ENDURANCE MISSION - PADDLING UPSTREAM From Norway to Hungary 4500km My name is Richard J. Varga, but some of you know me as @kayakcrazyric from Instagram. Recently I came up with a really crazy Idea I'll do very soon.Of course, something with kayaking. I have been living 12 years in Norway, far away from my home country - Hungary. My mom, who knows under how difficult conditions I live up in the North in the last years,and how much better I could live in Hungary, is begging me to move back home. I don't know if I'm ready for that...for leaving this amazing natural paradise...to settle down in Hungary again and be happy. No matter what, if I make this journey I'm pretty sure, in the end, I'll be very happy to arrive at home.:-) I told her, if I leave, I do it with style: MY PLAN IS TO PADDLE HOME FROM NORWAY TO HUNGARY MORE THAN 4500KM. I will paddle from my Norwegian home on the Lofoten Islands back to my Hungarian home. My trip goes along the coast of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. After crossing the Kiel Canal, I will paddle along the Dutch coast until I reach the River Ijssel. From here on, I will continue my journey for ca. 1000 km upstream the rivers Ijssel, Rhine, Main. At one point, I'll cross over to the Danube and will paddle ca. 600 km downstream until I reach my Hungarian village - Dunakiliti. You might probably want to ask me: BUT WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THAT? My answer is simple: WHY NOT? I have been dreaming for a long time about doing something different, something extraordinary, that probably no one has ever done before. I WANT TO SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT, UPSTREAM. "ONLY DEAD FISH GO WITH THE FLOW!" Many have paddled before me along the coast of Norway, but usually, they paddle from the South the North with the wind and the current in their back. Many have paddled in the rivers Rhine and Main downstream, but I fought all my life against the current, why should I do it this time differently? I want to push my limits and figure out who I truly am? I want to prove to myself that I can do it! I want to prove to myself that my mind has the power over my body! I have a vision for the future. I want to guide people on mind-blowing kayaking expeditions around the world. I want to show them how to connect to themselves by stretching their own boundaries and swim against the current of their life. But to be able to be their authentic guide, I need to go through this, I need to do this hell of a journey. I don't know how long the expedition will take, but I know the total distance is around 4650km. The first step until the rivers I might be able to complete within 2,5-3 months, but I don't know yet, how fast I can paddle along the rivers... In the worst case, I calculate with 100 days upstream. The last 600km down the rivers will be a joyride, max. 2 weeks and I can finish it. So, if everything goes as planned, I can start the journey end of May 2019... MOM, I could be home for Christmas! It will be, a long, long time on the water... while I'm there, I also want to do something meaningful and use the publicity I eventually create for a good purpose. I WANT TO GIVE BACK...TO BOTH OF MY COUNTRIES I want to support a local NGO in Norway and in Hungary fighting for children';s right to education, health and enough to eat, to live in peace and with hope in the future. I grew up in Communistic Eastern Europe, and it took me years to let go of my limiting beliefs about myself and stand up for who I am and do what I love to do....kayaking and exploring nature. I believe: CHILDREN ARE THE WORLD'S MOST VALUALE RESOURCE AND ITS BEST HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. HERE ARE THE LINKS WHERE YOU CAN DONATE: In Norway, I will be gathering donations for:... www.reddbarna.no In Hungary, I will support https://batortabor.hu/en/about-us/ HERE IS HOW YOU CAN FOLLOW ME: https://www.facebook.com/Endurance-Mission-Paddling-Upstream-639084359870237/ Instagram:@endurancemissionpaddlingup I'll post every day (if I'll have network) my daily distance, some photos of the day and a few words on Facebook and Instagram about how I feel and how I did that day. I'll be reading comments and messages, I hope it will boost my energy to continue,but I don't think I'll have time to answer them all. I'll need to focus on the daily distances and challenges. I need to get enough energy and relaxation for the next distance... But I'll be thankful for all the good vibes!