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Dutch woman reaches the South Pole on a Massey Ferguson tractor

“The tractor for me symbolises that if you want to do something, maybe you will not be so fast but if you keep going and keep your sense of humour you will get there”.

DUTCH ACTRESS AND Adventurer Manon “Tractor Girl” Ossevoort arrived at the South Pole today after chugging along on a tractor from Europe through Africa and across the frozen wastes of Antarctica.

10600552_733537116729353_8345086543192901690_n Tractor Girl Tractor Girl

“It’s quite emotional, I’m very happy,” Ossevoort told AFP by satellite telephone shortly after arriving at the Pole and fulfilling a decade-long dream.

It feels quite magical really, to have made this happen and arrived here!

The ebullient new mother of a 10-month-old baby said the the 16-day, 2,500 kilometre trip across the largest single mass of ice on earth from Russia’s Novo base to the Pole had been tough.
https://soundcloud.com/masseyferguson-1/09-dec-2014-voice-message-from-antarctica2-mission-accomplished-dream-fulfilled

Driving the huge red Massey Ferguson tractor over the rugged, icy landscape at an average speed of about 10 kilometres an hour was “like rodeo riding”.

Ossevoort said the worst part of the trip was “the day that I was driving for hours and hours and could not go faster than between 0.5 and five kilometres per hour”.

I really was worried then that the expedition could come to a halt if conditions would get just a little bit worse.

Now she has to do the return trip.

It will be a race to make it home to the Netherlands for Christmas but the “return journey to the base will be faster because the tracks of the tractor will be frozen up and it will be easier to drive.”

Finally made it

Ossevoort began her trip in 2005, taking four years to drive from her home village in the Netherlands to Cape Town at the southern tip of Africa — and then missed the boat that was due to take her to Antarctica for the final leg due to delays.

10403062_737802006302864_4236994714700393298_n Tractor Girl Tractor Girl

Frustrated, the former theatre actress spent the next four years back in the Netherlands, writing a book, working as a motivational speaker and desperately trying to get back on a tractor.

With sponsorship from Massey Ferguson and other companies, she finally made it.

 ’The best adventure’ 

Ossevoort travelled alone through Africa, but in Antarctica the tractor needed to creep forward day and night, so French mechanic Nicolas Bachelet shared the driving.

In total, she was accompanied by a team of seven, including crew who are filming the journey for a documentary.

1508618_729291760487222_4091545044295705609_n Tractor Girl Tractor Girl

Asked whether this was the end of her crazy adventures on a tractor, Ossevoort’s infectious laugh bubbled through the crackly satphone:

Yes. I think this is the best adventure on a tractor that one can come up with.

She now plans to write a children’s book and produce the movie of her journey.

Asked what she is looking forward to most about getting back to civilisation, she replied:

To go back home to my happy ever after and to hug my little daughter.

Ossevoort’s daughter, Hannah, has been in the care of her partner, airline pilot Roger Nieuwendyk.

Homage to Edmund Hillary 

Cradling the baby in a tractor shed in Cape Town as Ossevoort made final checks before leaving for Antarctica, he told AFP she had his full support.

“We’ll be there to meet her at the airport when she comes home,” he said.

Ossevoort’s tractor is named Antarctica 2 in honour of legendary explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, who travelled to the South Pole on a tractor in 1958.

diep-in-de-sneeuw Ben Potter / Tractortractor.org Ben Potter / Tractortractor.org / Tractortractor.org

His vehicle was equipped with full tracks, however, while Ossevoort’s has normal inflatable tyres which have been slightly modified for better grip on the snow and ice.

While fulfilling her own long-held dream, Ossevoort carried with her thousands of ‘dreams’ collected from people in Africa and around the world.

Scraps of paper and emails have been converted into digital form and will be placed in the belly of a big snowman she will build at the pole — to be opened only in 80 years time.

“I want to turn them into a beautiful time capsule of the dreams of the world so that in the future children and people can read something about our dreams and not only about politics or war,” she said.

Fear holds people back from pursuing their dreams, she says, and many believe that “putting them into reality is as impossible as driving a tractor to the South Pole”.

The tractor for me symbolises this very down to earth fact that if you want to do something, maybe you will not be so fast but if you keep going and keep your sense of humour you will get there.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: Frank Hurley’s Antarctica: images of early 20th century polar exploration > 

Read: Explore Antarctica… from your couch > 

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    Mute ...
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:12 PM

    Go on home to your sexy wives !

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    Mute Yeah Ok
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:13 PM

    If the Swedish government need someone to go over to Sweden and have lots of sex with lots of sexy blonde Swedish women I’m game. Willing to do my bit to help the world.

