KAYAKING AT INGARÖFJÄRDEN
After a wet and rainy day, I noticed the skies clearing up in the evening. So once I wrapped up work for the day, I loaded my kayak onto the roof of the car and drove out toward Björnö. And what an evening it turned out to be! The air was refreshingly crisp, and the water felt surprisingly warm. But it wasn’t long before I had an unexpected visitor on the water... or rather, on land.
As I rounded the corner from Klacknäset on Ingarö, I spotted a boat wedged on the rocks. Quite far up, too. A flood of questions immediately ran through my mind. Had someone driven it up there, or was it engine failure, or perhaps a storm that had washed it onto the rocks? The rocks seemed too steep for anyone to have driven the boat up, but at the same time, they were just a bit too high for it to have been washed up naturally. Hmmm... intriguing.
I paddled further south, battling the headwind as I crossed Ingaröfjärden. Not a single boat in sight, except for the one stranded on the rocks. Eventually, I reached Ramön and turned east. A few small birds began to follow me along the rocks. It almost seemed like they were enjoying my company, as they stayed with me, hopping from one rock to the next.
By now, it was around seven in the evening, and the sun was low in the sky. The scenery was breathtaking. I was paddling at a steady pace, feeling the fatigue from the headwind, so I decided to grab a chocolate bar for a quick energy boost.
At last, I reached Stendörren and the striking lighthouse standing proudly there. On another occasion, I’d seen a majestic sea eagle perched atop it, but today, it was just me. I continued paddling southeast, rounding Stora Vindåsen before turning north and heading back home.
On the final stretch across Ingaröfjärden, I was feeling pretty tired. I’d been paddling at a brisk pace to get some good cardio, and it was definitely taking a toll on my arms and legs. As a beginner, it's easy to tense up, especially in the legs, but I know it’s just a matter of practice. In the end, I covered 10 nautical miles (18 km) in just under 3 hours, with a few photo breaks along the way. It was a truly enjoyable evening!