Wednesday 23 November 2016

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.