm, a collision with a whale or something similar. But no, nothing like it. Hans (Captain) said that, "A gentleman sailor never sails badly."

Then my brother was certainly not a great gentleman. He proved that when he tried to pick me up in Canada. He came into a hurricane, had headwinds, was rescued by helicopter, almost sunk by a whale and was almost christianised which is not the worst that could have happened to him. He could almost qualify to be a true Viking.

The route that we sailed from Gran Canaries to Cape Verde.

In total we sailed 950 nautic miles (1759km) in 8 days with an average of 6.3 kmiles.per hour
There were very large waves for the first 3 days which threw the bota about...a lot, so much so that I was seasick for 3 days continuously vomiting most of the time. But at least I lost 5 kg of my beer belly which I had accrued over the last six months.

We passed the day with baking pancakes the way Hans showed me
(1, 2 & 3..... one egg, two parts flour and 3 parts water, a little salt and milk powder). Everyday we had pancakes for lunch and dinner with a small siesta in between.

Hans had bought a new PC and wanted to impress me with his sattelite receiver to the Internet. In his 7 years of sailing he had never seen the spray from the sea enter the cockpit and when it happened he spent the whole evening with small tears in his eyes. I laughed a lot.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde is called the African Caribbean and I must agree. It almost felt like I was in Brazil with the rhythm of the drums on the streets and many sexy women. Strange that I never heard of Cape Verde before!? It hasn't been very long that the islands have been discovered for tourism which means that it still has a lot of it's original unspoilt charm and beauty. I am now in Ilha de Sao Vicente which is one of the many islands with a population of about 40,000 people. It is not a fertile island rather, as the Vikings would say, a brown island. But the colonial cities are intact and the landscape is very beautiful.

Fish market.

I had promised to finish my book by the time I arrived in Gambia or never write it. Vikings are not well known for using their heads to achieve something.

I tried to find a new name for my most recent bike. The last one I called “my wife” but sadly she is now deceased. I thought of "Sleipner" but it could be brought together with the big ship disaster. I also thought of "Freya". If anyone has a proposal please let me know. Hans advised me to name it Iduna the godess of youth source. But in Norway, there is a company "Idun" that manufactures ketchup and fries. And believe me these two really do not keep you young!

Still in Las Palmas

2008-04-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hans who sails me to Gambia

Hello.

Until now I am still in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. This is the capital of the island group on the westcoast of Africa. I had in mind to sail with my brother to Gambia and later to the Ivory Coast. But he had problems with his engine and it took him a week to repair. We had difficulties with money and my brother had to return home. I think that he missed his family. Also that he just became the father of a lovely daughter which will be baptized on the weekend. Do note that he will always be more a family man and the adventures come 2nd.

Problems with the engine.

I met a Swede named Hans who is prepared to sail to Cape Verde and later to the surrounding islands for 2 weeks.He is then sailing onto Gambia and I have decided to join him on board. He is a pensioner who has been sailing around the world for seven years and continues to sail until the sea finally catches up with him. As a 17 year old, he lost all the fingers of his right hand except for his thumb in a working accident but that didn't prevent him becoming a construction engineer and he built his sailboat all by himself. One can only wonder what else he has achieved to have his dreams fulfilled .
Many people ask me about how the book that I am witing about my travels is coming along so, I am using this time in Las Palmas catching up with my diary. Even if I am not able to find a publisher, I have at least tried it. Hans had tried to write 5 books but without luck. It's not easy!
As a safety precaution against mosquitoes, viruses and bacteria I have a large mosquito net, a drinking water filter, and chemicals concerned about possible residues in the filter disposal. These things were sponsored to me by Hesby Sports from Toensberg Norway. I have had all necessary vaccinations and have now got sufficient tablets against malaria and infections. I even have a small box of antidote for snakebites. I am scared most of viruses and bacteria. I reckon the best remedy against malaria is simply not to be stung by mosquitoes!

mosquito net, water filter, safety signs, a lot of chemicals and medicine.Sponsered by Hesby Sport.

My brother gave me a signal horn, a safety rocket and a safety fire against wild animals. Animals are afraid of fire and high tunes. I still have a Rambo type dagger that I received as a gift in Canada. To be quite honest I have the least fear from the animals.

Safety rocket, safety fire and rambo dagger

Phonak hear aid devices gave me a new hearing device and also promised to repair it in case of fault. I felt myself in a new world after a year without my hearing aid. Often I felt excluded in company when I didn't understand anything so be very happy when you can hear normally without having to rely on an aid!

Phonak sponsered me an hear aid.

I am really happy to be soon going on the road again with my bike. I met a Norwegian FN soldier stationed in Liberia who invited me to visit him there. There are many Norwegian aid projects in Africa and also missions, etc. I will visit many of these places. I have to take many things as they come because planning 100% is absolutely hopeless. My plan is to go to Gambia and from there to ride to South Africa and then on to Egypt. How long this will take and what countries I will cross, I really don't know .
Like my previous adventure, when I find a nice place I will remain a few days. I am a little bit worried because for all these countries I do need visas. And a visa for each country may take a long time and can be very costly so I can't plan too much ahead because I don't know when I will reach the respective border or how long it will take me to cross a country. And then there always a lot of questions to answer when I get there like: "Where do you come from?" "Where do you want to go?" "How long do you want to stay?" "What do you want here?" It is so hopeless to plan. I heard rumors that everything at the border can be done by passing a few dollars.

I really hope that we will be sailing soon.

Rune

Goodbye beer in Madeira

2008-03-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

I have now arrived in Las Palmas and have met up with my twin brother. It is so nice to see him again after so long.
We will be sailing off sometime this weekend for Gambia which should take about a week and then I will set off on my new biking venture.

Yesterday was my farewell party in Moynihans Irish bar in Funchal, with my work colleagues from the Savoy Hotel in Madeira. It is not so often that you meet so many nice and sometimes crazy people in the same place. I had such a nice time working there and found myself among a lot of new friends. Everyone there were so nice. They were from a variety of previous professions from doctors, artists, an ex bank boss, even a millonaire, all of who now work there for fun.....and money of course! As well as them there are people who don't like their own country very much, adventurers, ex army who have fought in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone as well as people who have some health problems. Right combination so that you can imagine that all of the time it was interesting and fun times. They are really nice people who I will miss immensely and remember fondly during my travels.

Rune Rørtveit from

Norway

Guy Barlow,

my boss from

England

Katrijn from
Belgium, very lovely lady and good friend.

Mark from
England who helps me with
my English now and during my travels.

Doctor Anna and
artist Moud from Sweden.

Alodora and Celina from
Madeira.

Jose from Madeira

Tom from America

Bernard from

Belgium

Lost all my videos on google. Please help me.

2008-03-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of videos on www.google.video.com and all this is lost. Maybe I did something wrong or some virus has deleted it. This has made me so sad and I have been so depressed a long time now. I tried to send an e mail to google without success so I called Google in Norway but they couldn't help me and said that I had to send an e mail. I did and needless to say they have'nt responded. If someone could help me with this I will be very grateful.

Leave for Africa 14/03/08

2008-02-26T06:17:00.000-08:00

I start my next adventure 14th March where I'll be biking through Gambia, S. Africa and Egypt. I will be meeting up with my brother again in Las Palmas where we are going to sail to Gambia. Many people have tried to persuade me not to go because of the dangers awaiting such as, snakes, poisonous spiders not to mention bigger stuff like lions, elephants, hippos, water buffalo etc etc. Besides that there is always the threat of malaria, dysentry and viruses. As well as that there is of course, people, like guerrilla and child soldiers etc. etc.

Lion (photo: not me)

Black Mamba (photo:not me)

Meet Vikingbiker at Classic Savoy Hotel.

2008-01-09T04:35:00.002-08:00

Through this I would like to invite you to the Classic Savoy Hotel on Madeira where I will tell you about my adventures through South , Central and North America which I toured on my mountain bike.

These are featured with pictures and a documentary movie.

In the beginning of March I will start my new adventure travelling throughout Africa.

Rune Monstad

Musicmovie.

2007-12-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

Cant belive it, get sponsored for new bike

2007-11-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

My new TREK 6500 with Stein Varjord.

My new friend, Petter Guttormsen who helped me to get my new bike. I talked a lot with him on msn and he has really worked hard to get me my new bike.

Stuff for my bike

http://trek.no/
http://spinn.no/newsread/news.asp?N=5006

Sailing to Gran Canarien

2007-09-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sailing.

Island Selvagen.

I am still working in Madeira at Hotel Royal Savoy and I will be there until after Christmas.
My brother has been visiting me and he wanted to sail to Gran C. Two friends of mine joined us and it was a very nice trip. Good wind and sun all the time.
We surfed on the waves which was unbelievably fast and fun. We nearly sailed over a dead whale, got a lot of fish and sailed with the dolphins.....

Dolphin.

My brother and I got too much sun as well as serious headaches which helped us to throw up all our food. For a Viking that`s normal. Whilst the Captain was asleep, the rest of us inexperienced sailors got ourselves lost when the wind changed and we panicked. But Captain brother came to our rescue and saved us.

