Really enjoyed reading some of your descriptions of landscape: ‘shrouded in pink mist in the lowering sunlight, with occasional black ridges, like the backs of prehistoric monsters jutting above the valleys glow.’ Love the imagery.
Found details such as children playing barefoot in the snow contrasted with you both shivering and then the image of man reading the the story book to a rapt audience very engaging. Look forward to reading more! 🙂
Hi Bob,
whow I did find you on twitter and our kids dug out your home page from facebook 😉 I kept looking for you since quite some time……
Not sure whether you remember me….. I am the guy who helped emptying the cesspits at Frank and Regine’s place in Kautokeino.
Would really love to talk to you again…. have you got a phone number to call?
Kirsten and I did visit you once in Manchester when you drove us up to Scotland to visit your sister Teresa and Steve.
You tought me all my English…. bought our camper and came along with us canoeing on River Isar…… I still remember your request where you wanted “a little bit more wiskey in the Isar water” 😉
Kirsten is just diging out our old pictures if you send us an e-mail address we could contribute a little to your gallery 😉
Bob, you are a rare treasure trove of adventure stories, your tours were not for the faint of heart. I have visited mostly Central and South American cultures and have had some unnerving times but not life threatening that we know of. ?
This was a really interesting post. I love reading about other countries and cultures and I’ve never been to India so it’s nice to learn about it from someone who has. I like the idea of the newspapers using outdated language; it seems very quaint. Also I wonder what they were hearing when you were saying “Delhi”. Maybe it’s just your accent!
Great post, Bob! I would have loved to have been on one of those tours with you. The stories and laughs would likely have seemed endless and continued into the wee hours. But I think I wouldn’t challenge you to a drinking competition. Know that’s one I’d certainly not win.
Sorry To Read about your loss, sir. I am sure you had quite a time. But I want to say that Quetta is like before now (peace wise). Its a place worth coming to again.
What a wonderful piece of writing! Thank you Bob. I love sitting in train stations and airports. I once spent a whole day at Heathrow waiting for my family to arrive so we could set off for Egypt. It was as you describe it ❤️
Once again, a pleasure to read Bob. You speak of the world in such beautiful ways, as an adventure shared, as a wonder witnessed; thanks for the steady reminders 🙂
Hi Bob, lovely to meet you! I’ve just come across your blog for the first time and I’ve had a great little read. Thank you for taking the time to post 😊
I love this piece so much Bob! Firstly your writing is a joy to read; it pulses and sparks with energy, experience and kindness. The content also resonates with me hugely – I am a passionate train traveller and really understand what you say about the thread that ties you to the land through the journey and that can be mapped and marked to the earth. Thanks for sharing such heartfelt thoughts and I look forward to reading more (and trying to start my own blog too! I’d love to be a travel writer most of all). Very best, G
Wow, what a set of experiences! I’d like to know more about the foolish photo-taker… Thanks for sharing, and I firmly agree – there are good people everywhere 🙂
Fascinating read. Those pictographs are incredible and it’s interesting and a little frightening given world circumstances to consider changing climates. And wow, lighting a fire under the camel’s butt! That one surprised me.
I was in Mexico a couple of weeks ago. There was a shooting in the town near our resort. It made us see the town as dangerous yet there was also a shooting in the city where I used to work–45 minutes from my home. Yet, I don’t see the latter city as dangerous. It’s odd how a lack of familiarity can make an entire city (or country) dangerous, whereas the danger in the city near me, because it’s so familiar, is seen as an anomaly.
Beautiful. There is so much to see but is so often missed or ignored. We’ve become accustomed to being entertained by prefabricated experiences that play on our brains and now it’s difficult to relax, attend and thus see. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful! I feel I have so much to learn about different species of trees and that I’m at the beginning of this journey. I would love to learn the rain spatter sounds by leaves, a further depending of relationship, which most don’t forge. Great post!
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Alex Dunedin
,
A great accolade to the people who honour the sacred foundations of medicine identifying it as a field which at its centre is the value of human life, not the value of the cash which can be extracted. A precious thing; well done Bob and well done all the people in the NHS who keep our show on the road !!!
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Dani
,
Glad to hear that the NHS are as heroic as ever, and that their efforts have improved your lot. Would that they were resourced to allow proper staffing.
A great read Bob, thank you! Super evocative, and I wish I’d had a fraction of your incredible experiences. Off to give my dog some scran now and explain why he should be more grateful. 🙂
To Bob Cranwell,
I have read your interesting stories about Anton Svartisdal.
