150Th ANNIVERSARY Toto Getget Youryourdalsland CANAL 1868–2018
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2012 DALSLAND»SOMETIMES THE JOURNEY IS MORE IMPORTENT THANCANAL THE DESTINATION« SOMETIMESDALSLAND THE JOURNEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DESTINATION Inspiration CANALPractical tips Ideas for trips Boat rental Rent a cabin with your ”own” boat 17 cozy lock stations 10 good reasons to choose the right canal 150th ANNIVERSARY ToTo getget youryourDALSLAND CANAL 1868–2018 THE ANNIVERSARY THE EXPERIENCE THE JOURNEY dreamdreamTHE OCCASION WILL vacation vacation BREATHTAKING NATURE EVERYTHING YOU BE CELEBRATED ALL ALONG EXPERIENCES AND FASCINATING NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR THE CANAL AND THROUGHOUT CULTURE IN YOUR OWN PIECE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME. THE YEAR. OF PARADISE. COMPETE and win free gating on Dalslands Canal 2012 LoadingThere’s up no reason for toa hurry here Åke served as director when the tremendous anniversary canal celebrated its 100th birthday The year 2018 marks 150 years September with a big celebration in Håverud. As you In 1963, Åke E. Gunnarsson took up the post of since King Carl XV of Sweden may have guessed from the title above, I promise to director of tourism in Dalsland. Eight years later, he officially opened the Dalsland fire a celebratory salute. was also appointed director of the Dalsland Canal. Canal. You can find all the dates and locations of It would be fair to say that Åke inherited a canal in ‘The work was intense; we tried to encourage local He wrote his name on the rock the anniversary programme events on www. great need of repair. operators to organise anniversary arrangements, and I face at Håverud, before the Royal dalslandskanal.se. We will be updating the ‘There were a lot of things that were old and worn. The think we did pretty well in that respect. One that sticks Family continued on their canal programme throughout the year. company running the canal did not have the financial out in my mind is the very successful boat competition we had on Lake Stora Le. That endured for several journey onboard the steamer resources required for the renovation work, but we were years. And the Kanalyran town festival in Mellerud, Laxen. Despite the celebrations, we intend to make sure the fortunate enough to be granted an AMS (Sweden’s which was first held in 1968, and is still held today.’ Naturally, Colonel and Baron canal is as tranquil and relaxing a destination in 2018 public employment agency) project. Thus, with partial Nils Ericson was also present at as it has been for the last 150 years. You will still be state support the locks and dams were renovated.’ When Åke started in the job, there was still commercial the opening, as the man who able to find a natural harbour all to yourself, and in ‘When I took up the post, all of the locks were hand- traffic operating on the canal, but the number of cargo had created the canal and the long, narrow lakes, you can enjoy being in the operated. This involved pretty hard physical work for vessels was falling. ensured, thanks to its ingenious very heart of nature. All the elements that make the the lock keepers. In particular in Håverud, where one ‘During World War II, the small cargo boats were aqueduct, that boats could navigate its entire length, Dalsland Canal the distinctive destination it is will still lock keeper was in charge of four locks. I remember modified to become gas operated. And when all the way to Lake Vänern. be here in 2018, along with much, much more. that at one point we had a Dutch lock keeper there. After a while he bottled it and disappeared. Two diesel became more readily available after the war, people didn’t want to modify them again as there The 150th birthday of one of the world’s most We look forward to giving you a warm welcome to weeks later, he reappeared and told us that he’d been at home in the Netherlands, recuperating.’ were other means of transport by that point. The last beautiful waterways is certainly an occasion worth the anniversary celebrations – long live the Dalsland boats operating commercially were used to transport celebrating. And we intend to do so in style. Canal! ‘We managed to electrify all of the locks quite quickly, so that they could be operated at just the quartzite along the Snäcke Canal. But that wasn’t press of a button. However in Buterud we left things technically part of the Dalsland Canal at that time, and Throughout the anniversary year, a whole range of Benny Ruus how they were, so that future generations could see it was run by a separate company.’ different activities and events will be held along the Canal Director how locks used to work.’ ‘But the number of pleasure boats on the canal was length of the canal. These will culminate in early ‘The lock keepers’ houses were outdated and in need high from a pretty early stage. We marketed the canal of renovation, so we had to sort that out too. Not with the claims: clean water, fresh air and silence, least by installing new water and sewage systems.’ which hit the mark in Germany and the Netherlands in particular. Right up until the 1970s, we actually had We meet up with Åke Gunnarsson at a café in Karlstad, more foreign boat tourists than the Göta Canal.’ where he now lives in order to be closer to his children and grandchildren. It is clear to see not only that he Naturally, some of the lock keepers stick out in Åke’s has positive memories of his time as canal director, but mind. Those who were unique characters. One such Dalsland canal 2012 also that he made a difference to the canal. person was Svea at Krokfors, a woman of a ‘comfortable He took up the post of director of Dalsland Tourist weight’, who had a voice befitting of a lock keeper. Whilst she was certainly a proficient lock keeper, she Why sails there and back? 4-5 10 good reasons to choose the right canal 14-15 Board in 1963, and as the canal is Dalsland’s biggest ’ tourist attraction, it wasn’t long before he found was perhaps best known for the glögg, or Swedish mulled wine, she produced at Christmas, which could Start planning your canal trip here 16-29 himself involved in organising the forthcoming A heritage worth preserving 6-7 anniversary: knock the socks off a full-grown man, according to Åke. in 1968 Dalsland Canal turned 100. Åke himself received a full bottle each Christmas, which A lock-keeper in pink 8-9 Map 30-31 he made sure to enjoy with great care. ”It´s so quite and peaceful here” 10-11 Tourist offices 32 An experience for everyone 4–5 Anniversary edition: Cultural heritage worth preserving 6–7 150 years of the Dalsland Canal I–IIX Those who sail a little further Welcome, say our lock keepers 8–9 discover much more 12-13 A canoer’s paradise 10–11 Plan your canal trip here 17–29 A natural harbour of your own or all the services you could want 12–13 Map 30–31 Recommended ports of call 14–15 Tourist offices 32 Rent a cabin by the canal 16 and 17 2 3 who, when they reached retirement, come to western Värmland. the whole canal system, and it’s decided to make their dream of ‘The nature here is just fantastic. beautiful from one end to the exploring Europe by boat a reality. We’ve been delighted with our trip other.’ Jim and Marjory Miller have already along the Dalsland explored the rivers and canals of Canal.’ France, Germany, the Netherlands ‘We’ve made our way and Denmark, and now they’ve through more or less there and back The Cushing family from Torslanda, outside Gothenburg, are relaxing by the jetty in Köpmannebro, right at the start of the Dalsland Canal. In a few minutes’ time they intend to set off on their canal adventure. But they’re not planning to sail there and back. AN EXPERIENCE F0R EVERYONE Two Brits, one barge and a Be- what it was about the place that had lockkeepers. It is as if they were agle named Maksi. They visited captured his imagination. We decided made for the job. So service-min- the Dalsland Canal last summer, to spend a week here,” says Roger. ded and incredibly friendly.” and fell totally in love with it. Lily is a relatively modern barge. One week turned into seven She has everything Alison, Roger Ten years ago, Alison Alderton and When we met them at the marina and Maksi need to live in complete Roger Harrington did what they in Upperud, they had spent seven comfort. But she is an exact replica Use our slipways had always dreamed of. They sold weeks on the canal. of a Dutch barge from 1910. A real their house in England and bought “This is the most beautiful place beauty which will very likely return The lake system has 13 slipways. They offer great fully booked during the peak season, so we stron- a barge. In the past, they had co- we’ve been to during twelve years to grace the canal during the 150th opportunities for people enjoying the canal aboard gly recommend that you plan your trip and make owned a boat, but this time they we’ve spent exploring the water- anniversary celebrations in 2018. slightly smaller boats. reservations in advance. Or bring a tent. There went the whole way. ways of Europe.” Totally fantastic.