Rune Rørtveit from North Norway, who was a chef before, prepared good hearty food.
We went to a nature reservation island and met one crazy doctor who studies birds. He showed us around the island, and when he found dead birds he was so emotional that he wanted to kiss and talk about them.

Albatross.

I go back to Madeira Monday 31/9/07

Rune

Work in Madeira.

2007-08-06T07:29:00.001-07:00

Madeira

Madeira.

I will be here in Madeira for a while and working to have money for my next adventure in Africa. I am working in a pub as well as the famous Savoy Hotel, but is very bad pay here. I am trying out different jobsk and see how it goes.
Now I live on my brothers boat and it is a nice life. Madeira is so beautiful and I have met a lot of Norwegian people.
My friend Kristina, who comes from Seattle in the USA, sadly is in very bad health suffering from bone cancer and will have to go to hospital next week and it will take about one year before she is good again. Lets hope everything will be fine.
I will update my blog once a month now, since I'm not biking. But I want to bike again very soon.

My friend has cancer.

2007-07-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Kristina on TV

One of my best friends, Kristina, who has helped me for the most of my trip is very ill. She has been diagnosed with Leukemia and it is very bad.

She helped me a lot in Seattle when I was robbed and I stayed with her for over a month. We became very good friends and I love her for all of her help.

Now it is she who needs help with so many things, and there is not free hospital care there like we have in Norway. This is one of the things I don't like so much in USA.

I am still in Madeira and looking for work. Hopefully I can raise enough money together to visit Kristina in Seattle as it is at times like these when she needs her friends around her.

My brother, his girlfriend and daughter have left me now-. It is empty here on his boat, I will live on it while I am here in Madeira.

Weekley report: Met my brother in Madeira

2007-07-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Met my brother.

My brother relaxing.

After coming by airplane from Canada to London and then to Madeira I finally met my brother. It was so nice to see him again as I really miss my family.
We will probably sail around here for 14 days, and then I will try to find work here on the island.

Weekly report: Leave Canada

2007-06-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

I have been in St John's for 2 week now. I met 2 other bikers here and spent a lot of time with them. Mike is planning to bike across Canada, but I think may change his mind and bike around the world now.
Adrian crossed Canada last year and raised 200,000 dollar for The Keg Spirit Foundation. It is amazing how he does that. He has really taken care of me and has made me a contact with Planeterra G.A.P adventures.
Robert Collingwood from the Norwegian consulate gave me some work. He has a company who makes water and vodka of iceberg. Iceberg could be 15,000 years old and it is cool to drink water from snow which the Viking's were doing 1,000 years ago. He took us on a boat trip to see the icebergs and we gave it the test Viking style.
There will be pictures of icebergs later as for now my camera is broken.
Margaret Wiig helped me find a cheap air ticket from London to Africa. I love it here.
I will leave St John's tomorrow and go onto London where I will stay for 2 days with some friends, then onto Madeira where I will meet my Brother Stig, The Viking Sailor.

Weekly report: My brother blown to Africa.

2007-06-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

This is my twin brother Stig Monstad.

Vikingsailor.
The plan was for him to come to Canada and pick me up. But everything is changed,he ran into so much bad weather and he sailed at the wrong time of the year so he had to stop. He tried to sail to Azorene(middle of the Atlantic Ocean) and was only one day from there when he sailed into a storm and got blown way off course to Africa.
He was worried that his girlfriend will end the relationship if he continued, so he stopped!
My visa in Canada will expire 30 June so I will fly out before then and go to see my brother in Africa and sail around there.

Weekly report: Finally accross Canada in the Winter.

2007-06-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

Last night on the road.

Biking in storm and -30 C. Video, click here

Video, click here

I am now in St. John's and am finally cross Canada in the Winter. I'm both happy and a little sad as I really enjoyed biking across Canada and meeting so many nice people who helped me on the road. I have made many new friends. Without them, this would have never worked out. So thank you to all the people who have helped me on the road (I'll write more later). I am pretty happy to be finished though I'm not done yet!!!!!!

I have to stay here for a while and wait for my brother to arrive which will probably be in another month. Then we will sail up to L'Anse aux Meadows. Maybe Greenland and Iceland. From there, not sure. Thats the plan, but in the meantime much could happen. Maybe he will have boat problems or I have to leave Canada..
Either way, I will biking throughout the rest of the world.

Weekly report : Speaking at a High School

2007-06-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Week 22

Pasadena.

It was great being invited to speak at a High School. It was so much fun.

Weekly letter.
Distance.
Relax all week.

Bike related.
Have fixed my bike a little, new handlebar. New seat, and now it's really soft and good. The seat was designed especially for someone who sprnds their time in a wheelchair most of the time so that's is why it is so comfortable. A young man who has spina bifida gave me this seat, when he read about my sore arse.

About the place.
I'm now in Pasadena which is a famous Valley. It is beautiful with a good salmon river. Many rich and retired soccer players live here,like Ian Marshall.

Another things.
Relax with one nice family from Norway here and I helped with yard work. So nice to feel normal sometimes.
Have spoken to some high schools around here and received 55 dollars for the first time for giving a lecture. This was really appreciated.

I played poker with some Newfoundlanders in a basement and am now a member of this klubb for the rest of my life. The Newfie Underground Porker Club we call ourselves, it was fun.

Plan
My brother(vikingsailor) is in Spain with his sailboat and will leave Sunday June 3.
I will go to St John's and ask for an extension on my visa which expires 30 June. Hopefully they will let me stay in Canada longer.
Will stay there and wait for my brother and see what happens.
I have no idea where we will go after Canada. The plan was Caribbean, but now the hurricane season has started...we will need to avoid that!

Invited to my first poker game ever.

2007-05-26T09:39:00.002-07:00

Week 21.Newfoundland

Corner Brook, Newfoundland

Poker game, good beer and homemade wine here.

Distance.
Sun 20/5:204 km Antigonish-Sydney. Little rain, slept on ferry.
Mon 21/5:42 km Thomkins. Rain all day, invited to house.
Tue 22/5:152 km St Georg's. Rain and front wind, slept in tent.
Wed 23/5:60 km Corner Brook. Sun, but cold, invited to house.
Thu 24/5: Relaxed.
Fri 25/5: Relaxed.
Sat 26/5: Relaxed.

Weekly letter.
Bike related.
Met two boys from Vancouver who crossed Canada from west to east. They biked about 150 km every day and took 2 months to cross Canada.(see video) It was nice to have their company for 3 days and they pushed me to bike harder. You spend so much time alone when you are biking long distances, sometimes I talk to myself!
I have been invited to stay with some people from Norway that live here.

About the place.
It is very beautiful here in Newfoundland, but is still cold weather and a lot of hills.
There are no indians left here, they killed them all 100 years ago, the last one was a 16 year old girl who was sent to New Brunswik in 1902 and she died of tuberculosis there. People here say they were mixed with vikings and some of them were tall and had blonde hair. Is a sad history. Most people who live here are from England and Ireland.

Plan
There are some problems now. My visa to stay here in Canada expires 30 June. My brother(vikingsailor) is in Spain with his sailboat and probably will not be here in NF until sometime in July, the plan was that he would already be here. But, he was faced with so much bad weather.
Anyway, the plan is to meet him in L'Anse aux Meadows so now I will go to St John's and ask for an extension on my visa and then bike up to L'Anse aux Meadows and wait for my brother.
Hopefully they will let me stay in Canada longer.
I have no idea where we will go after Canada. The plan was Carribien, but now the Hurricane season has started...we will need to avoid that!
Newspaper.
The western star.

Weekly report: Anne of Green Gables.

2007-05-23T10:28:00.001-07:00

Cavendish, the house from "Anne of Green Gable"

Economy: This poor dog died the day after I left.

Week 20.
Distance.
Sun 13\5:00km, Economy, relaxed. Sunny all day.
Mon 14\5:78km, Hebert River. Rained all day. Invited to a house.
Tue 15\5:85km, Borden. Rained all day. Invited to house.
Wed 16\5:55km, Cavendish. Rained all day. Slept in tent.
Thu 17\5:81km, Eldon. Rained all day. Slept in tent again.
Fri 18\5:65km, New Glascow. Rained all day, invited to stay in a house.
Sat 19\5:66km, Antigonish, Rained all day, slept in tent.

Letter.
I was invited to stay a few days in a hippie type of town and learned a little about organic food, yoga, art and a peaceful lifestyle which I liked. One of the ladies had a dog that was ill and was in a lot of pain while I was there. The dog would not lay down all day because it seemed he was sure that his bed caused the pain so, after a short time on the floor he moved again because he was still in pain. It was such a nice dog . Sadly he died the day after I left.

I was also invited to stay with a man that has an old style food store. He was quite athletic when he was young but unfortunately he now has problems with pain in his legs. It is so bad and nothing seems to help which makes him feel like giving up. I heard that he is now in the hospital now. I do hope that they are able to help him. We played darts and drank beer with his friend. I really enjoyed my time with them.

I also stayed with a man that was in the army, he was a sniper. He went to Yugoslavia and someone tried to shoot him so naturally he shot back and killed him. East Canada has many people who are in the army .

I saw the house from "Anne of Green Gables," it was a little different than I had expected. There were many tourists golfing around the house which was a little sad.

