Page 38 - Wish Stream Year of 2016

and along roads skirting water, we felt like we were in the set of the Lord of the Rings or visiting Never- land. In summer, the landscape was stunning, with steep cliffs covered in trees despite the threaten- ing angle of the slope. Yet we could not help but think that in winter, this place could be unforgiv- ing and deadly. We arrived late that evening to the hostel where we spent our last night indoors for the remainder of the trip. With this came our rst experience of Norwegian hospitality. Miss Floyd enquired to the man checking us in whether or not breakfast was included the next day. His response was that he was shocked we thought he would let us go without a proper meal. Our rst night in Norway was lovely, and we left the next day, full from a delicious Norwegian breakfast, ready for the adventures ahead of us.
Due to the absence
of the second
instructor, we had
to re-organise our
itinerary to allow for
two people to drive
to each camp-
site every day in a
support role. This
meant on the rst day we stayed in Gudvangen, where we learnt and practiced basic skills with our kayaks. For some of us, it was the rst time using them; therefore, this was a useful exercise to increase our con dence out on the water. We practiced removing ourselves from the kayak if it capsized our rst safety skill, as well as various ways of turning in the water. This was not an overly pleasant experience, as the water temperature was a tepid 4 degrees Celsius. This can be con- sidered to be quite refreshing despite our wetsuits.
On the rst night we found a perfectly pictur- esque little hamlet to camp in, next to a quaint white church, which is also where we spent the
This can be considered to be quite refreshing despite our wetsuits.
36 SANDHURST