Ski and Paddle Norway 2009

Distance 0km | Time 0hrs | Ascent 0m | Descent 0m

I woke quite early at about 0600. There was a sound on the tent my body, and especially arms wanted to hear, namely much flapping and heavy rain. It was not in the forecast so I was surprised. I looked outside and it was windy and wet. I could have paddled in it as I would have been hard going into the force five. However I would have been lucky to do 20 km in 8 hard hours of unpleasant slog, and I would have been soaked in the process. Better to throw in the towel for today and have a lovely lie in.

The lie in lasted until about 1100 when I could sleep no more, however hard I tried. It was still windy and pelting down. I felt very cosy and comfortable in the tent listening to it. I definitely made the right decision to stay put and relax.

I made numerous phone calls and emails in the afternoon. Many were not pressing but had been on my mind. It helped pass a few more hours until I had an afternoon siesta. By the time I woke from this the rain was intermittent and the wind down to a force four.

I had been lying down for some 20 hours now and my ribs felt like that of a beached whale supporting an enormous weight and about to crush. I had to get up and explore and get some exercise and fresh air.

I went for a short walk in the hamlet of Buvag for 2 km along the road past well kept gardens of permanent residents, of which there were about 10 houses, and 10 leisure cabins. It was a nice community but lacked a heart like Maasoy or Bergsfjord.

The placed I was camped was idyllic in a meadow full of flowers as the edge of the white sands. The grass I was on was cropped by geese and probably flooded at the very highest of tides.

In the evening the weather had improved considerably and the mountain of Hamnesfjellet had appeared again from it shroud of mist and rain. There were even some blue patches in the sky and the wind was now a good drying wind and down to a force three.

I was done with the blog and supper by 2030 and ready to return to my sleeping bag for an early start should the weather allow it. That must be something of a record since I started paddling.

It had been a restful and dull day, but one I needed and did not feel morally able to take it while the weather was good.