Meeting in Haverdal
Sunday, June 21, 2009, 6 comments
Midsommar in Haverdal (on the Swedish west coast) without a kayak and a stroll along the shore. A VKV Lisa glides slowly in to the rocky shore line. In the cockpit a girl, obviously dressed and equipped for more than a short trip in the summer sun.
A chat on the grass at the point and I learn that this was Elin Petersson, starting in Svinesund (Norwegien-Swedish border) on June 8, and with planned finish at Haparanda (Swedish-Finnish border) on late August (the Swedish Blue Ribbon for sea paddlers: some 1300 miles, the entire Swedish coast) - one of 22 starting this year. Seven of them have til now aborted due to bad weather, injuries or damaged kayaks.
Elin had, when we met, lost three days in Falkenberg during a gale, but with a sound and realistic ambition for daily distances, there is still time to make up for lost mileage. No reason to give in.
Haverdal is a common place for a stop for blue ribbon-paddlers. I have met a number of them through the years, and from blogs and reports noted that many more have spent the night here or taken a break for a meal or rest. Also the coast rower Louise Rosenquist erected her tent here on her round the coast trip a couple of years back. Of this years paddlers all but one (of those sharing their progress on blogs) have come ashore in the south (Skallkroken) or north (Särdal) edge of the Haverdal bight.
Unfortunately Elin does not blog about her progress, so we will have to wait till the fall to learn more. But good luck and thanks for an inspiring and pleasant chat!
