JOURNAL - DAY 12

DAY 12:

It rained steadily and continuously from 0230 to 0830. In the morning a rather weak sun appeared which made everything a little muggy. It was good however to get clear of the sluggish expanse of Slapy although I was a touch surprised that surmounting the Slapy dam involved a 2km walk with a kayak! Then I was on the Stechovice stretch of the Vltava. A lovely, narrow, meandering river which conjured up thoughts of the logger rafts of the past.

Although it might not seem like it today, this part of the river used to belong to the most wild and dangerous but unbelievably romantic stretches of the river. Wild weirs, treacherous rocks but also a blissfull paradise of wild and untouched nature and its inhabitants. All that made what was called Svatojanske proudy (St. John's Streams) an unforgettable place.

The last raft could be seen here in 1943 during the construction of the dam at Stechovice. The fame of the rafters slowly disappeared in the 1950s when this traditional vocation died out.

Since the olden days, it is believed that it is near here the very centre of the Czech kingdom can be found. At first three wooden crosses marked the spot - in 1878 an unknown benefactor had three stone ones erected in their place. These can be still seen here to these days.

Following pictures also bear witness that this river can be and has always been a dangerous element:

Ice-flooding in 1940 destroyed the town of Stechovice and its remnants were to be seen along the river banks until May!

During the thousand-year flood in 2002 water completely overwhelmed the Slapy dam and went over the top

Fortunately unlike the trek around the Slapy dam, the dam at Stechovice ONLY involved a 300m walk. Then on to Davle and approaching the outskirts of Prague at a place called Vrane nad Vltavou. I discovered a campsite where the owner helped me get the fully loaded kayak ou of the water, across the river bank and in to his campsite. Amazing! It is called Club Lavka Skochovice.

Now only 12km to Branik tomorrow but with 2 dams to negotiate. Probably arrive between 1300 and 1400. But remember the Czech Few team will actually finish at 1100 at Charles Bridge on Friday!