We made our way to Paradisbukta to load up our kayak’s for the week. I was quite satisfied with how I packed everything, and it all fit without any issues and still had room to spare. I really limited myself with what I brought as I underestimated the amount that could fit into the kayak, but it was for the best as I brought enough to be happy with and nothing I didn’t use. Once everyone was packed and loaded we all took turns helping each other into the water, and sat on the end of the kayak while the other person got comfortable and their spray deck situated. We all gathered in the bay of Paradisbukta and discussed what we would do with the day. We had discussed a travel plan earlier and thought it fit to go through with it, and hug the coast to the east, and make a loop south to Tjamsøya where we were set to hangout for the day and stay the night.

We took turns in pairs leading the group to different way points, and switched off after making it to each location. It was a strange feeling paddling with a loaded kayak, and it really made a difference with how the vessel moved. Once the flow picked up and the pace was rolling, the boat really moved quick and it was actually easier to maneuver and pick up pace with all of the gear in the boat. It required a lot of effort to move it against the wind, but thankfully for the first half of the day we had the wind at our packs and we were able to slow cruise along the coast and to the surrounding islands. We made it into a small bay north of Tramsøya and discussed that we should head to the island and unload, and so we all set fourth towards the island. This proved to be quite a difficult stretch, as the whole group dispersed along the way and everyone got very spread out. The waves were rough and it was extremely windy. Len, Ditte and I made it to the North-East corner of the island after a good ten to fifteen minute paddle into the wind, and we looked around and noticed everyone else was no where near and far between. Ditte and I sat and gathered the others who were close to us, and Len went to collect the rest of the group that got carried away. Everyone eventually made their way to the cove and we all pulled up our boats and made for a small tour of the island to check it out and see where we should end up camping. The whole island was very windy with little cover, but we discovered a nice area on the south side of the main field and thought it would be the best place to set up for the night. There was a small inlet that was close to the camp ground and so we made our way back to our kayaks to give it one last paddle for the day and into the cove so we wouldn’t have to carry our gear across the whole island.

The group stayed together much better on this last go around, and we only had about a ten minute paddle around the east side of Tramsøya and into the south eastern inlet. Once in the cove the water was very smooth and the water was a magnificent blue. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day aside from the harsh winds we faced to get here. Everyone slowly made their way to the shore and we pulled the kayaks onto the land around and emptied our gear. We set up our tents first things first to get it done with. My group had brought a six person teepee style tent, which proved to be quite spacious as there was only four of us staying in it and the others had brought a three person tent to post up in. We got everything set up, and Simon, Lea, Ditte and I went for a nice walk to find some good bouldering spots on the island as Len had led us to this island for the sake of it’s popularity with nice bouldering opportunities and the day was perfect for it. We walked across the clearing and found many crags right off the bat. We messed around for a bit and found a nice sheep shed on the top of one hill, and then after climbing a bit to the adjacent hill we had a nice view of the camp below and surrounding of the island.

After we had our fill, we made our way back to the camp and prepared dinner. Simon and Lea and I had a nice couscous and veggie mix, and after we finished we decided to go try some fishing. We made our way across the entirety of the Island to the Eastern shore where the Northern current met with the southern current, and after a good thirty minute walk it proved to be the perfect spot. I had caught a pollock after the first 15 seconds of casting, and Simon went on to catch two more and I almost had a nice blue and orange hog of a fish, but he jumped off before I could get him up the shore and he forever will live on in fish tales. Had a final cast and lost the lucky lure, but it was likely for the best as we already had quite a few fish to eat and headed back to the camp. We cleaned the fish on the other side of the island on blocks of wood we found, and made a nice late night fish curry. The tent was quite warm and I really enjoyed it, had a nice nights rest aside from the sheep waking us all up around 04:00 with their bells walking through the clearing. It definitely added to the experience though.

We woke up the next day and knew that we were going to be facing conditions worse than the day prior. We packed up our gear and cleared out the tent, and then made a nice porridge to give us energy for the wind and waves we were about to face. Had an easy going morning and disassembled the tents, and carried the kayaks across the clearing over to the western shore, as we were heading west that morning. Once everything was packed we carried our belongings over and loaded up the kayaks, which was a smart move to do it this way rather than carrying fully loaded kayaks across the field for a couple hundred meters. Everyone loaded up and got into the water, and we grouped on the side of the cliff that was blocking the wind. From here we paddled for  a short few minutes on to the next island nearby into the bay that was blocked from the wind, and Len briefed us for what we were about to face in which was a solid 30 minute paddle into 12-15m/s wind. We started our trek and I quickly learned that it wasn’t a good idea to have my skegg up as it kept on turning my boat when I didn’t want it to, and it was much easier to stay aimed where I was trying to when my skegg was up or hardly down at all. The group was even more split up now than it was the day before, and I was up front with Len and Ditte behind me along the stretch. I felt close to capsizing maybe once or twice, but thanks to the weight of the boat and my quick response I was okay and found myself chilling in the waves after reaching the entrance of Paradisbukta unsure as to if we were going into the bay or not, until Ditte came along and told me to continue in.

We made it in and got out of the wind, and waited for the others to come paddling along to us. Everyone slowly made their way and we grouped up to discuss the possibilities of the day. Everyone was rather exhausted and quite in shock as to how intense the paddle was that morning, and we were still set to go for another 3km’s into the wind to our next destination for the day. We decided to go to the other end of the bay to see how the waves looked, and I knew already from the start that we were not going to go any further as it was already very intense to get to where we were, and it would not prove to be any better leaving a harbor straight into the wind. The group paddled over and Len continued onward straight into the white caps which I quite enjoyed witnessing, and everyone followed. We had not discussed a destination and it became clear to me that he was merely f***ing with us to prove to us that we would not want to go any further in these conditions, and he said that even if it was him and a mate that they would not go any further in this, yet alone beginner paddlers. We made our way back into the cove and discussed and let everybody share their thoughts, and everyone seemed to be on the same page that for the sake of everything we should not go onward with our trip, and in the end due to safety it was best to call the trip and end it here. We paddled back to the shore and pulled up the kayaks and unloaded and packed up the trailer and van. Everyone changed into dry clothes as we were all soaked, and as discussed on the water we made our way into the nearby town for a nice coffee and chilled for a while with some nice discussions before heading back to the shop. Was a shame to cut the trip down to only a day and a half when it was set to be a three day trip, but it goes to show how big of an impact weather can have on any situation, and that in the end safety comes first and we did what was best for party. All in all I had a wonderful time, and had no plans for the next week as Len had mentioned that anyone who wanted to join next weeks trip could do so, so this made me happy that I could have another opportunity to sea kayak again and for a longer period, and in hopefully better conditions. Takk for tur and this was definitely one of the most fun trips I think I had been on despite the short duration.