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:06 PM

    I think Sweden might just have bigger fish to fry than Coitus right now…and for many years to come….

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    Mute Sue
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:10 PM

    There is probably a lack of consensual sex going on in fairness.
    But at least society isn’t too white anymore! Yucky Caucasians!

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:17 PM

    It’s funny I spend half the year surrounded by Approx 1,500 Swedes and none of them seem to think they have the issues you regularly highlight! Maybe living there they know something you don’t

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:05 PM
    40
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    Mute Roly Burkinshaw
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    Jul 29th 2016, 7:11 PM

    Plenty of sex going on …if being held down in an ally and gang raped by 6 Muslims counts ??

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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:41 PM

    We’re to busy having our coffee breaks (Fika) and judge people who earn more than us. And wish someone else would do something about it.

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    Mute sean byrne
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:08 PM

    No sex please, we’re multicultural.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:51 AM

    Multiculchies you mean?

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    Mute Methodical Insanity
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:46 PM

    Might have something to do with the fact that they’ve spent decades demonising traditionally “masculine” behaviour and possibly even broken the native Swedish men to the point were they’re probably afraid they might be considered a sex offender for daring to so much as even flirt with a woman. Meanwhile, they’ve imported an actual real life rape culture, let it run wild and free, and done everything in their power is done to cover this up. There seems to be plenty of sex happening in Sweden. It just isn’t consensual and Swedish men aren’t usually getting any.

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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:42 PM

    Call me feminine again, and I swear I will hit you with my handbag. Behave.

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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:16 PM

    If you’re talking about sex then you’re not getting any.

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    Mute Tommy Gunn
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:27 PM

    The imported enrichers are having loads of “sex”with local Swedish women

    62
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    Mute Dave Smith
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:57 PM

    Sweden has broken their men , they are ladyboys now compared to their Viking heritage. Maybe their women are hoping to get some action from the new invaders?

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:09 PM

    So, does the Swedish government want to encourage its citizens to have more sex? if so, I wonder how they’ll go about that.

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    Mute Gerry with a J
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:39 PM

    I’d imagine they’ll just do what our government do to us and f*(k them when they’re least expecting it.

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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:40 PM

    Tax incentives.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:48 AM

    No, it will be an excuse to add more migrants to their population?

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:22 PM

    Swedish Blondes having less sex!!! I think the country needs more Psychiatrists for the male population.

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    Mute Matthew Whelan
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:37 PM

    There just worried if they’ll be a minority in 40 years to come!

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    Mute Cillian McCormick
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:13 PM

    But their wives are so sexy.

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    Mute Les McQueen
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:43 PM

    Until they become your wife….

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    Mute Aidan Holland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:57 PM

    I actually find this incredibly sad men in Sweden now are probably afraid to talk to woman due to the radical feminist movement in that country. The one bright spot is there a new kind of men in Sweden now and believe me girls they wont take no for an answer

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    Mute John Ward
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:50 PM

    Swedes eh? Well, that’s a turnip for the book!

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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:43 PM

    Radish-ing news, isn’t it? :o

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:47 AM

    I’m thinking of melons now after that…

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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:37 PM

    Swede here! I’m not sure this article is entirely true. I have sex constantly.
    I wish I wasn’t alone when i do, though. :/

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Jul 29th 2016, 6:15 PM

    I’m no sociologist but I think when electricity becomes available in a country the birth rate plummets 20 to 30 years later. Education and contraception are the main reasons but people sitting around watching television and on computers instead of having sex doesn’t help.

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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:33 PM

    Tyrn off the Red Light probably has something to do with it.
    And feminists.

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:41 PM

    If it’s a jailable offence to have paid for sex I’m not surprised nobody is taking a chance

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:44 AM

    Plenty are still doing it here…

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jul 29th 2016, 7:25 PM

    In some countries of Western Europe there is too much sex and not enough babies born to maintain the population level. Some societies aren’t reproducing themselves and depend on continued immigration to keep the economy functioning. The Swedish Government should be taking a hard look at the birth rate.

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jul 29th 2016, 9:21 PM

    Or bring in millions of migrants.

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    Mute Frank's Cat
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:10 AM

    *Rolls up sleeves* Time to help our Swedish cousins…

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:50 AM

    Sex with cousins, yikes…

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jul 29th 2016, 9:20 PM

    probably will end up lowering the age of consent to 5

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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:52 PM
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    Mute Sean Walsh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:35 PM

    Down with that sort of thing

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:52 AM

    They can’t see what they are doing in the winter, then there is the cold and in the summer they can’t do it in sunlight?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:44 AM

    50 shades of Sweden?

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