We’re in lockdown. No paddling (at least in the UK). BUT. If you could get out and paddle, where is the first place you would head for on this Easter weekend? This is the second set of replies – to read the first set see: https://paddlerezine.com/where-in-the-world-would-you-have-paddled-this-easter/

We asked some of our valued contributors to the Paddler magazine for their answer and starting on Good Friday and over the Easter weekend, we will feature those answers from the four corners of the planet. Paddlers will feature in the order they sent their replies.

We have to somehow get through this difficult period together, so let’s give each other hope that the world hasn’t ended and that there will be time when we are free to paddle wherever once again.

Ithica, Greece

Now I spend a lot of time in Greece in a unique unspoiled little island in the middle of a turquoise sea. One of the most enjoyable events last year was having Eiichi Ito here running a Greenland rolling workshop where I learnt lots of new rolls and techniques. So, if I could go paddling this weekend, I would definitely be taking out my rolling kayak, my Greenland paddle and heading for the lovely waters of the bay to work on those tricky rolls! 

The waters here are crystal clear and warm and you can always find remote coves to practice skills. I want to get back that feeling of excitement, enjoyment and playfulness with the sea that Greenland rolling brings. It has really taught me to relax and take it slow, even when under water, and enjoy the process of rolling in a very friendly way.

Dee River, UK

Ah the Dee, that reliable run you can run at any level, my local river, the river that I cut my white water teeth on, the river where I met up with Mike Jones, the river that changed my life. I remember showing my dad Trevor Rocks when I had just started and his approving my choice of an alternative sport (though I think he would have liked me to continue playing cricket too)!

Memorable days on the river: making it down the ‘Tail’ the first time as a wide-eyed 14-year old, competing in C1 at the Llangollen town Div 1 Slalom in a C1 4 years later.  High water runs – I caught it once at around 2.5m on the Corwen gauge – it didn’t take long. Also the Dee site for the Mike Jones Memorial Rally and many many smiling faces.

When lock down is finished I think I will go for a paddle without my jaded, “It’s not high enough”, “it’s too cold”, “I’ve no one to paddle with”, I’ll go for a paddle with my memories.

River of Gold, The Sun Koshi, Nepal

After a couple days pottering round the vibrant somewhat chaotic streets of Kathmandu bartering for lumpy knock off down jackets made by Potogonia and South face. Id like to head to the Sun Koshi. 

The start of the classic stretch is only a few hours from Kathmandu and what lays ahead is a class 3/4 270km multi-day trip from west to east. Every day has big bouncy fun rapids but also lazy green sections to idly float, take in the surroundings or chat to friends without the distractions of your usual life. The rapids have their draw but right now what I’d appreciate most are the huge white sandy beaches that border the river. Sunbathing after a nice day’s paddling then cooking on a driftwood fire before laying down to sleep in the sand under the clearest of skies. Bliss. 

Tryweryn, Snowdonia, UK

Where would I paddle this Easter weekend? Tricky! In my imagination, I’d be on a flight to Punta Arenas for a late-season trip into the Chilean fjords, eating fresh-caught crab every day and heading back for hot showers and soft beds on the expedition yacht Icebird! In reality, I’d be – like almost every other white water boater in the UK – fooling about with some mates on that most sociable of rivers, the Tryweryn. 

Rock spins at the top of the Graveyard. Surfing cafe wave. Rock splats on Everest. A trip down the Lower with my eldest, and since the weather’s warm I’d introduce him to some of the easier features on the Upper. Then a barbecue and beers at the Tyn Cornel campsite next door, swapping stories and planning a summer trip to the Alps.

Corsica, France

It’s that time of the year again and Spring is here. The air is warm, Blossom is on the trees and the birds are singing.  For the last 12 years my favourite must go paddling destination at Easter has been Corsica. This beautiful Mediterranean island has peaks over 2,500 metres and with its early snow spring melt and temperatures averaging 25 degrees plus its one of Europe’s places to be.

Corsica boasts some of the best low volume steep creeking in Europe with its bedrock rapids, granite slides and amazing clean as you like waterfalls, it’s a mecca for boaters all over Europe who visit the island during April.

I’m sitting here smiling as I write this like I’m smiling on the Corsican rivers. That feeling of coming up to one of those horizon lines a little nervous but then peeking over to see the most clean slide or fall into a green translucent pool is the best feeling in the world, with whoops of joys and high fives at the bottom, it just gives you inspiration and already your looking forward to the next one.

Corsica at Easter has a special place in my heart and draws me back year after year. I can almost hear the rivers now calling my name and I will visit you soon my friends…

Douro River, Portugal

All is coming back to life. Almond blossoms replaced with green leaves, orange and lemon trees with bending branches loaded with fruit, and especially the grapevines are full of new leaves. Here from my vantage point in front of the Rock Art museum at the confluence of the Coa and Douro Rivers, I can see grapevine covered terraces stretching far off in the distance. Now we must get down off this mountain to the Douro River for another fantastic paddle. 

After being quarantined at home for six weeks, all of us have been dreaming of this moment. Our first strokes are incredibly comforting as we realize that we are, at last, back on the water. These last few weeks are slowly flowing from our minds, as we try to be here in the present. It’s been a tough time, and for many, life will never be the same. These weeks have also brought out the best in many people, witness all the people working in essential services. The tremendous inequality in our lives and the impact on many people has again come to the front. Perhaps the most critical wakeup call should be to consider how our environmental destruction of the planet may be a root cause for the development of the coronavirus. 

For the next couple of hours, we try to put our concerns in the background and stay in the present. Grateful for being back on the water. 

Cayo Costa State Park, Florida, USA

Warm weather paddling for a northerner

Cross-country skiing is over, lakes in the mountains are still frozen and the rivers haven’t started running yet. What’s a northern paddler to do? …Go where it’s warm!

