Large Makholm
March 29, 2011
Fjällbacka Bohuslän 110319-20 It looked far out as it would be an equally tough winter like last year but in the end seemed to chill at last begin to let go. Heidi and I got a little off timing the same weekend as it was promised decent wind, solchans, frost and full moon. We talked a little in front and back of the week before, Blekinge, West Coast or maybe Misterhult, and I actually had all the maps in the car on Saturday morning. Only after having loaded the kayaks and coming out of Malmo, we decided - north, towards Fjällbacka. It was so nice last time we were there in November , foolish to take a chance as well ..
While the ice had just unloaded on the channel bottom in Malmö but I was still convinced that there would be no problem here. Though when we passed the Uddevalla Bridge and saw how far it was, both in the woods and on the water, we began to hesitate .. What if we could run the 40 mil and then not able to launch. Occasionally fun to camp on the mainland ..

Fjällbacka
Arriving in Fjällbacka we saw that it was pretty hard water inside near a beach, it would have been completely free the day before but the night wind had pushed into some old ice. Further along the harbor, it was a bit thinner and we unloaded the stuff and packed the kayaks.
Shortly before three, we stumbled out of the ice and paddled west. Brilliant sunshine and only a weak northerly wind.

Open horizon, Deep Cut
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We followed Valön north side and after Pors Holmen we turned against Småsvinningarna. I wanted to check out a campground on the Big Pig No, and we found it in the bay on the south side. Furthermore, around Dann Holmen and then due north behind St. Skärholmen. A little old swell but decreasing wind. Fine paddling the Little Makholm, around the Great, before we landed on the beach on the east side. Large Makholm is an amazing island with sandy beach, overlooking mountains, mazes and plenty of fine pitches. Not much shelter, but nice view. In the summer, rarely alone here but now it was not so disturbing crowded ..

Arriving Large Makholm

Bath with seal
Up with the tent and then an ultra-fast micro-dip. Do not know if it really made as much use but you woke up to quite hard, and finally got one almost feeling back in my toes, too.
When we got up and had dried by us, we saw that there were three seals and check out us out in the water. Wondering which ones were most surprised really ..

Four sleeping bags ..

Tent
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After the bath we rewarded ourselves with a hearty snack in the afternoon sun. Still decently warm in the air and you could actually feel a slight warmth in the rock as well.
Before dinner it was time for a walk around the island. In summer it is very birds that nest here and one can hardly approach the west side before all the protesters at one time. But now it was only a few sea gulls and geese trumpeted a little turned off when we went up the mountain.
After watching the sun set over the ocean we went back to the tent to kick off the evening meal. Påspasta with cheese in mixed versions ..

Sunset, gulls
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Sunset, Heidi
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Wind Turbines & full moon
It had barely begin to darken until a large moon rose over the mainland. A few small clouds obscured now and then but otherwise every fine shadows. We sat some hours outside the tent and småsnackade little, drank tea & hot chocolate before bedtime. But finally came the cold caught up with us. There was ice on the canvas when we crawled into sleeping bags just after nine ..

Sunday morning 06:00
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We had gardening led to two sleeping bags each, I slept like a log but Heidi thought it was a little cool on the seagull ..
Had set the clock at six to catch up and watch the sunrise. It seems to be a prime idea the night before but not quite as obvious in the morning, strangely enough .. Hursom, once dragged out of the warm bag, got on some clothes and got started the stove is usually seldom repent. And this morning was really something special ..

Sunrise

Frost
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First the sun
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Totally calm and silent when we crawled out of the tent. Everything was vitpudrat, a thick layer of frost covered the whole island. First, is still quite dark, but soon the sun rose up, spreading a red glow over everything. Fantastically beautiful!
Right after the morning coffee break, we went for a walk around the island again. Frost on the grass, some frozen puddles, but otherwise dry on the mountain. Only a faint haze made it looked Weather Islands in the southwest and beautiful and beacon on Ulsholmskalven north. You could even make out the two lighthouses on Ursholmen south of Koster. Apart from a solitary fishing boat on the way out, it felt like we were all alone in the whole archipelago.

Cold ..

Morning walk
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View Väderöarna
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View Koster
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Half-thawed
According to the morning weather would get Skagerrak 3-7 m / s southwest, increasing to 60-10 during the day and gale warning on Monday. Although the sun still warmed felt the wind and it began to bite the cheeks. After breakfast it was time for a special förmiddagslur in the tent, we were probably a bit tired after scant eight hours of sleep and having gone up so early ..

Just a little nap ..

Weather Cover
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A bank of clouds rolled in from the west and it seemed clear that a weather change was coming. After lunch we took a last turn up on the mountain before we packed up and tore down the tent.
In this event, you are extra pleased dry suits that dries quickly, to take on wet neoprene in a few degrees above freezing attracts not really ..

Banking
As the wind began to tear up a little lake we went inland. Only toward Musörumpan and then further south inside Hasstensholmen. Heidi wanted to feel the waves one last time so we rounded Pors Holmen on the outside before we turned east. Wave height just below the meter, but at times pretty tough uphill battle.
As we approached we saw Fjällbacka the west wind had filled the entire bay with ice. Could not get into where we put in but in the end we managed to find a low bridge and was able to pull up the kayaks.

