Valley Nordkapp Experience: Tired of cold feet

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Tired of cold feet

A woke up to a sunny and almost calm day. Time for a short trip in my kayak after the last few times of indoors "kayaking" practicing rolling. As the forecast said W-ly wind I decided to go to Dalborg an paddle up to Hjortens Udde.

The peninsula on the west side is Hjortens Udde.

Almost no clouds on the sky and very weak winds made for a pleasant trip at first. The sun was actually warming me a bit. Under my drysuit I only had a Palm Kaituna neoprene top and normal long-johns. I was a bit worried that it was going to be to cold but it was definitely not. I was warm enough and didn't feel cold even when I had my short lunch break.
I had bit cold fingers on and off but mostly I had cold feet the last hour. I am now very tired of having cold feet out kayaking and really look forward to spring and summer now.

On the way i saw to eagles (sea eagle probably) circling high up in the sky and I scared another one sitting on a small reef. One small fishing boat and me were the only ones moving out on an otherwise empty lake Vänern (the small part I could see at least).
I took my lunch at the nice beach at the lighthouse keeper's house at Hjortens Udde. My "lunch" was a thermos of tea and an apple. The house belongs to Sjöfartsverket which is the organization I work for and the employees can rent that during the summer season for a week. A popular place but now very deserted. I had to break some ice to be able to reach the beach so I think it's not strange no one was there.

On my way back some clouds was making the sun less warm and a S-ly wind started. But it was only nice to have some exercise in the headwind on the way back. My forward stroke is getting to be a lot better now I think. I had some instructions from Tony at Kajakguiderna in October and since then my forward stroke has been a mess. But now, finally, I think I'm doing it right most of the time.

As the sun is up a lot longer now it was still daylight when I got back to Dalaborg which is the ruin of an old fort built 1304 and destroyed 1434. It was an important place 800 years ago.