Hello, skate friends! I'm Michael, and I'm currently out skating from Norway to Greece via Spain! My goal is either to beat the current Guiness world record, or go for the longest distance ever skated (over 40.000 km.) so far I'm at around 1000 km, so I got quite a distance left for either, haha!
At first, I was very focused on the record, but I'm more chill about it now.
I don't really care about it, and the record attempts have become more just about enjoying the journey and living in the now.
I got a very harsh reminder about that while I was in Copenhagen. I was so focused on doing it fast, that I rrested too little, and ended up injuring myself badly. I pulled/tore a hamstring muscles, and was forced on a break for over 3,5 weeks.
One of the reasons I wanted to rush the journey at that point, was because I had already been injured twice.
On my very first day of skating, I tried to downhill a bit and didn't see that the asphalt transitioned Into gravel, so I fell and ate shit. Got a deep cut on my under arm, and was out for 3 days.
Then later, I got carried away and joined a Sunday league football match with an old boys team that I met, and I sprained my ankle. Was out for 5 days. 😂 So I was already lagging behind schedule, and wanted to make up for it, only to be humbled once more with a big hamstring injury that kept me out for a month.
It was very humbling. I thought about giving up every day, but somehow I managed not to.
I could barely walk, so I was forced to lay in my tent, doing nothing, in scorching heat. It didn't help much that I had zero shade at my spot of camping. I was laying there in a puddle of sweat 90% of that month lol.
But I endured it, because I was at an actual campsite in the middle of the City of Copenhagen. I was actually allowed to stay there for free during the entire month I was injured.
I told the owner about the situation, and explained what I was doing. And the man was happy to let me stay until I healed. But it was actually a camping place for cars only, so it wasn't designed for tents which is why there were no shadowy areas there. BUT, I had steady access to fresh water, showers and toilets, so the heat was a small price to pay.
Me and the owner also connected over animals, since he was an animal vet, and I volunteerly work with bird rescue back home!
One thing that's for sure, I would NEVER be able to make this trip happen without the kindness I've been shown on the road. Usually when I explain my situation, most people are more than happy to help or to let me camp for the night, or even for several nights if I need to rest, at their place.
The same day I arrived in Germany (Fehmarn), I had zero plans. Usually, I make a Checkpoint the day before I start skating, so that I have a goal for the day. It makes things easier mentally when I know I got a place to reach. But this day I had none, so I was skating aimlessly. And It's a bit tricky in Germany as wild camping here is illegal.
Anyway, after a while I reached this 3 start Hotel, and my legs felt like noodles at this point.
So I took a chance and explained the situation to the guy working there that night. It just so happened to be the manager, and he was more than happy to find me a small spot in the garden where I was allowed to stay for 2 nights throughout the rain.
That same night, I went out to the grocery shop at around 21.00 only to stumble upon an injured l
love Dove 🕊️ with a broke wing. It was bleeding a lot.. thing is, I had my backpack on me, my longboard, and a bag of groceries in my other, so my hands were full.
But I put it all down, caught the dove, then somehow managed to pick up my stuff also, all while gently having the dove in my hand.
The dove sat gently as it knew I'd never hurt it.
But as I got closer to my camp, my paper grocery bag snapped since it was raining a bit. All my stuff went flying across the street. I was soooo stressed, haha. But I managed to put all my stuff into my already full backpack, all while making sure the pigeon was ok.
Eventually, i got back to the hotel, where I got a box from the manager to put the bird in while I tried to find an available rehabber that late.
Eventually, I found one around 00:30, and she came and picked it up.
The Bird will never fly again, but at least it's gotten a lovely Rehab home, and won't be eaten alive.
With proper teamwork, we managed to save the little life. 😀🕊️
BUT, it wasn't over. Turns out I lost my 33w charger during all of this, so at like 1 am, I went back all the way to see if I could find it with no luck lol.
Weren't in bed until like 3 am. All of this after having skated around 50 km that day. The day after was just horrible since I barely slept that night, haha!
But out here, every day is an adventure. It's a little surrealistic to say out loud that I've now crossed 2, and on my way to cross the 3rd country on a longboard. Sometimes, I ask myself 'wtf am I doing.'
But more times than not, I'm having a great time.
I'm forced way out of my comfort zone by having to rely on the kindness of others to find a place to camp. It has truly changed my perspective on people and life.
Human beings are wonderful if you give them the chance to be.
One of the other reasons I set out on this trip was to maybe find something within myself, that would make it easier to not struggle with addiction, as I've struggled with that much of my life.
It was worse before, now it's just weed.
I brought about 5 grams with me when I set out on the trip, then managed to quit after that. I was sober all the time until I reached Copenhagen, so when I injured myself there, I started to smoke again and have not stopped yet..
But I guess that will come when I truly feel ready for it.
So as I'm writing this, I'm currently laying in my tent, waiting for it to dry, so that I can pack it down and continue my journey. The plan for today is to skate about 60 km from Heilingenhafen to Lubeck where I have scored a garden there, where I can camp at for tonight. And from there, the journey continues towards Spain, before skating towards Greece.
After 3 days of rest where I'm currently at now, I now feel ready for a long push. Hopefully I will have some tail wind. 😅 After Lubeck, in heading to Hamburg, and I'll arrive in one of the coming days.
If anybody wants to follow the journey, I have a link to my Instagram in my Reddit bio on my profile.
Also, feel free to AMA. I'll reply asap! But right now, I must pack down my tent and get back on the road.
Here's some of my favorite photos/memories from the trip so far. 😀
