Helgeland 2017

I have not been writing anything on my blog for a long time. Sorry! I have been busy working on my YouTube channel and most of all I have been kayaking. Surprise! At the end of my post there is a link to my YouTube channel where you kan see all my kayaking videos.

Helgeland

This is a district i Northern Norway where the Arctic Circle is passing through. I was leading a group of 10 kayakers for 11 days out on the marvelous waters and among the many islands in the area.

Preparations and travel.

Checking that all gear and food fits in the kayaks

Sven has arrived and all kayaks and gear are loaded.

Moose and caribou are dangers on the road 

Taking a break early morning in the Swedish/Norwegian mountains

Breakfast on the road

All four cars joins in Norway

Kayaking

Rödöy

My daughter Paula

Rödöylöve in the background

Me :)

A very nice beach

Kayaking in the midnight sun

Me, Christer and Paula are circumnavigating Rödöy one night (midnight sun)

Midnight above the Arctic Circle

My Nordkapp and Hestmona island

Me in my Nordkapp

If it wasn't for the warm clothing this could have been in the Mediterranean

On a calm passage between islands

All the time we had the snow-covered mountains in the background

When not on the water

Some days were cold and rainy

Baking bread

Taking coffee at a cafe on Rödöy

Luröy

Notice the person left of the center of the photo. The scale is different here then from home.

Every day fish! Lennart is our chief fisherman 

The characteristic "shark fin" of Lovund.

Our camp at Rödöy

Midnight sun

Hestmona in the background

At Vikingen island, a small island with the Arctic Circle statue 

Rödöylöva is this big!

Far out at sea we can see Traena

Admiring the view

Nice camp

Stockenträffen 2016

The yearly kayak meet at Stocken camping on the island Orust is at the last weekend of August every year. This year about 150 kayaks (and a few more kayakers) were there. We are talking kayaking, taking day trips, watching photos and videos and testing kayaks. Very nice and relaxed mood.
A great place for meeting new and old kayaking friends. I was there from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. On Friday we were a small group that took a short trip but on Saturday and Sunday we were bigger groups that took longer trips.

All in all a great weekend!

Don't miss this video with some nice action!

Preparing for a trip

Information about the trip on Saturday

Calluna (ljung) is common among thi island on the Swedish west coast

A bit rough but some of us decided to go out and test it. 

Me showing photos from Alaska.      Photo: Caroline Henriksson

Lunch

A lot of kayaks at the lunch break.

Back to Alaska

Now everything is more or less ready to go to Alaska for two weeks of kayaking again. I was there on a NOLS expedition/course 2012 and will do so again this summer.

• Application for the course   -check
• Application accepted            -check
• Flights booked                        -check
• Hotel booked                           -check
• Visa arranged                         -check
• 1 week extra in Alaska          -check
• Arrangement for extra week - not fixed yet, but top priority is to see a grizzly.

It was probably my best trip ever last time in Alaska and Prince William Sound. Two weeks of kayaking in a wonderful wilderness, what can be better?
Last time I went to San Francisco on my way home but this time I will stay an extra week and explore Alaska. Rent a car, go by the Alaskan railroad or maybe go with a small plane to some national park? I am still making plans for that week.

2012

They are only waiting for my money now :)

Kayak technique drills

This day was a very rewarding and frustrating day. I went to Lysekil, at the west coast of Sweden, to have a whole day training kayak technique with my friend Tony from Kajakguiderna. He is a very skilled paddler and was instructing me in all types of kayak techniques, forward paddling, high and low braces, high and low brace turn, forward rudder, towing and much more.
Now I only hope to remember all that he has taught me today. The rewarding part is that I have learnt a lot today and by a man with infinite patience. For the frustrating bit it's to realise how much I have to learn and practice to be a good paddler with a good technique.

Well, at least my roll is one of the few things he didn't have to correct. That one I got right! But he has been one of my rolling instructors so it figures.

We saw a lot of harbor seal and a mink this very beautiful autumn day. Not sunny but calm and the water still a bit warm.

Harbor seal

Tony paddling under a rock

Tony from Kayakguiderna paddling his Gemini from Valley