A run of nice warm blue-sky days (still continuing) and a forecast of light winds, if any wind at all on Embalse de Negratin, was too good to miss. So, on Tuesday morning, at first light, I headed off to paddle the only bit of the reservoir not covered on my previous visits - the few kilometres of shoreline from Playa Nudista towards the dam. As there is road access at Playa Nudista I chose to launch there, for the first time since starting my paddling on this reservoir.
On this occasion I took my inflatable kayak, The Halibut. I'd only used it once before, on just a trial run, and I wanted to see what it was like to paddle over a much longer distance, when fair weather was almost guaranteed - and it was just fine.
At the end of the road to the reservoir are these signs. They imply "clothes to the left" , "no clothes to the right" - decisions, decisions! However, being December, and although warm in the sun it was chilly in the shade, the decision was easy!
A remnant of summer passed! This is termed a beach (playa) but it's not much of one, especially when the water is so low - which also made it a poor place to launch from. The only parking is up the top, where the trees are, and it took me three trips to walk the kayak, associated gear and all the other 'stuff' down to the waters edge. By 'stuff' I mean things that solo paddling in a near wilderness area dictates that I should carry. My 'what if' bag is a comprehensive, and pretty hefty, piece of kit. It was such a relief to finally get afloat and paddling.
It was a beautiful calm morning for a quiet paddle. The reflections on the water were so good that it was sometimes difficult to make out where water finished and land started.
This is the first time I've come across the remains of a building in the reservoir. The area covered by this one is too small to be a dwelling - maybe it was a store or animal pen. Before the dam was built this was a very fertile and well cultivated valley. There must be many buildings down there in the depths. Those posts sticking up are a reminder of what hazards to watch out for just beneath the surface. Fortunately the water is generally nice and clear, especially near the shoreline - where, as a lone paddler, I tend to be.
Nearly at my turn-back point. I started somewhere far way in the distance on the left.
Hazy mist hung around the lower slopes of Jabalcón all the time I was there.
Here, deep in this fjord-like inlet was my turn-back point of this visit. Everything past this inlet I have seen before. I'd actually been into this inlet on a previous trip, but I thought, as I might not be back this way again for some time, that I might as well do it all again. It's one of the biggest inlets of Embalse de Negratin.
There was a gentle headwind as I emerged from that inlet and started paddling back to my starting point.
Sometimes rock outcrops seem to take on life-forms. Here I can see some sort of creature lying down for a drink at the water's edge. Or do I just have a weird imagination!?
That breeze started fading away as I got nearer to Playa Nudista.
Nearly there. The Naturista beach is in that dip just left of centre of the photo and the other beach is along the shore, to the right of centre - and my van is a white speck among the trees there. Being December, both beaches were deserted - so I thought! There is a camper-van tucked away among the trees on the headland in the centre. I only spotted it just before I took this photograph. I thought I had this area all to myself - you just never know who might be watching!
This rather dilapidated bridge is not far from where I launched. The track leading to it has been sealed off - for obvious reasons! The blue pontoon thing is a bathing platform, drifted here from the beach area - another remnant of summer past.
And so ends a very enjoyable quiet paddle. The water was again mirror-like when I was ready to leave in the late afternoon.
9 kilometres paddled in 3 hrs. 15 mins. - fueled by Kendal Mint Cake and a bottle of water. No coffee breaks or lunch stops this trip.
I have now paddled every metre of the shoreline of Embalse de Negratin - every bay, inlet and side shoot has been delved into. No doubt it will all look very different if the reservoir ever gets back to full capacity. Might have to do it all over again!
