Dunajec River Float With The Aussie's

25 July ’04, Sunday. Andy had to make a phone call to his sister in Australia, to say Happy Birthday before we put in at the riverbank. We arrived about 11:30 and found a raft waiting for us. It was to be a ride of 2 hours or so and then have a bite to eat before hoofing it back to the van. We teamed up with a family of 4 from Utrecht, were we bought “Bumble Bee”, a young lady and her mother from here in Slovakia, and the 3 Australians (now living in England). It was a great bunch of people to be with and we enjoyed the 2 guys that handled to boat as well. This float was a slow and simple ride through some beautiful circling and twisting rock formations for about 9km. At the end we had a choice of transportation back to our car….bus, bike, or walk….we walked. It was an easy walk on a pathway following the river bank right back to the starting point. The walk was about 2 hours as well. We’ll sleep well tonight !!! When we got back to camp, we started to get ourselves ready for an early morning departure. Down with the tent and repack everything else that was used over the last 5 days. We noticed that Marco and Joze were doing the same. We met Marco, Joze, and their daughters Fenny and Lili the first afternoon we arrived. They are from the Netherlands and have had a wonderful vacation here in Slovakia this year. Fenny is 8 and Lili 4. Cute young girls just doesn’t do their description justice…. They are that and more (actually infectious).
This is one of the areas here in Slovakia, that hiking and climbing are just a part of nature for this time of year. You could take a phrase from the song “The Hills Are Alive” and that would describe the hills and mountains here. You can look just about anywhere on the hill sides and find someone out there…..it is really neat and inviting.
Tomorrow….on the road to Paprad and Levoca and a new campsite

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