Swaledale Outdoor Club

> Home > Newsletter > Canoeing > Winter 1999 - 2000

Winter 1999 - 2000

Winter with the Canoeing Section - A personal view.

Over the 18 months or so that I have been associated with the canoeing section I have noticed a certain reluctance among members to broadcast their exploits. I have always taken the generous view that this is because they prefer to be out there doing it rather than writing about it, or indeed, due to any lack of literary talent (or basic literacy). I thought it was about time I redressed the balance with a summary of my outings with the club this season. This is not an exhaustive account of the sections doings as unfortunately family, work and other commitments sometimes keep me in at weekends.

Early October saw a few days of heavy rain, which tempted a small group out, although we knew access would be limited. The Tees was out of question because of the density of anglers so we investigated the Greta, which was deemed just about paddleable. The first few miles gave good paddling, although there were a few exciting moments occasioned by fallen trees. Unfortunately water levels were falling rapidly and it became increasingly rocky towards the end of the trip. The water had dropped almost a foot at Greta Bridge in the period while we were on the water.

At the end of October was an outing on the Ure from Hack Falls down to Slenningford. I had planned to do this solo in an open boat with Francis in his kayak. It was quite windy when I left home, and this appeared to strengthen as I drove inland. It was clear that my fellow paddlers were sceptical about my ability to cope solo in the wind so Francis joined me in the open boat. We successfully negotiated Hack falls, but were glad of the pause while a swimmer was reunited with his boat in order to expel the extraneous water, which had found its way over the gunnels. We made the mistake of trying to play in Mickley weir and ended up sideways. It was at this point I realised we had never been shown how to do a support stroke. We managed to hang on for what appeared an age as we moved backwards across the face of the weir and I was hopeful of getting out at the right hand end. It was not to be. The boat flipped over and we were ejected into the water. The rest of the trip was uneventful. We made it over the weir at Slenningford and got out above the mill leaving the rest of the group to play.

The first weekend in November was going to be the Tyne Tour, but we decided to avoid the crowds and stick with the Tees. We had an extremely pleasant trip with acceptable water levels from Barnard Castle down the Winston. At the end of November Lesley booked a group onto the Eden. I felt bold enough to try it solo in the open boat, thinking I would have Lesley for company. Unfortunately, Lesley had to cry off with a cold so I had to contend alone with a group of kayakers. Water levels were high and the standing waves were the biggest I have dealt with in an open boat, so I felt pleased not to have been swamped in some parts. If I don't mention certain peoples' inability to read maps, I shall not need to mention the loss of a set of car keys on the shuttle.

At the beginning of December we went out hoping to do the Rauthey. There had been precipitation in the previous few days, but it was of the wrong sort, and was now sitting in solid lumps on the top of the hills instead of being in the river. We therefore continued to head west to the Kent, which had a decent amount of water in it. We decided this would do and started to get changed. At this point Clive started to twitter about the water level and how he wished he had brought a bigger boat. I felt decidedly unmoved. For a start he is better than I am ever likely to be. And I consider that any man, who after presumably mature consideration can go out and buy a boat with all the attributes of a plastic washing-up bowl, is hardly deserving of sympathy. The first few miles are deceptively innocuous. Then comes a series of drops and narrow gorges, followed by a spectacular drop at the very end. I managed to remain in my boat for the duration of the trip, but did need to roll three times. Others were not so lucky and ended up swimming - this included one veteran of the Alps! In spite of all the fuss, the man in the plastic washing-up bowl made it to the end without having to demonstrate either his roll or his front crawl.

The weekend before Christmas the Bridgstocks led a small group on the Tees from Cotherstone down to Barnard Castle. Andy, Richard and Dave who had sneaked on at Eggleston Bridge joined us at Cotherstone. It was a good trip, but cold i.e. below freezing. Boxing Day saw the traditional trip on the Wear. There was a good turnout. The trip was made more exciting by the state of the car park in Durham which was covered in half an inch of ice, and that at Finchale was not much better.

At New Year Andy organised a trip to the Lakes to do the Greta. This was a definite mistake. If we had taken walking boots rather than kayaks, we could probably have walked down into Keswick without getting wet much above the knees. We went into a nice teashop though - bone china cups and doilies. The guys at Rock and Roll said we should have done the Lune instead.

Mid-January was my trip so I decided to introduce Francis to the Tees, from Barnard Castle to Whorlton. All was fine until Abbey rapids when I lead the way down with Francis. I thought I was over the last drop and turned round to check on Francis, only to go backwards over the very last drop and ended up side down. I was unable to get my arms up to roll and ended up swimming. Francis executed an extremely slick rescue and I was back in my kayak by the time the next person came down swimming. Then, surprise, surprise - a third swimmer. Watto, Alps veteran, swimming in Abbey rapids. He thought he was over the last drop, turned round to check Wendy was alright as she was behind him in her open boat, he went backwards over the very last drop - and ,well you know the rest! Francis enjoyed the trip, but got very cold towards the end.

The weekend trip to Scotland early in February was cancelled for lack of support. Nonetheless, a small intrepid group ventured North of the border (just), for the day, to paddle the Esk between Langholme and Canonbie. I was told it was Grade 3 / 4 with flat bits in between, according to the guidebook. Given that this river was a first for all concerned, I was touched that the lads seemed to have such confidence in me that they allowed me to carry the only pair of splits. Clive said that his boat was too small to take splits, but with 5 stars, perhaps he doesn't need splits anymore. There was lots of water and quite a lot of nice bits to play on. But the guide was right - there were an awful lot of flat bits. It was also a bit unfair to keep the biggest nasty bit until half a mile from the end, when I was too tired to do much other than try to remain upright and fight my way into the eddy at the bottom. The consensus view at the end was, worth doing, but not too often.

All in all I have had a good winter. I am looking forward to warmer weather and getting out the sea kayak.

Ann Jones

Last Modified: 7 May, 2003