MarkB, Steve (Madyaker), Paul, Andrew and YT met for a quick coffee at Newby Bridge; there was water everywhere, but not having paddled with Steve or Paul before, thought that we'd play it safe by getting on the Leven before heading off to Troutbeck or the Lune... Best laid plans etc...
The first swim took place below the Brickchute when Paul caught an edge in the boils and missed his roll. He swam toward the central island as I chased his boat down the river right channel - all good, given the possibility of going over the drop on river left! Paul washed over the island, missed the trees and clicked the back of my i4 for a ride to the bank. Steve and Andrew nursed his boat into an eddy and all were soon reunited with no damage done.
The rapids between the Brickchute and Horseshoe weir were washed out, big and boily and Kirk's rapid claimed another swim from Paul; again, no problems and boat and owner soon reunited on the river right bank. We pressed on to the Horseshoe weir where, between us, we managed to unsettle Paul with mention of Backbarrow downstream of the weir and the need to make one of the eddies above the bridge. This resulted in Paul going tense and swimming under the weir; all efforts were on getting him to the bank, then going after his boat. Unfortunately, I had to abandon the boat or miss the last eddy above the drop which, at todays level, both floodgates open, would not have been pretty! The boat continued it's descent alone despite my rapid portage over the bridge and sprint stylee paddle down to Backbarrow weir. At least Paul was off the river and safe!
Backbarrow Bridge the day before our run; on the day the level
was up to the steps on the right in this photo
There were no takers for the smaller weir below Backbarrow and the remaining four portaged to directly below it, putting in with some difficulty, under the trees on river left. From here on it was a case of paddling with eyes wide open, hoping to spot blue and white plastic hung up on a tree or in an eddy somewhere downstream. This was harder said than done since there was only just enough clearance to duck under the pipebridge, Fish's weir had a stopper (of sorts) to negotiate and the Graveyard demanded attention - it was as big as I've known it!
The Fishsteps weir also had a playfully sized stopper at its base, although this didn't cause any problems. I checked the mill race on river left, but no sign of Paul's boat and so it was with a sense of disappointment we cracked on to Fisherman's Gorge.
I led into the last river right eddy only for Mark to miss it and head straight into the gorge; no problem, I just broke back out and followed him keeping a couple of boat lengths behind. No problem until, having run through the dog-leg approach, I saw the tree jammed across the bottom of the gorge and realised that here was a strainer in the least accessible or inspectable section of the river! Mark ran a tight left line, ploughing through rhododendrons but missing the timber. I aimed for the gap but still took the forearm thick upright branch across my deck. Just before it hit my chest I grabbed it and gave an almighty upwards shove; it moved and I was through. Hard right, into the first mini eddy and out of my boat ready with a rope, but too late, Steve was on my tail. He bounced over the timber and I watched the branch that I had shoved float away downstream! Luckily it must have been rotten timber and a large part of the potential problem had now gone. Still Andy to come though; I frantically signalled for him to take the right hand flood channel, but he misunderstood and ran the usual line, but stayed hard right. Fortunately this kept him clear and that was that; we'd finished the hard stuff and just had a float to the take out.
Paul was waiting for us; Coastguard and police were called before we headed off for a quick search upstream on the river left bank. No joy and so we decided, given the time, to call it a day. Shuttle was sorted and eventually all headed of in various directions, but Paul decided to drive along the south side of the estuary while Andy and I said we'd have look across from Greenodd on our way home. Which was as well because, using the binoculars that live in the car, we spotted a blue and white boat on the mud way across the estuary - just where Paul had driven! A quick phone call and soon he was within sight of the missing boat! His happiness turned out to be short lived however...
Ouch! What happens to a kayak that runs Backbarrow solo!
