Sea Kayaking
A Day in the life
On a day where I wasn’t working until the evening, I figured I would take myself on a little kayak around town. Jasper (one of the managers on the Island, a former mountain guide, teacher, and all around cool dude) had given us all a tutorial on sea kayaking, most importantly explaining the full-on outfit that pairs with kayaking in Arctic waters: a dry suit that would hopefully save one from hypothermia if capsized.
Jasper tended to explain things in a way that left me feeling like I was going to certainly die. Even his explanation of the sauna left me certain I would faint from the heat, and die. Filled to the brim with self doubt, my maiden voyage in a kayak went surprisingly well. After all I had kayaked and canoed before.
I was given the green light to take out a kayak alone, as long as I told somewhere one I was heading, and made a point to try and go as much as possible. With climbing and hiking to be done as well, I would actually end up kayaking only a handful of times.
My First Solo Outing
There is something very special about living by the sea: the smell of the water, the sound of the waves, a cold swim, fresh fish, beaches, shells, sea birds, high tides, low tides. Kayaking offers quite an intimate experience with the sea, whether floating calmly along watching birds busily flying to and fro, or getting a taste of its power when the wind and waves pick up. Like with mountains, the sea likes to remind you just how small you are.
On my first solo trip I was kayaking right along when a fascinating and intimidating weather system came out of nowhere. With so many mountains meeting the sea, micro climates rule these areas. From out at sea I watched low clouds filled with snow snake over the mountains and fill in the bay I had planned to visit.
Not looking to mess with any weather, I turned myself right around heading north towards the view of Lofoten, where the sky was blue and clear.
Lofoten in the distance: A 300km ARCHIPELAGO of snow covered mountains rising out of the sea
My Second Solo Outing
What I enjoyed most about kayaking was the shift of perspective.
Living on a remote island for weeks on end had yet to feel stale, though I’m not someone who is easily bored, if ever. That being said, it was always refreshing to discover a new view of this stunning landscape; whether by climbing up one of the nearby peaks, walking a new path around the island, or getting in a kayak.
On this day, I paddled around the bay of Nordskot. Close to the beaches and their sweet little boat houses that I go to often, but had never seen from the water.
I continued into the bay of Nordskot to see the village from the water.
This day was overcast and quite moody. A dramatic low blanket of clouds mingling with the tops of the mountains. But with so little wind, the water was flat and perfect for a very chill paddle around.
On my way back, I did a lap around the island. I drifted past some of the beautiful cabins built right above the water, and then into the small harbor where the island’s many boats are parked: the traditional whaling boats (to the left), the everyday motor boats for transport, and the coolest of all: the trimaran that was the first to circumnavigate the arctic in a single season. I’m secretly, not so secretly, working on getting an invite on its next expedition.
You can also see a few of the cabins built on the other side of the island, including one called Patagonia perched atop a small hill. And then there is the beloved White House, where most of the island crew live. The four windows in a row, in the middle of the building, are in the kitchen and dining area. Every morning I drink coffee and eat my breakfast looking out those windows onto the harbor.
What a place to call home for a few months.