Another Quiet Paddle in the Sun

     The weather forecast for today looked very good, and the forecasters were right - it was a beautiful blue-sky day.  I'd been waiting for a day like this for another paddle on Embalse de Negratin.

   It was mid-morning by the time I reached Playa de Freila, assembled my kayak and was ready to take to the water.  Fog lay over the water when I first arrived, but it soon dispersed and the day was warming up nicely,  I set off towards the dam at the western end of the reservoir.

Submerged, or part submerged, trees were a hazard to watch out for:-

These ones were quite obvious:-

I had hoped to reach the dam on this trip, but several large inlets on my side of the reservoir, which just had to be explored, sort of spoiled that plan.  I did get a glimpse of it in the distance, from where I ate my picnic lunch, before having to head back.

Into an inlet  ..........

.........  and coming out again.

By mid-afternoon the water was mirror-like, and reflections on it were quite stunning:-

   Apart from gentle splashing of the paddle blades and the ripple of bow wave, the only other noise  was the occasional, distant sound of a chain-saw (or some such mechanical device) from in the countryside - oh, and once or twice the startled flurry and splashing of ducks taking off as I glided round a bend in an inlet.  Quiet paddling at its best.

   The first step of a circumnavigation of Embalse de Negratin has now started.  I think it  will take quite a few visits to complete it

The Maiden Voyage

   We live in the province of Almeria, in southern Spain.  A few weeks ago, in mid-October, Susan and I had a day out at the reservoir Embalse de Negratin in the adjoining Granada Province.  It was an exploratory visit to identify suitable places for launching a kayak.  According to maps and satellite pictures there are only three places along the 15 kilometre long reservoir where roads come close enough to get down to the water easily.  One of these spots we had visited on a previous trip, the other two were new to us.  According to a sign, clothes were optional on the beach at one of these new places - but nobody else was there, so we didn't feel prudish about keeping ours on!

   A few days later we went back with my kayak, to Playa de Freila, the launch place with the best facilities:-

Good access to the water ..........

The sign prohibits cars and motor boats from the beach.

..........  a nice bar and a good car park at the top of the slipway  .........

..........  and plenty of water to paddle on  .........

..........  both ways  .........

..........  like this  ..........

..........  and this  ..........

..........  and a bit of the shore, from the water  ..........

..........  and returning for lunch.

   After packing the kayak away we had a very good lunch at bar/restaurant Cortijo del Cura in the car park.

   And this is the 4 metres long Neris Valkure-1 kayak:-

It's collapsible.  When taken apart it all fits into one large backpack.

   More details of my kayak are on the  'My Kayak' and 'My Kayak Photo Gallery' pages.  Tabs for these are at the top of this Home page.