West Coast Sweden Paddling Inn Trip
Dates: June 15-21, 2008
Starting & Ending Place: Göteborg, Sweden
Days: 7
Airport: Landvetter, Göteborg
Price: $2800.00 per person
Latitude: Göteborg 57°40’N
Day 1: Welcome to Göteborg, the second largest city in Sweden! We'll meet at the reception in the hotel Eggers at 7:00 p.m. (dinner is not provided this evening). You are welcome to check in earlier this afternoon. Please contact us if you need assistance or your travel schedule does not get you into town until later this evening.
After introductions and an evening snack we will have a look at the charts and maps to familiarize you with the area.
Hotel Eggers Drottningtorget (Queens Square) SE-401 25 Göteborg
Phone: +46-31-80 60 70 Email: hotel.eggers@telia.com
Day 2: After breakfast we will drive a couple hours north through rolling farm country to the island of Orust. This area is known for it's story book charm and granite islands. We will travel across several bridges where you can enjoy panoramic views of the open ocean and the Bohuslän Archipelago.
Tofta Gård (Tofta farm) will be our home for the next 5 nights. This historic old farm has been renovated into a charming Guesthouse, hostel and conference facility. A 10-15 minute walk along a row of towering oak trees will lead us to the beach and kayak center.
This afternoon we will help you become familiar with the kayaks and our equipment. We provide both double and single kayaks and will do our best to provide you with what you prefer. We expect our participants to be flexible and maybe put in a day or so in either a single or a double. For participants with little or no paddling experience we’ll cover the basics of comfortable and fun sea kayaking. This includes kayak anatomy, getting in and out, basic paddling strokes, wet-exits, basic rescue techniques, injury prevention etc. People with kayaking experience can help with the basics or we can help you further hone your own technical skills. Your leaders will also demonstrate a capsize and assisted rescue so everyone is familiar with our procedures.
Later we’ll go for a short day-paddle in the protected waters around the village of Stocken. We might follow the shores of Hermanö Island, one of the largest Nature Reserves on the Swedish West Coast. In the evening over dinner we'll look at the nautical charts and plot our upcoming paddling adventures.
Day 3 - 5: After a hearty breakfasts served by the Tofta Farm kitchen we’ll venture out on our day trips. There are many route choices in this area. We might paddle south along the nature reserve to the rocky island of Käringön. This very old fishing village is located on a tiny island on the edge of the open ocean. The story goes that the minister made all the islanders retrieve a bucket of dirt whenever they left the island so the church could have a plot of grass around it.
A trip out to Gullholmen, the Golden Island and it’s Skippers Museum is a must. Gullholmen is one of the oldest fishing villages in the archipelago. It’s history dates back to the 14th century. We might circumnavigate Hermanö and Gullholmen Island. This would take us out on the exposed side of the islands. The weather, our groups paddling abilities and interest level will dictate our travel decisions.
One of the days we hope to paddle north to the island of Bassholmen. To reach this island we must paddle through a long shallow canal. This area is marked by large tracts of grazing land and traditional Swedish farms. Bassholmen is home to the historic Wooden Boat Museum which is well worth a visit. Coffee and ice-cream at the old mansion are also a must!
Our breakfasts and dinners will be served at Tofta Farm. Lunches are picnic style buffets served outdoors or we may sample local cuisine in a nearby village. For those who enjoy sea food this might be considered heaven on earth!
In the evenings you will have time to take a walk or run on the many surrounding trails. You can venture out onto Hermanö to explore the Nature Reserve, or kick back in one of the local pubs.
Day 6: June 22, 2007 - Summer Solstice Celebration! This morning we’ll offer you a shorter day paddle around the islands or time to work on your technical paddling skills. If you have an interest in learning how to brace, perform a assisted rescue or use the paddlefloat rescue we will gladly help you learn.
In the afternoon we’ll join in the traditional Swedish Midsummer Celebration. We might participate in the raising of the Midsummer pole. We will learn some classic dances, join the tug a’ war and other games. There will be traditional folk music and lots of laughter. In the evening we’ll celebrate with a large traditional seafood banquet. Smoked mackerel, shrimp, salmon, crab, pickled herring and strawberries are some of the traditional Midsummer foods.
Day 6: For those participating in the second West Coast of paddling Trip we will continue exploring the islands by kayak. Maybe we can find some fun event to participate in as well. You never know what is offered out in the archipelago!
Day 7: Breakfast and group photos will mark the official ending of our adventure. Crossing Latitudes will assist you with connections back to Göteborg. If you’re staying another night in Göteborg, we can assist you with accommodations.
General Information:
Travel Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.
Pre- and post-trip accommodations: We recommend EDMONDS TRAVEL outside Seattle. They specialize in travel to Scandinavia. “KJ” is our primary contact person, she will help you book tickets. Call: 1-800-261-3868. Email: kj@edmondstravel.com
Weather: The coastal weather of Arctic Norway can bring strong winds and rain. Count on clouds and drizzle for at least half the time. Sunny days will be a welcome exception. Here the average temperatures range between the low 50's to 70’s. The coastal weather of Sweden is usually warmer and sunnier than Norway, but be prepared for some strong winds or heavy rain. Summer temperatures in Sweden can reach into the 80's. At times, the elements can prohibit us from paddling or hiking but not from enjoying these spectacular places. Good rain gear and footwear will also enable us to explore the mountains, forests, coast and villages by foot. The weather in the mountains is variable like in most mountains. One day can be warm and sunny with the next being windy and drizzly, it’s even possible to see some snowfall.
Currency: Each Scandinavian country has its own currency. Exchanges can be made at banks, airports, train stations and most hotels. Scandinavian currency is not interchangeable between countries as each has a different exchange rate value. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Scandinavia. Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Union but have chosen not to use the Euro. Norway is not part of the EU. Travel checks are not used in Scandinavia. The banks will charge a stiff fee if you want travel checks cashed.
Language: English is Scandinavia's second language and is almost spoken fluently throughout. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to speak the native tongue. Phrase books and dictionaries are a great help. All our staff are bilingual and speak English as well as Norwegian or Swedish.
Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Scandinavia, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Sweden: 070-670 11 53 (within Sweden) or 46-70-670 11 53 (from outside Sweden). Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.
We are looking forward to our adventure together!
Crossing Latitudes, Inc.
420 West Koch Street, Bozeman MT 59715, USA
USA:1-800-572-8747 Europe: +46-70-670 1153 www.crossinglatitudes.com
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