Last night it was time for a beaver safari in a canoe. A guide took us and a group of Dutch people to Grövelsjön. It was a bit warmer coming down from the mountain and beautiful and calm on the lake, so we had a really nice canoe trip. This is a great thing to do for a whole family, when everyone can get involved together and have some excitement about seeing some cool beavers.
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By motorhome at Idre fjäll
Now we have come to Idre fjäll. We are at the Caravan Club's campsite just up by the lifts. It is very nice up here, but really cold. You begin to wonder if you can really holiday in the north of Sweden in the summer without freezing all the time? Hope for better weather ...
What is beaver bark?
We stopped at a small camp where we were offered coffee while the guide told us about the beaver. We learnt all sorts of interesting things, such as that the beaver lives about 30 years, that it can be under water for 20 minutes and that the beaver bark (a liquid from the beaver's rump with which it marks its territory) was once sold to extract acitylsalicylic acid (the active ingredient in treo and magnecyl).
Beaver safari, but no beavers
But did we see any beavers? Nope, unfortunately not a single beaver showed up. We guess that the beavers simply had something else to do on this day. There is a 70 per cent chance of seeing them according to the guide, but we were unlucky. For us it was a beaver safari without beavers.
It was of course a bit of an anticlimax, but we still had a nice day in nature and on the lake with a canoe. The kids loved this trip and the excitement was unbearable, haha. Children know the art of empathising with the situation as it is.
Wonderful Sweden
Grövelsjön is located in Älvdalen municipality and 10 minutes from the Norwegian border. It offers plenty of hiking trails, fishing, bike hire, horse riding and even golf. The scenic landscape also offers ski slopes in winter.
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Anders and Birgitta says:
What a shame you didn't see any beavers. We were at a campsite near Avesta, we saw the beavers but unfortunately no beavers. It would have been cool to see a beaver. Have a good time!
21 July 2010 - 9:32
Nathalie and Vilja says:
Sad that you missed the beavers, but you seemed to have a cosy time anyway. 🙂 But usch and fy to sit in a jacket on summer holidays... That's how it was when I was over and road tripping in Norway a few summers ago: rain, debris and generally cold and rough. Have a good time up there in the north (and watch out for the mosquitoes!) 😉.
21 July 2010 - 17:26
Maggan says:
So it was you who were out in the canoes? We are also there but we stay on the land hill. We had hoped to see reindeer but unfortunately....same as you, saw none. Nor did we see your car but several other motorhomes. Now we continue towards Frösön. Have a good time.
21 July 2010 - 23:35
Mrs Anne-Marie says:
I have never seen live beavers but they seem to be interesting animals. Their building skills are pretty amazing. Looks a bit chilly there on the water.
22 July 2010 - 4:08
admin says:
Maggan, where are you or where have you been? Too bad you didn't see reindeer. We've seen so many! They are everywhere...
22 July 2010 - 12:22
Just Another Crazy Blonde - With Just Another Stupid Blog says:
Too bad about the beavers, but it still looked like it was cosy? 🙂
22 July 2010 - 15:30