Rafting in Struma – the wildest party in the roughest river

Georgi Georgiev, VisitBulgaria.NET

Every year, at the beginning of April, the banks of Struma River in the region of Kresna Gorge become a basic camp of the lovers of rafting and kayaking. This is the time when the rafting season in Bulgaria starts. There are colorful tents among the blossoming trees. Vans and minibuses with boats loaded on trailers hurry up and down the picturesque road in the gorge to transfer the rafters and kayakers to the starting points. The river is full of boats and bold men and women, challenging the nature, overcoming the fast rivers and swift currents. And everyone is happy - just don’t ask the fishermen.

This year the official opening took place on Saturday, the 5th of April. The event was organized by “Adventure Net”, “House for Books and Adventures”, “Fast Waters” and “X-Club”. My friends and I reached the meeting point of the event at about 10.30 a.m. The site is a huddled glade, on the right bank of Struma, two kilometers away from “Kresnenskoto hanche” motel and restaurant. The keen fans of the extreme experiences in the river were already there, preparing for the demonstrations, which marked the beginning of the rafting season. About 11.30 the rafters were ready with the equipment and took their places in the cars. The journalist and reporters, including me, followed them.

As the teams reached the staring point of their river experience, a representative of the organizers showed us the best sites for taking photographs. We took our positions on a cliff overhanging the river and waited for the boats to appear from the swift currents. After 20 minutes we heard a shout “They are coming” and we saw 7 people in a yellow raft riding the rough waves. When they came closer I saw that the members of the team were five men, young woman and about 12 years old boy. They were sculling in a perfect synchronous, controlling the currents and whims of the wild river.

When the boat passed by the reporters and the spectators, we got into the car and rushed to the next site down Struma to take our positions for the next attractive session. There were more raft teams and soon the kayakers appeared too. It was very interesting to watch these people in their small boats. They played with the waves so skillfully, and they were looking like river ghosts who had inhabited these waters from time immemorial.

Finally we reached the glade again and we met the rafters and kayakers for the last snap shots. Then the descents for the journalists and guests were announced. I didn’t hesitate and quickly slipped in the neoprene suit, which the organizers gave me. The instructors made a short training with the reporters and the guests. Afterwards we loaded the boats on the trailers and took our way to the starting points.

The last instructions were given and we took our places in the boats. I have to say that this kind of extreme sport requires an ultimate discipline, physical strengths and hardiness. Our experience started in calm waters until the recruits started working as a team. I’m not sure that we managed to reach that goal, but for the most of us it was our first time. Then the swift currents came. It is hard to describe the feeling. The cold water is splashing your face and the foamy waves are tossing the boat to and fro, like a shell. All I could do was to look at the back and the oar of the person in front of me and to listen to the orders of the navigator. In fact, he is the man who controls the situation and rules the boat, which means, that he knows everything about the river, the underwater rocks and the currents. Thanks to him we didn’t turn the boat upside down. In the calmer parts of the river he let his 12 year old son to navigate the raft, and the boy excellently managed with the challenge.

After 2 hours rowing and jinking in the river we reached our glade again. I was exhausted but I was extremely happy. And I was really satisfied when I saw a big tent under which a smiling middle aged man was preparing the barbeque. Oh God, the meat balls were so delicious and they were the perfect final of this unforgettable experience.

Usually the rafting season in Bulgaria lasts from the beginning of April till the middle of June. This is the time when the snow on the mountains is melting down and the rivers are highly watered. There will be a short holiday in the beginning of May and I already know where and how I will spend it. I hope to see you on the banks of Struma River, where the party runs as wildly as the waters of the river.