Looking toward Stadshuset and Riddarholmen from our kayak. All photos copyright Robert Corkery 2009.
There’s something rather amazing about being able to fish from a kayak in the center of a city. It gives you a completely different perspective of all sorts of things, from having a huge yacht look down on you to looking up at the enormity of City Hall, for instance. For our journey today, Robert and I left from Pampas Marina in a two-seater kayak and basically paddled completely around the island of Kungsholmen. The weather was sunny and warm – 25 degrees c or 80 f – so it was about as perfect as it gets for being on the water here. We recently got this kayak after checking out these Kayaks recommended by XgearHub.
Sunbathers on the rocks of Kungsholmen.
As we left the marina, we passed by a charming combination of large and modern houseboats that people live on year round as well as gorgeous old wooden cruiser boats outfitted with glossily varnished wood and brass. Crossing Ulvsundasjön, the water was a bit choppy and stayed that way as we went under the big bridge at Traneberg. Choppy water in a kayak always makes me a bit nervous, but we managed to stay upright without a problem. Luckily, there was also a lot to distract me from the waves. Thanks to the good weather, it felt like everyone was on the water either boating, jet skiing, swimming or sunning on the rocks. And rather uncharacteristically for Stockholm, just about everyone said hello or nodded. You just can’t help but feel good on a day like this, I suppose.
Along Pålsundet, the old wooden boats are gorgeous.
Coming out into Mälaren, the lake felt enormous from our small kayak and so it seemed somehow safer to me when we reached the more narrow and calm waters next to Langholmen, the island whose prison has now become a youth hostel. We took it easy along Pålsundet, paddling slowly to admire all the fantastic wooden boats in the canal. It was the calm before ths storm because as we made our way along next to Södermalm, the water was extremely choppy. At least I was distracted by being able to see our apartment and have the fantastic views of Stadshuset (City Hall) and the old church on Riddarholmen.
Another beautiful boat on Pålsundet.
Kayaking along Klara Sjö, we were again treated to calmer waters, making the final leg of the journey much more peaceful, which was nice as my paddling arms were getting tired. Finishing the day with a glass of rose and hamburger at the marina seemed to be the perfect ending to our perfect day. We really loved our kayaking journey and you can click here to see why sit on top kayaks are the best.
{ 1 comment }
Beautiful photos. You two are so adventurous.
xoxo
MB
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