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Expedition Siberia: The marriage counselors
Apr 7, 2005 11: 44 EST
Micke and Johan are nearing the end of their great Siberian Odyssey. To the ones of us who have been following the two explorers every single day since last summer, it's a sad farewell.
The two skiers have shown us an unknown part of the world - along the Kolyma River in Russia's far east. They have had their fair share of tough travel in bitter cold and winter darkness, but also allowed us to meet the wild people along their path.
Through the two explorers, we have learned about the local's food, life style - and thoughts deep down inside. Thanks to Micke and Johan, we have found much wisdom in the harsh life of far East Siberia.
Today's entry is typical of the expedition. Here goes:
Anna and Piotr - how to stay married for 50 years
7 Apr, 05 - 21:24 GPS-pos: N68°31' | E160°23' | Alt: 0 M
4-5 m/s southerly today, about -4°F Midday and under -22°F as usual during the night. If one considers the chilling factor, the proper day temperature has been around -30°F. Therefore, it's been a awfully chilly and gray day, but still, it's been like a walk in the park since we left Kolymskaya. We're not even sweating nowadays. 25 kms today, 3 days to reach Chersky. It is the 7th of April, Thursday. Tent pitched at N 68°31'59.1 and E 160°23'51.5.
"I saw you when you visited our camp on the tundra," Piotr laughs with a toothless grin, "everybody liked you immediately. Not because you are two great athletes, but due to the fact that you ate more food then the rest of us. We've had some official visits from abroad during the years. Everything from French people to Muscovites. But they hardly touch our food. As it would be foul and not good enough for them. We Chukchi appreciate people who eat a lot and show how much they like our food."
Piotr, 80: "A reindeer herder's life is the best!"
Piotr is 80 years old and a legendary reindeer herder in the area. He's a very warm and kind human being. He jokes and laughs pretty much all the time and seems to have an interest in all ways of life. "A lot of the old people we've come across along the Kolyma suffer from arthritis," I say and add: "Does that apply to you as well?"
"I've never been ill one single day in my life," he answers slightly surprised but with a big smile, "I've never met a reindeer herder either, who's been ill. At least, not many. Don't you know that life on the tundra is the healthiest of all? And the best! Nobody suffers out there. The reindeer supplies us with all we need. From food to clothes."
Young wife and a snowmobile
Even if Piotr has retired since a few years back and left the life on the tundra, he often heads out there to visit all the camps. He just takes his snowmobile and his 10 years younger wife and travel up to 7 hours to reach the closest camp!
"Somebody told me yesterday that you thought that only 40 reindeer skins were needed for a yurangi (Chukchi tent made of reindeerskins)," Anna, his funny, kind and jovial wife points out, "but this applies only to a small yurangi. 80 is more normal."
It's all about having fun together!
That was one of the reasons they invited us to their modern home full of children. To help us get things right. Anna and Piotr hug each other a lot and laughs as much.
"This year, I've been married to my wife for 10 years," I tell them and then I ask the following very important question; "But how in earth do you do stay married for over 50 years?!"
Anna and Piotr laughs in a way that I feel like I've asked the dumbest of all questions.
"You have to have fun together," Piotr says and Anna nods agreeingly, "If you can't laugh together every day, it will not work."
"Any more advice?" ,I ask.
"Enough,", Anna says, "food is already on the table! You have to stuff yourselves now, otherwise you'll never make it all the way to Ambarchik."
"This part of the world is one of the few remaining places on earth that is virgin territory. This is a genuine journey of discovery. We believe that it is in this untouched area that the answers to many of the questions asked by modern men are to be found: Why are we here? How do we find harmony and satisfaction in our lives?"
This was the introduction that Micke and Johan presented ExWeb when they announced their expedition. Using Contact 3.0. they have documented their expedition in words and pictures to make a record of this unknown part of our world along the Kolyma River, enigmatic even to many Russians and Siberians.
Embarking upon an epic journey through Siberia stretching over 3500km, they would face among the lowest temperatures on Earth, headed to a very isolated research station: the Northeast Siberian Research Station in Cherskii, near Ambarchik Bay. This is where Expedition Siberia 2004 will end.
Team's position over Contact GEO and live image of Anna and Piotr over Contact 3.0 courtesy of the team.
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| OneWorld expedition: It's over Jun 3, 2005 | | Vancouver to Moscow - 1 year anniversary! Jun 2, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: The Single ski Weight Watchers Greenland program Jun 1, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: Rain and world record May 31, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week in Review May 30, 2005 | | 12 year old doing well on Greenland ice cap crossing May 27, 2005 | | Vagabond update - Polar bears, 200 candles and ice melting in Inglefieldbukta May 26, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: Polar hygiene, and Napoleon on ice May 26, 2005 | | Contact GEO hits Greenland May 25, 2005 | | Iridium: "Invalid battery - matches found, 0" May 24, 2005 |
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2004
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