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

1500 km

Some statistics

I have now:

• Paddled 31 weeks in a row
• Paddled 19 months in a row, every month on Lake Vänern
• Average a little more than 3 days a week
• 1500 km (932 miles) since March 1
• About 150 rolls during this time. (Most since i did my last training with Helen and Mark)

Friday surf session

Me and my friend Björn went to a nice beach, Svanäs, for surf training on Friday. And it was surf allright! Probably the most difficult seas I have ever paddled in. The wind was 16-18 m/s and up to 20 m/s in gusts. (Up to 39 knots, 44 mi/h).

Hard to paddle out through the surf to deeper water for turning in towards land again. The wind was pushing very hard at my blade so it was a struggle. I really missed my Greenland paddle there. And what did I miss more? My GoPro that is in for repairs and charged battery for my Olympus camera. Very, very frustrating. But luckily enough Björn had his camera with him so he took some photos.

It was hard in the surf to stay upright and I tipped over several times. But I managed to roll up every time except two times when the water was to shallow. One time racing down a wave at great speed my bow went down, and down and down. Finally the sea pushed me head-over-heels to land upside down. This was absolutely a first for me. And I managed to roll up again! 

After three hours I was knackered and went to Lidköping with a big grin on my face. Thanks Björn for your company and for the photos.

Saturday leisure trip 

After piloting in the night and three hours sleep I went to Spiken fishing village to meet up with some friends. It was Fredrik, Frida, Magnus, Jens, Björn and Lennart. It's unbelievable how the water could be so smooth after the surf and heavy seas the day before. A bit cloudy, some fog but also some sun peeking through the clouds.
A nice slow trip in the archipelago of Kålland down to Naven light house. There we had some lunch and friendly discussions before going back again. Nice training of paddle technique weaving between islands and reefs. And as always I did some rolls. Some thinks it's just a show off. Well partly that I admit but mostly because Helen Wilson advised to do a roll every week. So I do at least one every time out kayaking.

Getting ready! Photo:Björn

Struggling to get out again.     Photo:Björn

Do you see the top of my paddle? Very high seas.           Photo:Björn

Surf with my Anas Acuta

       Photo:Björn

Björn is working hard against the sea

And surfing in again

Magnus, Lennart, Björn, Frida and Jens

Fredrik in his Seabird Scott

Jens in his beautiful SKUK Greenlander

Frida in my Nordkapp