I started to google his name and so I found your stories.
Just wanted to share my story.
Yesterday I saw a documentary about a man who was camping with a roof tent with a wonderful view towards Mount Rainier in USA.
This name reminded me of a trip mum, dad and myself took in July 1971. I was 12 years old.
We drove from our home in the southern part of Sweden all the way up to northern Norway.
I have now read my mothers diary that summer. Our first stop in Norway was Svartisen. My dad was always facinated by glaciers, a must to visit Svartisen!
So we did and met Anton on our way to the glacier. He was such a kind man and we had an overnight in his cottage ”Mount Rainier”.
After that visit we often talked about Anton!
Other places we visited in Norway that summer was Mo i Rana, Gronligrottan, the polar circle at Junkerdal, Selbu and Lillehammer.
I was young but I still remember that wonderful tour!
I understand you must have had fantastic tours there!
With kind regards
Margaretha
Heyhey Margaretha
Super to hear of your memories in Svartisdal! I certainly have so much that I enjoyed and learned from that area. I knew three generations of Svartisdal, Anton, Arnold and Gjaer.
I wonder if the Mount Rainier cabin still stands 🤷🏼♂️
There are a number of other stories around my experiences in Finnmark and beyond. Not just the places, but the mindset and culture of the people.
I am still in touch with the family who ran the Fjellstue at Gargia which gives me great pleasure 🥰
Anne Kenny ,
Really enjoyed reading some of your descriptions of landscape: ‘shrouded in pink mist in the lowering sunlight, with occasional black ridges, like the backs of prehistoric monsters jutting above the valleys glow.’ Love the imagery.
Found details such as children playing barefoot in the snow contrasted with you both shivering and then the image of man reading the the story book to a rapt audience very engaging. Look forward to reading more! 🙂
Anne Kenny ,
Sorry to read about your loss Bob. Seems like you had some great adventures together. Lovely to pay tribute to her in this way.
Chris Drachenfels ,
Hi Bob,
whow I did find you on twitter and our kids dug out your home page from facebook 😉 I kept looking for you since quite some time……
Not sure whether you remember me….. I am the guy who helped emptying the cesspits at Frank and Regine’s place in Kautokeino.
Would really love to talk to you again…. have you got a phone number to call?
Kirsten and I did visit you once in Manchester when you drove us up to Scotland to visit your sister Teresa and Steve.
You tought me all my English…. bought our camper and came along with us canoeing on River Isar…… I still remember your request where you wanted “a little bit more wiskey in the Isar water” 😉
Kirsten is just diging out our old pictures if you send us an e-mail address we could contribute a little to your gallery 😉
Cheers,
Kirsten and Chris
Anne Kenny ,
A fine piece of writing Bob – very evocative.
Linda Zupancic ,
Bob, you are a rare treasure trove of adventure stories, your tours were not for the faint of heart. I have visited mostly Central and South American cultures and have had some unnerving times but not life threatening that we know of. ?
Alex ,
Love it ! This will save me getting in a plane and going on a holiday; nice to be a ghost companion 🙂
Anne ,
Really love the detail in this one Bob and definitely relate to the idea of the open road as a symbol of freedom.
Alex ,
Another modern meditation Bob, thanks… Makes me long for the open road myself remembering how happy I was when I was lost
Nicola ,
This was a really interesting post. I love reading about other countries and cultures and I’ve never been to India so it’s nice to learn about it from someone who has. I like the idea of the newspapers using outdated language; it seems very quaint. Also I wonder what they were hearing when you were saying “Delhi”. Maybe it’s just your accent!
Janette Gordon ,
Sounds like an incredible place Bob. 🙂
Karl Anders ,
Great post, Bob! I would have loved to have been on one of those tours with you. The stories and laughs would likely have seemed endless and continued into the wee hours. But I think I wouldn’t challenge you to a drinking competition. Know that’s one I’d certainly not win.
Humza ,
Sorry To Read about your loss, sir. I am sure you had quite a time. But I want to say that Quetta is like before now (peace wise). Its a place worth coming to again.
Ingrid ,
What a wonderful piece of writing! Thank you Bob. I love sitting in train stations and airports. I once spent a whole day at Heathrow waiting for my family to arrive so we could set off for Egypt. It was as you describe it ❤️
Alex ,
Once again, a pleasure to read Bob. You speak of the world in such beautiful ways, as an adventure shared, as a wonder witnessed; thanks for the steady reminders 🙂
Jayita Poduval ,
Fantastic read. I am going through it one day at a time…a slow, deep read. Love the painstaking detailing!
