River Soar from Barrow to Zouch
I like to thank Richard for organising the trip and taking me.
Martin and Neil for leading the trip And to Nikki and Ian.
What can I say about Gordon I just wish when I’m 77 years old I can still paddle 9 miles.
The day started off mild with the sun trying to make a show but never showed.
Nikki and I waited at the Barrow boat house when the shuttle was going on (which always seems like ages)
If the pub sold breakfast we would been in there.
When they all returned in Neil’s car it was time to get on the water, there was a wooden seal launch which I had to use, sitting on the top waiting for Neil to get on the water first but he needed to keep going to the toilet and come out with paper(some dirty dog owner).So after getting this out of his boat we was on the water.
We padded under the Bridge and turned left when we came across a lock the first portage of the day (five minutes on the water) moving the boats over the lock Neil and I nosedive off banks Ian was going to but after he seen us going nose first in to the water he changed is mind and was lowered in by Martin then we was off again. Of at least ½ hour then we had to get out and look at the weir, the decision was made to portage it. Then we was back on the water again wondering when the next portage was going to be. (But not for some time)
As we where getting back to the start I had Phil Riley in my head for the last trip I was on “are we there yet” but had to say “are we at the start yet”. We went back under the bridge Martin said we needed to pick you the pace or we will not get there until after dark ( which very dangerous) and anyone like to get out could do so now? But no one did.
Then off to the next weir by the time we got there my leg going to sleep and it was high to get out and I nearly fell in.
There was workmen coming back from there break from chopping down trees near the canal but standing in the tree that they where cutting, safe or not.
We got the Kayaks over the bridge and Martin ferried his and Nikki’s Canoe over the canal, then we stopped for refueling then scrambled down a slippery slope to the bank (is safer in the kayak then on the side).
Back in the boats off again under bridges until there was one that need investigating so we eddy on so Martin Nikki and Richard could check it out, it did seem like a long time before there paddle back up stream and told us the plan of action. More experienced paddlers went to key places so there all could have a line of sight. Then we went one by one, Gordon then me we both got pulled to the right so when Ian seen this he decided to paddle left more then he hit a rock as he went through the bridge. We all eddy out into a safe place. So the signal was given to Richard and Neil to come through the bridge, Neil was playing on the wave and did not see Richard fall in and swim. So after rescuing Richard and having a little break we headed down the river again.
It was not long till the headed wind started to pick up the canoes where going all over the place until there moved the ballast around. The wind continued for the last mile of the trip made it feel like 4. When we got to the last weir in Zouch the decision was made that Gordon could not go on anymore so Richard stayed with him where we was going to get off originally but there was no parking spaces. After seal launching into the river the wind picked up or just to tired to paddle it was not long till we got off. Boats on the roof got changed then Ian gave Neil a lift back to the pub where we had a debrief.
Thanks all
Dave Carrington