Water : river rafting the Dunajec

The start point at Smorowce Nizne

The start point at Smorowce Nizne

Finally I reach the river rafting post, one of the highlights of my recent visit to Poland.  I think it fits quite well with Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge : Water.  It’s a subject that I love, though you might have to excuse the odd mountain creeping into the background.

Here come the rafts

Here come the rafts

And the experienced oarsman, of course

And the experienced oarsman, of course

And off we go!

And off we go!

The rafts have one older oarsman in the front, poleing skilfully and doing the commentary (po Polsku, of course!) while a younger model provides strength and endurance at the back.  We are very lucky with the day and the water is serene and calm.

A flat expanse of sunny water

A flat expanse of sunny water

We pass by the village of Czerwony Klasztor, in Slovakia

We pass by the village of Cerveny Klastor (Red Monastery), in Slovakia

With Trzy Korony (Three Peaks) visible on the Polish shore

With Trzy Korony (Three Peaks) visible on the Polish side

Under the bridge- don't forget to wave!

Under the bridge- don’t forget to wave!

Can you see the peaks of the Tatry Mountains in the distance?

Can you see the peaks of the Tatry Mountains in the distance?

We round a bend and the terrain changes completely

We round a bend and the terrain changes completely

For a while the boatman can sit and chat

For a while the boatman can sit and chat

And a party of school children are delighted to overtake us!

And a party of school children are delighted to overtake us!

The scenery is lush and green

The scenery is lush and green

Dwarfing us sometimes!

Dwarfing us sometimes

And naturally I get my bum wet in some of the faster eddies!

And, naturally, I get my bum wet in some of the faster eddies!

But all too soon the journey ends and we are pulling in to shore

But all too soon the journey ends and we are pulling in to shore

I hope you enjoyed my watery journey.  It took about 2 hours through the Dunajec Gorge, and ended up back at Szczawnica, where I was staying.  If you ever have the opportunity to go there, don’t hesitate.

But first you need to visit Cee, and have a little more fun with water.

101 comments

  2. Wow, Jo, this looks like a beautiful and fun journey. I love white water rafting and once went down huge rapids in Idaho’s Salmon River for 7 days, in two-man inflatable canoes. There were a number of times I thought I was going to die! The scenery here is beautiful, and I Iove the mountains in the distance. I wish I had been along on this trip! But since I couldn’t be, at least it was great to come along vicariously. 🙂

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    1. You’ll have to do the same for me from China, Cathy 🙂 (if it goes that way, of course!) Let me come along vicariously, I mean. It must be almost a year since you had your European adventure. I think we were away for Mick’s birthday, July 12th. Right now Dadirridreaming (Christine) is doing the same kind of thing. I think she meets Marianne tomorrow 🙂 We miss her by a day!
      I could be a mountain girl, Cathy. They do something to your soul, don’t they? White water? I’m a bit of a scaredy cat but I might try, given the opportunity (and warm water, please- I hate cold water, except to drink). Enough ramblings from me. Take care, hon 🙂

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      1. I know, Jo, almost a whole year now since I was in Spain and Portugal. It seems like so long ago, but I can still close my eyes and remember how it felt to be in Europe. I adored it. We’ll see what happens with China. If not there, then I’m sure I’ll go somewhere!! It’s way too boring being here in the USA with no money to travel!!!

        I could be a mountain girl too, Jo. I love the mountains and the water. 🙂

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  4. That looks like lots of fun Jo. I can see you truly enjoyed it. Great shots and thanks for sharing this beauty. It’s really lovely there. 😀

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    1. I was so happy I chose to go there, Sonel. The rafting was a lovely experience, in perfect weather 🙂
      What time is it there in SA? I can never remember the time difference? I’ll come visit in a while but I’m just finishing up my Monday walk. No nasty surprises for me this week, I hope? 🙂

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      1. It’s 7:38 am here Jo and sorry to hear you have nasty surprises when you visit my blog. I guess it’s something you will have to get used to if you want to continue visiting my blog, because I love taking photo’s of these little critters and to me they are beautiful and not scary at all. Your choice. 🙂

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  5. That would be my kind if river rafting Jo ! Stupendous scenery . How lovely to be enjoy it all at a more leisurely pace like that rather than upping and downing screaming as I would be on one of those other sorts we’ve all seen on TV . EEEK

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  8. Pingback: Six word Saturday | restlessjo

  13. Okay, that’s it! You have me convinced thoroughly. I need to look up river rafting. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous sceneries. Triple awesome experience too! This is something I need to do before I exit out of the world.

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    1. Hi Rommel 🙂 It was beautiful, and a lot of fun. Not exactly your white knuckle ride but I can’t think when I’ve spent a better couple of hours. Love your enthusiasm. I’m sure you’d like Poland.

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  14. fun!! I went river rafting once many moons ago on the Cheat River in West VA. I have a shirt that says “I cheated the Cheat” 😀 and I think it was white water rafting. I recall that everyone in our boat fell in at least once. I loved it!! Fun photos, love the one with the reflections in the water.

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    1. That sounds a little more boisterous than my ride, Tobyo 🙂 We were quite sedate by comparison, but it was a beautiful ride. River Cheat is a funny name for a river, isn’t it?

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    1. Thanks, Bebs 🙂 It doesn’t look too promising so I’ll probably spend most of it watching French Open tennis on TV and hopping round the blogs playing catch up (and the ironing- don’t mention the ironing!)

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  16. What a charming way to spend a couple of hours with someone else doing all the work. Are you not tempted by the Colorado river Jo? I’m hoping to do some water journeys next week too, but not on a raft sadly. Enjoy the weekend Jo. I have a lovely garden for you on Monday’s walk 🙂

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    1. I’m tempted by all kinds of things, Jude, but I don’t have the cash to indulge. And I’m not sure I’d be brave enough for white water. I’d like to think I’d give it a go 🙂 That and the ‘copter ride. In my dreams! I dare say you can do it on YouTube 🙂
      A gentle boat ride on Ullswater or Derwentwater would be nice. And LOTS of walking 🙂

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    1. The whole area was magical, Tina! The Dunajec ran right through Szczawnica, where I stayed, and there were fountains and thermal spas with that mountain backdrop. Brilliant!
      I bet the wedding was wonderful Will we see some photos? 🙂

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  18. An excellent post for Cee’s challenge, Jo. It looks so tranquil and the scenery is really picturesque. I’m sure your time on the raft went by much too quickly. Your boatman looks like a very pleasant character. Happy weekend to you. 🙂

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    1. I’ve been winding my way towards this post for weeks, Ad, and I thought it just might fit the bill with Cee’s challenge. Otherwise it might have ended up in Six word Saturday! I’m back in Portugal on Wednesday and it’s time to switch heads 🙂

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      2. I haven’t been to the Algarve since January, Ad. It’s just that I keep wittering on about places. Gives the impression I’m a wanderer 🙂 🙂 And you know I’m a home bird!

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