We met early on Saturday morning at Café Java, and loaded with cappucinos our four cars headed towards Hairy Lemon, a world class kayaking place at the source of Nile River (pics1&2). Together with eight other beginners I participated in an intro day. Our morning program consisted of learning basic kayaking skills - paddling, entering and exiting currents, being rescued - on flat water. Compared to long distance kayaks, our short river kayaks felt light and agile (pic3).
After lunch it was time to put our newly learned skills into practice. We moved on the river crossing both down and upstream currents, finishing at the famous Nile Special rapids (class 3/4). For once I decided not to be fuzzy but attempt at going down the powerful rapids. Since the water is deep and there are no rocks, it is almost impossible to get hurt.
My experience: cross one rapid...cross another rapid...oops flip over...yey back upwards again, paddle...yet another rapid...turn...damn flip over again...get out of kayak...grasp for breath...more rapids...rescued on a guide's kayak.
Others' description: successful first rapids...back flip...get on surf...attempt 360...give up. Apparently I unintentionally managed to perform some freestyle tricks! After getting back ashore I enjoyed a well deserved beer, considering my Nile Special attempt as the day's grande finale. Little did I know back then.
As we had just began our return to the centre, it started storming heavily. Sun was going down quickly. I was hell scared being out on the water when it was thundering and lighting right above us. When our guides spotted a suitable place, we dragged our kayaks ashore and sat as close to each other as possible, shivering in pouring rain. The best we could do was to open our remaining beers and sodas, singing "we are the champions, no time for lightning, we are the champions of Nile". I acknowledged that particular moment as one to be remembered long afterwards.
It was getting darker and darker. Our guides decided we needed to cross the last stretch when we could still see something. So we got back into the water and kayaked to the centre, as every now and then lighting lit up the sky. We made it back just in time, as it was already pitch dark when we carried our kayaks to their stalls. Right at arrival, soaked wet but relieved, we got a round of sambucca shots on the house. In consensus, we stated that the day had been epic.
After putting on dry clothes we ate dinner with good appetite and continued the night with dancing and chatting. The next day most of us just relaxed with sunbathing, swimming and reading. Too soon it was time to return to real life from the beautifulness of Hairy Lemon.
Here is a cool video of our adventure: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdEka_7hX1s&feature=YouTube.beg
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