23-05—–27-05-2016

This trip was last one in this course. This time we were going on this trip together with Norwegian students (same ones from Monday trips). We had to stay at Ostre Randoya Island and live in barracks. This five day’s long trip was like a week of lectures/practice which were provided by 4 different professors. In fact it was like a week of relaxation and enjoyment with activities.

Before we gathered on island, lecture Len separated our international outdoors group and Norwegian students group in to 4 mixed international-Norwegian student team’s. Every day every group had 1-3 different activities/lectures (rowing, preparing fishing nets, Island survival, “cruising” with big boat, fish preparation, kayaking, tour around the island, shallow water biology and deep water biology).

As for the food for this trip I brought lot of cans of tuna, peanuts and sweets, meat balls, pasta. I didn’t took anything more with me because you could catch lots of fish in at the area where we were staying, prepare it at the kitchen (we had one common kitchen with all needed/modern equipment ). So I was ok first all day with meat balls, other days it was tuna and pasta, fish and pasta, fish soup, tuna and pasta- great protein, energy and fat rate for all week.

As for the equipment and clothing I brought with me storm kitchen, water bottle, knife, torch, first aid kit (for survival island ), waterproofed jacket and trousers, sleeve, thermal pants and top, woolen socks and underwear, shorts .

First day on Monday I cached the buss to Kongshavn, where everybody gathered, loaded their backpacks in motor boats and were departed with it to Ostre Randoya. When we came in to the Island where we were staying for all week, we gathered in to barracks, prepared our beds,  checked the place, environment, hiked around a little bit until every group had their first sessions ( morning session 9.30, day session 14.00, every session took about 2 and a half hour’s). I was on the first group, so our first session was with lecture Ketil about a little bit of rowing, fishing nets and island survival. At first Ketil explained for us about fishing rods, how to prepare and set fishing nets – don’t twist them, check if there is no rubbish in it or seaweed, alga. Prepare for setting it in to the water by putting net in to the box starting with ends of float and brick and slightly without twisting put all of it in to the box. Then later take out of the box end’s of the net (brick and float) and put it in to water, slightly row with the boat and set all of the net. After this Ketil also explained about survival island, what we can take with us (only day pack, with clothes), when we have to leave and comeback, where we need to set nets. After this we went on short rowboat session and after this packed our day packs and with rowboats went to Krakeroya Island, where our group/team had to “survive” for one night. We could bring with us only some clothes ( I brought water proofed pants, jacket, pullover, woolen socks and underwear) , some snacks- sweets, peanuts. Also they gave us some carrots, stock, crackers, hand fishing rod for catching fish and making soup or whatever we wanted. When our group arrived on the island firstly we collected some wood (it would be kind a hard if we were not been first group on this Island, because there were no trees ) and started the fire. Then later some of us went for a fishing (me too), to catch some food. After fishing I went to find shelter for the night, because It’s started to get dark outside ( it wasn’t  sunny in the evening, sometimes it was little rain too), and I found perfect spot, where bushes and rock made cover/walls in 3 sides ( especially cover from wind). Also at this spot I put on the ground some deer moss and bushes for soft bed. Later all members of our group were sitting next to the fire, warming themselves, socializing (all of us were talking, its seemed that we were on really very good relationship, preparing food, cooking fish and some kind of mixture of carrots, seaweed, stock, water and it was really good. After that most of us went to sleep.

 

Night was really cold for me, but at least wind couldn’t reach me. Early in the morning our first group load the rowboats in to the water, and we went back to our main Island. Before we get back we took out fishing nets with lots of fish.

First session-9.30 second day on Tuesday was with lecture Kjetil, who told us to take off all the fish of the nets, dry and clean nets. Then later we gathered around the table were Kjetil explained to us how we can  prepare the fish, take off all guts, entrails, cut the file with more meat, cut fish in slices, remove the skin. Professor explained how we can cook fish soup of cream, carrots, other vegetables… spices that we want, salt, pepper, and fish file (which you put in the end of cooking). Also Kjetil explained how to prepare and cook fish in the oven or pan, by rolling the pieces of fish in the flour. After all explanation we done all this thing’s and in the end enjoyed with very tasty fish soup and fried fish and potatoes.

Second session this day was with Kjetil too, he took our group on the trip with motor boat. It was very relaxing and nice 2 and a half hours. Kjetil divided our group in to small groups on boat, where we had to steer the boat, keep eye on map and show the way for others.In the boat Kjetil explained about the water/sea ways, situations when we with the boat have to give the way for other boats, big ships, kayaks, canoes… how we need to act when there coming more boats in front of us, sides ( like with cars the priority is to the boat on right side, or if both boats going in front of each other they have to slightly turn right- give space for each other and prevent from crush). Also professor explained about symbols on the map (we knew all of them because we learned that with Len) and lighthouses- if you see green light you are too far on the right side, turn left until you will see white light, if you can see red- you are too far on the port side turn right until you will reach white guiding light. More than this on the boat while some of us were steering and orienteering, we could practice to do knots with ropes like clove hitch, fisherman’s, bowline, figure of eight, prusik and many more…  More over, at one point we started to drift and then we could do some fishing. Later we get back to our main Island, Kjetil tried to show how to park the boat properly and after this we all went on our ways.

