SÁZAVA 2007; the English version

21. května 2007 v 21:46 | George
The English version is adapted my English ability. Try to read the story in Czech language.
See pictures in section OBRÁZKY
19.5.2007
A down part of the river stands for the nicest river of the Bohemia. It is running through the deep valley, 7 drivable weirs are standing into rout, one of them impassable.
A going for the water (how we Czech watermen saying) belongs to every year sport activity, in the same time like going to mountains (skiing) or driving on bicycle. As a small boy I was going with my dad, later with girlfriends, consequently with my wife, logically then with my children, colleagues from my work and for the last time with my friends from the Konvikt.
I have enjoyed going to water. During several hours or days you spend unrepeatable things.
I like very nice time period of enjoying. Today it is more interesting, you can follow water level on the Internet website. On the other site you can miss a moment of surprising. For those who are interesting in numbers I am able to give you ones (everybody must forgot it like me):
Rout: Týnec na Sázavou - Pikovice;
Date: 19th May 2007, Saturday;
Time of ensure from Týnec: 10 a.m.
Arrival time to Pikovice: about 4. p.m. (a main group)
Water mark in Nespeky: 60 cm;
Weather: absolutely clear weather without any cloud, in the morning cool, afternoon about 26 C.
Total number of participants: 28 (24 with common reduce ticket + 2 who came later + 2 who joined in Týnec).
(Mirek, Megan, Rob, Marta, Mark, Scott, Anna, Anežka, Mellisa, Gabi, Monika, Karen, Tracy, Brigitta, Elisa, Fernanda, Soňa, Catherina, Vinny, George, George´s Jane; Jane, friend of Jane and VIP: Andrea, Sean, David);
Numer of borrowed canoe: 11 plus 1 raft for 6 people.
Price of canoe Vydra for 2 people: 385 Kč including an insurance against unfavorable level of water.
Departure:Praguemain station,7.20 a.m.(underground C)
Departure form Pikovice - railway station - Petrov u Prahy 5.41 p.m.
Arrival to Prague Main station: along timetable: 6.43 p.m., reality: 7.00 p.m.
Calculated price of a Czech railway common ticket with Prague public transport: Praha Zbraslav - Týnec nad Sázavou - return ticket - 40 Kč.
Visitation pub places:
1. the second wear Brejlov, a glass of beer: 20 Kč, grill sausage: 20 Kč;
2. U Zlomeného kajaku ( By breaking kayak): a glass of beer: 20 Kč, grill neck 50 Kč, coffee 15 Kč, lemonade 15 Kč;
3. Kamenný přívoz - left side behind the bridge, a glass of beer: 18 Kč, fruit dumplings (3 piece) 57Kč
4. Pikovice - a glass of beer: 20 Kč (I am not sure)
5. Ferdinanda, the corner of Politických věznů street and Opletalova street, a glass of beer 12: 27Kč, toast (3 pieces) 55 Kč; http://www.ferdinanda.cz
Next action in the same day which were connected with the river Sázava
ThePraguemain station was crowded, in the Czech language it is said "there were people like flies". It is arranged the famous march Praha - Prčice from different places of theCzechRepublic. A train was not completely full and so we are sitting. With rate of snake we are going along the riverVltava, then we are continuing more slowly to Týnec nad Sázavou. A view to the river Sázava is not cheerful, it is low lavel of water. Compared to last year it is about one meter less.
A borrowing of canoes was without problems. Every crew is writing a conditions agreements about trip, where there is written that if property would not be returned - it is necessary cover damage - the canoe Vydra would cost 14.000 Kč, the raft 6 places 24.000 Kč, paddle 400 Kč and so on. The canoes have to be returned to 5.00 p.m. if it would not be you should pay the fine 700 Kč.
A part of our expedition had to wait for borrowing of the raft, while the crews which had the canoe were practicing on the water. They were going against the river. When the raft put out river I was thinking that my canoe is the last one so we did not to arrange a meeting in a typical Czech river pub. I could not to explain a special tramp life of Czech people and addiction on staying in open air of nature.
At first I had doubts if some participants could get to Pikovice, but water is clever and after time all members of crews were able to use paddles and control canoes. With David, Mark and my wife we enjoyed glasses of beer and sausages on the second weir (Brejlov), all groups saw each other in the third wear (Kaňov), where was not beer. Then we lost a control about our movement. The river was crowded with the canoes. What was their route they have to write themselves.
Our group tuned a form in pub with name "By the broke kayak", next in another pub in "Kamenný přívoz" on the left bank.
Waterman pubs have got unrepeatable magic a specific color. It is place where tramps meet, overripe adventures, sport fanatic, drinkers and human cabbages who are addict on spirit.
A friendly river shows us its traitorous and some crows had opportunity to test a temperature of water with all surface of body. We who only observed it had a lot of fun of surprising faces, wet T-shirts and pouring out water from canoes. Fortunately, the weather was fantastic and anybody did not complain on cold.
I was happy I could help my friend Mar, Gabi, Sona, Mellisa, Anezka and so on. And I was delighted when I met David and next participants of the trip in Pikovice pub. They returned canoes and the raft, they were shifted, were drinking beer and listening to folk music. I think they were happy, only some of them caught color of American Indians.
To Prague we got without any problems. I closed my eyes only for short time - I could not let saga about river and from medical and school scene.
A hard core went to balance to Ferdinando (thaks to David); tired person limped home. About our water adventure were talking only drying mobiles and camera lying on the white table clothes.
In the end I had to say my obligatory 1000 sentences, replied questions why American and confederation flags were flying around the river, why I do not like slaves and slavers. After calling our well known interjection NADRAZI we decided to go home. And what was the best - of course PEOPLE.
George
PS: we are meeting on the top of the SNEZKA
During the absence Kate - we did not have a dance lessons and floating bay (soulodit).
 
