PADDLETRIP IN LAKE TOKE

Text: Vibeke Strømmen

Photos: Vibeke Strømmen & Martin Fossen

We are on summer holiday and are weather refugees from Trondheim to the southern part of Norway. This region in Norway usually has the most stable weather in the summer. Luckily Martin is from here and we can always come here in the summertime and have a few weeks of good weather, hopefully.

We have rented a small cottage by Neslandsvatn, approx. 15 minutes from the house where Martin grew up. From the kitchen window we see the water and the hilly fenced area where deer run free. The family we have rented the house from has a deer farm, so here there is entertainment for both humans and dogs.

Not far from this house is Toke, a large lake with many islands, some with cabins and others not. Along the edge of the water there are a couple of cottage fields idyllically located. This day starts with windless weather. It tingles in the body. We want to go quickly out on the water, just glide calmly and feel the sun warm us. The phone is up more often than the oars are in the water.

Today`s route:

Blue dot: Start Merkebekk.

Yellow dot: Dalsfoss.

We really like to paddle through narrow passages. It creates an extra dimension to the trip and breaks up the monotonous progress you easily get into when you have to cover a longer stretch of open water without too many impressions. So with the help of a map we point out a passage between the mainland and Plassøya called Vintereidholet. These passages are always too short, we want longer ones like this, but nature has now made the length it has. Rock walls surrounds us, not so high, but we think it's exciting enough anyway.

Vintereidholet.

A short break.

Yellow dot: Break.

We come out in Lundereidelva and turn right. It fits with a short break for both us and the dog. So we go ashore and stretch. Not long after, we set out again and continue up (or in practice down) the river. A couple of cabins are scattered along the shore, but we have a specific goal for this trip. We want the see the farm that has been used as a location for the reality show "Farmen" over several seasons. The river takes a right turn and first we see a small island that we paddle inside off. As we come around, the farm we have been looking for reigns on the other side.

Yellow dot: First break.

Red dot: Beach and a long break.

Purple dot: Lundereid Farm.

Lundereid Farm, alias "The Farm."

On our side there is a narrow sandy beach with soft sand. There we plan to go ashore after we have paddled up the whole river. It stops naturally at a dam at Dalsfoss. The water has now been rippled, so the shiny glory is unfortunately gone. But we can`t complain. This is dreamy.

Many years ago we got hold of a canoe that we drove up to Dalsfoss. From here we paddled up the river and to somewhere I can not remember now. This was before the smartphone and I have not found any pictures of that trip. I remember fragments, most of all the farm that has now become known through the TV show "Farmen". Now we are here for the second time and have well documented the trip using the phones.

Dalsfoss.

We turn at Dalsfoss and get up in Toke again. A new break is needed and we go ashore on the narrow sandy beach we saw when we paddled upwards. The dog happily jumps out of the kayak and shakes loose. We eat with a view of the large, white courtyard which is very well maintained. The dog enjoys herself with sticks and gets an outlet for trapped energy. It is very nice to feel soft sand under your feet. Norway is not spoiled with sandy beaches where the temperature can match the warmth and coziness. In the north there are lots of sandy beaches, but the temperature is usually cold, as is the water. We are now far south, but Kragerø still does not have many sandy beaches as the area is better known for boulders and reefs. I am reminded of the summers in Denmark every time I feel warm sand under my feet. My family went there every summer when I was a child and something we were most looking forward to was being on a beach.

After a good long break, we sit in the kayaks again and paddle out on the river. We snap a picture of a small hut that the participants of "Farmen" use when two participants go out in a duel. Here they eat a common meal before they have to row out to their own little cabin where they will spend the night, before the next day they will fight for further participation in the competition. It's a little fun that we've seen this on TV and now we see the area with our own eyes.

As we pass our first stop, we continue up Langklov, a passage between Plassøya and the mainland. From here we come out to Breiongen and paddle up to an unnamed island with a cabin on. Here a huge, inflatable unicorn floats on the water. The kids probably have fun climbing up on it and throwing themselves into the water. We paddle between this island and Børøy before we get out in Straumane.

Now we have a headwind, so the last pull up towards Merkebekk and the car gets a little tiring. But it was a nice trip and Toke has more to offer of nice paddling experiences that I hope we will experience on a later occasion.