The Dream of Flying

Page 34

Karesuando is situated in the north of Sweden about 250 km north of the Arctic circle (latitude N 68^o 26', longitude E 22^o 27') and is the most northern church village in Sweden. Two Englishmen, the Cambridge student Edward Clarke and a wealthy person, Cripps, travelled in the northern Sweden in the summer of 1799 and visited this place. Clarke led the expedition and Cripps paid for it. Clarke had used much of his time in Cambridge to make experiments of different kinds. Among other things he had experimented with kites and balloons.

After spending some time in more southern parts of Sweden, they sat the course towards mosquitoes and midnight sun. In Luleå they met the first lap. They continued to Torneå at the River Torne Älv, a river that nowadays is the border between Sweden and Finland. In 1799, Finland was still a part of the country of Sweden. Sweden lost it ten years later to Russia in the last big war Sweden was involved in.

From Torneå they continued north by boat on the rivers Torne Älv and Muonio Älv. It was a hard job for the boatmen. They had to pass 107 rapids upwards before they reached Enontekis, the ptrsent name Karesuando.

At the jetty at Karesuando they were met by the vicar, Erik Grape. The vicar and his family showed their English guests a great hospitality. Clarke had bought material for a hot air balloon in Torneå and now he wanted to revive his old proficiency.

Grape became enthusiastic and let the men use the church to build the balloon. He also called all the people in his parish to service. When the great day came, he first held the service where he, to the astonishment of the Englishmen, preached for 80 minutes with a very strong voice. They did not know that the laps demanded this of all their clergymen. Very long preachings in a strong voice.

The balloon was heated with cotton soaked in spirit. The first try to launch the balloon failed because of strong winds. But the people stayed until the evening and now Clarke made a new and successful try. The sun shines all day and night in the summer, so everybody could see how the balloon rose against the sun even if was late in the evening. Many in the audience became afraid, but were soon calmed down.

Was this possibly the first balloon flying north of the Arctic circle? Yes, I really believe so,

 

Updated 2009-05-13