Toby Fjellström takes on the Norwegen wild rivers!
I am Toby Fjellstrom, a 70-year old Swedish chap who went on his first whitewater kayaking trip to Norway. Ram Silwal and Andy Beegan were the two leaders to take care of the old man. The first day I think I capsized almost 20 times. As soon as the water changed direction I would fall. Still it was funny and exciting. I also learnt to stay upside down underwater till Ram came and turned the kayak and me on the right keel again. There were two other guys in the group too, one Viking (Halle) from Iceland and another Viking (Ola) from Karlskrona, Sweden. Together we had a lot of common welfare.
On the second day we took the same river again, approx. 15 km upstream and around 130 meter altitude difference. Now I noticed I had some slight idea about whitewater kayaking. So I reduced the capsize frequency considerably. But on this second day we'd make another trip after lunch. Thus Ram took us to the Sjoa river. There were some huge rapids and I found myself swimming wildly in the still more wild waters which brought me rapidly downstream. For a second I was afraid. Paddle and kayak were gone on different routes and I just remembered to swim with my feet downstream looking ahead. All of a sudden Ram was by my side and dragged me ashore. Further down Andy had got hold of my paddle and kayak and soon I was paddling again. After a few minutes I again lost my balance and was fighting the wild rushing waters. At the moment I fell the paddle got stuck under water and Andy had to bring out his reservepaddle which he kept in three pieces in his kayak. At last we reached the Sjoa Kayak Camp and I had some bad feelings and fantasies that this was my last day as a whitewater kayaker. I felt dizzy as if the world was turning around in my head, but Ram and Andy told me supportingly and with great encouragement that I was not at all a bad kayaker, just a beginner and even a good beginner.
On the third and the fourth day we made the more easy going on the first river and during these last (only for this time) two days I got the bodyfeeling of kayaking in the river. The first two days I only intellectually understood what the leaders were talking about, like crossing the eddyline at 8 o'clock, leaning with the current, go 1 o'clock, have speed, go for it, etc. Now I noticed with growing excitement that my body had caught some of the ideas and that I gradually was taking charge and control. Not to mention the beautiful Norwegian Wilderness!
I am really looking forward to the 12-days of white water kayaking course in Nepal in October, again together with these two excellent trainers, Ram & Andy!

Thanks to my loving wife who knew that white water kayaking in Nepal would be my greatest 70 th birthday gift.

Toby
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