SAMAYA x JOSEPH GANDRIEAU

 

 

Joseph Gandrieau is an adventurer with a passion for wide-open spaces and the challenges they impose. After traveling through the Faroes and Iceland by bike, ski, and on foot, he is getting ready to embark on the third part of his "3 Islands" project: Greenland. While his first stages were marked by performance and resilience, this final phase promises to be different. From now on, Joseph aspires to an adventure less focused on kilometers covered and more centered on contemplating landscapes, connecting with nature, and the joy of fully living every moment.

 

It all started with a 20-day boat crossing from Canada to Iceland. I was with my girlfriend and a captain who was looking for crew members. We were supposed to head straight for the west coast of Greenland, but we quickly realized it was impossible because of the ice and storms. We were forced to sail further south, toward Iceland. It was a first setback, but strangely, it didn't frustrate me. I started to realize that, regardless of the destination, the important thing was moving forward, living in the moment.

 

Once I arrived in Iceland, I took a small plane to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. That’s where I really felt a shift in myself. My initial goal was to walk as much as possible, to cover as much ground as I could, but seeing the grandeur and immensity of Greenland, I started to question all of that. The idea of performance was gradually losing its meaning. I began to tell myself that this trip wasn't just about kilometers, but an opportunity to savor every moment, to reconnect with nature.

 

Then, I found myself faced with two snowy mountain passes that I couldn't cross. I tried several times, but the conditions were too dangerous. In the past, I surely would have been frustrated by this failure, but at that moment, I understood it was just another lesson. Nature had its own rules, and I had to respect them. Instead of forcing it, I accepted the idea that sometimes, you have to adapt.

 

That’s when a research boat appeared. A real stroke of luck! They offered to help me bypass the passes by sea. I seized the opportunity, and once again, I felt that the trip was no longer about a plan, but about being open to what came to me.

 

I eventually arrived at the village of Kapissillit, an isolated place where I was welcomed by incredibly generous locals. I spent three days with them, and during that time, I talked to them about my project. They advised me to change my itinerary, not to head north as planned, but rather to go south and follow a river to the glacier. They convinced me that that was where I would see the most varied landscapes. I followed their advice, and I didn't regret it.

 

So I set off again toward the south for another two-week walk. The landscapes were breathtaking. Immense valleys, glaciers, lakes where I could paddle with the kayak I carried on my back. It was an incredible feeling to live in complete autonomy, to fish in the fjords and eat the fish I caught. I truly learned to appreciate every moment, to slow down, to let myself be guided by nature rather than by a strict itinerary.

 

But even there, nature reminded me that it was the master of the place. The river I intended to kayak down was nearly dry. Rather than get discouraged, I decided to let myself be carried by what I was feeling. I improvised, followed the rivers, explored the surroundings, without worrying about the distance or the exact destination. Every day, I blazed a new path, and that’s what made this adventure so special. I was totally free.

 

Finally, I returned to Kapissillit, where I met up with the locals with whom I had formed bonds. From there, I took a boat to Nuuk, thus marking the end of my trip. What’s crazy is that for the first time, I didn't feel that sense of regret at the end of an adventure. I was at peace. I had lived exactly what I was meant to live.

 

Back in Europe, I realized just how much this trip had transformed me. Greenland taught me humility, and showed me that performance was not the ultimate goal. It wasn't the kilometers covered that counted, but the moments lived, the encounters, and this deep connection with nature. This trip changed my way of looking at things, and I know it will mark all my future adventures.