Photo Credit: Kjetil Samulsen / NRK
Four months is arguably considered a good length of time. Four months on a small boat with two other people would certainly be considered a long time. But this doesn’t faze two friends from Kristiansand who are set to embark on a journey from Kristiansand to Istanbul aboard a 27-foot boat from 1979. The friends, William Arthur Nilsen and August Berntsen, are looking forward to 435 hours of boating with one another via canals in Europe.
The bold idea was sparked when William was on a trip last summer in Eastern Europe and was intrigued by the idea of boating down the Danube River. He then called his friend August to ask if he would join him on the trip. What August thought was a joke quickly turned into real plans made between the two.
The pair bought a boat from a man in Haugesund, Norway, who had tired of his sailing days. After spending months preparing for the trip and getting their international boating licenses, they set sail recently to pick up their friend, Jonas Eckersberg, in Kragerø. From there, they will travel toward Germany to make their way down the Danube.
Fortunately, before they set sail, they were gifted a new propeller by William’s Grandpa Kjell. Kjell said, “I dreamed that they destroyed the one they had when they hit some logs in a canal, so I had to buy it for them…you’re often right about those dreams of yours”
As they make their way through Europe, one can only hope for a safe and memorable trip for the trio of friends. It will be interesting to see how they fare in each other’s constant company for four months. Before taking off, August pointed out how much stuff William had packed for the boat trip. William countered by airing the annoyance of August when “he messes with things that aren’t broken. For example, rusty parts on the boat!”
Thankfully, it seems the bickering is all in jest. After all, only the best of friends could spend that much time in close quarters.