{"id":3929,"date":"2015-07-30T09:48:36","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T08:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/2015\/07\/30\/kayak-baptism-along-the-tarragona-coastline\/"},"modified":"2015-07-30T09:48:36","modified_gmt":"2015-07-30T08:48:36","slug":"kayak-baptism-along-the-tarragona-coastline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/en\/2015\/07\/30\/kayak-baptism-along-the-tarragona-coastline\/","title":{"rendered":"Kayak baptism along the Tarragona coastline"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bateig<\/a><\/p>\n

Arnau Micheo<\/a><\/strong> is one of the instructors at TGNautica Kayak<\/a><\/strong>, and the person in charge of managing our Kayak baptism. He welcomes us punctually at \u2018Miracle\u2019 beach properly equipped: cap, sunglasses, thermal shirt, swimsuit and suitable footwear. Judging by the colour of his skin, I can tell there is such a thing as kayak-tan<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Since we are looking forward to getting started with it, we help him out with getting all the equipment out of the trailer parked right next to the beach, and we get cracking at it. His first instructions are on how to actually get in, and then behave once inside the kayak, how to take the blades (not paddles, he underlines), how \u2018to blade\u2019, so to speak, how to go aboard and ashore\u2026 General attention and silence reveal it will be the first time ever for most of the people. Next, we seal the waterproof bags containing our breakfast and towel, and jump into the open sea with the help of Arnau<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Escalfament<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Explicacions<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Familiaritzant-nos<\/a><\/p>\n

We get in with clumsiness and stress, but we all have to learn. Despite this, we all make it to the first buoys. Step by step, we become familiar with the kayak and really make those blades spin, still far from the style the \u2018Duracell Bunny\u2019 taught us. The excursion takes us all along the coastline; we can admire the statue of \u2018Sant Mag\u00ed<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 and the entrance of the cave it is kept in, and which is brought back, year after year, by scuba divers due to the Festa major petita<\/em> (local festivity after the saint\u2019s name). And little by little, just like that, we get to \u2018Arrabassada<\/strong>\u2019 beach where we make a sort of \u2018pit stop\u2019. We soon realise of how much more complicated disembarking is, compared to actual boarding, or at least, in this case. Waves speed up our kayaks and we haven\u2019t managed the breaking system just yet.<\/p>\n

Thanks God it is a lovely morning and the water is calm; that really makes everything easier. I was told that kayaking when there is groundswell and headwind is very difficult. The weather conditions we\u2019ve come across are simply unbeatable though. Thus, hours just fly by and by the time our training is finished, we can\u2019t wait to give it another go. As promised, there is indeed a second chapter.<\/p>\n

\"L'Arnau<\/a><\/p>\n

\"L'Esther<\/a><\/p>\n

We meet Arnau<\/strong> a week later, at \u2018La M\u00f3ra<\/strong>\u2019. This time though, given the fact that we are a few more people, he is joined by another instructor: Gerard<\/strong>. Some automatisms are already working, and so everyone starts with a little more confidence. Arnau<\/strong> guides us along the coast towards Tarragona<\/strong>. Views from the sea are simply astonishing, so kayaking within this framework, with no hassle or worries, really does cool us off. At a certain point, and right before we arrive at the \u2018Cala Fonda<\/strong>\u2019 beach (or Waikiki<\/strong>), we enter a small cave previously home of a natural mussel-bed. Today though, not even the mussels\u2019 ashes remain. The only things stuck in the rocks are a few strawberry anemones, these ones not suitable for eating though. We turn round by the \u2018Cala Fonda<\/strong>\u2019, and head back towards the \u2018Castell de Tamarit<\/strong>\u2019 beach. Sitting in out kayak, we can see people walking along the round path, swimming at the several coves existing, fishing, doing sport\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Tamarit<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Arribant<\/a><\/p>\n

The arrival of a dozen kayaks at the small \u2018Castell de Tamarit<\/strong>\u2019 cove does not go unnoticed, and some of the calm sunbathers start asking about these TGNautica Kayac<\/strong> trips; future customers. The company organizes group excursions from \u2018La M\u00f3ra<\/strong>\u2019 to Tamarit<\/strong>, or around Tarragona<\/strong> and \u2018Cap de Salou<\/strong>\u2019, from \u2018Ametlla de Mar<\/strong>\u2019 to the \u2018Ampolla<\/strong>\u2019, and others.<\/p>\n

\"El<\/a><\/p>\n

Text: Ivan Rodon i Tenas<\/a><\/strong> (@irodon<\/a><\/strong>)
\nTranslation Artur Santos<\/a><\/strong> (@artur_1983<\/a><\/strong>)
\nPhoto: Arnau Micheo<\/strong> and Ivan Rodon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Services information<\/strong>
\nTelephone number: (0034) 618 218 070<\/strong>
\nEmail address: kayak@tgnautica.com<\/strong>
\nWeb site: www.tgnautica.com\/kayak<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Oferta<\/a>
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n