At first, I was not sure if I could join the fjord to sea trip, since my injury took longer than I expected to heal, but in the end I decided to join. For the preperation, we checked the weatherforecast and knew, it would be raining a lot especially the second day. Therefore, I packed everything waterproof. With my tentgroup, we agreed on bringing a tent and a tarp plus ropes to put above, to not get wet while taking the tent down after the first night. For the food, we met to write down what we would like to eat and went shopping to buy all the things. The preperation went fast and was not complicated but smooth. A bus got organized from uni, which would bring us to our destination, the Byglandsfjord.

Departureday: 1. Day

This trip started at the garage in Kristiansand, where we got parts of the equipment (livesaving jackets and wetsuitboots). Having packed everything, we walked to UiA and got picked up by our nice busdriver.

The bus stopped in Evje, where we collected some more gear from TrollAktiv (Wetsuits and sprayjackets). Fully prepared, the bus took us further up to the Byglandsfjord. After a theoretical introduction and a lunchbreak, we paired up, got changed into wetsuits, packed everything waterproof and went into the water, to try and practice the strokes we just got shown.

A quick check of the watertemperature with our hands showed us, how cold the water was and that we would not want to capsize with the canoes, but behave reasonable (to not capsize).

It took us some time of practicing, until we got how the strokes work and what they would do to the canoe. Finally we figured it out and went a lot more straight than before.

After a very enjoyable day of canoeing, we got to our destination island, build a communal toilet, put up our tent plus the tarp above the tent. We spent the evening eating all together and sharing stories at a bonfire.

2. Day:

The next morning, we could hear the rain on our tent and made breakfast inside the tent. For some reason, the Cooker did not work well, so it took very long to make porridge and delayed the departure a bit. Luckily, most of the groups had a delay, and we ended up starting around 10ish.

We teamed up with new partners, packed our canoe and went straight onto the water, being a bit cold and wishing to move as soon as possible. The weather had changed compared to the day before, instead of sun it was raining and there was a wind. The water was not as calm but there were waves and clouds covered the tops of the hills next to the water. It looked pretty and felt good and a bit more adventurous to be out on the water with those weatherconditions.

I wore mittens and got warm hands after a while, which helped me a lot to have fun that morning. I enjoyed it but saw and talked to other groupmembers who were struggeling harder.

Since we knew the weatherforecast, we decided to not have many stop but use the canoes as a transport to get to our destination as fast as possible, which was TrollAktiv. We took one break on an island, which the leading team chose. It was a not much sheltered island, it was windy and rainy and  I started to freeze really bad. A short snack later, I was the leading team. After the break was the worst part of the trip. That part I realiezed, that compared to the day before, we stayed closer together and to the shore, every team gave their best to do so. All canoes had a more similar pace now. It was different from the day before, when we sometimes were spread out really far and more than what we agreed on, the length of a soccer field.

While we had tailwind at first, the wind turned and became headwind, the rain got heavier and I was very cold. On top, I lost my buff (which was surprisingly floating on the river) in the water and we had to paddle back 15 meters. Both (my paddlepartner and me) very straigh forward minded, we manovered the kanue surprisingly fast and straight back to my buff, turned and paddeled back to the others, who were already 100 meters ahead. When we finally got to the group, who had stopped in a less exposed area, I was not so cold anymore. The whole action to get the buff back also changed my focus from the cold to the paddleing, which helped a lot too and I felt better already. The The last bit of the canoeing was peaceful, I felt the mood in the group lifting up a bit and we were making more jokes, sang and paddeled less fast. Being a bit more sheltered from the wind was the main reason for this I believe, and therefore not having to work so hard anymore for the same distance plus a less strong cold wind affecting our hands and faces.

Getting to our destination, we got the canoes out oft he water, unloaded everything, picked up a few changing clothes and started walking towards TrollAktiv. I was happy to walk, hopeing to get warmer while moving, while the 4 boys of the group waited for the bus with the trailor to load the luggage and canoes.

As we got to Trollaktiv, we were awaited with an awesome surprise: instead of staying that night outside in tipis, we got 2 houses with heaters and beds to sleep in. We were all cold and wet and I could not imagine that moment to sleep another night outside, especially how to get warm if staying outside in that rain and cold wind the whole afternoon. After getting those great news, we waited for further instructions, a changing room and a toilet we were allowed to use (Coronarestrictions). Since it was still raining a lot and my raincoat and pants were soaked in water and not longer waterproof, I did not want to change into dry clothes to walk outside in the rain and get wet again and ended up getting very cold instead. When the others arrived, we moved the luggage to the houses and finally got coins to use a shower, which turned out to be cold.

Luckily, we did not just get the huts to sleep in, but also a place to stay in for the afternoon, which had heaters, a kitchen, a huge table, couches and books. Around 3 pm, we had lunch and hot drinks, which helped to feel a lot better again and the heaters did the rest. Enjoying the books, couches and the company of the group, I spent a nice afternoon. Towards evening, we met again with Thomas to discuss what to do the next day.

We were supposed to go climbing the next day, but since we all got very cold that day, non of us was really into climbing out in the cold and wet for the next morning before having to bike back to Kristiansand. We agreed to move the climbing to a day which would offer a better learning environment. It sadly never happened. Still, the decision was a good and reasonable one in that moment.

The next morning, I took the bus back to Kristiansand. Although my injury was healing and I could move pretty well through the days canoeing, I was afraid I would challenge my knee to hard riding the bike back to Kristiansand and decided to take the bus instead. Being home a few hours before the others of my group, I felt I had to use the advantage of being home earlier and prepared a welcome at the garage: with hot choocolate, a welcome back sign and music the others arrived with happy faces.

All together, I enjoyed the trip and even though I got pretty cold, especially on my hands and feet a few times, I liked the learning experience (how fast you can get uncomfortably cold), the canoeing and sleeping on islands. I also realized, that there is the need of 2 people to move a canoe forward and therefore, that you are dependent on the other person, which I do not like so much. Now, I am looking forward to kayaking!

Also within the group, this trip made me finally feel comfortable with everyone (more talking to people I have not talked to so much beforr) and I had a good time with the group.