Fitting all the pieces together

And so the time has come. It was July 2014 when I applied, hoping to become one of four leaders of the 2015 Explorer Belt edition. In September, the work began and June 2015 felt like years away, like a most uncomplete jigsaw puzzle of a UK map. In Feburary the expedition got its participants and suddenly June didn't feel like years away. Now it is June. Now it is no more than three days until we all are somewhere in the UK. Somewhere, because our destination is still secret.

For both participants and leaders this is the time when planning is converted to reality. Important documents and booking confirmations are packed next to walking shoes and waterproof clothes and and I remember the feeling four years ago, when I was packing my rucksack for Explorer Belt Ireland 2011. It's a new feeling, not knowing where the coming weeks will be spent or what they will contain. For the leaders, it means a great deal of responsability that must not be forgotten at home. In the same time, it also means great fun. It's not every day that you get to take part in the creation of lifelong memories!

Me and my friend Karin during one of our first days of Explorer Belt Ireland

And so the time has come for all the jigsaw pieces to fit together. I am one of four leaders of Explorer Belt UK 2015 and we will head for the great adventure in no more than three days. I still rank my own Explorer Belt experience high on my fantastic-memories-toplist and I have the feeling that Explorer Belt UK 2015 will manage to get a place on the participants' own fantastic-memories-toplist.

 Over and out (into the fantastic summer weather),
Lisa

The coveted Belt: the proof that you completed the Explorer Belt challenge.

Adparatus

The day of our departure draws closer, and I am trying to prepare myself as much as possible. Preparation is key, or so we have learned, and the past week I have indulged in maybe the most fun part of preparation: shopping. I have bought a new rucksack for my hike, a new camera for documentation, and a paracord bracelet in case of rope-required emergencies. We still have a few tiny things on our shopping list, like a first aid kit or a tent to sleep in, but I felt that buying a camera was of paramount importance. Y’all want those crystal sharp images for the blog, right? Thought so. And I will be needing a good camera to film and vlog my adventures this summer, Explorer Belt as well as my trip to the World Scout Jamboree in Japan!

Still, it is all nice and well to have cool new gear – the next part is to get to know it. The easiest way to achieve this is to emulate the conditions of Explorer Belt, so I stuffed my rucksack with clothes, put on my rain jacket and trousers, and called up my hiking buddy and partner-in-crime. Introducing: Karl Bergholtz.

Karl on the left, me on the right. Taken with my cool new camera, woah!

Me and Karl (or Kalle, for ”short”) have known each other for a long time, since we both have been part of the same Scout Group, ”Höganäs Scoutkår”, for at least a decade each. We grew closer during camp in the summer of 2010, and have been great pals ever since. Taking part in Explorer Belt is something we have wanted to do for years, and we are so excited to finally be a part of it. We had a blast walking together the other day, and it was a good opportunity for me to get used to my equipment. Karl also looked the part in his vintage raincoat and Fjällräven trousers.

I call this one Boy, slightly lost, still happy. 

During our prep-walk I realised that cotton is the enemy (when damp it chafes your skin so badly!), which means I need to buy functional clothing made of wool or synthetic material. If giving up fashion for 20 days meant chafe-free shoulders and feet, I am sure even Miranda Priestly would wear grey shirts and hiking boots… At least if they were made by Prada.

Follow me on instagram for more pictures to come from Explorer Belt, and subscribe to my youtube channel to find out when I start uploading videos! 

Cheerio.

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.