I am really tired of the bad weather now, there was even snow one day this past week. There has been so much rain that I think I have become mouldy.

Upto now I have been in 5 time zones in Canada.

Vikingsailor:
4 days ago my twin brother left on his own to France with his sailboat and will go to Azolene just outside of Spain. I think he will be in Canada the beginning of July, but meanwhile much can happen. I am sorry his blogg is only in Norwegian, but hopefully it will be in English soon!

Weekly report: Hippies.

2007-05-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Week 19.

Parrsboro.

Invited to stay with people that live like hippies. It seems many people live this lifestyle in Canada.

I've biked a short week, only about 200 km. I plan to relax a few days in Halifax and some days in Economy.

Me on newspaper.

Weekly report: Viking in Novia Scotia.

2007-05-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

Week 18, Novia Scotia

1000 years old viking(Runic) stone in Yarmouth. They are not 100% sure that it is the Viking's that have written this. Some of the words they do not know, but I said...that is a Viking's writing, they were only a little drunk or maybe stoned on the famous Novia Scotia mushroom when leaving their mark.

These are the most holy people in Canada with a church every 5 km. If you ask for directions, they answer you like this. "Take a left after church number 4, then a right after church number 2....."

Week 18.
Mon 30\4:45km, 16C, Saint John. Slept in House
Tue 1\5:105km, 15C, Yarmouth. Slept in tent
Wed 2\5:92km, 17C, Clyde. Slept in tent.
Thu 3\5:105km, 15c, Liverpool. Slept in tent.
Fri 4\5:80km, 15C, Mahone Bay, slept in nice hotel.
Sat 5\5:110km, 15C, Halifax, slept in house.

Am staying here for a few days to find some things out - like money, extending my visa here in Canada, and fix my bike- then on to the next plan...

Weekly report: World's Biggest Axe.

2007-04-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

The world's biggest axe.

The world's largest covered bridge.

Problem with my feet, trench feet.

In this video, two guys who I stayed with show their firing power.

Week 17
Sun 22/4.96km, +20C. St-Jean-Joli
Mon 23/4.125km,+20C. Pohenegamook
Tue 24/4.95km ,+15C. Edmunston
Wed 25/4.91km, +15C. Perth
Thu 26/4.93km, +23C. Woodstock
Fri 27/4.103km,+13C. Fredericton
Sat 28/4.75km ,+13C. Wesford

Weekly report: Am in the beautiful city of Quebec.

2007-04-19T10:39:00.002-07:00

In Quebec City.

This man invited me to stay, he is a writer. I'm not exactly sure what he writes about.

Week 16
Sun 15/4.Berthierville: 75km,3C. Head wind and more rain.
Mon 16/4.Maskinkonge : 20km,0C. Terrible head wind.
Tue 17/4.Champlain :100km,3C. Head wind and rain.
Wed 18/4.Quebec :108km,5C. Head wind and sun.

I am very tired from all of the head winds I have had, day after day up against bad wind which makes it really hard on your legs and mental state. The last 1.5 months I have cycling into head winds.

Quebec city is really nice with such a great night life. I remembered a George Bush city in South USA (Texas) that had no pub or bar, it was actually a big city.

Many people have said I look like a Viking, also like Forest Gump, surfer, Jesus, misjoiner, Chippendales dancer, Robinson Crusoe, rockstar, homeless, hippie, but never like a cyclist.

I've biked one year now without a hearing aid which I have used since I was 4 years old. I lost it in Colombia so now it is harder to understand what people are saying to me, which makes my accent stronger. Sometimes people don't understand me at all and sometimes I don't hear them very well. It is fun communicating while using more of your sensor's. Because I hear and talk better with my hearing aid, I really miss it right now.

I think I will be here in Quebec until Sunday.

Weekly Report: I am in the cool city of Montreal

2007-04-12T01:22:00.001-07:00

Here is Margaret from Norway and me.

Kim Gjerstad, his father is from Norway.

Two girls from Norway who now live in Montreal gave me a can of soup for my birthday.

Canada 2007, week 15, 8/4 to 13/4 Montreal

I have relaxed at her house for one week now, this is a cool city. Everything is different here from the rest of Canada. Houses, streets, cultures and people are more European.

I have been invited to dinner, one day on Le Scandinave Spa with hot tub and massage. Partied and met lots of people.

Stayed with a Norwegian guy, Kim Gjerstad who has worked for 5 years in the Congo and he has many stories to tell. Whilst with him he helped me with my webpage.

Margaret Wiig arranged a Spa hotel and dinner for me. Nils drove me around the city and took care of me He has travelled around the world doing extreme sports.
My birthday is tomorrow, 14th of April. This is my second birthday on the road. The last birthday I was alone in my hammock in Central America with a bottle wine.

My twin brother left Norway 1 April with his sailing boat and will pick me up in New Foundland.

Me on Norwegian consulate in Ottawa.

2007-04-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Me on Norwegian consulate in Ottawa.

Sunday 1/4 Deep River-Gobden
80km, 5C Head winds all day and rain.

Monday 2/4 Gobden-Arnprior
54km, 8C. Head winds and rain.

Tuesday 3/4 Arnprior-Ottawa
60km, 10C. Tailwinds.

Wednesday 4/4 Ottawa.
Relaxed all day

Thursday 5/4 Ottawa
Relaxed all day

Friday 6/4 Ottawa-Montebello
90km, 5 c. Nice weather. I was offered a room at Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. The biggest wood hotel in the world. It was so beautiful.

Saterday 7/4 Montebello-Montreol
100km, 10C. Tailwinds today. Invited to stay with Norwegian people here. They fed me supper and beer.

Sudbery.

2007-03-28T15:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday 25/3 Sault Ste Marie-Thessalon
90km, 5C. Wind and rain. Slept for free in a motel

Monday 26/3 Thessalon-Webbwood
142km, 10C. Good wind and little rain. Slept in my tent.

Tuesday 27/3 Webbwodd-Sudbery
80km, 15C. Bad wind and rain. Was invited to sleep in someone's home.

Wednesday 28/3 Sudbury
Relaxed today.

Thursday 29/3 Sudbury-North Bay
110km, 5C. Headwinds all day.

Friday 30/3 North Bay-Mattawa
70km, 10C. Tailwinds today.

Saturday 31/3 Mattawa-Deep River
105km, 15C. Sun all day.

Biking -25/30 Celsius.

2007-03-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

One of my warmest day in Canada

Sunday 18/3 Terrace Bay-Marathon
80km, +1C. Sun all day. Slept in tent

Monday 19/3 Marathon- White River
92km, -5C. Good wind and nice weather. Slept in my tent.

Tuesday 20/3 White River- Wawe.
95km, -25C. The weather changed fast today, cold, warm then cold again. Slept in house.

Wednesday 21/3 Wawe-???
50km, -5C. My tyre burst and had to get a lift to Sault Ste Marie, 180km away. Stayed in a very nice hotel. The owner had biked in Africa for 4 months,www.youbetican.com

Thursday 22/3 ????
80km, 5C. One car drove me back to the same place where my tyre burst. I slept in a cabin.

Friday 23/3 ????-Sault Ste Marie
100km,-5C. Nice weather, but bad winds. Slept in the same hotel today. Was invited to go out with people from a bike club.

Saterday 24/3 Sault Ste Marie
Relaxed today, hung around with the owner of a bikestore www.veloroution.com

Me and the police bike patrol.

2007-03-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Photos by the Kenora Daily Miner and News
Me and the police bike patrol.

Sunday 11/3 Dryden-Ignace
120 km, 5C. Bad wind all day. Biked with 2 police bike patrol all day. Stayed in a police officer's house.

Monday 12/3 Ignace-Upsala
105 km, 5C. Bad wind all day. Slept in a garage.

Tuesday 13/3 Upsala-Thunder Bay
135 km, 15C. Nice wind, sun and hot all day. Was so nice, had forgotten how warm weather feels. Stayed in a house of the father of one of the policemen.

Wednesday 14/3 Thunder Bay
Relaxed, a bike club showed me around the city. Stayed over with one guy who had biked around the world. We had a lot to talk about.

Thursday 15/3 Thunder Bay
Relaxed, bike club had a benefit for me with beer and good food. Enjoyed my time here.

Friday 16/3 Thunder Bay- Nipigon.
150km, -5C Bad wind all day. Slept in tent.

Saturday 17/3 Nipigon- Terrace Bay
108km, +5C Sun all day, Slept in tent.

Police take care of me.

2007-03-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of the company of two bike patrol officers and one police car for a short time. Many accidents with trucks have happened along here. The police enjoyed listening about my trip, so they biked with me for fun. Also, they found places for me to sleep on the road and very often in other police officers' houses. I found them very friendly.
Fishing in Kenora.

Sunday 4/3 Winnipeg-ST Anne
90 km, -25C. Very bad crosswind so I found myself walking. A nice lady gave me a motel room and food. I was also invited to play curling for the first time in my life which was great fun.

Monday 5/3 ST Anne-Falcon Lake
85 km,-20C. Some bad winds today. I got a free room in a hotel today, hot tub.... Luxury!!

