DAY 1:
Richard was up and about at 0630 and by 0800 he was away conquering the first phase of the paddle - the Lipno Dam. It is almost unbelievable to recognize the river at this point – it changes so spectacularly and all of a sudden you are no longer on a river but in the MIDDLE OF A SEA!
A few historical facts: The construction of the Lipno Dam and power plant has its historical roots in attempts to prevent the river´s destructive properties and at the same time utilize its power - in transport, using the water wheel, or water turbines. The power of the Vltava River has often showed itself in catastrophic floods before the building of the dam.
The Lipno Dam is a part of the Vltava cascade (system of lakes), and is at its highest point. It is situated in mountain terrain, on the border of Sumava National Park and Nature Reserve. This gigantic water reservoir was built between 1952 and 1959 on the upper part of the river Vltava. Its water poured over a great part of the Vltava basin with several unmined peat-bogs. The area of the main reservoir is about 4650 ha, and the volume is 306 million m3, 726 metres above sea level (when the water is at its highest point).
At the time of its origin, the dam was an exceptional technical solution, situated in extraordinary natural conditions. It replaces several older power plants between Lipno and Vyssi Brod (more about Vyssi Brod later as it is to be our campsite and starting point for the Day 3).
The morning was beautiful and the water freezing! Richard had a good and steady paddle of 18 km and discovered some of the Czech peculiarities – such as that we have Taiwan Island in the middle of Lipno! At 1100 a very strong wind appeared from nowhere and that made the lake truly sea-like. Choppy conditions or not, Richard arrived at DOLNI VLTAVICE at 1200 to await the rest of the team and their equipment for the weekend.
As I mentioned earlier, I was transported to this amazing little village at the "end of the world" by my colleague Olga – it is great how people are ready to help. I didn't have to ask, yet she offered herself to pick me up and drive me with my huge bags and a paddle in her tiny red car nicknamed "Ladybug" (it is nice and red… no dots though) someplace more than 300 km far away! Very brave and I will never forget it.
Jerry organized the boats and the campsite for the night (a little way from Dolni Vltavice, camp called HRUSTICE) – we got there by car, Richard covered the last three kilometers from Dolni Vltavice by paddling across the little bay, of course.
The wind was steadily picking up and we ended up with gale on our hands worthy of the Atlantic – Jerry ended up tying his tent to the trees with the car tow rope, luckily all held fine and the next day we all woke up into a magical morning!
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