ThePADDLER 100
Words and photos: Lucinda Norris As a technicolour sunset descended over Svinesundsbroen Bridge, the sky above me looked aflame with orange and red sunbeams.The light danced between the bridge’s support cables, which marks the crossing from Sweden into Norway. Underneath I saw my first glimpse of a winding body of water spotted with little red houses along the banks of the Ringdalsfjord. I had arrived in Norway to explore its scenic waters in my self-built van conversion. I am not a SUP instructor, just an ambitious lady with a passion for SUP, with a heart full of adventure armed with an inflatable paddleboard. Norway is a diverse country holding some of the world's most diverse landscapes.The following article is my experiences from exploring them on a budget as a solo female traveller. TOP SUP DESTINATIONS
DALEN
From the North Sea’s wild waters to glacial lakes, Norway gives you the opportunity for some amazing coastal paddling to experience seals, dolphins, and whales in their natural habitats on the north coast. In the mountains to the east, turquoise lakes filled with freezing glacial water, flow thunderously into slowly winding fjords. Water has carved this ancient landscape into an adventure playground for a Paddleboard. Norway truly does hold some of Europe's last wild and remote places. I spent 14 hours driving across alpine tundra in the Jotunheimen National Park, spending days without seeing a soul and eyes that ached from soaking in the majesty of the mountains that surrounded me. However, there are more popular paths and routes to take with good reason, so I have made a list below of some popular and less popular spots I would recommend for a SUP adventure.
The town of Dalen is located in the southwest of the country located in the Telemark region. This beautifully quiet town is a sleepy place to visit off the main tourist trails. The banks of Dalen lead into the Banak Fjord, a long straight expanse of water that is narrow and boasts calm conditions in the summer. Nestled inside a ridge lined valley with the sun setting to the southwest, a dusk paddle is a must following the sun down the valley. Clear waters and the sloping cliffs mean an excellent opportunity for a smooth paddle with little crosswinds.You can cast off from the campsite at the start of the town, just off the main road and use their all-day parking 50 metres away from the jetty.