Tuesday 6/3 Falcon Lake-Kenora
70 km,-15C. Wind is a little bad, but the scenery is nice.
The last 2 months of biking was over flat terrain with much snow and desert. Now...there are many lakes, rocks and trees, it is very beautiful.
A cycling policeman escorting me to Kenora. (I think the police are afraid of long haired bikers) I've been invited to stay with a Danish family and tomorrow we are going ice fishing.

Wednesday 7/3 Kenora
Relaxed, ice fishing today and I caught one fish. Fun.

Thursday 8/3 Kenora.
Relaxed, was ice fishing all day, I caught a trout.
A bike store here is repairing my bike. I gave lectures at two schools for younger children today and it is very fun interacting with kids. They ask about everything and get very excited!

Friday 9/3 Kenora-Eagle River
86km, -5C. It is beginning to be much warmer now. I've had the company of a police biker, Hotse De Jong and slept at his house.

Saturday 10/3 Eagle River-Dryden
102km, 5C. I think this is the warmest day I've had in Canada. It is so nice to feel sun and warm weather. I still have the company of a police biker who is "sceptical of long haired bikers." Slept at the police officers house.

Biked from pub to pub all night long.

2007-02-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

Hola
I was biking all night on a pub crawl with some of the guys from the Woodcock cycle store.

Monday 26/2 Winnipeg I will be here until Sunday, I've been invited to the Norwegian symphony concert which will be fun! So now I hang around and live with people from Scandinavia.

27/2 to 2/3 Winnipeg
Met the Norwegian Ambassador on Wednesday and he invited me to stay in his house in Ottowa. Most of the time I have been relaxing here and spending time meeting people. I've been invited to many places, Museum, airport control room, dinner....all of which is very nice.

Winnipeg, bad crosswind, TV

2007-02-19T21:55:00.001-08:00

Global TV

Sidney, Manitoba

Sunday 18/2. Winnipeg.
I spoke to a Norwegian Club as well as to people who have been in ice biking competitions. In the evening I was invited to an Icelander Club dinner.

Monday 19/2. Winnipeg.
Relaxed, worked on my bike today.
Will stay here for a while, work a little and I have been invited to the Norwegian Symphony Orchestra at the end of this month. Must go to that.

Thursday 20/2 to Sunday 25/2 Winnipeg
Relaxed, have been invited to a dinner to speak lecture to a group of people and to go out with guys from woodcockcycle who are crazy on their bikes.

Rune

News

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/3884630p-4492711c.html

The conductors know me well.

2007-02-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

The conductors know me well. Every time they see me they blow their whistles.

My first frost burn. I got a lot of good food in Canada to.

Sunday 11/2. Whitewood-Moosomin.
45 km, -25 C. A little bad wind today.
One lady stopped me on the road and invited me for some "Lefse" (a Norwegian food) and also to stay in her house. Couldn't say NO to that, but it was a short trip today.

Monday 12/2 Moosomin- Alexander
130 km, -33 C. Crosswinds today, but sunny.
Invited to stay in house.

Tuesday 13/2 Alexander-Sidney
110 km, - 30 C . Nice weather.
Invited to stay in house.

Wednesday 14/2 Sidney-Portage La Prairie
55 km, -20 C, Nice weather.
Invited to stay in a house, hot tub and swiming pool.

Thursday 15/2 Partage- Winnipeg(Winterpeg)
60 km, - 20 C, 50 km/h side and headwind today. This was one of the hardest days of my trip. The Scandinavian Club has been taking care of me here. I think I'll stay here for a few days wher I've been invited to many things. Should be fun.

Friday 16/2 Winterpeg.
Relaxed, met people from the Scandinavian Club. I was interviewed by the tv, radio and newspaper today. It is so much fun that people are interested in my trip.

Saturday 17/2
Relaxed, invited to stay with the President of the Norwegian Club.

Regina, speaking about my trip.

2007-02-07T07:43:00.001-08:00

Regina, speaking about my trip.

Sunday 4/2 Regina
Spoke with some people today and had a potluck supper - everybody brought food. Relaxed all day.

Monday 5/2 Regina
Lectured to a Community School as well as a doctor and his son who I met yesterday. They offered to fix my bike because the handlebars were too low which was hurting my wrists and shoulders, so they rasied them. They also gave me headlights, a tail light, new pedals and new winter studded tires. To think, I biked for an entire year with low handlebars! Now I can sit up easier when I bike! Another lady gave me foot warmers.
I also went to a nature museum - some of it even looked like Norway. We also went tobogganing in the middle of the night. It was fun and there was a lot of snow.

Tuesday 6/2 Regina.
Lectured at a highschool for a group of teachers as well as the pupils. I never thought that I would be lecturing teachers. Fun to meet so many people!
The people who I've been staying with gratefully a pair of much needed new pants.
Invited to a hockey game in Moose Jaw and Regina won 6-3, looked like war again - I guess they must be rivals.
Still waiting for my pad.

Wednesday 7/2 Regina
Chilled out.

Thursday 8/2 Regina
Relaxed. Got my pad back.

Friday 9/2 Regina- Indian Head
65 km, -25. Good wind and sun. Invited to stay in someone's house.
Got my first frost burn on my stomach because I pushed myself too hard and started to sweat which can be dangerous when it's this cold. It was a really stupid thing to do.

Saturday 10/2 Indian Head- Whitewood.
95 km, - 20 C. Sun and nice weather.

Biking -23C 50km, Storm at my back

2007-02-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

Regina, Saskatchewan

Today was one of the best days of my trip. I felt like I was flying! Got a kick out of that.

One lady stopped me on the road...is to dangerous.

2007-01-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

This map shows how far I have traveled on my bike.
Regina

Sunday 28/1. Medicine Hat- Tompkins
146 km, -5 C. Good wind and nice weather. Slept in park.

Monday 29/1 Tompkins- Swift Current.
77 km, - 13 C . Much side wind, but nice weather. Slept in house.
One lady stopped me on the road and didn't want me to bike anymore. She said that it is too dangerous, she wanted to give me ride. I said no thank you, but had to talk to her for 20 minutes before she let me go. Anyway, she called the police and they came. This has actually happened to me many times now. The police man said he will send an e-mail to all police stations along the road and tell them about me, let them know I don't need help if someone calls. It is a nice little story. I got flat tire number 106 today, I asked one man if I could fix my tire inside his house. Too cold outside.

Tuesday 30/1 Swift Current
Relaxed today. A lot of Skandinavian people live here, I was invited to dinner with some of them and talked about my trip. There were about 20-30 people and it was fun! Two of the people are from the same village where my mother grew up in Norway. The world is not so big, really.

Wednesday 31/1 Swift Current-Chaplin
80 km, -15C Sidewind. Invited to stay with a farmer, he has 1,000 head of caddle.

Thursday 1/2 Chaplin-Regina
150 km, -23 C. Very good wind behind me all day. This day is one of my best days on my trip, felt like I was flying. I got a kick out of it. Was invited home by a pastor.

Friday 2/2 Regina
Will stay here a few days, I have a problem with my pad and have to wait for a new one. The pastor I am staying with here has been helping me out. I was invited to speak to some people tomorrow about my trip and winter biking, I think it will be fun.

Saturday 3/2 Regina.
Spoke to about 40 people and it was fun. Some of these people invited me home and said I could stay with them until I get my pad back.

Flat and no snow here right now.

2007-01-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

Medicine Hat - Really flatland and no snow here right now.

Sunday 21/1 Calgary
Relaxed day.

Monday 22/1 Calgary-Strathmore
60 km, +5 C. Nice weather and wind. Slept in tent.

Tuesday 23/1 Strathmore- Brooks
130 km, +8 C, Nice weather and wind. Invited to sleep in house.

Wednesday 24/1 Brooks- Medicine Hat.
115 km, +8 C, Little bad wind. Biked 5 hours in the dark which sometimes I like as it is different. Slept in the park with my tent.

Thursday 25/1
A newspaper here helped arrange a hotel for one night. I will also be giving a talk to some people tomorrow in Starbucks Coffee shop at 6 pm.

Friday 26/1

Chilled out for most of the day. Talked to some 15 - 20 people about my trip in the evening, which was great fun. One of them invited me home and also fixed my bike for me. (look at credits link) .

Saturday 27/1

I was invited to a hockey game today, which will be the first hockey game I have ever been to. Medicine Hat won 7-2. Looked like a war out there, fighting and black eyes. They also announced my name in this game so I had to stand up. Was fun. Invited to a party in the evening. Thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

News.
http://www.medicinehatnews.com/article_4527.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rune_Monstad
http://ridethisbike.com/2007/01/rune-monstad-update-blizzard-biking-fun.html

Me on T.V in Calgary

2007-01-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Lost the movies.

Me on T.V in Calgary, Alberta.

Monday 14/1 to -20/1
Relaxing in Calgary where met many really nice people.
Invited to a party, viewed art and also saw a stand up comedy show. I was invited to stay in three different houses.

Enjoyed my time here.

Rune

More news.

Biking in Banff, Canada in a storm.

2007-01-13T19:06:00.001-08:00

While biking on the Icefield parkway I discovered this video feature on my camera which is my very first movie. The tempature was -20 degrees celcius and the winds were high. The highway was closed twice due to avalanche control. It was GREAT fun!!

