After a long journey of more than 900 nm Pachamama is back in the Arctic and ready for sampling eDNA and microplastic.

Thanks to the fair winds and good crew we had a safe and comfortable journey. Ueli and Dario with a lot of experience on Pachamama shared their knowledge with the newcomers Jeremy and Roger, who adapted to the new environment offshore after some uncomfortable days.

Many thanks to Odd to look after the boat during Swiss TOPtoTOP. We met his crew in Balestrand, where the two boats where docked together.

On the way north, we met up with old friends. Maria and Stein as well as Eli and Christian in Kaupanger and Hilde and Anders on the remote Island on Værøna are great examples of how to live off the land in a sustainable way. Vegetables, fish and sheep meat lead to a healthy diet.

Maria and Stein have a winter garden where they are now also trying to grow even wine. Eli and Christian are mushroom experts. Hilde and Anders produce all their electrical energy with 3 windmills, each producing 1.5 KW.

In Alesund we were treated to a wonderful dinner by Aina and Helge and to shrimps and a hot shower by Yngvar and Torguun in Ballstad in Lofoten. Peder made it all the way to Ballstad to see us and gave us some delicious food as a present.

On the island of Grytøya near Senja, we were welcomed by our old “Winkinger” friend Halvard. He is a farmer, sailor and musician. During the dark winter months, he has set up a music studio above his garage and using lights to grow herbes.

The climate is quite different from further south were we experienced summer conditions to the place we are now where the first spring flowers appear…

If you like to volunteer on Pachamama this year please get in contact with us… next Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland….