Spring is here and from Canada to Scandinavia and Central Europe bags was being packed,metal detectors controlled while butterflies soared in many diggers stomachs, the Legenda Spring Expedition was about to begin. Flights and hotel rooms had been booked by the international team and we all were eager to meet our friends in Latvia again. As last year I decided to make a road trip there from the area around the Polar Circle in Northern Norway. After a long and dark winter nothing is better to pull one out of the winter depression than a bit of speeding on the freeways towards the south.
This year I wanted to try the Finnish roads so I plotted the route into the GPS and began the journey one Sunday morning. By lunchtime I had crossed through Sweden and into Finland and later on the evening I was outside Helsinki where I found a nice parking lot to get a few hours sleep. I wanted to beat the morning rush to have a less stressfull time finding the ferry place which turned out to be a good idea as road construction made it a bit difficult to navigate as the Finns isn`t too good to put up directions, but after a tiny mis-drive I stopped the car by the ferry check in.
Some hours later I arrived Tallinn and quickly found my way out of the city centre and sped towards the Latvian border. Sometimes the car sort of jolted, like driving on a icy winter road, but I thought that could be because some shitty asphalt, oh how wrong I was.
Some hundred meters before the border traffic had to stop for red light in a intersection and I stepped on the brake. The brake paddle went straight to the floor and I realized I had no brake power. Now, that is really something you want to have when hurdling towards cars stopped in a intersection!! I began pumping the brake as I looked for a "safe"place to steer off the road and into the fields, but then got some action on the brake and managed to avoid crashing.
By pumping the brake regularly I managed to maintain pressure on the brake system but knew something was very wrong, and the closer I got to the Legenda HQ the worse the car became. As I parked by the local shop a km away from the farm the car was difficult to drive,made bad noises and it felt like it would collapse at any second and when I parked it safely by the farm building I don`t think it could have kept driving much more.
As I described the situation for Toms he had a theory what was wrong with it and called his mechanic and I handed him the keys happy to have a good friend like him.
We had some coffee and later drove to Riga to help Viktors Duks to move some furniture from an apartement into a van before Toms dropped me off by the hotel in Old Riga where I met up with Andris,Victoria and Kim,one of the diggers from Holland.
The next day the other diggers would arrive but we had other plans for the day. We were going to visit Sigulda.
We took a train to the lovely medieval looking city where we spent the entire day visiting castles,getting the sights and ate some amazing local cakes. For those looking for something special when visiting Latvia Sigulda is highly reccomended!!
Some hours later I arrived Tallinn and quickly found my way out of the city centre and sped towards the Latvian border. Sometimes the car sort of jolted, like driving on a icy winter road, but I thought that could be because some shitty asphalt, oh how wrong I was.
Some hundred meters before the border traffic had to stop for red light in a intersection and I stepped on the brake. The brake paddle went straight to the floor and I realized I had no brake power. Now, that is really something you want to have when hurdling towards cars stopped in a intersection!! I began pumping the brake as I looked for a "safe"place to steer off the road and into the fields, but then got some action on the brake and managed to avoid crashing.
By pumping the brake regularly I managed to maintain pressure on the brake system but knew something was very wrong, and the closer I got to the Legenda HQ the worse the car became. As I parked by the local shop a km away from the farm the car was difficult to drive,made bad noises and it felt like it would collapse at any second and when I parked it safely by the farm building I don`t think it could have kept driving much more.
As I described the situation for Toms he had a theory what was wrong with it and called his mechanic and I handed him the keys happy to have a good friend like him.
We had some coffee and later drove to Riga to help Viktors Duks to move some furniture from an apartement into a van before Toms dropped me off by the hotel in Old Riga where I met up with Andris,Victoria and Kim,one of the diggers from Holland.
The next day the other diggers would arrive but we had other plans for the day. We were going to visit Sigulda.
We took a train to the lovely medieval looking city where we spent the entire day visiting castles,getting the sights and ate some amazing local cakes. For those looking for something special when visiting Latvia Sigulda is highly reccomended!!
One of the castles in Sigulda.
Back from our cultural expedition we found Riga Rock Cafe full of some happy diggers busy emptying the place for beer. On our last visit some of us had decided to try make a prank on our favorite cafe. The walls there is covered with artists photos and memorabilia and Steve N had prepared a photoshopped band photo of us,all ready with a frame and strong tape on the back. In secret it was smuggled to the table we wanted to place it by and glued to the wall. You can just imagine how fun we had doing that :D
Early next morning we met up in the hotel lobby ready to dig, and were soon picked up by the Latvians and we tore off towards Saldus and our second home Radi and our lovely host there Kristine. It was so great meeting all the team again and with big smiles on our faces we were on our way to the old battlefields.
Before 11 in the morning we were already into the mud. An old forgotten Soviet field grave was being opened. This was a very hard work as much of it was waterfilled and the soldiers here had been very uncarefully reburied in the early 50`s. Parts of soldiers was missing, and the sticky mud stuck to our feet and equipment, and it was a difficult job finding all the bones. In the end we got the job done and had recovered between 60-70 soldiers. The exact number we ll know after closer inspection of the remains which will get a official reburial next spring and hopefully their names added to the memorials and giving families a final closure.
Working in shifts some diggers worked in the graves and some were searching the fields and forests around. Between lots of ordnance some interesting finds was made such as a RSO transmission which took six strong guys to carry out of the woods, and we found a german MG position protected by S-mines and the field around it was full of exploded Katushya parts.
After dinner in the evening Andris began having trouble with his foot which was very worrying as he had a blister on the foot and working in the wet grave wearing boots which was not of the waterproof type. Now this can become very serious so he was rushed to the hospital and given strong antibiotics..
Before 11 in the morning we were already into the mud. An old forgotten Soviet field grave was being opened. This was a very hard work as much of it was waterfilled and the soldiers here had been very uncarefully reburied in the early 50`s. Parts of soldiers was missing, and the sticky mud stuck to our feet and equipment, and it was a difficult job finding all the bones. In the end we got the job done and had recovered between 60-70 soldiers. The exact number we ll know after closer inspection of the remains which will get a official reburial next spring and hopefully their names added to the memorials and giving families a final closure.
Working in shifts some diggers worked in the graves and some were searching the fields and forests around. Between lots of ordnance some interesting finds was made such as a RSO transmission which took six strong guys to carry out of the woods, and we found a german MG position protected by S-mines and the field around it was full of exploded Katushya parts.
After dinner in the evening Andris began having trouble with his foot which was very worrying as he had a blister on the foot and working in the wet grave wearing boots which was not of the waterproof type. Now this can become very serious so he was rushed to the hospital and given strong antibiotics..
Talis bringing in bone trays.
Andris and Regina trying to read a name engraved on an item found alongside one of the soldiers.
Anders getting ready to dive back into the mud.
Roberts making coffee for us.
Live ordnance collected for EOD.
RSO transmission found in the forest.
Very difficult work..
We also had a interesting visit this expedition, a journalist from Bloomberg BusinessWeek who is making an article about us, which we are looking forward to see the result of.
S-Mines.
Battledamaged spork.
Trying to collect all the tiny bones from hands and feet in the sticky mud is really difficult..
A well marked food kettle was found with one of the soldiers.These can have names engraved.
Guardsbadge.
Wet muddy and mossie bitten it was a tired flock gathering around the tables for Kristines exellent food and although we were all happy to be together again most of us went early to bed, but not before we had some laughs and a good few hours of fun. Victoria for example has become a skilled shieldmaiden since last time and didn`t let the chance escape her to kill me a few times with her kool viking sword.
Our Shieldmaiden doing her thing..
The next two days we searched trenches,bunkers and fields on a private land but with no much luck. Some exellent finds was made though, for example a ton of Panzer 4 parts, some helmets and a nice trench art cigarette casing.
Matt has his 50th birthday coming up and the Latvians had prepared a nice gift and prank for him. When we were opening a trenchline Duksi pulled me aside and snuck a gift for Matt into my hand. I stepped in front of Matt in the trench and stuck it into the mud before my detector "started to act up". I asked him to check the signal while I "made adjustments" to the detector. He found the signal and dug it out. His face was hilarious to watch as he cleaned the find and saw it was a silver EKM with his name and birth date engraved. I think that was a great idea by the guys and it certainly made Matts day :D
Matt has his 50th birthday coming up and the Latvians had prepared a nice gift and prank for him. When we were opening a trenchline Duksi pulled me aside and snuck a gift for Matt into my hand. I stepped in front of Matt in the trench and stuck it into the mud before my detector "started to act up". I asked him to check the signal while I "made adjustments" to the detector. He found the signal and dug it out. His face was hilarious to watch as he cleaned the find and saw it was a silver EKM with his name and birth date engraved. I think that was a great idea by the guys and it certainly made Matts day :D
Matt showing the birthday present he found in the trench.
Battledamaged tank wheel and a nice Russian helmet came out from a bunker.
Anton and I emptied a couple of dumping pits where we found lots of detonators, some handgrenades, a very nice canteen, panzer parts and lots of other bits. The best part from those pits was prehaps the antenna base from the tank. From a brake paddle Stephen Taylor managed to identify it as from a Panzer IV.
At one point during those days Ivans came out from the forest calling out for some guys to help, he had found the remains of a fallen soldier. Finding the spot again proved to be difficult. He couldn`t remember the exact place and we went into the thick forest to try re locate it. Not only was the soldier lying there but he had left his expensive metal detector next to the remains. Luckily we had Mindaugas with us, an exellent pathfinder who managed to track it down and after a while we could bring the soldier back.
At one point during those days Ivans came out from the forest calling out for some guys to help, he had found the remains of a fallen soldier. Finding the spot again proved to be difficult. He couldn`t remember the exact place and we went into the thick forest to try re locate it. Not only was the soldier lying there but he had left his expensive metal detector next to the remains. Luckily we had Mindaugas with us, an exellent pathfinder who managed to track it down and after a while we could bring the soldier back.
Some of the dumping pits gave some good finds.
The soldier Ivans found was carefully exhumed and brought back. He had metal teeth.
It was late before we was back at Radi and again we were tired and most diggers was dreaming about rust and bones before midnight as we had a big day Saturday. We were going to Liepaja for the reburial of the 107 Red Army soldiers we had recovered in a massgrave last spring. Many of us had never had the chance to attend a reburial ceremony before so we was really excited about the event.
The diggers carried the coffins, each with a white rose attached to the lids and placed them nicely in front of the prepared grave at the cemetery, and soon locals,journalists,an ortodox priest and other officials arrived.
The weather was beautiful and warm and even though most of the International team do not speak Russian it was a very moving ceremony.
The priest did his part of the ceremony and so did the officials, but for me the most touching part of it was Regina. In a true warrior tradition spanning back to the Viking age she used her strong voice reading out the names of the ones that had been identified before Legenda placed the coffins in the grave,covered the coffins with pine branches and closed the grave before covering it all in a layer of pine branches. Next members of the local Russian community and Legenda placed flowers and wreaths in front of the grave.
I am so gratefull to have been a part of this,it was a full circle. We dug them out of the muddy forgotten grave and now we could give them a final resting place. Very, very moving.
The diggers carried the coffins, each with a white rose attached to the lids and placed them nicely in front of the prepared grave at the cemetery, and soon locals,journalists,an ortodox priest and other officials arrived.
The weather was beautiful and warm and even though most of the International team do not speak Russian it was a very moving ceremony.
The priest did his part of the ceremony and so did the officials, but for me the most touching part of it was Regina. In a true warrior tradition spanning back to the Viking age she used her strong voice reading out the names of the ones that had been identified before Legenda placed the coffins in the grave,covered the coffins with pine branches and closed the grave before covering it all in a layer of pine branches. Next members of the local Russian community and Legenda placed flowers and wreaths in front of the grave.
I am so gratefull to have been a part of this,it was a full circle. We dug them out of the muddy forgotten grave and now we could give them a final resting place. Very, very moving.
Regina reading out the names of all the soldiers that had been identified.
Legenda closing the circle by covering the grave.
After this emotional ceremony we had coffee in the chapel before we drove of to Priekule. We had permission to search a park in the middle of town which saw heavy battles. The place changed hands 17 times during the fighting and there was lots of finds to be made. Jonny Bay found maybe the koolest thing of them all, a MG ammo box with a Walther P38 in perfect condition inside!! A fantastic find. Ofcourse this had to be deactivated which was done on site. The area also held many parts of either a Stug or a Panzer 4, and Ivans, strong like a JCB pulled out a side skirt armour plate from the river, man does that guy have muscle power. Some helmets and a nice K98 also saw daylight again. Anton was seriously lucky as well, his first signal turned out to be the shield from a PanzerSchreck. Some remains of two soldiers was also found here.
The last evening had arrived and we had a great party together. I had made a gift to Legenda which was a great success, a german jerry can made into a minibar which I had filled with coca cola,Norwegian Aquavit and some snacks, and Legenda had gifts for some of the International team as well. Jon Potts showed us all that he is an awesome singer and songwriter when he played us some lovely songs. The Sauna was near the boiling point and the party ended in the early morning hours.
On Sunday we had to shake hands and give out hugs again as we departed for Riga and flights home. On our way back we made a stop at a roadside cafe were someone we won`t name locked the keys in the car,which seems to have become a Legenda tradition and Victorias Viking sword was used to try pry open the door, very entertaining :D
I wasn`t going to leave for yet some days and had a great time in Riga with Andris and Victoria. The ever so awesome Toms had my car fixed and picked me up early the day my ferry was leaving and Im forever in debt to him. The brake, ballbearing and ABS on one of the wheels had been totally ruined, some God had definately watched over me the last part of my drive to the Legenda HQ.
The trip had been amazing but the heat started to get on my nerves so I had begun longing for rain,snow and the cool degrees up north and it was fantastic to find shade in the deep hull of the ferry over to Stockholm. The car worked perfectly now and I was soon home to my furry little cat friends who was overjoyed to have me back, or maybe one of the cats was in revenge mode because the first thing she did was tearing up my very last roll of toilet paper. I better remember to buy her some fish for dinner tomorrow...
Until next time,Stay muddy and Happy.
Keep Smiling.
The last evening had arrived and we had a great party together. I had made a gift to Legenda which was a great success, a german jerry can made into a minibar which I had filled with coca cola,Norwegian Aquavit and some snacks, and Legenda had gifts for some of the International team as well. Jon Potts showed us all that he is an awesome singer and songwriter when he played us some lovely songs. The Sauna was near the boiling point and the party ended in the early morning hours.
On Sunday we had to shake hands and give out hugs again as we departed for Riga and flights home. On our way back we made a stop at a roadside cafe were someone we won`t name locked the keys in the car,which seems to have become a Legenda tradition and Victorias Viking sword was used to try pry open the door, very entertaining :D
I wasn`t going to leave for yet some days and had a great time in Riga with Andris and Victoria. The ever so awesome Toms had my car fixed and picked me up early the day my ferry was leaving and Im forever in debt to him. The brake, ballbearing and ABS on one of the wheels had been totally ruined, some God had definately watched over me the last part of my drive to the Legenda HQ.
The trip had been amazing but the heat started to get on my nerves so I had begun longing for rain,snow and the cool degrees up north and it was fantastic to find shade in the deep hull of the ferry over to Stockholm. The car worked perfectly now and I was soon home to my furry little cat friends who was overjoyed to have me back, or maybe one of the cats was in revenge mode because the first thing she did was tearing up my very last roll of toilet paper. I better remember to buy her some fish for dinner tomorrow...
Until next time,Stay muddy and Happy.
Keep Smiling.
A couple of the articles made by local journalists:
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