4 Days / 4 Species - The Winter Kayak Challenge

Alexander Pazderski and Borislav Naidenov from Go Wild | The Natural Adventure will make an attempt to paddle the Bulgarian section of the Danube from Vidin to Silistra (416 km) for 4 days in end-January 2011. The main reason behind this attempt is to raise awareness (and money) about 4 endangered bird species in the region - pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus), ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), and Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus).

понеделник, 17 януари 2011 г.

Day 4: Silistra - We did it!

The final leg completed today. Almost 13 hours of paddling and we reached our destination, km 375, the last mark of the Bulgarian section of the Danube. After this we had to drive 4 hours in a dense fog, which turned even more challenging and exhaustive.

неделя, 16 януари 2011 г.

Day 3: Rousse

The third leg now completed. 100 km today, it took us only 10 hours and something. We are getting better day after day - or it was just colder today so we had to paddle harder.

събота, 15 януари 2011 г.

Day 2: Progressing according to schedule

Today we reached Nikopol, after two days of heavy paddling and 195 km. The weather was perfect, daytime temperatures above zero. We feel tired, but we think we will make it if there are no accidents or too severe weather. The hardest thing - paddling early in the morning and in the evening, but otherwise we will not be able to make it as scheduled - the day is just too short at this time of the year. But for now we do not have more than two hours of complete darkness, which is acceptable. Our average speed is about 9 kmph, which is not bad given the heavy boat we are using (Prijon Excursion). In order to reach this average speed, however, we did not make any stops today. The forecast for tomorrow: strong NW winds and rain. Not good, but still better than fog and freezing temperatures. Will keep you posted :)

четвъртък, 13 януари 2011 г.

Day 0 - Off to Vidin

In a couple of hours we will load the kayak and gear and set off for Vidin. Planned start - tomorrow @ 7 am.

сряда, 12 януари 2011 г.

Day -1: schedule confirmed

We have now confirmed the schedule. We travel to Vidin tomorrow evening and start the first leg (Day 1) early in the morning on Friday, 14 January. We hope to reach Kozloduy at about 7 pm on Friday. The forecast is good, hope there will be no fog.