However, a Hungarian horse rode the Rákos stream, which was once historically important, but is now blocked by dams, after a storm. Here are the details of the daring venture.
Gábor Kürti was lured into a special adventure by the storm of the weekend, after which the Rákos stream, familiar from Hungarian history, which has long flowed in the suburbs of Budapest, enclosed between strict dams, overflowed; in the old days it was specifically known for its cancers. Kürti took his kayak, and on the morning after the storm, he got into the water in the stream, which was barely flowing. He wrote about his experiences in his post :
"The Rákos patak overflowed, and Zoltán Erdős clicked from his post that one day after the overflowing Rábás visit, here is the unmissable opportunity to tick off another item on my bucket list. I also asked afterwards, but it quickly subsided, so in the end I didn't go.
Then came the old man of all storms at night.
At 3 a.m., after inspecting my own property, I set off with a lamp still on the street, which was dark from the power cut, in the direction of the chattering sounds, to help distant neighbors, so I got involved in the digging out of the basement garage of a nice retired couple that lasted until 4 am. But after waking up at 8, the urge for adventure caught me again, I threw the inflatable kayak in the car and set off in the direction of Rákos patak and/or Szilas patak. The XVII. district, I already missed the tidal wave, so I looked for water further down. Fortunately for me, on the revitalized middle-Zugló section, I caught the swollen stream. It was the perfect drop-in for a city kayak,
thanks to everyone who worked to make the old canal a more natural stream.
On the way, everyone waved, pushed, "de-reigned", took photos and videos, as if an Olympic champion was rowing across Zugl. Only the ducks weren't happy with me, but after a few hundred meters I realized that if I glide over the far bank without moving, with the oar pointed in the direction, they can take it without running away.
I didn't know what was waiting for me. I was also a little nervous, because there were many bridges and tunnels, pipes crossing, and the water was fast. Plus, I kept ahead from the underground 300 meters under Rákosrendező. I knew that I wouldn't accept that under any circumstances, because I don't know what's inside (it would be nice to have some information about that), and I didn't want to stupidly leave my tooth there, I was just worried about having a good exit and not drifting in.
But there was no problem with that either.
I smoothly got into a good retrograde and lifted it out on the concrete slabs overgrown with vegetation, then lifted it over the pedestrian bridge above the railway, taking photos from above with the guides and passengers starting to walk from the international train buried under the timetable avalanche due to the storm,
who at first did not understand the land kayaker wearing a life jacket,
but then they also became pushy.
I got off at the Tahi road and rowed to the mouth, where I didn't take on the water rushing into the Danube at 10-15 km/h and an 80-centimeter jump, but instead lifted out again in front of the Danube Arena bridge. I'm not a pro yet, but maybe I'll jump in one day, once I've practiced enough on some clear wild water. The kayak is suitable for it, only I am a beginner.
At the end, I lowered the kayak, packed everything back into the backpack, and took a MOL Bubi bike and trolley back to BKK to the car left at the starting point.
I would like to note here that the bicycle path from Rákos-patak to Pécel should be ready this year, but I am afraid that it will all be washed away due to smearing across the cycles. However, this is a project for which the 2 billion money has exceptionally been available for 7 years. This is all very annoying, and a few years ago I would not have thought that I would be kayaking down the stream sooner than we are inaugurating one of the best recreational bike routes in the city with the Hungarian Cycling Club. I hope it will come together somehow.
In any case, paddling in high water was even more of a flash than riding a bike. I always love Budapest a little more after things like this!"
Featured image: Gábor Kürti's Facebook page
