Canoe tour on the Byglandsfjord (May 1st-3rd, 2021)

Canoe Tour

On Monday morning, we first head to the garage where we pick up life jackets, neoprene shoes, and paddles. Then we take the bus to Evje, where we get wetsuits and jackets. We continue driving to Bygland. There we meet Thomas (our teacher) with the canoes. First, we learn the important paddling techniques on land and warm up. Then we get into the canoes and practice everything on the water. The weather is really nice and it's a lot of fun to try out all the techniques. After an hour of practice, we are back on land and take a short lunch break.

With loaded canoes, we set off along the Byglandsfjord. Our destination for today is the island of Storøyi. We take a longer break on land and a shorter one on the water. Paddling is a lot of fun, but it's especially tiring because you only paddle on one side of the canoe and then have to switch sides occasionally. In the late afternoon, we arrive at the island and pull our canoes ashore.

Then we look for a place to set up our tents in small groups. After everyone has found a spot and set up their camp, we gather around the campfire and cook. Then stories are told and when it gets dark, we go to bed.

Rain, Rain, Rain

At 5:20 am, it starts to rain at night. Unfortunately, that was predicted. It won't stop raining all day. Nevertheless, after breakfast in the tent and a quick packing, we are in the canoe at 10 am and continue south. Today's destination is Syrtveit. There, we will spend the second night. After a very short break on an island, we all feel very cold and I can't feel my fingers and toes anymore.

After three and a half hours of paddling, we arrive in Syrtveit and pull the canoes ashore. Then we walk to the camp and find out that instead of staying in a teepee, we can sleep in a real cabin. We are also offered the opportunity to take a shower, which initially makes us all very happy. Unfortunately, it turns out, as I stand under the shower, that there is no hot water, so we quickly take a cold shower and then have the afternoon free to warm up in a common room.
In the evening, we as a group have to make a decision. The original plan was to ride bicycles to a climbing rock the next day and go climbing there and spend another night outside. The alternative is to ride the bicycles all the way from our accommodation to Kristiansand, as the rock is wet and the next day is expected to be wet as well.

We decide against climbing.

Bike Tour

So the next morning in Syrtveit, we set off and ride all the way back to Kristiansand with 11 people. The route is very beautiful and flat. I have really good conversations along the way, and after 6 hours, we arrive back at the university, more or less dry. The 85 kilometers were much easier to ride than the stages of the previous bike tour to the South Cape.

Back in Kristiansand, we have to study for our theoretical exam, which is coming up next week.

What we experienced in the following days, you will read in the next post.

Until then,

Your Maike :D