Valeria

   We bought an inflatable kayak from Decathlon in UK a couple of years ago (thank you Colin - brilliant advice) with the intention of bringing it to Spain to use. We did this in spring of 2011 (checked in baggage) and had a fabulous time with her.
   We named her Valeria after a 6 week old baby which a man had on his knee in a bar called Bodegan la Pena in our home town, which we thought was a good name for a boat.

   30 mins cycle ride south of us is the Mar Menor. This is an inland sea, joined to the Mediterranean by 2 canals. There is a spit of land called La Manga (the sleeve) that separates the Mediterranean from the Mar Menor. This means the Mar Menor is sheltered from the worst of the weather as regards wind and waves, is 5°+ warmer than the Med, and there is no risk of being swept out to sea and ending up in Algeria. This is where we use Valeria the most.
   To get her to the Mar Menor we bought a bike trailer into which she fits, along with the pump, seats, paddles, coolbox with food and drink, baler, mooring rope (string!), and drybag for valuables.
   The first year we used her we found we could paddle into the wind with no problem and make good progress, but trying to go downwind or crosswind meant a haphazard series of zig-zagging along and going round in circles. Prior to leaving work I took good advice from an experienced canoeist (thanks Colin) and bought a "skeg" in a quiet moment at work.This is like a rudder at the back but it doesn't move, so it gives you a degree of stability and direction when moving forward.
   Our first launch this year was the first opportunity to try the skeg, so on May 25th we set off for the Mar Menor, and what a revelation. Valeria now goes where you point her no matter where or how strong the wind is, so no more 360's. The weather was sunny, 26° and cloudless at 10:00am when we got there, with a light westerly breeze - just as forecasted. An excellent 2 hours of pottering about found us amongst the moored boats near the beach - time for lunch.

   At 1:00pm we decided to head back to the bikes and trailer (2kms up the walkway from the mudbaths), but found the wind was now from the east, and considerably stronger. Waves were crashing over the front, and paddling against the wind and waves was something that now required concentration and stamina. We eventually made it but it was touch and go at some points - we were never in danger, but it would have been a long walk back. This was so different from the conditions of July and August when we used her the previous year, when the weather was relatively calm and predictable.
   So, as any sailor will tell you, never underestimate the power of the sea - even if it is enclosed and shallow, and above all leave yourself an escape route (ours was the beach bar on the way home).