January: Icefield Parkway

2007-01-12T10:27:00.000-08:00

Banff national park.

Sunday 7/1 Icefield Parkway.
Relaxed day at Lodge.

Monday 8/1 Icefield Parkway-Lake Luise.
35km, -10 C .Nice weather and much down hill cycling.
Wilson Sport and Hostel in the city gave me free room and food (see thank you list)

Tuesday 9/1. Lake Luise-Banff.
60km, -5 C. A lot of snow, but I had a good wind behind me.
Met a man at a bike store who gave me a place to sleep.

Wedensday 10/1 Banff-Conmore.
25km, -10 C. bad wind today, storm.
Met a doctor and she fixed my badly damaged feet and also gave me a place to sleep and food.

Thursday 11/1 Conmore- Calgary
115km, -28 C in morning, -20 at daytime. Sun all day and good winds behind me all day.

Dr Susan gave me the adress of her sister in Calgary, I will stay there tonight.

Friday 12/1 Calgary.
Relaxed today.

Letter.
My bike is much too heavy, so I must clean it. My tent is 4 kg and really I don't need such a big tent which is making my bike to heavy (40kg) and which naturally slows me down.

I am still meeting such nice people who invite me home, such friendly people here.

Canada 2007, They closed the road.

2007-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Park Ranger drove me back to Jasper, they closed the road.

Here I am on top of Icefield Parkway.

Jasper/Banff National Park.

Saturday/Sunday 30/31/12. Jasper
I met some people from Edmonton and they invited me to stay at their hotel and go to a New Year's party. One of them is of a family from Norway and we had a lot to talk about. It was very enjoyable to stay with them and we had a big New Year's party which lasted all night.

Monday 1/1. Jasper- Athabasca Fall
35km, -2 C. Snow and bad winds all day, which is really what I can without after 2 days of heavy New Year partying. Stayed at Athabasca Fall Hostel, where they give me dinner and were nice company.

Tuesday 2/1 Athabasca Fall- Sunwapta Pass
50km, -3 C. Snow and bad wind today again. A park ranger stopped me and said the road is closed (too much snow)....and I have to return to Jasper which I didn't want so I tried continuing. But that didn't work so they gave me a lift back to Athabasca Fall Hostel. They said when the road opens again they will take me back to the same place where they picked me up, so that I may continue from where I left off. The hostel has kindly offered a free place to stay for as long as the road is closed.

Wednesday 3/1 Athabasca Fall
Road is still closed.

Thursday 4/1 Athabasca Fall
Road open 12 pm today which will be too late to start biking.

Friday 5/1 Sunwapta Pass-Rampart
50km, -15 C. Bike 7 H. experienced all kinds of weather today. Winds from the back, side and particularly strong headwinds which made me having to walk quite a bit, even down hill. Climbed much and used lot of power today. But I love it. They closed the road again in the evning.

Saturday 6/1 Rampart- Icefield parkway.
40km, -3C, Bike 7 H. They opened the road at 11am and then I started to bike. Was so tired after yesterday and felt like hell trying to bike today. I had to walk a lot and it was dark when I finished. I was lucky to get invited to a very nice lodge, http://www.num-ti-jah.com/ and I am able to stay for 2 days free as long as I talk about my trip to the guests and owner. Really nice place in the Rocky Mountains, old cabin style and very nice people.

Thank you list.
http://www.vikingcredits.blogspot.com/

Christmas Canada

2006-12-30T09:39:00.001-08:00

Mount Robson.

Monday 25/12 Prince G -Purden Lake
50km, -2 C. Nice weather.

Tuesday 26/12 Purden Lake-MCBride
130km, -10 C. Invited to stay in a house.

Wedensday 27/12 MCBride
Relax here.

Thursday 28/12. MCBride-Valemount
40km, -10 C, very bad wind today. Stayed for free in a hotel, so nice. http://terracana.com/

Friday 29/12. Valemount- Jasper
100km, -7 C. Bad wind. Police stopped me for bad lights, they wouldn't let me bike any more this night and drove me 20 km in to the city.

Letter -

I think it will take a long time to cross Canada, I've met so many nice people and they are always inviting me to stay in their homes. I've been in Canada 30 days and have only slept in my tent 5 nights.

Christmas without my family is a little sad, I miss my family a lot right now.
I am now in a National Park and it is so nice here, I love biking in nice nature.

Rune

My thank you list.
http://vikingcredits.blogspot.com/

News
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/sub/story.php?id=1167507817-829-544

December Canada

2006-12-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

Biking distance from 12/12 to 12/19.

Tuesday 12/12, Smithers-Housten
70km, 2 Celsius. Nice weather, sun. Sleep in house.

Wedensday 12/12 Housten-Burns Lake
81km, bike 7 H, 1 celsius. Bad wind. Slept in house

Thursday 14/12 Burns Lake-Fraser lake
77km, bike 6 H, -1 celsius. Nice weather. Slept in house

Friday 15/12 Fraser Lake-Vanderhoof
60km, bike 3 H, good wind and mostly sun. Slept in house.

Saterday/Sunday 16/17/12 Vanderhoof
Relaxed today, rode a snow mobile and was invited to a christmas party.

Monday 18/12 Vanderhoff-Isle Pierre
50km, bike 5 H, 2 Celsius, very bad wind today.

Tuesday 19/12 Isle Pierre- Prince George,http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/pages/webcam/
50km, bike 2.5 H, 2 Celsius. Nice day.

Wedensday 20/12 to Monday 25/12. Prince George.
Stay here for few days and was invited to cristmas party, meet a lot of nice people.
But cristmas without family is little sad.

Letter
I am lucky, many people have invited me to stay in their homes. People are very nice here.
Two police cars have stopped me on the road. It was the first time on my trip that they checked my passport, I belive they think I have run away from a mental hospital or something. But they are friendly and asked all about my trip.

Many truck drivers said they can't see me when it is dark, can't understand that. I look like a Christmas tree!

It is not too cold yet, but people keep telling me that it will be soon.

My Thank You list -

http://vikingcredits.blogspot.com/

Rune

Plan for biking Canada in winter.

2006-12-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

Plan for biking Canada in winter 2006/2007. Estimated at 6088 km/3783 miles.

30/11 to 3/12
Waiting for my ferry in Port Hardy.

Saterday 2/12
My ferry leaves to Prince Rupert.

Sunday 3/12
Arrive in Prince Rupert. Stayed one night here free in hostel.

Monday 4/12 Prince Rupert-Tyee
40 km, 0 celsius. Rain all day, slept in tent.

Thursday 5/12 Tyee-Terrace
100 km, +1 celsius
Bad wind, bad rain and bad day.
Met a church pastor, I stayed for 3 days.

Friday 8/12 Terrace-Kitwanga
96 km, -2 celsius, little rain. Stayed in a house.

Saterday 9/12 Kitwanga-Smithers
110 km, -3 celsius, rain and snow. Free motel, http://fireweedmotel.com/

Letter
There has been a lot of bad weather and my legs aren't quite as strong as they have been.
Sometimes when I'm biking it is dark, snowing and cold. Many cars have stopped and offered me a lift but I've said no thanks to all, but many of them think I am crazy. One day, 15 cars stopped and asked if I was OK? I said I was fine, but not everyone seemed to believe me. Someone called the police to who I said again that everything was OK.

One truck driver stopped and didn't believe that I was fine and he gave me a paper titled "My Struggle with Suicide"!

I met a Pastor in Terrace and stayed at his place for 3 days. He gave me many names and addresses of people I could stay with in Canada. He fixed a new jacket for me too, as my old one was not waterproof anymore. The friendly people of Patagonia sent me a new jacket.
I am definitely learning the hard way as I have never biked in the winter before.

I saw a wolf for the first time in my life, it was so BIG!

Rune

People who have helped me on the road, please click on this link.
http://vikingcredits.blogspot.com/

Canada: Snow storm

2006-11-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

I woke up in the morning like this in Port Hardy.

So far, I've biked this distance in November.
My goal is to to bike Canada from West (Prince Rupert) to East (New Foundland) in the winter time and mostly on Highways 16 and 1.

Thursday 16/11-06
Bellingham-Vancouver
100km/65miles, good wind, little rain.

Friday 17/11
Relax

Saterday 18/11
Party in Vancouver

Sunday 19/11
Vancouver- Parksville in Vancouver Island
30km/18miles. Rain all day, slept in my tent behind a pub.

Monday 20/11
Parkswille- Fanny Bay
45km/27miles. Rain all day, slept in tent.

Tuesday 21/11
Fanny Bay- Duncan Bay
35km/21miles. Rain all day, slept in tent, everything is wet. Police stopped me, no light and helmet. Only a warning, no ticket. Whew!

Wednesday 22/11
Duncan Bay- Sayward
64km/38miles. Rain/snow all day. Met a kind lady and will stay with her and get my things dried.

Thursday 23/11 -Sunday 26/11
Sayward. Will relax here for a few days. My ferry will not go before wednesday.
Cool hippie place with a nice live band which plays every Friday. Enjoying my time here.
Sunday 26/11
Sayward- Woss
84km, Temp -3 C
Snowed all day. Sleep behind a pub in my tent.
Monday 27/11
Woss- Port Mcneill
63km, Temp -6 C
Mostly windy and many small hills to climb. Invited to sleep in house.

