{"id":34743,"date":"2024-12-22T00:00:27","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T08:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/?p=34743"},"modified":"2025-01-07T17:30:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T01:30:39","slug":"supping-europes-blue-heart-a-descent-of-the-vjosa-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/12\/22\/supping-europes-blue-heart-a-descent-of-the-vjosa-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Supping Europe’s Blue Heart: A Descent of the Vjosa River"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe it was the low light. Or maybe we were a little on edge, worn down from long days, stout headwind, and turbulent water. Either way, the river felt dramatic and intimidating, glowing and gurgling as it pounded onto the far side of the canyon wall. The sun reached the top of the headwall above us, illuminating the biggest water we had seen yet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Claire was already rattled. Jay had been constantly coaching her through sections, at times shuttling her board through the more technical rapids. I had already capsized twice, one of which found me wrapped up in my leash and pinned under my board. Whatever tension was on the leash failed to release, and the swim lasted over 100 m. It wasn’t a huge deal\u2014the water was warm and there was a large pool after the rapid\u2014but it did speak to our situation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Martin and I watched as Jay and Claire set off across a short stretch of calm water above the rapid, aiming for an easier portage on the opposite bank. Awkward and heavy with two people and gear, they capsized almost immediately. <\/span>Jay hopped back up and extended his hand to Claire, pulling her back on the board. But it was too late. The river drew them into her guts, flipping the board and swallowing them whole.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n

The Vjosa<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

The Vjosa River, one of Europe\u2019s last wild rivers, flows freely from the mountains in Greece westward to the sea. It recently won an unbelievable battle<\/a> against a series of proposed dam projects, culminating in the establishment of the Vjosa Wild River National Park <\/a><\/span> to protect this valuable lifeline and aid ecotourism projects in the region.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our goal was to paddle the length of the river all the way to the sea.\u00a0<\/span> We had given ourselves three weeks to complete the journey, which included approximately 240 km of paddling, plus side trips and days off.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jay Sanavage, Martin Cavada and I have paddled SUPs all over the planet. We have dealt with grizzly bears, floods, and maelstroms, survived copious amounts of Russian vodka and hordes of naked processioning holy men. And we had spent the spring on our local river, both greasing and getting smoked on our home-town run. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Claire, on the other hand, was getting a crash course in river paddling. Getting her properly up to speed on all the ins and outs of whitewater paddling in a mere few weeks was not completely possible, but here we were. Some 6,500 miles on the other side of the world, in a country only recently opened to the modern world from its communist past. (Hopefully) ready to experience everything this newly protected river has to offer. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n