We had a very nice kayak trip on one of Sweden's most paddled lakes. This is a 15 km long and narrow lake in Dalsland that is not connected to the Dalslands Kanal. In June, July and August this lake is probably the place in Sweden where you see most canoes, open canoes and kayaks. People from all around Europe come to this part of Sweden for canoeing and most of them end up in this lake sooner or later.
I try to avoid Svärdlång during that period and go there either early spring or in the autumn. This time I brought some friends with me who some of them had never paddled in the area. We stayed at a prepared camp site which is mandatory on this lake. Normally in Sweden "Allemansrätten" applies but as there are so many people camping here at summer the land owners like to lessen the impact by concentrating the visitors to certain spots. The camp sites are managed by DANO rangers and there are a fire pit, fire wood and an outhouse.
October can be very beautiful with all the colors in the nature and that was what we had. Very windy but int this narrow lake with high cliff sides we were not so affected by the wind. And in the night and morning it was completely calm.
Camp fire, evening kayak trip, sleeping outdoors, no rain, good company, good food and a lazy morning with some rays of sunlight. What more can you want?
I was very pleased that I could show my friends this paradise.
A blue lake
Nils & Magnus (son & father)
Frida and my daughter Paula are having breakfast in bed
Now it's the third year in a row that I have visited Koster islands in september. (2015 and 2014) As last year my daughter Paula was with me but this year also a friend, Fredrik joined us.
We started Friday afternoon from Rossö and in the strong SW-ly wind headed out to the southern part of the archipelago. Here there are a lot of small uninhabited islands that's creating a maze to paddle through. Probably one of the best kayaking places in Sweden. A nice swell and some 1 meter (3 feet) high seas made the crossing a bit over an hour. There was also a rather strong N-ly current which made us head more south to compensate. (I have a problem with my GPS where the USB port is not working anymore. So no tracks until I have a new one.)
Passing Ramsholmen and entering the passages north of Tjälleskär the sun set. And what a marvelous sunset! Magical! When we arrived at our campsite at Tjälleskär it was already dark. So we got our tents up and a tarp to sit in for our meals. Nice to have to break the strong wind.
In the night we could hear the wind and some rain but I think we all slept OK. Next morning the skies cleared but the wind was still there, west about 11-12 m/s (22-24 knots). We headed into the wind towards Ursholmen that used to be the most westerly inhabited island in Sweden. It was people living there until 1965 when the lighthouse was electrified. Then the lighthouse keepers with families had been living on the island for 70 years.
We had i nice walk up to the lighthouse and then a fika. At the way back to our camp we had some good surf. In the afternoon we hiked to some of the highest "peaks" on Tjälleskär to have a look over the archipelago. Nice to walk and climb after spending hours in the kayak. Then a short nap before going up to one of the highest places to watch a new nice sunset.
Next morning we took it easy to break camp and then headed with some nice detours to the northwest of the islands to start the crossing back to Rossö. On this Sunday the wind had changed to a N-ly wind and just 3-4 m/s (6-8 knots) and not a cloud on the sky. After taking some fika at St. Brattskär we crossed over the fjord. This day it took only 20 minutes! The wind slightly with us and almost no current.
Back at Rossö we had time to practice some rolls. Nice water at about 20°C.
A very nice kayaking weekend with Paula and Fredrik.
Just crossed over Kosterfjorden.
Fantastic sunset!
At Ursholmen
The old lighthouse
To the left the old lighthouse, then me and finally the new lighthouse
"I want to go there" Paula.
Fredrik
Nice place to take photos
Superman?
Rowan tree. When they have a lot of berries the winter will be cold, they say.
I have done a few evening trips the last week between work.
August 17 with Friluftsfrämjandet in Lidköping. Nice tripp with some who are testing kayaking for the first time.
August 23 a solo trip in the bay of Vänersborg (Vänersborgsviken). Nice weather and I paddled a bit faster to have a good exercise.
August 24 with Friluftsfrämjandet i Vänersborg (Sorry Lidköping, I couldn't make your trip in time). They set a new record with 55 kayaks!
August 25 was with a friend, Fredrik, to the small islands Kräcklingarna outside Mellerud on the Lake Vänern. It started with rain but by and by the weather got better. It was a lot of fun to maneuver through all the small passages in this seldom visited archipelago. It is a bird sanctuary and you are not allowed to be there before July 31. No wind and we are past that date so we took the chance.
It really tests your technical skills to go through the reefs and islands. Very good practice and a beautiful place.
Magnus at Friluftsfrämjandet in Lidköping
Some new kayakers are testing at paddling outside the islands. (FF Lidköping)