Tuesday 28/11
Port Mcneill- Port Hardy
45km, Temp -10 C
Nice weather all day, but starting to get cold.

Wedensday 29/11
Waiting for my ferry now. One of the ferries had sunk, so now there is only one ferry. They said that it is scheduled for today but the weather is too bad. I now have to wait until Saturday.
I have been invited by a fisherman to stay at his house.

A Good-Bye Beer...

2006-11-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

I finally received my passport and will soon continue with my trip. I plan to be at the King's Pub in Ballard Friday night (11/3) from 5 pm to ????.

I'd like to have a beer and say good bye to all of the new friends I've made.

Hope to see you there!

Rune

My Brother is Coming to Seattle!

2006-10-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Picture: Cyclecross in Seattle.

My twin brother and his daughter are coming next Wednesday, November 1st. He will be here visiting for one week. Haven’t seen them for 1.5 years. I miss them a lot. My brother and I are a dance team, a little rock n’ roll and Norwegian dance, too. Maybe we should have a dance show at the Norwegian Norse Home while he is visiting. We will see.

My passport still hasn’t come yet, some problems with mail from Norway they say. Hope I get it by next week. It is a problem not having ID as I can’t get into bars. I always try to explain that my passport was stolen, but sometimes it doesn't work.

Last week I went to the party with only ladies, I talked about my trip and they asked many questions. One of the ladies, Lisa Miller, invited me to a cyclecross competition last Sunday. I thought I was strong, but that was so hard and different from the riding I have done. I was one of the last people to get in! It was great fun anyway and I am now a new member of "Team Second Ascent" in Seattle. I am very honoured.

I went to the Nordic Heritage Museum, it was a nice museum. They wanted to have my bike when I finish my trip and put it on display. I think they were joking.

I am still meeting people and everyone is so nice to me. Show me around and I really see the culture here. I am staying with a nice family on Phinney Ridge (Seattle), Cindy and Tim Johnson.

Joe Sheard and Mikkel Al have helped me with winter gear and tips on the road.I think I have most of the things I need to bike across Canada this winter. I hear that it could be -50 degrees. Can well be too dangerous to have a leak!

I am anxious to bike again, as when you bike everyday it becomes a drug. When you stop biking it can be depressing, like hangover. Relaxing for 1- 2 week is ok with me, but not 1 month. I’ve never stopped biking for so long before.

Rune

Still Waiting for Passport

2006-10-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

My passport still hasn’t arrived from Norway and it looks like I'll have to wait one week more.

I am still enjoying meeting many people in Seattle. I am lucky to have received some warm clothes, cooking equipment, sleeping bag, and some other things for my bike trip across Canada this winter. It is so generous of people to do that! REI, Outdoor Research and Second Ascent have helped me out with preparing for my trip, too.

I spoke at the Leif Erickson Hall in Ballard for a "Sons of Norway" meeting. I was very proud when they invited me to become a member. They have organizations all over the USA and Canada. I look forward to meeting more of these Norwegian people along the way, as it is always nice to have some Norwegian food once in awhile too!

My twin brother might be able to come for a visit next week with his daughter who is 4 years old! I haven’t seen them in 1.5 years. I really look forward to seeing them! I miss them so much.

Unfortunately my camera is broken now, I have a warranty but it will take one month before I could get it back. It is a bummer, I can’t wait one month.

I was filmed on Northwest Afternoon last Friday, they will be showing it this afternoon at 3pm. Hope it turns out okay!?

In about 14 days I will start to bike to Vancouver, then Vancouver Island up to Port Hardy. I plan to take a ferry to Prince Rupert in Northern Canada and from there head across to eastern Canada.

I was invited to a party today with only women present. I’ll write more about what happens next time...

Rune

Hanging Out in Seattle

2006-10-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

The media has reported what has happened to me this last week, but I want to write more myself about what I have been doing. Since I was on T.V. and in the newspapers here, I have attended a benefit at the Norse Home on Phinney Ridge near Ballard. It was very nice and I had a great time and there were many people speaking Norwegian.

I also spoke at a high school in Enumclaw, about 40 miles southeast of Seattle. There were around 400 teenagers, I really had fun there. They asked about everything and took a lot of photos.

I have also been on a sailboat in a competition on Puget Sound, but it was bad as there was no wind! So, after 5 hours we started the motor and turned back. Still, it was fun.
Have been enjoying the chance to meet many people over dinner, a beer or coffee.

Tonight I have been invited to a bike club party in downtown Seattle which I think will be fun.
Second Ascent sportstore in Ballard will fix my bike before I start to cross Canada in winter time from West to East. Very friendly people.

People are so cool in Seattle.

Rune Monstad

I Love Seattle

2006-10-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

This story goes over the whole world.

My first time on Komo4 tv.

My second time on Komo4 tv.

My third time on Komo4 tv.
TV Show.

Help to Kristina
Thanks.
I am so grateful for the help and encouragement I have receive from so many people after being robbed. I am still working on replies to many of the e-mails. Thank you for your support!!

Rune

Robbed in Seattle

2006-09-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hola
25/9 Waneche-Seattle(Ballard): 160 miles/256 km Highway nr 2,520,522. 4,000 ft.
Nice weather and nature.

Arrived in Seattle, WA at 9:00 p.m. and went to the store to by a drink and a bit of food. Came out and my wallet with my pasport, visa card and 500 dollars was gone. Someone opened my bike bag and robbed me. This is the first time this has happened to me on this 9 month trip.
Naturally, I was very sad.

Rune Monstad

www.vikingbikers.com

Travel letter 2006

2006-09-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone National Park

Letter 9,USA, November 23, 2006o
* Restless and sleepless nights in my hammock in the Yellowstone national park. Wouldn't you be!!?
* Cowboy in Montana
* Built a house with Mexicans
* Robbed in Seattle – and got famous
* Many warnings against cycling in Canada during the wintertime

I am now in Vancouver, Canada after riding in the rain for one week. It’s funny with this weather. I have been riding 9 months almost without rain but heavy sunshine

I shall tell briefly what happened to me in the last 2 months
I met a guy in Montana who is a professional biker. Troy Evans is his name.
He gave me stuff for my bike tour and also addresses of places where I could sleep on the road.
It was quite a relief to talk to someone after many months on my bike alone

I’ve been in the Yellowstone national park which is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to so far. There is lots of wildlife and nature. I have seen bears and bison’s a.s.o. I must admit that I brought on a bit of a sweat when I heard a wolf cry in the night whilst I was resting in my hammock. Naturally no one is allowed to sleep or camp in the park for the obvious reason of wild animals. I had many sleepless nights in my hammock, which I hung especially high up in the trees.

Later I went to Montana, which is actually a big farm to me. I was invited to a ranch where I found work for 3 days. I helped to cure a cow. The cow was put between two wooden walls, which acted as a vice. Five cowboys were standing around the cow to inject her 5 different vaccinations and to cut her horns with a hacksaw. To keep her head steady she had a ring in her nose. The blood ran when the horns were cut. One cowboy put his hand in her behind to find out whether she was pregnant. This entire act happened within minutes.
Montana is one of the most beautiful states I have seen. There I have been a real cowboy and went in peace when I carried on with my bicycle.

When I reached the town of Wenatchee I met someone whose address I had. I worked one week to build a house together with illegal Mexicans. When they found out that I spoke Spanish we became the best of friends. They asked me whether I had crossed the border like they had.
I told them I came with a passport and visa.

I moved on to Seattle to find a job on a fishing boat. Well I didn’t have a green card but I hoped to get one. Getting to Seattle was my longest day trip to date. (160 miles or 260km)
It was dark when I arrived. As I went in a store to call Kristina Southard of whom I had the address. But I wasn’t really inside when somebody stole my wallet and some other things out of my bags. Sure it wasn’t smart of me to leave my bike unattended but I had forgotten about this danger. In the newspaper in my homepage you can read the rest.
But from now one I was famous. I couldn’t go anywhere without been approached by someone who knew me from the papers. That happened so often that Kristina became my secretary. But I enjoyed it. Many folks wrote that they would start riding a bicycle again.
A bicycle club repaired my bike and gave me discount on spare parts and also sponsored me.
Sons of Norway sponsored me with some crowns and a Norwegian old age pension home held a benefit party for me. Also I was invited to speak in front of 400 high school kids.
I have met so many friendly and helpful people that I can’t think of how to thank them all.

Here I say 1000 x thanks to the worlds best city, Seattle

Now I will try to cross Canada in the winter from west to east. I have never heard of anyone doing this before. We will see how it works. If it doesn’t I must wait for the spring.
Many warned me not to do it. But I always got warnings wherever I have been. (Dangerous surrounding, snakes, a.s.o.
I was warned of pumas, wolves and bears. I was told to go to the police to get permission for a handgun. (I will do that.) Right now I have pepper spray against bears.
It wouldn’t be very nice to be awakened by a wild animal. But I think everything will be all right

Rune

This is one Cowboy I met in Montana. He is 80 years old and has worked hard as a cowboy his whole life.

