Christa and Rick Hoeksema from Eelderwolde missed out on a holiday with the caravan to France. What they are up for is a grueling canoe adventure along the Swedish coast. This summer they participated in an official canoe trip of 2,400 kilometers, which they had to cancel because of storm Hans.
The adventure started two months ago for the fervent canoeists, who previously paddled to Sweden from their home in Eelderwolde. They left the coastal town of Svinesund in western Sweden by canoe in mid-June to travel via the south coast to the east coast of Finland.
But the preparations started much earlier, says Christa. After Rick was the first Dutchman to complete the tour solo in 2019, Christa also started to itch, she says from Sweden.
Last fall they made the decision and started intensive training. “In January we went canoeing for one hour every day, in February that became two hours, in March three. From April we got up at 5 a.m. to go canoeing at four before going to work.”
The two took all their vacation days and wanted to cover 2,400 kilometers in 60 days. “That meant paddling at least 40 kilometers a day and then we would have seven rest days left.” At first the miles flew by and they came way ahead of schedule. “It went very well. Some days we could canoe up to 80 kilometers a day. Until we had to deal with a severe storm on the south coast and had to stay on land for five days.”
They waited five days for the storm to die down. “We lost all play with that. That was very bad. You have peace, but in the meantime you are constantly checking the weather and watching the waves. After all, you are there to canoe.” After six days of waiting, they went to sea again and did everything they could to make up for the lost days. “We succeeded. We sailed for 24 days in a row and got back on schedule.”
But another storm followed, and again they were forced to stay ashore. “We practiced in rough situations, but when it storms you just don’t go out to sea. That’s too risky.”
The weather gods are ill-disposed towards them. When it turns out that storm Hans is turning the whole of Northern Europe upside down, the adventurers have to interrupt their journey for the third time. “That storm killed us,” the couple now concludes. On an island where they found shelter, the magnitude of the storm dawns on them. “The ferry was taken out of service. That had never happened before. It was a really tough storm.”
“We always remained optimistic,” Christa continues. “We checked the weather forecast to see if there was a gap to leave. Maybe the forecasts are wrong, we hoped.” But waiting for days, they realized the consequences of that storm. There is hardly any time to finish the remaining 600 kilometers and their vacation days are almost gone. “Then you have to make a very difficult decision. We have started to get to Finland, but that is just not possible anymore.”
The finish is too far away and they decide that the adventure ends for them at 1,800 kilometers. “That is very frustrating at that moment, really bummed.” Although the mission can be completed throughout the year, Rick and Christa stick to their 60-day venture. “The days in the north are getting shorter, and the main reason: our vacation days are gone.”
Yet the frustration has given way to resignation. “We are especially grateful that we made the trip safely in difficult weather.” And especially the euphoria about the journey predominates. “It was so incredibly beautiful and we lived so close to nature, completely self-sufficient. The pure freedom you have, the sunrises, the sunsets, the seals and birds.”
Moreover, Christa can write an exceptional title to her name: she says she is the first Dutch woman who has attempted to complete the official canoe mission. “We realize that we have achieved something fantastic and we are very proud of that.”