weekend on Vuoksa with the tourist club "Adventure Club")
So imagine. Friday. The weekend is in the air. And you meet them in the middle of a huge mysterious lake, behind a noisy city and all the problems, and ahead... 2 days just for yourself. For something new. In general, what can be called "active rest". Any ideas where this is possible? No, not Finland. What? Turkey? Hmm, judging by the answer, you obviously live in Moscow) no, it's not her, my love. Okay, let's not play riddles for a long time - we are all busy people, and you probably already want to know how my story will end) Therefore, I will reveal a secret: Friday. August 20th. Lake Vuoksa in the Leningrad region. Ahead is the light of the first boat, followed by all the others. And the thought in my head: “I like the beginning. And what will happen next? Are you wondering how I got there? Then let's talk about everything in order)
You know, I've never gone camping in my life. Even the thought never crossed my mind. But smog in Moscow and 2 months in Syria in a heat of 50 degrees did their job. All decided. We will be active. Why hike? Because a friend decided that the smoke had already given us enough tan, and the "all inclusive" at the end of the summer can leave irreparable results by the fall. Why Vuoksa? Everything is trite here: we were going to St. Petersburg anyway. And then it turned around. Meeting in the early morning in the metro with Vyacheslav (a representative of the tourist club "KP"), whose positive... blinded even random passers-by in the metro) “You will like it, I'm sure. You also write a review to us - that everything was super, and most importantly, you will have a wonderful instructor. Evgen is just. . . well, you'll see. You won't get bored with him. " He was right. Also how right. Even about the fact that I am now sitting and writing a review) By the way, Slava, if you are reading this, hello to you and thank you)
Then the cycle of thoughts began in my head: “so. All. We go. What do you need? Ahhh) find equipment. But this problem was solved, oddly enough, very simply. Former classmates - students of the Faculty of Geology) helped, and there were backpacks and sleeping bags. But if you, like us, do not have this, and your classmates are lawyers and economists, do not worry - everything can be rented at very affordable prices.
I think the part about the road to St. Petersburg can be omitted) so you and I find ourselves at the Finland Station, waiting for the train and gathering a group) of people who are going on a hike, you can see right away: they give out big backpacks and happy faces. Look: there is a guy with a backpack already making his second round of the station) obviously with us. where did he go now? Ahh) I see a cheerful orange t-shirt in the thick of the crowd) probably this is our instructor) let's join them? )
We were marked. They asked if everyone had everything they needed. They told us how, what and where we were going. Explained which tickets to buy. And we had 3 hours ahead of us under the noise of wheels to Priozersk, and everything went as, apparently, it was necessary, but... "Devyatkino". My sleep was interrupted by a voice from the speakers. “Weird, I don't think I've heard this for the first time”…yes, you guessed it right. We were lucky. It was on this day that the electricity was cut off in the city. "So. Do not panic. We will definitely get there. It’s even more interesting, ” the smile of Evgen, the very owner of the orange T-shirt and at the same time our instructor, did not leave a drop of fear, and it turned out that there is a store nearby, and someone has cards with them, and you can guess the scanword - in general, time flew by unnoticed. And when the voice from the speakers announced “the next stop is Priozersk”, it seemed that we somehow quickly arrived)
The next couple of hours passed under the friendly cries of "iii raaaz, iii dvaaa, more evenly, more evenly, only with the left oar. " Everyone learned to row and adapted to each other, following the flashing light of the first boat. To be honest, it still remains a mystery to me how to navigate in the dark on the lake) But Zhenya knew what he was doing, and we safely sailed to the place of our overnight stay. Immediately anticipating the questions that arise, I can say: rowing is not difficult and not scary) and even no one seems to be tired) somehow, in a general impulse, they did not even particularly lag behind. and, of course, if necessary, they waited for everyone)
For dinner we had pasta with stew. By the way, about the food) delicious. very) and very thoughtfully) that is, if we drink tea, then there will definitely be something sweet, and if we cook soup, for example, then there is everything you need for sandwiches. You can even make coffee) In general, no one went hungry.
And on the first evening, or rather, it was already night, we played) imagine 23 adults sitting by the fire and playing “snowball”) and honestly trying to remember where Masha is sitting, who is “studying in medicine”, and where is Masha , which "manages the staff") everyone rejoiced. As children. And they went to bed happy and satisfied.
In the morning, waking up not too early and having breakfast (mmmm... delicious))), we sailed on. The expanse of the lake receding into the distance. Rocky shores. Boats on the horizon. Warm wind in your hair. I wanted to photograph every little thing. There is beauty. Calm. Serenity. And suddenly you swim up to a pile of huge stones that you can climb on and look at all this beauty from above. An unforgettable experience.
We were lucky with the weather: we were even able to swim) and no one got sick or cold) at some point everyone dispersed to their tents, someone went fishing... “Let's play one great game... “ safari ”? ". No one forced anyone, but everyone played. I won’t tell the meaning of the game - go on a hike with the Adventure Club and find out) Then we chatted. Then they played again. Zhenya, thank you. In a few hours, he made strangers a company, and then we just sat by the fire and talked for half the night. Tried to sing songs. Playing "Mafia" (where without it... )) is just an instructor - it's almost like a counselor in a camp. He can and does everything. And what’s more, you yourself want to remember your childhood) and every now and then you hear sentences: “Zhen, let’s arrange something else? ”) here the boundaries are erased and it doesn’t matter who you are there, in the city. The conversation is general, and everyone is comfortable and good.
You know, I really didn't want to go home. And I wanted to skip a couple of trains and take the last one, just to extend this wonderful weekend. And we said goodbye almost as friends, and then we met with some in the city) the campaign unites people. In general, I think you have already understood that I fell in love) with everything together) with the atmosphere, amazing nature, excellent company) so, of course, we are going again... but where we are not going: to Karelia, and to the Caucasus, and in the Khibiny) Therefore, in conclusion, I can only say: go hiking) you will like it, I'm sure) it's always interesting to find something new in yourself. Moreover, “a hike is 100% rest, ” as they say in KP. Now I'm "ready for an adventure, " and you? Let's go then)