For years we’ve been fleeing Maine’s mud season to put our pale toes in warm sand and paddle the island paradise of Cayo Costa State Park on Florida’s southwest coast near Fort Meyers.

Nine miles long, the island boasts untouched white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and lush mangroves on the protected Pine Island Sound side to the east. In addition to the birdlife, there’s a resident population of feral hogs and alligators and the game-fishing and sport fishing is phenomenal.

Take your kayaks and camping gear aboard the ferry from Bokeelia at the north end of Pine Island or load your boats and paddle mostly protected waters to Cayo Costa’s dock. You can also rent recreational or sit-on-top kayaks at the Park, but if you want higher performance boats, you will need to bring them. 

There’s a handful of campsites for tenting on the Gulf of Mexico and a few extremely basic small cabins. Ice can be purchased at the ranger station near the dock. It’s all you need if you’re prepared for primitive camping life on the island. 

Put your dining clothes in a drybag and paddle protected waters to Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant for a fresh catch dinner. If you’re lucky, the phosphorescence will make for a mesmerizing paddle back in the dark. As soon as we can, we’re heading to this place with kayaks and fly rods! See you there!

Alara River, Turkey

We had been planning a trip for more than a year with Beth Morgan to the Taurus Mountains of Turkey for this Easter. After my arrival to Antalya, all the international flights were cancelled and I’m right now here, alone and already planning/dreaming about where to paddle, as soon as we’re allowed to drive again.

There are number of good quality runs in the area both explored or yet barely explored. But as I’m most probably going to be myself, I have to pick one that I’m most comfortable with and it has to be as long as possible. 

The mighty Alara River is the answer for many good reasons in one pack. First of all its about 50kms of epic white water, curves through narrow, steep, box canyons and later massive, deep, beautiful gorges with plenty of good quality rapids with a fair amount of calm water in between.

The river starts to flow at the Ucansu waterfall in the area of Gumusdamla village, to the north east of Antalya in the heights of middle Taurus and flows all the way down to the small historical village of Alarahan on the coast at Alanya. 

I think it’s good to go for three days on a solo self-supported expedition so I can take it slow and easy in order to have plenty of time to enjoy myself, the river and the nature in the middle of nowhere. 

Brush Creek, California, USA

I can’t wait to get back to the river, and if I were to be heading to the river this Easter weekend (which I’m not, as we stay home in self-quarantine) I’d love to be back on the Brush Creek in California. 

We spent one Easter there a couple years back and it was ideal with warm weather, plenty of water and fun location to go hunting for Easter eggs with the whole family. This year we will hunt for eggs in out front yard and I will dream about the friendly waterfalls of Brush creek while we stay home. Stay home, stay safe, and remember we’ll all be back on the river soon enough. 

The Maidens, N. Ireland, UK

If I was going to go for an Easter paddle this weekend it would be to The Maidens. They are a couple of islands which lie a few miles off the Antrim coast. I have never been out to them and last year since moving over here they have been on my mind as paddling destination. I’m quite excited about paddling out to them but I would like the first time to be either by myself or with my partner Claire, so that it can be a new experience. I find going to a new destination with someone who is familiar with it can be like watching a film with someone who has seen it before. 

The Two Towers, Jersey

I’m spoilt living on Jersey, the island of the tides because I have so many sea kayaking opportunities both around the coastline and offshore. But, it’s a 50m walk down my path and onto the beach where I grew up that enthrals and rejuvenates me.

When I slide my kayak onto the water two hours after low tide, it only needs a couple of paddle strokes before I’m whizzing along like a salmon running a river. Here, the 12m tide rushes amongst a labyrinth of criss-crossing rocky channels that make this the largest rocky intertidal area in Europe. Beneath my kayak is an aquarium of marine life.

A few hours later, what was once a mass of rocky gullies is transformed into an ocean that’s bordered by two 19th century offshore towers. The two towers lure me away from human sounds and into a place where nature is in control. On a calm sunny day, only the sound of the flowing water breaks the silence.

Eventually, my watery route will become land. Now I can retrace my journey on foot as if I was walking over the bed of a river.

Rio Palguin, Chile

For the past three weeks I have now been at home in the Arlberg region. From being quarantined for the first two weeks, we can now leave our village to get food and after Easter even go to the garden centre to bring some brightness and colour to spring!

I was in the Indian Himalayas kayaking with Stanzin Tanfan and the boys from Shivanandi just before the outbreak in Austria started. I was advised to fly home as soon as possible from the  embassy in Delhi and the Austria Foreign Ministry also said they could not guarantee that flights would keep going and borders could be closing soon with countries going into lock down. In-fact whilst I was on my flight from Delhi to Paris I found out that the border of Austria and Germany was closed! I managed to secure permission to cross the border by foot from the last train station in Germany across the border and into Austria. It took me 41 hours to get back home from the Himalayas!

Usually I would be kayaking on the stunning Soča River in Slovenia. Kayak School Arlberg has been frequently running trips there throughout the Spring and sometimes in the autumn to this beautiful river.

While watching our home river – the Rosanna -– rise everyday during this past week, we are still not allowed to kayak until the 26th April, which is our next Corona decision date!

The river I am most looking forward to kayak however, is the Palguin in Chile but that will have to wait until November!

Rio Baker, Patagonia, Chile

If we weren’t in total lockdown the first place I would head for this weekend would be the rio Baker in Patagonia. One of Chile’s biggest volume rivers, Class V rapids and the most beautiful scenery. A true paradise for white water kayakers. We are just getting started with COVID19 and we have a long way to go down here, but feeling thankful for what we have and confident that we we’ll get through this one and get back to the rivers we love.