Paddling in Spain

Mission "Working and paddling, there must be something going on..." or "Paddling in Spain" - Spain - 2009

Once upon a time there was a project in Spain, so far and very unspectacular, except that it was planned on a greenfield site. That's why I had to go there for a week in September for meetings, which was quite stressful because (despite being a German company) communication was almost impossible without an interpreter (in English or German). Some other things were also unfamiliar:

But I had to realize that Pamplona not only had the bullfight, but was also in quite a hilly area. The weather was perfect.

The next stay was longer, but in December and everyone was already focused on X-Mas. This gave me plenty of time for culture and scouting.

I checked out 3 glorious rivers in 8 hours and rated them as very interesting.

The third stay (everyone was there again, so more work) was now to be used for paddling. So I checked with Lufthansa, but they wanted to charge me about 800 euros for my Kinpin6.3 (193cm long) for a kayak up to 5 meters. So I tried to use it as a suitcase, but without success. So I turned it into a normal suitcase and set off with everything except the kayak and paddle. In Spain, I ran into a lot of problems at first, as I found 4 more streams that were feasible, but no possibility of renting a boat in English or German. Even the paddlers I found on the creeks didn't understand or didn't want to. On the Monday after the last weekend (I had already done all the important work), I found a store that sold Eskimos and had test boats. I got the Xeno for free, but the paddle was 215cm long...

So the next day I finished work at lunchtime (then spent the night in the hotel catching up on work) and went straight to the most promising stream, Salazar. The gorge is very impressively deep at around 300 meters, but there were 2 short sections that couldn't be scouted and I was on my own. It is supposed to be WW2-3. There is also enough water, according to the WEB: just above bueno. The schedule also fits, so let's go.

Everything is going well, every now and then it sets me up, the Xeno is not a creeker. The first unseen part is not worth mentioning and the time passes quite well. As the 2nd unseen part approaches, however, it becomes more sporty and enters WW4. But this was also quite clear and safe to ride, so on we go (now it would have taken a huge effort to break off the ride on our own). Well, it gets narrower and steeper and the hairpin bends become quite sporty. I find a waterfall about 3 meters high and think that somehow it doesn't look like an artificial, partially decaying dam that I was warned about in the store. As I'm also scouting the next cataract, I'm a little worried as the next part can no longer be scouted from the bank and I have to tackle a few daring switchbacks to see more. So down the waterfall (if I don't manage that, then the rest is a big problem and I'll see to it that I get out of there without equipment or I'll wait for the rescue service, which Anja should alert from D from 9 pm if I don't get in touch). The waterfall was OK and I had to climb quite a bit from Kehrwasser... to see that I still needed a switchback to assess the main step. Done, done ...and then looked to see if I could climb out... ;o) Not possible, so I had to look again ___TOTALLY_EXACTLY___... Found the line and off I go. It went well, but the sun was already so low (Foz de Arbayun on Salazar, don't paddle late, you can't see anything when it gets interesting) that the smaller roller after that gave me a good shake and after the 2nd rollover including a roll I was able to surf out sideways. But what came next, straight off the edge and I had just passed the last real eddy. So I turned around quickly and positioned myself on a 900 square centimeter swell and clung to the wall (comparable to the edge of the old swimming pool). As I couldn't see anything that corresponded to a calming passage or the announced sweep water at the dam, I pulled myself up the wall and was also able to save the boat. I could see the misery clearly from above.

The guy in the store later was also very surprised when I reported that the water was over the dam and quickly checked the water level... 30 seconds later I was known in the store as the Crazy German who had paddled the Foz de Arbayun at high water (which is undefined in Spain, as it never actually occurs) and I was immediately offered membership of the local WW club, which would mean I would have passed the entrance test many times over and the permit that you actually need to paddle in Spain would also be included.

So now I was able to carry it around and after that it was only WW1...

The next day was to be an easier WW3-4, that was my decision. Always nicely along the road:Arga

Now all I had to do was cycle back with the MTB I had parked earlier and give Anja a quick call. Changing in February, totally relaxed without freezing and a towel was also interesting.

Next day, new luck... Well, WW3-4 was 50% above minimo and well below bueno... and more like WW1-2. But also nice (relaxing).

Then we went back to D and the 4th stay had to be planned. So first I built a divisible paddle (thanks to Micha for the adapter sleeve) and checked out the airlines. But then I decided to take the Xeno again. So I was back in April (disappointingly rainy and cool weather) and planned the only weekend well (work early on Sat, paddle in the afternoon, paddle Gallego on Sun (further away), paddle on Mon in the afternoon to make up time for Sat morning). That went according to plan.

Saturday paddled the Esca, mostly close to the road and was almost problem-free (only a step held me back a bit) and the bike back was a bit strenuous.

Then on Sunday to the obligatory river, the Gallego (at a considerable 52sqm over bueno 12sqm). The question was whether I would take the part above the usual entry point (if I had already cycled that far, about 150km of country road). It was the only stream for the day, it was raining (so it would stay that way) and there were only 2 km more to cycle. So OK, make it so. Now change of plan when moving due to rain: Cycle in a wetsuit first, then the rain won't matter at all. The start was also very sporty, but I wasn't all there, a few hydros also got mixed up. But I prefer to "carry around" the next stage, as there are still a few more kilometers to paddle and the hydros are too slow a good 900 meters behind me.

When I reach the chute, I don't bother, the weather is too bad. The photo is from February:

The siphon section on the rock was flooded and was easy and safe to paddle.

Then on Monday I paddled the Irati (WW4), also at high water (22qm, 12qm are bueno). This is also a gorge, but not so deeply cut and therefore easier to paddle around or break off. But there was only one place (next to the previously scouted weirs) where a portage was considered (exact paddling is also possible)

After that I still had 2 hours, which is too little for another short gorge, but you can scout the weir in the Salazar again (now at 8qm between bueno and minimo):

Now the paddling was over, the weather was nice again and the project was complete.

Conclusion: not necessarily recommended for imitation.

The next project could be in Chattanooga/USA, where there are also rivers/raft companies ...

I have made 2 films (helmet camera), which are available to download on request (hdberger@web.de).

HD