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By Greg Hunt
greg.hunt@ecm-inc.com
No tour buses or rental cars were needed for Mattias Myrebring’s
exploration of North America. Instead, the Gothenburg, Sweden native is
relying on his feet to traverse a coast-to-coast trek which began in
Nova Scotia and will finish next spring in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Part of his east-to-west hike struck across Isanti County, and the genial visitor offered a quick tale of his trip.
Pictured: Mattias Myrebring of Gothenburg, Sweden
offered a quick
chat while heading west from
Cambridge to Princeton on Hwy. 95 Sept. 25.
Photo by Greg Hunt
“I am a complete amateur. I have never done anything like this before,”
spoke Myrebring on Sept. 25 when he was tracked down on Hwy. 95 west of
Cambridge. “It is my first time here in North America. I always wanted
to see both Canada and the United States. I have a great interest in
the history, and my trip depends on that. That’s why I chose the
alternative to walk. To me, it’s a magic way to do it.”
He began his trip on June 15 in Nova Scotia and toured Canada before
crossing into the U.S.A. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He plans to
take a winter break in Miles City, Montana in November.
“At that time, I will travel like a normal tourist to see more of the
country and to spend time with friends from the East Coast,” Myrebring
said. “Then I will continue my walk in the spring, hopefully reaching
Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean by mid May.”
Gothenburg is on the west coast of Sweden, not far from Oslo, the capitol of Norway.
“I am looking forward to reaching the prairie and Rocky Mountains. So
far, a highlight of the trip has been the people I’ve met. So many
friendly, nice people both in Canada and here in the United States,”
described Myrebring.
“For example, I was walking up in Canada, looking for a place to set my
tent. I saw a man and woman picking grass straw. It turns out, he was a
Native American. To make a long history short, he asked me if I had a
weapon or knife to defend myself against an animal or something. I
said, ‘No, I don’t have it.’ So he gave me his handmade pocket knife
and sheath. That was very nice to receive that gift. And I gave him a
pair of military boots that were too heavy for my use. And he was so
happy for them.”
Myrebring has a nice cart system to haul his tent, sleeping bag,
clothes and rain gear. Along with a backpack, he also uses a pair of
walking sticks to help him on his history tour of the New Country.
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