Open Canoeing on the River Tweed – 26/8/2007

After a few miscommunicated weekends, Charlie got his open canoeing trip on the Tweed organized. The boat layout had Charlie in his solo boat, Emily paddling with ¾ of the Bassetts in their open canoe, Charlie’s in-laws in the EKC open canoe and Brian and I paddling his Prospector. Charlie’s logic was pearls before swine, putting us in the Prospector and his in-laws in the larger, more stable Discovery.

We ran the section from Peel to Galashiels, which was supposedly flat save one set of rapids. We were off to a leisurely start around noon. Imogen and Freya Bassett had a great time helping their mum and Emily steer the canoe. I tried to show Brian a few open canoe manoeuvres, but quickly remembered the first commandment of paddling, and tried to teach myself how to use his skills to make those manoeuvres. We sort of surfed one wave.

Leisurely start meant lunch stop was not far down stream, maybe a few miles and perhaps 1/3 of the total trip distance.

After lunch, we spent perhaps more time working our way downstream and less time playing. Having not been in the Tweed Valley for many months, I had forgotten how much I enjoy the scenery there. I spent much of that second 1/3 of the trip ruddering and enjoying the views while Brian provided most of the boat’s momentum. He had two speeds, paddling and not, so my guilt was minimal.

The bridge at Fairnalee signalled the only serious rapids of the day. The low water level would mean they were more challenging than usual, but still navigable. Retrospect suggests we should have scouted and perhaps walked the wee ones around it, but it’s a bit late for that. Charlie led the way. Emily and the Bassetts went next and unfortunately ended up in the drink. Imogen and especially Freya were not happy about that. Brian and I saw the end result from the eddy above the bridge and we motored past the in-laws (Anna and I forget her husband’s name) to see about helping. Unfortunately, sort of, we were too late for screaming child rescue, but we did get to pick up a paddle and other bits of kit. Fear tears became show tears as Freya became adamant about not getting back in the canoe.

Debbie and the girls stayed at Fairnalee and the rest of us forged downstream to Galashiels. The last 1/3 of the trip passed quicker than the previous 2 and the familiar tall bridge at the get-out was soon in sight.

Although I felt really good for being back in a canoe, I was barred from boat loading duty when we packed up and prepared to drive back to collect the Bassetts. The girls were in much better spirits when we arrived and waved all of us in. The Woods took Brian and me back to Peel and we parted company with tentative plans for boat unloading later that evening.