Mats Bengtsson kayaking and kayak techniques

Excursion in sea kayak Fjällbacka archipelago 20090813

Mats Bengtsson mib over the years

The kayak club arranged a 4 day excursion in sea kayak at Fjällbacka

Fjällbacka is a lovely place for doing kayak excursions.

Fjällbacka nature a single kayak surrounded by the IslandsIt is a large area where the nature is full of water and islands. The nature is to a certain degree untouched (there is a number of nature preserves). Many of the islands are small and uninhabited. The islands are rocky, but here and there there is areas of sand or areas of grass or one or a few houses. Besides the trips and pictures described below, there is also a slide show with pictures from Fjällbacka.

Hamburgsund City with kayaks on the shore line with boats and houses along the shoreThe rather few cities that exists has many times started as old fisherman nests. Many of them are built around the harbour and the waterline. They provide spectacular views when visited, especially when seen from the shore from a low viewing point like a kayak.

KF Öresund kayak club arrives to Valön From Fjällbacka in good weatherWe were rather lucky with the weather when we arrived. We started out in a weather promising rain and thunder, but many hours later we arrived in calm and sunny conditions. Since we arrived late in the day, nothing could have been better. We paddled the kayaks over from the town of Fjällbacka to the Island where we would be living for the days spent in this area (Valön). After that, we ended the evening with barbeque and discussions on what route to take the next days trip.

Second day we did a 27 km long trip from Valön to Grebbestad and back

The second day started rather early in beatiful weather.

Valön To Grebbestad and back as track in google earth, showing all islands we passed on the wayWe had a route that would lead us through the west side of the islands close up to the outermost islands on the west side. As long as staying among the islands, they would be protecting us against the wind and the waves, so we did not want to go completely outside them. But at the same time, the outer islands often contain more spectacular scenery. The paddling in this area is different from what we are used to from home.

The route we travelled was tracked on my GPS. Picture is from Google Earth. Klicking on the picture gives a larger detail of it.The google earth file with track from the trip can be reached by following this link (To use it, you need to install google earth on your computer if you do not already have it downloaded). I will include pictures later on.

There is a great number of smaller boats trafficking the water. The number of islands limiting choices of routes leads to the traffic becoming concentrated in a number of places. Thus, we had to cross the shipping lanes a number of times.

Due to this, one member in the group pointed out the importance of the group staying together as a group while crossing these lanes. The principal for the club paddling excusions is that although we often paddle in a group, it is not a true group held together in front and back. But for crossing the lanes, we were told to collect the group and cross as a unity.

More from the Valön to Grebbestad kayak trip is here, including pictures, but last part is not completed yet

Third day we did a 20 km kayak trip from Valön to Hamburgsund and back

The weather this day was not bad, but neither as good as the first day. We were to expect winds of 7-11 meter per seconds in the first part of the day, and in the evening forecast spoke of 11-14 meter per second. We were protected by the islands, so the waves were less than we are used to in such weather. But we knew that outside the islands, the waves were likely to be worse than we were used to, so the trip was planned based on the forecast, taking the outermost islands in the beginning of the day, so we could be more in shelter in the end of the day if wind increased as expected.

The route we travelled was tracked on my GPS. Picture is from Google Earth. Klicking on the picture gives a larger detail of it.The google earth file with track from the trip can be reached by following this link (To use it, you need to install google earth on your computer if you do not already have it downloaded). I will include pictures later on.

Track for kayak trip from Valön to Hamburgsund 20090815 in Google EarthHere now came a change in our paddling strategy. The same person as the day before had given some instructions and later paddled the crossing together with me and my wife, now started to take a grip on the paddling group. He concluded that in the weather we expected, we could no longer paddle only as individuals and yet be safe, but had to paddle as a group. No one was to paddle by himself.

So the paddling this day set off in a different way than usual, with a small team deciding the route and next leg to paddle, and a very coordinated group then paddling that leg. It felt really good, but the advantage was probably even higher than staying together as we did. In hindsight I believe it also avoided confusion that might have followed if not everyone had been intent on following the one and same track as everybody else. We did have a number of tougher crossings, and it is likely that without this new strategy, the group would have been split many times by smaller groups making choices on routes to take.

There will come more on the kayak trip Valön to Hamburgsund here.

Fourth day was the back home day and outside it was blowing gale

The morning the last day, there was a lot of wind. Around 17 meters per second.

The route we travelled was tracked on my GPS. Picture is from Google Earth. Klicking on the picture gives a larger detail of it.The google earth file with track from the trip can be reached by following this link (To use it, you need to install google earth on your computer if you do not already have it downloaded). I will include pictures later on.

Valön and Fjällbacka on a Google Earth map, showing both boat trip as well as where we walked and touristedHowever, still protected by the islands, the waves where fairly small, like half a meter and a little more (what we at home would get at around a little above 5 meters per second). I started the morning with going up on the cliffs to view and photograph from a vantage point.

To get back home, we had to do as the first day, paddle the kayaks over, and bring the luggage on a cab boat. It was arranged so that mine and my wifes kayaks where placed on the same boat as the luggage, and we thus did not have to paddle back. The way back was only 1.6 kilometers, but in the wind it was a hard job for those paddling their kayaks to make the journey. When the others arrived at the bridge where we were waiting, many of them were winded from the paddling.

After arriving and placing the kayaks on the car, we went into town to do some touristing, before going home, including taking some pictures from the city..

There will be some pictures from the last day on Valön and Fjällbacka later.

Headlines

Never trade stocks without having tested your system. In fact, most trading systems are not profitable if tested over many stocks. Full story...

Do not invest in heating equipment without having compared the alternatives, not only to current situation, but also to each other. Full story...

About me Mats Bengtsson | Mats Bengtsson Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact me | | | ©2003 Mats Bengtsson