An Autumn Morning on Embalse de Negratin

   I got back to Embalse de Negratin with my folding kayak yesterday.  The weather has been very changeable recently, but the forecast of light winds and a zero chance of rain looked promising - however, I hadn't expected fog!  As I approached the reservoir at about 8:30 a.m., and could look down into the valley, I saw a bank of dense fog lying over the water.  Fortunately, by the time I reached the bathing and picnicking area (where I launched on my last visit) at the foot of Jabalcón, it didn't look so bad at the waters edge.  By the time I had assembled the kayak, and was ready to go afloat, the early morning fog was dispersing nicely and blue sky was appearing.

Plan for the day was to paddle down that big offshoot of the reservoir, which runs to the north west, opposite  Jabalcon.  One of the two areas of the reservoir I hadn't covered on previous visits.

I'm headed right down there.

Low cloud and some fog was still hanging around in the upper part of this offshoot.

Nearing the top, the water was getting very shallow and it was necessary to be watchful for submerged obstacles.

Must have been some big trees here before the valley was flooded.  Stumps like these were only just below the water surface in some places.

Couldn't get much further than this.  Too shallow and too many obstructions to look out for.  The water level has dropped by about a metre since I was last on Negratin, mid August.  I had expected to get much further up the valley than this.
Might have to make another visit next spring, when winter rains might have topped up the reservoir again.

Turned round and looked back towards Jabalcón.  A haze around the mountain gave the impression that fog might be reforming.  I believe that keen photographers would call this 'an atmospheric shot'.

Herons have built nests in those part-submerged dead trees.

There they are.

I had paddled into this stretch of water following the north shoreline and was paddling out along the south side.  A couple of hours had now passed, it was time for leg stretch and a coffee break - but where to stop?  This shoreline was muddy.

Another of those 'atmospheric shots'.

I finally found what looked like a firm bit of shoreline - but I was wrong!  Stepped out to find, too late, that a shingle surface hid the sticky stuff underneath.  Much cleaning up of kayak later (couldn't avoid carrying it back into the kayak on my sandals) but I had my coffee break regardless.

Blue sky, just a few clouds and not too hot - it was turning out to be a lovely day for a quiet paddle.

Lots more nests as I came back out into the main part of the reservoir.  The herons like these dead trees and there's plenty of dry twigs around.

   

Heading back to my starting point, at centre picture.  The haze had cleared from Jabalcón by early afternoon. 

Before I got there I came across this sticking out of the water.  From a distance it looked like a sculpture in steel.  It leans towards the shore and, to me, gave the impression of a multi-headed creature that had risen out of the water and was trying to reach the shore on spindly legs.

But it's just the top of an old electricity pylon!  Surprising that this was left standing when the dam was completed and the valley flooded.  I didn't see this the last time I passed this way.  Perhaps the water level was high enough then to cover it.  A hazard to watch out for in the future.








Time on the water was near enough four hours, including the coffee break.  Distance travelled was 11.5 kilometres.  It was a lovely day out.  Only a very small part of Embalse de Negratin now not seen.

The C15 camper van conversion (re. previous blog post) came into its own - could have a bit of a siesta on the sleeping platform before the drive home.  Quite comfy!

And Now Something Different!

This may well look like an ordinary Citroën C15 van, which it was for the past 14 years, but it's had a quick, cheap, makeover and now it can be (tongue-in-cheek) a one person, plus one folding (or inflatable) kayak, camper van!  For day trips and the occasional overnight stay.

Porta-kitchen and bedding are stowed in the space behind the front seats.  Kayaking stuff has been removed for clarity.

Mmm - sleeping platform wouldn't suit a tall person!  It is extra wide, and by laying diagonally it is just adequate for someone like myself.

Centre panel of sleeping platform lifts out.  Underneath are four shallow storage bays for the curtains and other light items.

Storage boxes on both sides.

Handy, folding stool/table.  A bargain from Ikea.

An awning for that extra bit of shade, or some protection from rain.

O.K.  Not a thing of beauty!  But the fabric, PVC oilcloth table protection material, was an end-of-roll bargain.  No other design was available at the price I paid.  And there's enough left over to make another two or three of these, if the fabric doesn't wear well.

Porta-kitchen - or, Kitchen-in-a-Box.  A little gas stove is suspended inside, inverted, attached to the lid.

Lid flipped over.  'Panniers' were another bargain from Ikea.

That cushion was a bag for diving equipment.  A folded up redundant exercise mat provided the padding.

Incorporated in the edge rail of the awning is a drying line.  I do occasionally get a bit wet when kayaking.

And so to bed.  The mattress is made from pillows that were surplus to requirements and pillowcases that were past their best.  The pillow cases were sewn edge to edge.  A lot of stuff got recycled in this makeover. The black cotton for the curtains came from Ikea.  And that's not a pepper grinder on the sleeping platform - it's a wind-up torch from Ikea.

Ikea helped a lot with this project!




No harm came to the C15 for this project.  No parts were removed, nothing was drilled or welded, and no alterations were made to the vehicle.  The van can be returned to its normal state in not much more than 15 minutes.

It's been a fun project.