Catching Up.

   A run of days of light onshore winds made it possible to get down to the coast twice this week - to catch up with some kayaking that I'd been deprived of by weeks of fickle weather in the winter and spring.  Both trips were early morning starts, to beat the heat, with The Twist (my inflatable kayak) which was bought solely for short paddles on the sea in the summer.

   On both occasions I was afloat by about 0730h., back on the shore about 0930h. and home again before the hottest part of the day.

   On Monday I went to Garrucha, paddled the full length of the seafront, entered the harbour and mooched around in there for a while before retracing my route back again.  A bit of an easterly swell hitting the beach made getting afloat a bit tricky - but was achieved without mishap.  I was not so lucky landing on my return!  Fortunately, at that time of the morning, there weren't too many people around to witness some floundering around at the waters edge.  According to my GPS thingy I had paddled about 5 kilometres.

   Only one big ship was in the harbour - the Oslo Wave 2 (registered in Singapore) was loading gypsum.  This vessel, a general cargo ship of 12993 gross tonnage, had docked in the early hours of that morning - amazing what one can find out by just Googling the name of a ship.

   While I was mooching around, a Danish yacht (a large, sleek, fancy looking, plastic thing) left the visitor's berth and headed out to sea, passing near me.  The youngish, fit-looking crew of bronzed Nordic yachtsmen showed little interest in an old guy in a tiny inflatable kayak - so I didn't wish them 'bon voyage', as I would have done if they hadn't ignored me.

   On Wednesday I went to Mojácar.  There was still that easterly swell, so I went to a spot on the seafront where I was certain I could get afloat, and ashore again, without mishap.  In a little bay, created behind a stone and concrete mole, there  is almost always calm water, whatever the sea is like on the seaward side of the mole.  A pleasant couple of hours was spent paddling both ways along the shoreline.  There was very little wind when I set off but that freshened later, giving me an opportunity to practice using the drogue I always take with me.  It was very restful drifting slowly, held head to wind, along the coast with the drogue deployed.  The only mishap on this trip was the loss of a sun hat when I gust of wind whipped it off my head.  Despite frantic attempts to fish it out of the water I eventually had to watch it spiralling down into the depths.  Should have worn the one with the chinstrap!  Another 5 kilometres was covered in this occasion.

   Yesterday, when in a newsagents in Albox, I spotted a postcard, an aerial view, of the exact place where I had paddled on Wednesday :-

 
   The seaward corner of that little bay, just behind the mole, is a perfect spot for getting afloat when it is difficult to do so on an open beach.

   The last time I took my kayak to this spot was Thursday September 7th. 2017.  Several more photos of this place are on the blog of that date.

At Last

At last, for the first time this year, I have managed to get out on the water with my folding kayak for a 'proper' paddle.

I did get out with my small inflatable kayak (The Twist) one fine Saturday morning back in February (Feb. 9th.), but that was just for an hour or so pootling around in Garrucha harbour.  Ever since then fickle weather, on the coast and at Embalse de Negratin, has kept me off the water.  Whenever I looked ahead at a day which appeared good for kayaking, the weather forecast changed at the last minute and strong winds, from the worst possible directions, put paid to any plans.

However, yesterday, everything looked promising for an early morning start at Embalse de Negratin.  There was a last minute change in the forecast, but very high winds weren't predicted until late in the day.  I planned to be off the water long before then.  So I arrived at Playa de Freila at 7.00am and was all set up and on the water by 8.45am.  Breakfast had to wait until I was afloat.   The water level in the reservoir was much lower than when I was last here, so I expected the various inlets along the shoreline towards the dam to look very different.

Just a gentle headwind at the start.  A fresh N.W. wind was forecast for the morning, coming over the top of those high 'badlands' in the distance.  I had banked on it being a lighter wind at water level.

I didn't recognize this inlet at all from a previous trip along this bit of shoreline.

Sun bleached and weather-worn dead trees, stumps, roots and bushes were quite a feature of this trip.  Some were quite sculptural.  I could see mystical figures or creatures in all of them .... perhaps I shouldn't give my imagination free rein!

Some rock outcrops were quite nice also.

I stopped here for a leg-stretch and a comfort stop ..... also to try getting out of the kayak when fitted with the spray-deck which was supplied with it.  Until now I'd never felt the use for it .... but on this occasion I thought I would try it out and see how I managed getting in and out of a much reduced cockpit size.  Getting in had been O.K. but I thought I would try getting out again somewhere private, rather than embarrass myself when I got back to Playa de Freila and found an audience there!  Luckily I managed just fine, as there was quite a few people around on the shore when I did get back.

I got as far as the Torre de Maruq, the remains of an ancient Moorish lookout tower last visited on May 19th. 2017, before turning back at around 11.00am.  It was getting uncomfortably hot on the water by then.  The outward leg of this trip, dipping in and out of all the inlets, had taken just over two hours

As I made my way back to Playa de Freila the wind died away completely, leaving the water quite mirror-like.  However, this didn't last and the weather forecasters were eventually proved correct.  As I packed up to leave for home the wind came back with force ...... and  created a nasty chop on the water with flecks of white where wave tops were collapsing.  Just as well I had made an early start.

My straight-line return leg to Playa de Freila took just 45 minutes.  The cafe-bar, which was closed when I set off, in the car park at the top of the slipway, was now open and quite busy.

Time on the water for this quiet paddle was approximately 3 hours and the total distance paddled, according to my GPS thingy, was 6.95 kilometres.  All in all, a very nice morning on the water - it was good to finally get afloat again.

Perfect December Weather for a Quiet Paddle

   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!

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.