Day 1 and 2 were spent travelling to Slovenia.
Day 3 30/7/11
After buying a river ticket, we went to paddle the part of the river we intended to take the group on the next day. The group were all arriving later that day. The section was from Napoleon Most to Volarje, an Easy grade 2, good to get the group started. As we only had one vehicle, I had packed my bicycle to use for shuttling. After our paddle it started raining, luckily the rain started after I had shuttled on my biycycle. We returned to the campsite to see how many had turned up, and await the rest of the group to arrive.
Day 4 31/7/11
Even after the long trip the day before, everybody was up early. Meeting at 10.00am to paddle. The weather was sunny with a few clouds. We took the whole group down the same stretch we had checked out the day before. No cycling today, enough vehicles to do the shuttle, the rain held off as well.
Day 5 1/8/11
On the second day of the group paddling, we split them in to 2 groups, based on ability and experience. One group paddling the Kontnica from Kluse down to it’s confluence with the Soca river. Then continuing on down the Soca river to Cezsoca, where we planned to pick up the other group, and go on down the river to Boka. Our plans went adrift when we had a swimmer early on, on the Kontnica . It took a while to reunite them with their boat. We rescued the swimmer before the gorge but the boat made it’s way through the gorge before being recovered. To compound our timings, a bit of rain made the river disappear in mist. Slowing our speed on the final half of the Kontnica. So a quick paddle down the Soca river to Cezsoca to meet the other group. Saw most of them change their minds about paddling in the rain, so they went off to the swimming pool. Leaving us with only 1 person to coach. I hopped off and drove down to meet them at the Boka get out.
Day 6 2/8/11
We paddled with one group from Cezsoca to Sprenica 1. The second group peer paddling down this section meeting us at Sprenica 1. Then joining us to paddle the next section to Sprenica 2, once the first group had got off. Sprenica 2 has a steep climb out, but the next section down to the slalom course is grade 4. So it was all out and the long climb. A good days paddling with both groups doing well with no real problems.
Day 7 3/8/11
One group decided on a day off, as the weather looked good for views from the top of the local mountain, mount Kanin. We took the other group from Zmudlea to Cezsoca.
Bad day for me, I broke my paddle! Out with the splits. The last rapid before getting out we had a swimmer, no other problems, plus the sun shone.
Day 8 4/8/11
The day before's rested group, paddled Cezsoca to Sprenica 1. A rest day for the others. We had fun and games doing the shuttle, As we drove down the narrow dirt track to Sprenica 1 to drop off a car. A commercial rafter's bus came the other way at speed, I managed to find a passing place in time as they were not stopping. The bus just about squeezing past. The car following me for the shuttle, couldn’t get as far in to the passing place as me. The bus wasn’t slowing down, but in avoiding the car it got very close to the road edge which gave way. Stopping the van half on and half off the road. Lots of people then tried without success to recover the van. When the locals started shouting at our car driver doing the shuttle, a strategic retreat to the top of the lane was made. After a while with nobody going up or down the lane, I left my van and went back up to find the car. Sorting the shuttle out after we paddled. The paddling was ok, with one of the group going with the coaches to Sprenica 2. The coaches went on to the start of the slalom course at Trnovo, on the grade 4 section.
Day 9 5/8/11
The long day (for the coaches). 2 groups doing 2 unconnected sections of river. Zmudlea to Cezsoca for one group. Then a return to the Kontinica down to Cezsoca for the other group.
The group doing Zmudlea to Cezsoca all swam at the same spot, the second rapid. On the third rapid one of them hurt their shoulder. I made the decision to walk them out. Carrying their boat for them, leaving my boat to be towed down the river by one of the coaches. All the group and kit were reunited at the get out. The coaches then went off to run the Kontinica with the other group, finishing paddling at about 5.30pm, close to the rivers 6.00pm close for paddlers.
Day 10 6/8/11
Rain and a day off for all was decided. At last time to read my book and relax.
Day 11 7/8/11
We got on at Boka with one group and went to Sprenica 1 with them, they were a bit lack lustre that day, so all but one of them got off. We had intended taking them to Sprenica 2. The other group joined us at Sprenica 1 and we paddled all the way to Trnovo with them. A couple of the group didn’t want to do the grade 4 section from Sprenica 2 to Trnovo, so we dropped them off at Sprenica 2. Just 2 swims on the grade 4 section, both at the same place, one of them being our helper. Whilst we were rescuing them, it started to rain heavily.
Day 12 8/8/11
Heavy rain overnight, brought the rivers up above the high levels on the river guage. The tents of 4 of the group were flooded out overnight. In the morning they decided to return home early. As it was still raining and the rivers were still rising, We took nobody paddling.
Day 13 9/8/11
Strong winds overnight saw my gazebo blow away, to be consigned to the rubbish bin in the morning. Heavy rain also brought the river even higher. It was now in the trees on the river bank. So no paddling again today. The sun now shone. The campsite was empty.
Day 14 10/8/11
No more rain overnight, and bright sunshine today, so we paddled from Cezsoca to Sprenica 1, very quick, a fantastic level. Lots of bouncy waves and very few eddies. A totally different river and a new experience for most of the group.
Day 15 11/8/11
A sad day, it was time for some more of the group to leave. The trip was nearly over. The coaches and helper paddled from Zmuda to Cezsoca. Big bouncy and fast, great. The sun was out and it was starting to warm up during the day.
Day 16 12/8/11
The water levels dropped very slightly overnight, we paddled Sprenica 1 to 2. We had planned to go on to Trnovo, but some of the group were feeling below par with colds and 2 of the group were going home the next day and wanted to finish on a high. Now that the water levels were higher on the grade 4 section. Interesting swirling eddies all the way down, and lovely hot sunshine. Fantastic paddling.
Day 17 13/8/11
Just two of the coaches left to paddle to day, so out with the bike again for shuttling. Zmuda to Cezsoca. Totally different river characteristics than last time we paddled it with the group. The final rapid was long, bouncy and big. What a paddle to be the last one of the trip. Off back to the campsite to start packing for the journey home the next day.
Day 18 14/8/11
After we woke up, we packed the van and finally took down the tent. Start of the journey home. The outward trip in reverse.
Slovenia into Italy, then on through Austria into Germany. Stopping overnight in France. Then the next day back into Germany and then Luxembourg, Belguim, France and Euro tunnel home.
Day 19 15/8/11
A quick stop in Citie de Europe at Calais to stock up on wine. A bite to eat and of to catch the 8.30pm Euro tunnel train. Arriving home by 10pm, having gained an hour with the time change from France to England. 2000 miles plus of driving a great time and now it was all over.