Buď první, kdo ohodnotí tento článek.

Komentáře

1 Monika Monika | 23. května 2007 v 8:42

George, thank you for organizing the canoe trip.

I have got the best sailor and got the right instruction how to survive and enjoy the river. I haven´t any bruises any scratchesack. I feel fantastic. It was really amazing event!!!

I am looking forward to meet you on Snezka.

2 G G | 23. května 2007 v 10:56

Gabi, 21.5.2007 12:34

Thank you, George, for organizing that canoe trip.

Today I realized that I have several bruises, some scratches, my right part of the back is aching and sitting on my chair is almost unbearable. But despite of that it was really fantastic event!!! I am looking forward to the photos.

3 Olin Olin | E-mail | 23. května 2007 v 16:28

Many thanks to George for nice river trip!

Let me share my impression of the trip. Sun was shining sky without any cloud and water warm :-) Water level was on the lower border of optimum. George and his Jana are perfect couple not only in their private life, but also on the boat. Blade was this year much better steersman than last time, but to fast so we had first beer together when we arrived to Prague. Some of us probably do not like high temperatures so they tried to cool down by swimming especially under the rapids. I saw Sona, Gagina, Mark, Magan, Jana, Ondra, Melissa and Anezka. Finally I was fascinated how good is my boat mate Monca. She kept instructions and did exactly what was expected so we had any troubles on the river. Moreover she was suitably dressed and also her shoes colored by her hand looked like they were made just for water sports by some well known mode factory!

In conclusion - it was my best canoeing this year!

See you on the next trip Snezka :-))

Olin

4 Jani Jani | E-mail | 28. května 2007 v 22:34

As a souvenir of this kanoe trip, I have kept a huge colourful bruise on my thigh (as our boat turned over and hit me) and wonderful memories.

Lovely people, sunny weather, lots of fun - it really was a trip to remember!

Thanks for taking us with you and see you all on top of Snezka!

Jana and Ondra (the water-fighters :o)

5 Blade Blade | E-mail | Web | 4. června 2007 v 13:44

A little late with my report, but here it is.

It was good to see such a turnout for the trip. It seemed that people had amanged to deal with the booking form for canoes without too much difficulty and there was a good mix of Czechs and non-Czechs. It was also clear from a quick look at everybody who was experienced in this kind of adventure and who was a relative novice.

After arriving in Tynec successfully, everybody started to get their coanoe together. The 6-man raft seemed a little reluctant to move from thier smoking position to collect their raft, but they eventually got things together and everybody started to launch their boats onto the river amid last minute preparations including sponges, barrels, suncream and in my own case rolling a supply of cigarettes to see me through the trip.

Now we really started to see who knew what as some experts paddled up and down waiting for the rgoup to be ready whilst others went round in circles or sat stranded on a rock.

Soon we were all sailing down the river. Karen and I seemed to be coping pretty well even if not quiet as controlled as the true watermen on the trip. At least we were mroe or less able to get the boat going in the right direction and enjoy watching the exploits of the 6-man raft (Vinny/Sean/Tracy/Brigitta/Andrea/Ben?? did I remember well?) Will we ever know who the captain of this boat was?

Before long, we arrived at the first refreshment stop at Brejlov weir and had a quick beer and sausage to keep us going. Some of the goup must have already gone on ahead as this was only with George, Jana, Mark, Megan, Fiona and Elisa. Mark was a little disappointed as they didn't have a sausage ready for him.

I had a look at the weir and how people travelled through it without any problems, but at the same time remembered my last trip down the river when there was also some swimming involved. Especially on a hot day, it isn't so bad to go for a swim in the cool water, but I remembered how difficult it was to keep your feet if you fall in and how the canoe sailss off and needs to be emptied and how it is so much easier to stayin the boat if possible.

There was a choice to carry the boat over the weir, which Elisa and Fiona did, but aren and I decided that we would try the weir and were very satisfied to get throughit with only some minimal splashing.

We continued at quite a leisurely pace and continued to laugh at some of the boats wth us that were going in circles. We watched a few people go 'unplanned' swimming and spent time sponging out canoes while the 'watertight' barrels were emptied, mobiles and cameras dried, and spare dry clothes wrung out.

This left us some way behind the main group of people. We had no idea where they now were and did not have any contact numbers for them, so we continued on. With so many canoes on the river, all yellow and everybody in red life jackets, it was difficult to find our party. I hoped we would here some shouts from the pubs along the river bank, but we carried on.

Our biggest disappointment of the day soon arrived. As we came around one bend in the river, we saw the banner saying 'end of trip'. We had arrived at the end wthout meeting our group for beer and food, but it wasn't possible to go back up the river to find them. We were the first to arrive at the end, along with the 6-man raft. Brigitta cheered us up by falling in the river and we consoled ourselves by heading to the pub near the country music festival.

It wasn't so long before the main group arrived and while it was a shame not to meet them more often on the way down the river, it was nice to travel back to Prague and have a beer U Ferdinanda to complete the trip.

Big thanks to Karen for being an excellent partner down the river. We crossed every weir successfully and only once took on a bit too much water when distracted by some ducklings crossing the river.

Lessons learnt from this trip:

1. put suncream on your feet as well.

2. if you see a pub, stop.

3. take plenty of sponges with you

And now to write a Sneza report...

6 Blade Blade | E-mail | Web | 8. června 2007 v 13:40

Hmmm. I just re-read my report and there are some really bad mistakes in that English for a teacher to be making.

Special prizes for finding the mistakes - I don't know if it is possible to edit what is there??

Maybe I will write the Snezka report in Czech so there aren't any embarrassing mistakes. Lots of mistakes, yes, but embarrassing, no.

Komentáře jsou uzavřeny.