Canoeing lake Velmunden

12 June 1992:  We set off bringing rented canoes.  The cars took us to lake Velmunden via Jevnaker and Bjoneroa, approximately 150 km north of Oslo.  This event took place just after the end of a long period with real nice weather.

After parking the cars in the northern end of the lake, lots of trembling legs tried to find the right balance in a canoe for the first time in their lives.  After a short time of testing basic technique and loading bagage, we headed southwards along the eastern shore.  2 or 3 persons were seated in one canoe.  After a while some of them started to find some rhytm in their efforts to push their canoe forward.  In less than an hour some real nice camping grounds showed up on the shore, and everybody went ashore to pitch their tents.

The water was still warm, judged by the mist that was created over it.  The conclusion was that the water temperature was higher than the air temperature.  Just one person was brave enough to prove that theory in practice in the dusk, though.

13 Jun 1992:  During a short period of sunshine Line decided to have a bath as well.  We have witnesses confirming that she was fully soaked, but she was also back on dry ground before the water had managed to penetrate her bathing suit!  More people were also bathing, but Esten concluded that the water had now turned cold!

The mission of that day was paddling in and out of all the inlets and outlets of the lake.  You may easily get lost on lake Velmunden!  The highlight of the day (judged by those not directly involved) was when the youngest guy violated against the basic principles for balancing a canoe.  Then father and son (+ baggage) had to test out the floating principles for father and son outside a canoe. :-)  Although the team had rented a video camera, we were now sad to realise that the camera was out of battery capacity....

Other ingrediences of that day:  Fishing, barbequeing, and one person tried in vain for the whole weekend to open up a channel so that he could smoke his pipe.

14 Jun 1992:  The day of reversing activities:  Tent camp cleared.  Canoeing back to the cars in the northern end of the lake.  Driving back to the city.