Kanufahren

With the Spring semester drawing to a close at the end of May, summer holidays had well and truly arrived.
Travel plans intermixed with parties and dinners as students from everywhere discussed where they would be and what they would do for the long Summer holidays (think Northern Hemisphere).
To kick things underway I was invited by some kind Austrians to join them and a Polish lass on a Canoe trip through some of Swedens tranquil lakes and rivers. It was to be my first camping experience for 7 years - since the outback days of year 10 Pilbara camp - and I was more than a little excited at the thought of the adventure. I also discovered that a canoe/tenting/relaxing holiday was a very Swedish thing to do. Many people living within the busy confines of rush hour Stockholm also owned Summer houses where they could escape with the family and enjoy the 22 hours of sun a day and reaquaint themselves with their natural surroundings.

Sweden also has an interesting law which states that any person can camp anywhere. As in there is no concept of private property. If you happen to be in someones backyard, then of course it is polite to request permission - but one only has to do so if in viewing distance from the house. So with this in mind we caught the train to the quant town of Katrineholm where we were met by a scout leader and given our canoes and paddles. After a quick shop to load up for 5 days of food and supplies we pushed out into the calmness of the lakes and set off. With no plans other than a final destination requirement 5 days from the start, we paddled our merry way down the pathway of streams stopping when we felt like it and setting up camp for the evening when we found a suitable spot.

These suitable spots were all in amazing locations. After paddling for 6 hours a day, there is nothing like sitting around a campfire, toasting marshmellows and watching the sun-(semi)- set over the glass like water. The days were as relaxed as any I have ever felt during my entire life. No phones, no emails but just good company and the only driving force to do anything was mans natural instincts. If you got hungry you ate. If you were tired you slept. If cold you lit a fire. If hot you went for a swim.

It was an absolutely amazing experience! With a return of my caveman instincts the 2007 Swedish Odyssey continues...

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