The End Of Summer
I had lived in Norway for 5 months now and each one had been spectacular weather.
There were storms that blew through and spells of grey and rain that lasted a few days, but I love a good mixture of days. There is an Icelandic word, Gluggavedur, which translates to “window weather”: weather that is nice to look at, but not nice be out in.
Even in the wet, cold, and wind this place is like no where else. Just as much as I enjoyed going kayaking, hiking, or sitting on the beach in the sunshine, I enjoyed being cozy inside with the fire and a cup of tea as a storm raged outside.
Unlike years passed, Summer stretched all the way through september with blue skies, sunshine and warm temperatures. However, a new chill in the air reminded that this was the end of summer, autumn and winter where on their way.
it was my day off & the sea was flat...
So I decided to go sea kayaking. When the sea is flat floating around in a kayak is the perfect day off activity: it is relaxing, requires little effort but you are outdoors in the fresh air.
My island friend Cath had told me of a little beach she visited for a naked swim every now and then, and I had yet to visit this secret beach. I knew it was just 20 mins south of the island, but I wanted to paddle around for a little while before settling to swim, read and have a picnic.
I paddled north, looped around our neighbors island, caught a view of infamous Lofoten and then mosey over the the beach.
lofoten in the background
a huge jelly fish
the shallows
how cool is the electric orange and sea foam green lychen growing on this massive boulder.
and then, I found the little beach...
and then, I Fell out of the kayak...
You know when you are doing something stupid and you know the outcome will not be good, but you go through with it anyways?
So after parking the bow of the kayak up onto the beach I decided I would try and get out of the vessel without removing the skirt. I knew it was a stupid idea, and this was confirmed moments later when I almost rolled into the water but managed to stabilize myself and the kayak.
Then, did I stop this silly pursuit to exit the sea kayak with the skirt still strapped around the cabin? Nope. I tried again, rolled again and this time rolled over into a foot of water.
The lingering summer weather meant I wasn’t in a dry suit, just leggings and a sweatshirt which were now very wet. I had also strapped my beloved Patagonia Fleece to the stern of the kayak, not inside one of the hatches where it would be safe and dry, it was just tucked under the deck lines and now it was completely soaked.
Feeling a bit cold and a bit silly, I laid some of my layers out on the boulders surrounding the beach to hopefully try off in the sun. I also laid in the sun hoping to stay warm, but there new and autumnal nip in the air that kept me pretty cold. Too cold for a swim.
So after maybe 20 mins at the beach, I loaded back into the kayak and headed the short distance back home.
