Travel-kayak-Collection 2015 (EN)

Amazing summer!

After 10 years in Slovenia. finally made the decision to move on!

• April 20: USA

I did my first intro into the USA i could not believe it, well after 7 hours :) of control immigration issues. I started my course instructor river in Utah for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) 34 days in the Desolation Canyon, Gray canyon of the green and the Main Salmon. incredible experience full of learning and new friends.

Side Creek River on the ) days of the Main Salmon

Lining  the canoes On Swim Cow rapid of the Desolation Canyon 

Main Salmon River

• MONTE NEGRO

Last week of May already back in Budapest and with very low budget, a lot of motivation and support from my girlfriend. took my Clio (gogo) and i drove to Monte Negro to meet Dimitrje, Owner of the Camp Grab located on the banks of the river Tara, It's considered the deepest canyon in Eastern Europe. It's 150 km. long and more than 90 km are a deep canyon that can reach 1600 meters.clean blue water and a rich past of human history and surrounded by an old forest.

Tara River. Clean blue water and a past with many human history. Surrounded by an old forest.

Tara River - View from above Camp Grab.

Piva River - View from the bridge.

Some days of work at Camp Grab.

At the second day at the camp Grab something very cool happened. A friend of my Toki arrived from Slovenia with my new kayak (Critical Mass - Drago Rossi). Awesome! the first days i have slept next to the kayak.

First morning together :)

At the confluence with the Tara and Piva River. And this is the last person who is building this wooden raft and organizing trip for customers. Pretty amazing!

Lapping on the Piva River, that was real fun!!!

Scouting the entrance of the Pivorica Gorge

Komarica River

I have end up spending 3 weeks working and teaching LNT (Leave Not Trace) principles. Also paddling on the river Piva and Pivorica as well. It was incredible experience. I had met new friends, excellent food and a majestic landscape. Surely not be long before i return to the Tara River.

• Mid-Jun: GEORGIA

On the road again back to Hungary to take a plane to Georgia to meet my good friends Kaki and Wato. Is challenging to me to describe how much i have liked this country, the humor and the sympathy that my friends and the Georgians have to welcome me. I have discover a country that is was totally unknown to me. I was amazed by the culture in general of this country. As the food, history, etc. 

Breakfast by the Black Sea in Batumi City

On the arrival at airport of Kutaisi my girlfriend and I met the Georgians. And the adventure was just about to begin. traveling, camping and kayaking the east, north-central part of the country. 

Left to Right. Jernej, Mishi, Iva, me and David.

 White Water River Rescue (3 days) Unfortunatly not many good pics.

Exploring most of rivers was new for me, others river were classic Georgians as well. Always camping in beautiful places along the rivers.

Almost the complete group of kayakers of Georgia :)

 We have seeing so much potential for kayaking in this country. after a week we all went to Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, to rest and do some urban tourism and to meet the families of the group. we had so much fun in Tbilisi, we had loved, the food, the history, the side walks, etc. After few days in the city, it was time to go back to the river, and that's exactly what my friends organized for me.

So many river... Caucasus Mountains!

Left to Right. Mishi, Me, Kaki and Iva

Mtatsminda is hte mountain topped by the 210m-high TV mast that overlooks central Tbilisi. Located 800-metres above the city Mtatsminda Park (known as Bombora) spreads over more than 1 sq km and has been a popular fun for generations.

Another thing I've done, was to teach a course of whitewater rescue to a group of 12 people. After three weeks in Georgia I could not believe that the time passed so quick. We've paddled 11 new rivers in different regions of the country such as: Ritseula, Rioni, Jejora, Tekhuri Canyon, Martvili Canyon, Khobis Tskhali, Borjomi Gorge, Mtkvari, Pshavi`s Aragui, Khrami ect.

This is my short version about my time in Georgia.

• Mid-July: ITALY-AUSTRIA-CZECH REPUBLIC-SLOVENIA 

I am back in Hungary with a new opportunity to work as a guide in Alto Adige Campo Tures - Italy.

Of course... best photo and the worst landing in one ;)

Here I had the chance to meet and work with my old friends from Argentina and train everyday with both slalom and creek boat to get ready for the Devils Extreme Race 2015 (Extreme Kayak European Championship in Czech Republic). Just one week before the race I had a little free time to spend in Slovenia training with my friends Momo Castillo and Tony Demarco.

Behind Alpin Action Shop :)

Soca River

3,2,1...GO! 3 awesome days of race and party had passed in Lipno. A 6th place in Down River and a 2nd place in the team race. Of course having shown that the Critical Mass - Drago Rossi is a fast boat.

what is comfortable and distinctive of this race is the HELLTRAIN

After all this I was travelling around a and kayaking in Austria, Italy and Slovenia again.

Defereggenbach Waterfalls.

Isel katarat

Defereggenbach Tunel.

Left to right. Attila, Tony, Máté and I. 

27th. of Sep. i flew to USA for 4 weeks to work as a kayak, Raft and canoe instructor... i am so stoked for such a Summer.

Thanks to my family, to my friends and to my new friends!

To all this people who made this possible; to Alpin Action, To Peak-UK, to Ophion Paddles, to Drago Rossi.

By: Fabian Alejandro Bonanno.