• Erling Vågnes
jul. – ago. 2024

Lofoten 2024

Panned four weeks paddling in Lofoten with Stein Kynø and Karianne Vintervoll Leia mais
  • Day 22 Andenes to Sellevoll

    3 de agosto de 2024, Noruega ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Day 22, Saturday 3rd of August, Andenes to Sellevoll, 33 km/603 km total
    While Friday had been grey and overcast, Saturday was back to normal; sun from a clear sky reflecting from a mirror smooth ocean.
    The two main objectives of the day was first to visit the geological locations at Ramså (see separate post) and second to get in a good position to cross Andfjorden to Grytøya tomorrow (Sunday).
    We paddled straight to Ramså, had lunch and looked at the geology, and then we set out to find a suitable camp site from where we would have a not too long crossing tomorrow.
    We decided to paddle for about two hours southward and then start looking for a place.
    That took us just past Dvergberg.
    What we found was that it was very shallow waters and it was low tide and a lot exposed rocks from washed out moraine between us and the beach.
    What we do in such situations is to look for a boathouse where the beach is often cleared for rocks to allow boats in and out.
    That is the upside. The challenge is to find the owner and ask permission. (By the way -except for Emsfors in 2018- we have always gotten permission)
    Today Stain was first on shore and tried to find the owner. No one was home in the nearest house, but Stein waved down a passing car and asked if they maybe knew who owned the boathouse.
    They did (Andøya is small community ca 4500 people) and a couple of sms later we had permission.
    It wasn’t a long paddle, but with the extended lunch and time spent finding a good campsite it was close to midnight before we were ready to close the sippers in the tents to keep the mosquitoes and gnats out for the night.
    Tomorrow we cross Andfjorden
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  • Day 23 Sellevoll to Cecilie and Jan

    4 de agosto de 2024, Noruega ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Day 23/Sunday 4th of August. Sellevoll to Cecilie and Jan. 20 km, 623 km total.
    We had a reasonable short paddle across Andfjorden to Grytøya planned so we took time for a leisurely morning.
    We then crossed Andfjorden in perfect conditions, only thing we could wish for was a couple of whales -preferably orcas- to appear to break the bit of monotony. No such luck.
    All in all an easy crossing and we lunched at Grøtavær, again feeding on Karianne’s fishing skills, before we paddled on to Stein’s friends Cecilie and Jan closer to Harstad.
    We were received with great hospitality by Cecilie and Jan and Audun and Ingrid and Jørgen and not least Tequila.
    And with great food. Great views and conversations as the sun was setting.
    No tents tonight, we were well accommodated in the guest room.
    Tomorrow we start on the last leg of our journey.
    With tonight’s stay and tomorrow’s forecast it looks very much like we will end the way we have progressed along the way.
    Splendidly.
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  • Day 24 Cecilie and Jan to Gressholmene

    5 de agosto de 2024, Noruega ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Day 24/Monday 5th of August. Cecilie and Jan to Gressholmene. 40 km, 663 km total. And this is the GRAND TOTAL. We end our paddling here.
    It was difficult to leave the hospitality and good company of Stein’s friends. But in the end we summoned the wherewithal and got in the kayaks.
    We planned for a bit of a lone day to get to a good place to demobilize tomorrow (Tuesday).
    A good place would be Gressholmene south of Harstad, an about 40 km paddle. But with two stops planned along the way and three weeks of training we should be OK.
    And with the weather we had we were more than OK. At some point we started to think about heat stroke…
    When we arrived at Gressholmene it was a very nice beach and a very nice set up including toilets.
    In the morning the owner came along and explained that the municipality rented the land for public access. The amenities had been built by the land owners and then sold to the municipality who looked after cost of operations.
    One final piece of information: camping was not allowed….
    Well, the sin had already been committed and given that we came with kayaks, not a camper van, we were easily forgiven.
    A very good spot to end a very good trip.
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    Final da viagem
    7 de agosto de 2024