Letter 8, USA Montana, August 31, 2006

Hello !

(heatwave)

I am now in Montana after I crossed the border to Canada. My tourist 3 month visa had run out and I had to leave the states. I tried to get an extension but this was really difficult. I was a little tired of all this when I met a border police whom I told of my problems. Maybe he had his good day when he told me to cross the border and come back again when he would give me another 3 months visa. Surprises never end.

The nature up here is really beautiful. Clear rivers and the air a little chilly. It’s real Cowboy land and I feel allmost like the marlboro man who rides/cycles in the sunset. But there are also parts where there is nothing but desert and grass. I am getting a little tired on these roads but luckily I met Harley bikers and we became friends. In South America my friends were truck drivers and police. They often ask me why I don't ride a Harley instead of cycling. I told them that my horsepower are my legs which all ways gets a huge laugh.

After a hot day I've been cooled off with a waterhose by a Harley gang.
They shouted: "Do you feel better now?"
I said: "Yes, I feel better!" But they said I didn’t look better and invited me for a beer.

There was a month with a heat wave which took all my strength. My day trips ended up as low as 50 km. I was told that it was the hottest month for 50 years.
I found that an icecold coke after a hot day gives you a headache.
If you like to jump off your bike and throw it from a bridge into the deep water then it is time to take a break until you find new strength to bike again.
Sometimes when I spend the night at a rest place I always got problems with gays hitting on me. Here in the states these places are frequently used for contacts by them. For one or other reason they put their interest in me! I just don't know why!
I have been to the Indian reservation of the big chief ”Sitting Bull” who fought General Custer. Someone warned me not to sleep there, but when I got closer I forgot. They have a lot of alcohol and drug problems there. I met one indian who invited me to his home where the whole family greeted me.(six boys, one grandfather, many aunties and so on.
They gave me amulets which keep the bad away from me and bring me luck.
They baptised me ”White Buffalo” because I seemed to be fearless cycling around the world. I took the chance and stayed over night. I have never seen such bad behaviour: young and old drunks together, smoking and fighting. The kids were obviously used to this.

I found an open house and went to sleep until police came and threw me out. There are many Norwegian living in the north of the states. They were astonished to see me coming with my bike. Many times I was invited to stay and to eat and drink. One of them spoke in really old Norwegian which he had adopted from his great-grandfather. I hardly understood anything that he said. But all of them were shocked when I told them about the welfare we have in Norway. (free hospital, doctor, schools and unemployment, insurance.)
They were even more shocked when I told them about prices for gas, beer and cigarettes. Also the couldn’t believe how high fines can be there.(to urinate in the street in Tonsberg, Norway cost 15 000 NOK)

Greetings from
White buffalo
Rune

Letter 7, USA Kansas, July 31, 2006

Hello.

I am now in the mid-west in Kansas. I have been on long tours but nothing special has happened. There is not much to see and no one to talk to since everyone are in their cars

The camping facilities are great though. In Texas for example, I asked one guy whether it was possible to sleep in the yard of his ranch. That resulted in a 3 weeks stay with free room and board! I worked on the ranch. It was hard, cowboys live a tough life. “Texas” has a new meaning to me now that I know the background. They had been gun fighting, fist fighting and drinking. But that’s history now.
I have met people with the biggest hearts in the world. They have fixed my bicycle. They even had a benefit dinner to collect money for me. They took me fishing and pubbing. I really felt welcome.

After my stay in Bridge City I was happy I had room and board. But after one more week of biking I needed a new front wheel chain and gear. I also was hospitalized for my back problem. So I was left with no more money even though I didn’t spend much

I biked from Texas to Mississippi and through Alabama to Florida. Later I want to go to the west coast. But where my journey will end – I don’t know.

Now for some stories of my adventures:
- a skunk visited me while I was sleeping in my hammock. He stole some food but when I chased him he lifted his tail. After that my tent and hammock where useless! But fortunately a girl gave me a new and better one in Missouri. I was often invited to homes for food and lodging. People in the south USA are so friendly. I have heard that in the north they are not. But I will see.

Greetings Rune

Letter 6, USA, South. Spring 2006

After lots of trouble on the border I am now in Southern Texas. When the World Trade Center came down they became very strict. Now someone must show that he’s got sufficient money and not try to work instead of taking holidays. I took the chance but they rejected me. I went back to Mexico and wrote letters to my friends asking if they could lend me money. One friend took a mortgage on his home and sent it to me. It took days to arrange. Again at the border they told me that this wasn’t enough and they wanted to see at least $1000 in cash. In Mexico I withdrew the money and finally they let me enter the USA. My first impression of the States wasn’t too good after all this stress. But now I feel better. In only 2 days I have 2 new tyres, a free hotel stay and lots of hamburgers. We were interviewed by local media and here in Kingsville I can’t think of anyone not knowing me. I met a Vietnamese veteran who offered us hamburgers. He told us some really horrific stories about the war there. He didn’t realize that all of this was due partly because of the tortures by American soldiers. He also didn’t realize that hamburgers and other junk food made people overweight. I have never seen so many fat people in one place before!

When we entered Guatemala we met a rightwing politician. For one or another reason he called the police to escort us. The police took this order very seriously and followed us with blue lights flashing up to the border of Mexico. We felt very important at the beginning. On the police radio we only heard talking about a Norwegian and a Japanese biker. Lots of folks came just to see us. After 2 days we got a little tired of all this publicity. When we slept in our tents a policeman was watching us all night. When we took a bath in the river there was at least 3 police cars for our safety. This awakened the interest in us. As many as 50 people came to watch us sleeping in our tents. (Camping is something really unusual down here) they really wanted to see everything. We were warned and hoped it would be better in Mexico.
There isn’t much to tell about Mexico. It was a bit boring with long even roads which seemed never to end. Folks weren’t too friendly either. We kept on cycling and got bored more and more with the Spanish culture. I’ve got a problem with my backside. When ever I sat on my saddle some muscles went tight on me. A Dr. Jesus Ramirez helped me but after a week the pain came back and I had to see another Dr. who gave me penicillin and advised me to find a softer saddle. But I think the muscle must be operated once I am back.

I had some strange experiences with snakes. In Mexico there are dead snakes on all of the roads. At the end I got used to it so I just ran over them without taking care. But when I ran over one which wasn’t dead she found herself in my front wheel. When I stopped she tried to bite me. A little tug and I had it. I think it was a small rattlesnake.
My next frightening experience was in the States. When we camped close to a river I wanted to take a bath before going to sleep. Exactly when I wanted to dive I saw a 2 m long snake about 1 m down in the water. I quickly forgot about taking a bath in the river.
My (our) plans are to ride alongside the east coast beginning in Florida, up to Canada and later to the west and north to Alaska.

Rune

Letter 5, Central America, May 2, 2006
I am now in Guatemala, close to Mexico. Central America is really beautiful. Crystalline rivers and paradise beaches all the way.

To get to Panama I had to take a so called smuggling boat with 400 hp. It wasn't a pleasant trip at all. The boat raced at 100 knots over the waves. My back still hurts me one week later. On the coast we've been checked out very closely because they thought we were cocaine smugglers from Colombia. Afterwards I had to take a short flight to Panama City because they don't like tourists in the surrounding areas.

Now I have two travelling companions, one from Japan and the other from Canada. I just feel fine after I have been traveling 3 months alone. They are tough bikers and I call them hippy bikers. We exchange experiences all the way. But our daily trips hardly reached 100 km on even roads.

Except for biking we spent a lot of time on rivers and beaches taking rest and swimming. As I said it´s really a paradise here. We always sleep close to beaches and rivers and start out early in the morning with coffee and eggs. Once we slept near a Vulcano which was active and spat smog and lava all night. It was nice to see how the red lava ran down the mountain sides. Luck was with me 3 times.
1. A dog jumped ahead of me and I fell. I hurt my arm and my camera was damaged.
2. To avoid colliding with an elderly lady I collided with a tree in the middle of the road. She didn't even bother to apologise or anything, simply carried on her way without as much as a "How are you?"
3. The last time, I didn't realize that my legs where much stronger than I thought and I was able to cycle straight up a hill without going from one side to the other.

I found the people in the south much friendlier than in the north, where the shouted "GRINGO!" a lot which basically means "Americans go home!" That is to say that USA is not so popular down here.
The countries are left-wing orientated because they hate USA.
There is a lot of corruption on the borders and we must pay every time to cross.
On the border of Honduras we didn't pay which resulted in a load of screaming and arguing.
But we didn't give up (we got to know the culture) we tried to find out the officers' identity and wanted to report him for corruption in the capital.
Because we didn't get his identity we took a photo of him. He almost flipped out, nearly exploded and he called the police. He took our passports and threatened with one thing or another, but it ended up with us having to pay to continue our trip.

We laughed a lot afterwards about this episode.