Linda Zupancic ,
Nice work on the About Page, it clearly defines your purposes of the blog and lays out the parameters. Giving the reader reasons to read!
Ashleigh ,
Hi Bob, lovely to meet you! I’ve just come across your blog for the first time and I’ve had a great little read. Thank you for taking the time to post 😊
Ashleigh x
http://www.thestoryofashleighdavis.com
Gail Muller ,
I love this piece so much Bob! Firstly your writing is a joy to read; it pulses and sparks with energy, experience and kindness. The content also resonates with me hugely – I am a passionate train traveller and really understand what you say about the thread that ties you to the land through the journey and that can be mapped and marked to the earth. Thanks for sharing such heartfelt thoughts and I look forward to reading more (and trying to start my own blog too! I’d love to be a travel writer most of all). Very best, G
mullington ,
Wow, what a set of experiences! I’d like to know more about the foolish photo-taker… Thanks for sharing, and I firmly agree – there are good people everywhere 🙂
Exploration Project ,
Fascinating read. Those pictographs are incredible and it’s interesting and a little frightening given world circumstances to consider changing climates. And wow, lighting a fire under the camel’s butt! That one surprised me.
Heather ,
I was in Mexico a couple of weeks ago. There was a shooting in the town near our resort. It made us see the town as dangerous yet there was also a shooting in the city where I used to work–45 minutes from my home. Yet, I don’t see the latter city as dangerous. It’s odd how a lack of familiarity can make an entire city (or country) dangerous, whereas the danger in the city near me, because it’s so familiar, is seen as an anomaly.
David Cranwell ,
Comments appreciated bro… still haven’t lost the flair for descriptive writing have you.
Heather ,
Beautiful. There is so much to see but is so often missed or ignored. We’ve become accustomed to being entertained by prefabricated experiences that play on our brains and now it’s difficult to relax, attend and thus see. Thank you for sharing.
Fiona Whiley ,
I wonder if they appreciate that you put your lives in danger to make sure they were safe? I enjoy reading your stories about travel!
Jeff Hubbard ,
Love this, Bob! I, too will remember these lines…
Steve McHardy ,
Great read Bob. Renewed my appreciation for the forest.
Heather ,
Wonderful! I feel I have so much to learn about different species of trees and that I’m at the beginning of this journey. I would love to learn the rain spatter sounds by leaves, a further depending of relationship, which most don’t forge. Great post!
Alex Dunedin ,
A great accolade to the people who honour the sacred foundations of medicine identifying it as a field which at its centre is the value of human life, not the value of the cash which can be extracted. A precious thing; well done Bob and well done all the people in the NHS who keep our show on the road !!!
Dani ,
Glad to hear that the NHS are as heroic as ever, and that their efforts have improved your lot. Would that they were resourced to allow proper staffing.
Gail ,
A great read Bob, thank you! Super evocative, and I wish I’d had a fraction of your incredible experiences. Off to give my dog some scran now and explain why he should be more grateful. 🙂
Margaretha ,
To Bob Cranwell,
I have read your interesting stories about Anton Svartisdal.
I started to google his name and so I found your stories.
Just wanted to share my story.
Yesterday I saw a documentary about a man who was camping with a roof tent with a wonderful view towards Mount Rainier in USA.
This name reminded me of a trip mum, dad and myself took in July 1971. I was 12 years old.
We drove from our home in the southern part of Sweden all the way up to northern Norway.
I have now read my mothers diary that summer. Our first stop in Norway was Svartisen. My dad was always facinated by glaciers, a must to visit Svartisen!
So we did and met Anton on our way to the glacier. He was such a kind man and we had an overnight in his cottage ”Mount Rainier”.
After that visit we often talked about Anton!
Other places we visited in Norway that summer was Mo i Rana, Gronligrottan, the polar circle at Junkerdal, Selbu and Lillehammer.
I was young but I still remember that wonderful tour!
I understand you must have had fantastic tours there!
With kind regards
Margaretha
Bob ,
Heyhey Margaretha
Super to hear of your memories in Svartisdal! I certainly have so much that I enjoyed and learned from that area. I knew three generations of Svartisdal, Anton, Arnold and Gjaer.
I wonder if the Mount Rainier cabin still stands 🤷🏼♂️
There are a number of other stories around my experiences in Finnmark and beyond. Not just the places, but the mindset and culture of the people.
I am still in touch with the family who ran the Fjellstue at Gargia which gives me great pleasure 🥰