Sidosjö outside Pors Holmen
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Grey
Fantastic weekend, perfect weather with sun, moon, frost, pale and wind, and a beautiful archipelago. Nice to finally get out and camp again! While it may seem a long way to run for such a short time so it was definitely worth it ..
Paddled 8 +8 km.
/ Ulf
Labels: Bohuslän , Fjällbacka , St. Makholm





March 29, 2011 07:11
Really nice pictures! Those neoprenstövlarna did not look so beautiful out in the morning;) Now you got even more paddling hungry.
March 29, 2011 09:33
Now gilded you my morning, Ulf. With golden images and a nice story. Thank you!
March 29, 2011 09:34
Thank you! Well a little fresh, it was not so much mosquitoes, however ..! It has iofs paddlats part down here before but now it feels at last that season started for real again. We'll see you well again soon in some island ..?
/ Ulf
March 30, 2011 07:13
What a nice trip you had. Beautiful pictures.
/ Lena
March 30, 2011 14:11
Yes it was really very nice, though we probably had extraordinary luck with the weather too .. But it's nice to be able to reach out to those islands which are otherwise always crowded during the summer season.
Health Hakan!
/ Ulf
March 31, 2011 19:26
Looks really good out - goa pictures!
/ Christian
April 1, 2011 12:31
[...] Big Makholm [...]
April 2, 2011 19:27
Hi Ulf
Wonderful pictures long for first night in tents, coming soon.
if not so visible, we Tjärö.
April 4, 2011 08:29
Hi Uffe,
You get a little hungry when you see these pictures, probably a bit too chilly for me now .... Naturally I waited for the summer to end so you can dust off your kayak and paddle out a bit! Have a good Christer
April 4, 2011 12:12
Christian: Well it was good, there was no direct need for us ..
Tommy: Always nice to camp, only to have enough sleeping bags .. Was up at Blekinge at the weekend and had 36 hours of total fog - some contrast as well ..
Christer: Summer end, it was yes ..! Must be tough when it's so hot all the time so one can hardly paddle. O especially cool is so karaktärsdanande .. Though it was perhaps a little too damp? You had the right amount of water for a while, if I read correctly in the newspapers ..
Health all!
April 6, 2011 07:11
Much water and much wind, you can calmly say ... No power for a week, roads are blocked, etc. Normally, the North Queensland an exciting place to live in but this year there have been extreme! But even if it has been merely blew so you do not freeze. ... no double sleeping bags have ...:)
Fortunately I was able to keep running no transport said first marathon this is Canberra this weekend. Have some tropical paddling pictures on Facebook, but the 2nd thougt you use enough not facebook ...? Keep the good and thank you for sharing of your adventures Nice to see and read.
Christer
April 6, 2011 12:23
Hmm, sounds like hard bid .. From up here, it appeared that most of the area around Brisbane were worst hit.
Glad to hear that you keep up with the race still, what are the times on these days for a spirited 53-year old (today huh ..?)? Self is my knees a bit grumpy so it may be paddling maror instead. We drive 24 hours here in May. Not just great fun throughout the race, but what the UN, or whatever you say ..
Unfortunately no fäjsbok .. Firstly, I have not time, is already far too much in front of the computer, and I am not quite agree with their views on the ownership and copyright .. But why do not you set up a WP blog? Free o top easy! Would have been great to follow the family froze Ling & Laura on new adventures Down Under ..!
/ Ulf
April 6, 2011 12:42
Lovely, now there is hope for spring and summer again!
Nice story, as usual ..
Jim
April 6, 2011 13:12
Well now it's finally starting to be asked and paddle adjustable air again .. Maybe seen in Bohuslän sometime this summer ..?
/ Ulf
April 12, 2011 06:39
Ulf,
For selection to begin by excuse me for not writing about Kayaker ...
Last year it was 2-3 full maror and five halves, I think. But before you get altfor impressed with jog I said most. My and Annika's motto when she's with is to have fun and to have something and crane component-video. It always takes some time off also said each race will also be an uptake / Adventure Mission. This weekend we spent in cold Canberra. 10 degrees with wind and rain, could scarcely lift the water cups at the end because I was so clumsily, said pinched off, I have been in the tropics. I wanted to do an Ultra Mara pa 50km but it would have to do with 42km Annika did a half marathon. This is perhaps something for you http://www.murraymarathon.ymca.org.au ...?
The last few years adventurous there on FB but have thought about WP or similar. ... We'll see.
Have a good one. Christer
April 12, 2011 12:37
It's ok, I feel like I spend more than enough time on the kayaks anyway ..
Impressive marorna, himself was the maximum one year (but that's more than 10 years ago, when one starts counting ..). Murray Marathon looked like fun! Does to me that we were part of a great Murray River, the South Autralia-section, when we lived in Adelaide. Type almost 40 years ago .. Though we run the course, something like this about a month, M24KC - not as long but for a shorter time. We'll see how cocky you are after ..
Have a good one yourself!
/ Ulf
April 13, 2011 13:53
Hi Ulf,
Beautiful pictures, thank you for sharing!
See you in a few weeks when I and my squire comes down to M24KC. Will try to get in shape with a GP and new baby swing until ... :-)
/ Ewa
April 13, 2011 16:58
Hi Ewa! Jacob and I agree on the best and heats up the channel for you, five yards last Sunday, 2 Monday and 3 last night .. This puts a little extra requirements when you have home court ..
/ Ulf