Thoughts 19 days ahead

I have a countdown on my phone for the start of our adventure. Today it's 19 days until we leave for the United Kingdom. Only 19 days??!! I haven't even start writing lists of what to bring, buy the last pair of socks or even touched the bag since my last adventure with it.

My days since our first meeting almost three weeks ago I've kept filling them with scouting and other great adventures. So what to learn from those I've decided to talk about my fears and hopes for Explorer Belt and why I took the biggest step to apply for it.

Last year my life took one of the biggest turns ever. I graduated upper secondary school, started my leadership training, tried to start study again, got a job and in between this also work with my scout troop. I decided to challenge myself to my maximum and sign up for Explorer Belt. 160 kilometers in 10 days and also walk together with a completely stranger to me. Do I manage to do that? I hope so!
After a few months an email landed in my inbox telling me that I was one of the lucky and whom my partner would be. I was glad and felt very excited about it, but here all the preparations started. Not only the physical, but also the mental.

I've been on my nerves all since and I'm getting more and more nervous about this adventure as every day passes by. My biggest fear is to forget something important, like not bringing enough medicines or a raincoat. Another thing is that I'll get ill during the hiking or not be able to follow through it. I'm a fighter but sometimes I'll get very grumpy! But not to be all skeptical to all this, I also think we'll have an amazing time together and this adventure will be a great experience to all of us. I do hope to get to know my partners, learn more about myself and also be able to see the United Kingdom with new glasses (not literally, but figuratively)!

So 19 more days until this year biggest adventure starts. 19 days of packing, preparing and planning! I really need to be structured if I'll be able to get away safe and sound. (I also hope my luggage won't look like this, as it did when I went away on my last scout leadership training)

 

Hopefully this blogpost didn't bore you out. But since I've been only thinking scouting for the last weeks, I'm not used to write down my thoughts yet, but I think during the hike I'll be post more fun things!

Until next time, take care!!

// Jenny 

Explorer Belt for the layman

For decades, Explorer Belt has been an annual expedition arranged for Senior Scouts in different parts of Europe. The expedition's name is derived from the actual belt awarded at the completion of the endeavour. The setup of Explorer Belt differs between the countries, but the general idea is to promote "adventure and self-reliance in an international context." (Explorer Belt, wikipedia.org).

The Swedish Explorer Belt has been performed annually since 1963, each year held in one or two European countries. The scouts hike in pairs for ten days, but do not know either starting or finishing place beforehand. With ten days and approximately 160 kilometres (100 miles) covered, everybody meets at the finishing place. Stories are shared, blisters are taken care of and ten days of touring begin. We are four bloggers from the expedition, happy to share our stories with you:

I'm Lisa, one of four expedition leaders who have been planning for this since the end of last summer. It gets more exciting everyday and soon we’re ready for take-off! I completed the Explorer Belt challenge in Ireland four years ago and would gladly do it again if I could. 

My name is Elin and during my 19 years in life I've been a scout for nine of them. During my years as scout I've had time for many adventures. For this summer’s Explorer Belt, I’m standing in front of a lot of challenges I haven’t faced with the scouts before. To make it even more exciting, I will go with a guy that I don’t know from before.

Hey! I'm Nils and I'm so excited to finally be a part of the legendary Explorer Belt expedition. Basic info about me: 19 y/o, been a scout for 11 years, lives in Lund, born in Amsterdam, studies Japanese, has several dream jobs where one is "adventure blogger" (so SCORE)!  My favourite crisps are salt & vinegar and my favourite drink is champagne. See you in Britain!

Hi! My name is Anna Jenny, or for short Jenny. I've been a scout for 12 years now, and planning to keep this lifestyle going for the rest of my life. I'm very excited for Explorer Belt and all of the assignments we'll be given. It's the first time I'm going abroad on a bigger international adventure with a scout troop.

You are more than welcome to follow us on our adventure in the United Kingdom!

Below: photos from our meeting in Stockholm.

Scouts making fire with Light My Fire's fire steel.

Scouts making fire with Light My Fire's fire steel.

Singing about a horse with yellow ears at the campfire.

Pre-meeting in Stockholm in May.