Spot check: With the SUP through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

I think I'm standing in the woods! "Do we have to turn right here or not?" Klaas babbles. Remember: if you've already mastered monster waves in Jaws or One Eye, you don't necessarily have to know every corner of the Mecklenburg Kleinseenplatte. Kai: "Klaas, I think we should have turned onto the next lake at the last bend. Paulina: "Oh no, please don't paddle back again..." His two fellow paddlers don't seem entirely sure either. There's not another person in sight to ask. It's a good thing the trio have bought a map. Now, at the latest, it's high time to dig it out of the waterproof rucksack. After all, there are several opportunities here to take a diversion, big or small. If our three musketeers were travelling at the weekend or perhaps even at Whitsun, things would be easy. Then they would probably have been able to ask other paddlers for the right route every few metres. The tour is popular and kayaks can be hired at every campsite. But even at peak times, stand-up paddlers are still few and far between here. There is no sign of hire facilities far and wide. So be sure to pack your own equipment.

12,000 years ago, this area was still covered by a thick layer of ice. When it got warmer again, hundreds of lakes were left behind.

Our trio has set out to explore almost ten of them in two days. The start and finish is the Biber holiday farm at the Diemitz lock. At least if you trust your sat nav and follow the forest path to the end and don't have any doubts in the last few metres, that's a good two and a half hours from Hamburg. Speaking of the forest. If Wikipedia didn't tell you that the Brothers Grimm lived in Kassel, you'd swear that this is where they got the inspiration for their fairytale forests. The trees stand close together and now in spring they shimmer in all shades of green and brown. It would be something of a miracle if a witch's house didn't appear somewhere soon.

We park directly at the Bieber holiday farm. Five minutes later, colourful blobs of paint are scattered wildly across the meadow in front of the boat hire. Now it's time to pump for all we're worth. After all, the iSUPs also need to carry some luggage. "It's a good thing we got some waterproof rucksacks. We now have enough storage space for one night. And we can stock up on everything we need at the campsite. "Wild camping is forbidden here anyway," Kai explains to the other two. He's already finished, the others are still busy pumping. Sometimes it helps to have the thickest upper arms. "I'll ask if they have a waterway map here. Our printouts aren't really detailed." Very good idea from Klaas. A short time later, the three of them set off. Around 30 kilometres await them. You shouldn't plan too long breaks if you want to paddle the whole thing in two days. And it shouldn't be too windy. Otherwise you'll really struggle on the larger lakes. The weather forecast for today and tomorrow predicts sunshine and hardly any wind, perfect paddling weather.

This is on the programme: Labussee, Gobenowsee, Klenzsee, then a short stretch around the boards in Wustrow. We continue on the Plätlinsee and then it gets really narrow and beautiful, the Schwaanhavel meanders for five kilometres through woods and meadows. In contrast to the large lakes, this is a motorboat-free zone. Then two and a half kilometres along the Upper Havel Waterway to Ahrensberg and Lake Drewen. From there into the Großer Priepertsee. Paddle past roads, then into the Canower See, one more lock and you're back in the Labussee. In addition to the wind, the sometimes quite numerous motorboats on the larger lakes can cause movement on the water. So please keep an eye on the waterway as well as the scenery.

Paulina: "Look, there are sleeping barrels here, have you ever seen anything like that? I only know them as saunas?" Barrel, tent or caravan.

From board to bed is no problem at all on most lakes here. There is a campsite waiting for tired water rats every five kilometres along this route and there are moorings for boats and canoes everywhere.

However, there is no guarantee that a sleeping barrel will be free in summer. That's not a problem here today. In any case, wild camping should be avoided and campfires should only be lit in the authorised areas. After a few weeks with little rainfall at the latest, there is a high risk of forest fires in the whole area. All it takes is one false spark. So it's no wonder that the foresters keep a watchful eye. Speaking of vigilance: if you want to sleep peacefully and relaxed, you should stock up on mosquito repellent. The pests love the area at least as much as paddlers. So don't be surprised if you are woken up in the morning by a loud buzzing noise - even though there is no breeze. A few swarms of midges in one spot also make quite a racket. "Get up, let's go", Kai is louder than the mosquitoes and fully motivated. After a good breakfast, the seven things are quickly stowed away again and the last part of the journey is tackled. As there is still no wind, the three pros make good progress. Incidentally, the rule at the locks on the tour is: first the motorboats, then the canoeists. There are four in total on this tour. The team arrives back at the starting point in the late afternoon. "How was it?" "Great, we could really have done without a few detours ..."

Klaas Voget: windsurfing pro, board sportsman with heart and soul and "washed with all waters" worldwide. The North German is now also a pro on the shutter release.

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INFO MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN

General information: - www.flussinfo.net/10-seen-havel-rundtour/uebersicht/ - www.kanuhof-wustrow.de/de/touren/mehrtagestouren.html

Start/finish: www.bibertours.de/camping-zelthotel.html

More tour tips: www.auf-nach-mv.de/kanutouren-fluesse-seen#3

Fancy a marathon? If you want to take a particularly sporty approach, come to the annual 1000 Lakes Marathon in September. There are 21, 42 and 62 kilometre routes to choose from. So far, only one SUPer is said to have attempted the marathon. Info: www.1000seen-marathon.de

Rules of behaviour:

- Green buoys mark prescribed navigation channels in the national park. Yellow buoys close off areas of water in the national park that cannot be navigated. There are designated rest areas at regular intervals with information boards and map sections for the respective location. Landing is generally prohibited outside the designated rest areas.

- Camping is not permitted on or near the rest areas. "Wild" camping is prohibited and punishable by law. Campfires are only permitted in the designated areas of the campsites - provided the forest fire warning levels are observed.

- Keep a sufficient distance from the shore and refrain from entering reed beds and other densely vegetated shore areas. These biotopes in particular are home to many rare plant species and the habitat of various endangered and disturbance-sensitive animal species.

- Avoid gatherings of birds as far as possible.

- Avoid crossing particularly shallow stretches of water or aquatic vegetation, as these are the nurseries of almost all fish species. Please help to keep the water and banks clean. Waste therefore belongs in the rubbish. Preferably use reusable packaging.