Date: Late May Bank Holiday Week, 2018
Team: Dave Magnall; Sam Garton; Ian Tulloch; Brendan Robson; Andy Johnson; Maccy; Marion & Me
I guess for many open canoeists a "Spey Descent" is regarded as a classic, one for the tick list.
We'd never done one before so there was much anticipation! The weather was good when: Dave, Sam, Marion & I set off from Carlisle for the long drive up to Aviemore - none of us had anticipated though that we were heading into a spell of late May weather that would literally be as good as it gets for North East Scotland with temperatures set to hit 31 degC during the course of the trip.
The group assembled in Aviemore; the shuttle to Spey Bay was completed and conversation enjoyed with another group of two (paddling tandem) who were setting off to complete the same journey.
Marion at the Aviemore get on
Although, as might be apparent in one or two of the pictures, the river was on the low side we generally didn't find it too low for the journey intended. However, I would imagine that for anyone departing a few days later they might not have agreed with this statement. Memories, almost three years on, suggest that the early stages were a very gentle float down slow water with only the occasional riffle. It was mid-afternoon before we got underway on what was to be a journey of approximately 60 miles and we didn't paddle all that far before finding a suitable quiet pastoral spot in which to camp for the first night. Perhaps the only dimension of this trip that I didn't enjoy as much as I usually do was the camping, which although absolutely fine, lacked an aspect of wildness that I personally long for on extended canoe trips.
Brendan enjoying a late afternoon float on the first day
Ian; Maccy & Andy-J with patches of snow still visible on the hazy Cairngorms
Day 2 dawned bright, warm & dry and we made good progress. It was on this morning stretch that we had an interesting incident when Dave & Sam's boat caught a (just) submerged wooden bridge stanchion, pivoting it on to a second one and pinning it with the inevitable capsize. All was well but the boat was well and truly pinned, taking much effort with ropes and ultimately a vector pull to free it. Dave and Sam were fine but their kit had been well lashed in place and half an hour in what was effectively a washing machine had to lead to some breakthrough, there was certainly some wet kit to dry out at the end of the day. There were one or two other wet moments of the trip in the very final stages but thankfully of no consequence with respect to folks' kit!
Pinned Canoe!
The "White Water" section below Grantown and taking in Knockando and the "Washing Machine" was my favourite part of the trip, although as mentioned above the level was low, all the rapids were runnable and everybody negotiated them just fine.
Maccy & Andy at the Washing Machine
As always one of the best aspects of the trip was the socialising enjoyed each evening: questions & answers on the meaning of life with Marion; the occasional camp fire at the edge of the river (essential to keep the midges at bay!); swimming and since we were on Speyside passing distillery after distillery the odd wee dram! It was great to be able to share the river without any issues whatsoever with many anglers, we took the strategy of letting each angler know we were there and discussing which way past them would work best for each party - it was another agreeable and pleasant aspect of the journey!
Group lunch stop somewhere around Knockando(?)
After the excitement of some white water the river slows, flattens and widens as it continues its journey to the sea. Bridge after bridge was paddled beneath & many were photographed, we also made an extended stop at Aberlour on the last but one day for refreshments of various kinds - I think Ian might have visited the distillery. This certainly wasn't the most physical canoe journey that any of us had ever been on!
Spey Bridges
The total trip time for us was two part days (first & last) plus two full days, beyond the man-made there was some fine scenery to be experienced as the journey drew to a close but the vista of Spey Bay and the North Sea was a sight to behold on a fine sunny afternoon. Quite a memorable end to a few days of memory making!
Spey Bay - Journey's End
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