Sunday, July 19, 2015

Norway Post 20

Day 17

I paddled under a bridge through Skarso's tiny placid eastern fjord into Tronheimsleden. It's the central fjord which after a couple of significant twists and turns leads to Trondheim and beyond, though I wouldn't be taking it that far.

Near where the the two fjords met I saw a deer and two fawns down by the water. When I got close to take a picture they fled.

I paddled north east through Tronheimsleden and passed an ugly industrial building with a dock designed for a boat much larger than mine. The water around it was bubbled slime in the light chop.

I left the building behind and an eagle swooped overhead. They're huge.

I enjoyed a robust tailwind. Going strait was hard, which oddly was not alleviated by lowering my skeg. I'd have to pack my boat so that it would weathercock less.

I tried to hug the shore, there was a better chance I'd find the plaque that way, but a number of smaller fjords that were not on my route branched off so crossed them at the skerries. I paddled to an island and around a fish farm and then another island. Finally after one larger crossing I squeezed between a final island and a point against a mild current to arrive at a Hennskjelo.

The water was glassy flat and two great blue herons swooped about with each other just before the first house. A large barn sat just above a dock with an old kayak out front and an open door. I kept paddling. A man stood next to a boat house.

"Hi," I said. "I kayaked here from Alesund. Can I sleep in your boat house tonight?"

"No." He told me. "I don't like this."

"Thanks anyways. Have a good night."

"Enjoy your trip and good luck."

I paddled through a narrow space under a bridge that connected the island to the mainland. A woman asked if she could take a picture of me and I said sure. I asked her to email it to me and she said sure.

She did! I think that's the first time anyone has ever followed through on a random kayaking picture email.

Just after the photographer was a marina. I pulled up and used the hose for a quick shower. A fisherman pulled up, offered me a fish he just caught and a bed on his extremely filthy boat. Life couldn't have been better.

It turns out fish are easier to gut if I cut the head off first.


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