Vikings

March 31, 2025

Greetings from the runes,

Yesterday I had a thought that was probably said repeatedly by my ancestors, maybe twelve hundred years ago: “I did not expect to see Vikings today.”

As you all know, the Vikings spent a few hundred years ranging across the globe ‘creating trade routes’, which commonly became known as ‘pillaging’.  The Viking culture probably had some positive impact on the world, but it’s hard to outlive the pillaging thing.

Generally, the aggressive reputation of the Vikings preceded them, in spite of whatever trade they encouraged.  If my ancestors looked out from the shores off Scotland and saw Viking ships approaching, the reaction would not be the same as seeing, for example, an Amazon truck coming down the street. 

None of that was on my mind yesterday as I hiked through the woods.  I was thinking about the change in the season, watching for little buds in the trees.  At one point a Robin hopped in front of me on the path for several hundred yards.  I know it was luring me from her nest, but it felt like she was keeping me company. 

I was thinking about other things as well, stories and people and plans. I talked to the trees about what I was considering, and they were as helpful as always.  I don’t know what the last thing on my mind would have been, but probably just beyond that thought, was Vikings.

I stopped for a break and watched the water for a while, and I could hear the sound of a drum coming from across the lake somewhere. It bothered me a little, seemed impolite of whoever was that was disturbing the quiet of the woods. It made me curious, and my mind sifted through the possible sources. But, again, still hadn’t considered the possibility of Nordic marauders. 

I trudged on, humming a song whose name I couldn’t conjure, sweating in the occasional shaft of sunlight that pierced the scrim of clouds above me. 

Near the trailhead I came across someone doing stretches, as if getting ready to run. Not unusual except she was wearing a fur hat, knee high fur boots, and complicated leather vest with all manner of belts and straps. She had warpaint on her face.  I looked across the parking lot, not filled with sailing ships, but the usual mixture of SUV’s and trucks and cars, and there in the open green space beyond: Vikings.

There was a canvas tent draped over a crude wooden structure, and a large fire burned nearby.  Several people were in a drum circle, and one man with long braided hair played a flute as the drummers kept time.

Two lines of people faced off in the grass beyond.  They were dressed in a mixture of cloaks and leggings and armor and various garb one might associate with medieval times.  They carried weapons, lances and swords and battle axes, and large wooden shields, and they were in the middle of whanging at each other in what seemed like a good intentioned brawl.

It’s hard work being a Viking. Navigating uncharted waters, hunting for food, building funeral pyres, and of course, all that pillaging. But the battling, sheesh.  My arms were exhausted just watching them fight.

These Vikings paced themselves; they took regular breaks, put down their shields and lances and sat on the grass and talked and laughed.  Everyone was friendly and good natured, which was comically ironic considering they had just been in the process of clobbering each other. 

I talked with a few of the group, and they told me they were part of the Michigan Viking Alliance, people who are passionate about Viking culture and history.  They get together and do reenactments and eat and just enjoy each other’s company.  Oh, and whack each other with iron weapons. Thankfully they are not a political organization.

This morning as I was making coffee I was still shaking my head. When I woke up yesterday I felt all manner of possibilities in front of me, and I filled the day with running, writing, thinking, hauling my pack through the woods on a beautiful spring hike.  Never in any of that did I consider Vikings.  And that’s what makes life interesting, and amazing.

Today will hold some of what you expect, and maybe, if you are paying attention, there will be the outlandish thing you would never have considered. Just when you think you have this world figured out, Vikings appear.

Hope this finds you open to surprise,

David

Copyright © 2025 David Smith