In the evening Kjetil also took two groups on the hike around the Island. He was talking about the history of that area, all military and war stuff which happened on this island, showed army bunker and some guns. After that I had some dinner, went to watch the Sun set with some other group members and after this I went to sleep, because I was tired after island survival.

Wednesday morning after breakfasts our first group had session with Ketil. This morning we were rowing with boats. Because we had rowing session on Monday with all instructions how to do that now it was session just for fun. We were 4 guys in one boat, 2 rowing 2 telling the direction where to go and later change with roles. Also on this session Ketil show some knots, which we can use to secure boat by tie it to shore (Clove hitch, Bow line). Also Ketil showed again rowing techniques- guy rowing in the front set the pace and man in the back have to row in the same speed-synchronic, row not so fast, save energy, find some point in the front and try to go straight backwards by looking at that point, because then you can notice when you are going too far to the left or right. Professor explained how we need to row when wind is blowing in front of us (if your checkpoint is in front of you, row a little bit side way, because wind will turn your boat).

Later after first session all students had some lunch and after 2 hours we had second session. Our group this time had activity with Lecture Len-kayaking. Most of us did that before so we were good at this. Before we get in to the kayaks we all together decided not to go to east side of Ostre Randoya in the sea, because of wild waves and strong wind (big possibility to capsize). At first for me it was little bit hard to warm up, at one point were waves were bigger and wind were strong, stream caught  me and I couldn’t turn by only paddling, so I made “emergency” stop by putting my paddle in to the water and keeping it-that was bad because I could capsize. But latter everything was great. While we were paddling time to time one member of the group had to lead others from one point to other. Also at the stops and checkpoints we were playing games or Len were showing some paddling techniques- most of it turning, were giving tips. Most of the time we were paddling around the Vestre Randoya by the shore.

Later after day session most of the students had diner, then after in the evening I with few more guys just hanged around the area, were talking and socializing –increasing group relationships.

 

 

 

 

Fourth day on Thursday in the morning we had morning kayaking session with Len again. This Time we were going to east side around the Ostre Randoya, and further in to the sea. We were doing basically the same like last day. The only different thing was that at some points we had to handle really big waves, so it was really exciting and fun. Also Len showed some impressive awareness, He remember the area where one student lost his paddle last day, so he noticed it near the shore of the island and brought paddle back to the campsite. In the end of the session Len were showing houses, huts, interesting places, giving information about it.

After some rest and food on the second session our group had shallow water biology with Lecture Svein. We went to the place where water was really shallow and Svein told us to pick from water whatever we wand and find. It was kind interesting because on the bottom and just in the water were lots of things, different type of clams, snails, clam shells, small fish, crabs, worms, shrimps, different type of plants and seaweed, alga… After some time we all put all of our catches in few boxes and Svein explained about every catch, what is it, what that thing doing, can we eat that and more… After we went further south on the island, where Svein also showed some plants, talked about it, showed which are edible and which are not.

 

 

 

 

After second session in the evening water and all environment around us was very calm so I and few more friends decided to kayak around the area. We were three persons so we asked Len if we can do this activity and he let us. It was so nice, because water in the bay was like a mirror. Later we visit group on the survival island and after that watched sunset, which was amazing.

Later after kayaking I decided also go for a fishing with few other friends. It was really nice, despite of small fishes and only one fishing rod for 3 persons, I was really enjoying with the last trip and last days in Norway.

 

 

Last day on Friday we (first group) had session with Lecture Svein again- deep water biology. Firstly we gathered in garage where we get all equipment for this activity- wetsuit, life saving jacket, boots, belt with weights for diving, googles and straw. After this we went to the place where the water was deep enough ( most of the time I could reach the bottom with my legs, but there were spots where I couldn’t) and Svein told us to jump in to the water, explore what is under and if we find something interesting we can dive and grab it. I was floating/swimming like a buoy all the time, watching everything what’s happening under the water through my googles and breathing through my straw. I was doing this for the first time and I really enjoyed with that- I saw some fishes, seaweed, plants, some kind of fishes, sea stars, lot’s of jellyfish and many more-life of underwater. I even didn’t noticed how fast time ended for this activity, I was so interested. Later when we get out of the water, put all our catches from the bottom in to one place and gave back all equipment, Svein explained every catch and all it’s internals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning session with Svein for our group was last of this trip, so after that we went back to our barracks, cleaned rooms where we were sleeping, cleaned common kitchen –basically everything. At the cleaning part you could saw the best example of social loafing, there were so many students  who were just standing around and watching how their friends doing cleaning part. After we cleaned everything we gathered near the big boat, loaded it with backpacks and people and leaved Randoya.

All in all this trip were very thoughtful. Every day we had different activities in which I learned a lot of many things, improved my and spread my experience in kayaking, survival, rowing, making knots, preparing fishing nets and fishing, orienteering in sea, tidal and deep water biology, preparing raw sea meet/food, navigation, steering with motor boat  and much more… Also I never been before in so good relationships with Norwegian students, and It’s kind a sad thing that we get so well only on the last trip. And because this was the last trip on this course I enjoyed with it even more.