From my sponsors I received some money from one of the greatest contributors in “The Bolivian family”. He's been there from the beginning and worked active to hold the whole works together. Hans Olav Medland sponsors me as a private person, very kind of him.
Rune

Letter 4, South America. Mars 2006

Meanwhile I am in Colombia, after a heavy mountain trial in Ecuador. The fastest
bicycle tour I have had so far. The landscape consists of lots of volcanoes and high mountains, deep valleys. I don’t use my tent now because I was told that there are many snakes. Once I
spent carnival in Ecuador. (It’s celebrated all over the country) somebody let me use his house over carnival. I took a lot of pictures. But a nasty little boy tripped me up and my camera and all pictures were gone. That’s why sadly, I have no pictures of the feast.

Colombia is altogether different from any of the places I have been until now. There are many military persons on the road (I think about every km there is a post). But they are really friendly and invited me for dinner and to stay over night. They let me use their guns in the jungle and showed me what life is like in the military. They were surprised by my camping gear and liked to exchange it for theirs. But I said thanks but no thanks. (Too heavy, about 10kg)

Colombia seems rich and beautiful (also the people) Bolivia and Peru seemed to me a bit worn down. They are pretty poor here especially in Bolivia. My saddest experience I had was about 4000m high. They had nothing. They looked sick. And often I thought they live in Barns. I worked in an orphans home and when I left they wanted to send all of the children with me.

I think the wealth of Colombia is due to its smuggling cocaine. But it just seems like we are smuggling cigarettes from Sweden. I asked them to take me to a cocaine camp. But they said they couldn’t guarantee my safety.

I had my first strange experience here. (A little of my own fault.) I was sick and tired and could not carry on any more. I set my tent up in the middle of a city park and slept. When I woke up my bike fell on me. I heard voices and started to panic. But at the same time I felt an adrenalin kick. I took my knife out and cut open the entrance then got out screaming and yelling. I saw 4 or 5 guys running away. I didn’t sleep afterwards.

But never the less I like Colombia and its people. They invited me for food and to stay over night many times.

After I was turned down by 20 sponsors I felt somewhat discouraged. Now I am looking to get some sponsorship here. I got 3 replies and I could hardly could believe it . One who is selling ipod
I am now in Cartageña in the north of Colombia and from thereI shall take a boat to Panama because there is no road between Colombia and Panama. There has been several wars between these countries. Guerrilla troops who are also called socialists, have made that road impossible to ride in safety and the USA don't want one because they are very concerned that there will be even more cocaine shipped across the border.
Rune

Letter 3, South America. February 21, 2006

I have now been in Ecuador for 3 days. It is very tropically hot and I must drink 10 Litres of water a day and because I sweat it out all of the time I can't even find it necessary to have a pee. There are many insects and small animals and until today I've seen 6 dead snakes. It's absolutely beautiful here. You can't compare it with Peru which consists mostly of desert. Here you will find vegetation almost everywhere except on the Vulcanoes.

My journey through Peru took a little longer that I thought because many people invited me to their home. Now I'm getting tired because people are of the impression that I have loads of money, why I can't begin to understand. I told them that my dear mother is only able to send me §150 a month (1000 crowns) so I am not able to spend much money in restaurants and
hotels. If someone must have respect, it's for their mother. Total respect for their mother is in abundance there.

Many families have invited me to stay for dinner and even offered me a nice bed to sleep on. They would organise a small party for me which is ho I get to know people and their cultures. It also helps me to save my money.

But it is not funny when many females want to get involved with me. I enjoyed it at first but later I got bored with these situations. Now I tell everyone, well almost everyone, that I have a special girlfriend in Norway, not necessarily true.

I was very surprised how friendly the police are here. They escorted me many miles through numerous unsafe places. They even offered sleeping accomodation in the police station and gave me food and drink even though they knew that I didn't have much money.

Even though the locals warned me that these same police could just as easily rob me or put drugs in my luggage etc etc. But never the less the police are my good friends.

People who live in this area are curious what camping life is like. I very often have to show my tent, sleeping bag and field kitchen. They are very impressed. Here it's carnival time until Sunday but I would have preffered to have been in Colombia for their festivities.

Carnival should be way better in Colombia, but Ecuadorians say its better in Ecuador, naturally! However, I am a little afraid of Colombia that someone might rob me. A Japanese biker told me he was robbed with machinegun toting gangsters and was left naked until he was eventually found by the police. All the people that I've met here have said that it's a sort of war in Colombia. But I will see how I will end up.

All the time I riding into headwind (sometimes heavy). I only wish that it would stop but it never does. I tried to find information about the winds down here but I couldn't find any.

Greetings
Rune Monstad

Letter 2, Peru. February 2006

Hello!
Now I'm in Lima staying in the house of a German friend who is married to a Peruvian girl. I'm being treated like a king and I will stay a few days more. They have shown me many beautiful places of Lima. They invited me for dinner together with all the family. I saved about five days meals. The sweet daughter and her friends invited me for a bottle of wine.

Since my last letter I rode more or less 700 km and I really needed a break. Here there are many things to see and discover. I was really amazed with the desert, it is so big. I experienced a heavy sandstorm and I got totally covered with sand. My ears, pants, hair and even my bike were completely covered so I had a lot of cleaning to do. I really felt like an adventurer. I have been warned of the dangers of South America before I started this bike tour, specially my mother. One can even die for a few dollars or could be kidnapped, robbed or even the police putting drugs into my luggage and then follow up by pressin charges against me. But thank God so far nothing has happened.

The people are very friendly, they often invite me to their homes and I usually accepted.

The police stopped me many times asking me where I came from. But later they wished me luck and then let me go. I pitched my tent on the beach and when the police came (I didn't look very good) but they only asked me to move a little further inland because of the high tide. It's quite
different in Norway. My only problem are the dogs which are never kept on a leash. No law exists for this kind of problem. They usually run behind me and try to bite my legs I can't tell you how many times. One dog was even killed by a car when he was running after me. I have seen more than 14 dogs die from being hit by cars.

The German took me to a bike repair shop to clean my bike. I have never seen anything like this before, they took the bike apart and cleaned it with chemicals in the water using wire brushes. They checked all the bearings and changed some. My handlebars bearing was totally gone. The wheels were also aligned. All that cost me around 30 crowns.

I learned more about bikes this time than in all my life before. Until this moment I haven't spent much money. It would be a shame if I had to stop my journey because of lack of money. Now I always sleep in my tent unless someone invites me home. But still I'm dreaming of a better tent, a better sleeping bag and a new camping kitchen. What I have now I bought in Bolivia. I'm looking for sponsors to get better materials. Also I'm trying to find sponsors in Norway; let's see what will happen. Tomorrow I will see whether I can get to Colombia by 25th of February. To achieve this it will mean me having to cycle at least 150kms per day which probably be too much for me.

Letter 1, Bolivia. January 2006

Bolivia
I write this short letter on behalf of “The Bolivian family” at the orphanage (Boliviafamilien Norge), a brief history of how I came to South America. I came to Brasil to spend half a year as a back packing tourist. At first it was quite interesting, spending my days on the beach and enjoying the Carnival, but after 2 months I was tired of wine and songs. I wanted to see more of this continent. I heard of many orphanages run by Norwegians in Bolivia and wrote to many asking for work. They asked about my background as well as my Christian beliefs. Only one wanted to employ me who were called "The Bolivian Family".
They had no objections and received me with open arms. I had many exciting times whilst there. I lived with the children, some had been drug addicts, and the other volunteers. I went hunting in the jungle with half civilized Indians, which was my greatest experience.

I returned to Norway to work a little, and went to Bolivia in October to help build a new children's home, which we finished on the 26th December.

I bought a bicycle and began to ride towards the United States starting in Cochabamba in Bolivia and moved on to La Paz, the worlds highest capital city (3700 metres above sea level). I had never cycled before at this height, but wanted to try. After packing what I thought necessary I set off. It wasn't a problem on the even roads in good weather, but after 2 days the storm clouds
began to form.

The following day there was snow, rain and frost, which I hadn't expected at all. The altitude began to make breathing difficult, and the clothing I had wasn't made for the cold. Later I dumped half of my camping equipment because it was far too heavy and had to to ask local people for accommodation, as it was much too cold sleeping in the tent. People let me sleep in their houses for small payments. Sometimes truck drivers would cheer me up by blowing their horns and giving me a thumbs up. Despite this it was the worst cycle trip of my life, and I was very happy to reach La Paz.

Each day I heard that the rainy season had begun, and was told to head for the coast of Peru. I began heading north towards Peru, and when I reached Lake Titicata the weather began to improve and the travelling became easier. My fitness had improved and I was making 150 kms a day.

I was surprised to find the Kon Tiki museum, which an old lady showed me around after telling her I was Norwegian. Continuing on towards Puno in Peru, I also saw the floating islands of straw in Lake Titicata, which I must have been the first person to ride a bicycle on. A young boy ran after me wanting to sit on my bag rack, surely never seeing a bicycle before.

Another time I had to climb a pass to 4975 metres to reach the coast of Peru, when it started to rain again and the winds picked up. Luckily at the highest point an ambulance stopped and offered me a ride, and as I was soaking wet this made me happy. I fell asleep in the ambulance and when I woke again I was 100 kms closer to the coast. I've been surprised by the hospitality of the people from here.

At the coast two friends from “The Bolivian Family” came to visit me, Siv Broman, from Finland, and Heidi Vinnes, from Norway.

Now I follow the coast up to Colombia, where I want to spend Carnival.