RIVER SOAR TRIP REPORT. 11/11/2017
So, A few weeks ago Stan Crane was having withdrawal symptoms from not having any trips lately. So, the Facebook plea went out, Neil Smith came to the rescue volunteering to be trip organiser, a local river soar paddle from Leicester outdoor pursuits centre with the flow to barrow on soar. The date set, and fine weather ordered Neil set about checking out plans: route, river flow and short cuts if needed. Carpark arrangements and authorisation to launch and the trip leader picked/bribed/ named as Michael Ward.
Neil has paddled this route before and had come up with some detours/shortcuts during the planning stage. One of these routes he had read up as “being a little overgrown between Thurmaston and Cossington”.
Thanks to Ken for doing the ‘safe’ car shuttle back from barrow to the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre with Neil in the dog seat, We were ready for the off. So with a saw nearly as big as Neil’s arm, the 10 of us set off at 10:30. With a choice of entry methods from the steep seal launch, 5 huge concrete steps or the gentle slip in. A quick paddle to the first weir and it had become obvious to me how much debris was in this river. from shopping trolleys, rubbish, plastic bags/bottles, balls and the religious coconuts everywhere. This was the most polluted paddle I had done so far, and we had only done a mile.
Within less than 25 mins we arrived at the first weir. Prior to checking it out we showed our respect for the fallen with a 2 minutes silence for armistice day, then we started the madness of going over the weir. A huge tree stump was stuck in the main flow, our options ranged from portaging or going for it anyway, but then a local resident working on the bank kindly offered a steel pole to try and jimmy it free. with 3 guys being beaten by a trunk, it was decision time. The mums of the group, Heidi and I, decided it was too early in the trip to get wet especially after the instruction was given to boof it on take-off, so we portaged, whilst the fearless youngster decided they would go for it…. Tyler willingly obliged and over he went. A little wobble but he stayed upright. Then followed 2 swimmers (no names, but well done for having a go) by this time, the mums were at the water’s edge and could get the view from the water line unlike the paddlers to see that the weir was actually a sheer drop of about 3 feet with a little churning of the water at the foot. Over the rest came with no further swimmers and on we went.
A little further on another weir this time only Colin and Michael were up for this one, whilst the rest of us watched on (here’s the video!), both over successfully. A bit further on the first route decision was to be made, do we carry on, on the easy canal route or left turn and go down what had been stated as a little over grown with tree debris but a far more interesting route, unanimous vote left turn it is. The flow increased, and the width of the flow reduced so a stretch of faster moving water gave us all a boost, testing out our paddling skills as a wide range of strokes were needed through the twisting and turning and ducking in and out of the trees weeds and debris. No Bear Grylls type of cutting needed so we made good ground on this stretch then under the A46 bypass back out into the open.
Shortly after the bypass the local black long-haired cattle were surprised to see us as they stood and watched us all go by, or where they really laughing at us knowing what was to come. Around a couple more bends we hit the GREEN WALL. Floating Pennywort! Initially it was little stretches that you could power through then into open water again. this stuff then became so dense it was hard work. Sapping your energy as we hit each patch. Neil decided that it may be easier to get out and carry, however on the get out the bank was so steep and slippy that he had a little slip and bobbed around with just his head out of the water for a bit, before succeeding on his second attempt. Michael who was bringing up the rear decided to try the same route as Neil but with being at the back had not seen Neil fail on his first attempt and promptly failed himself, testing my ability to do a Deepwater rescue and help him back into his boat. The rest of us just kept powering through until the Green Wall finished and changed to a black layer of ****.
Wanlip treatment works! this was where we decided no chance, portage it is. After walking far enough away to get away from the smell, we had lunch to refuel. The water here was clear again so after a quick break we got back on and tried to paddle towards Cossington mill. It didn’t last long and after only 100 yds. we were forced to get out again. Not even the swans could make headway in this dense carpet. we were now behind of our schedule and once back on the water we had heads down and paddled hard to make up some time again.
We got to Cossington mill (our planned lunch area) and shot the weir, everyone remaining dry this time, we then cracked on and decided to take a shortcut to make up some lost time all of us keeping our fingers crossed that this route doesn’t turn out the be overgrown like the last stretch. Thankfully most of the way was clear as we started to get back into civilization a short carpet slowed us a little but the first few paddlers made their way through with the help of the moored boats by pulling along them, only to have ‘Mr angry boat’ owner moan at us. Whilst we received smiles and waves from his fellow boating neighbours.
2 further weirs with a little ferry gliding practice for some whilst everyone made their way over, the temperature and sun where both dropping fast now with not much further to go before we should see the last lock. When calls started sounding out ….
“Are we nearly there yet?”, “Are we nearly there yet?” Neil got a faster paddle on with the last lock being only a 100 yds. before the get out, a few of us even decided not to risk getting back on and carried the boats over the bridge back to the cars. All back and loaded safely just as it was turning dark. With some heading off to rehydrate at the local pub and others heading home for a warm shower, we said our good-byes and went our own ways.
By Denise & Tyler Swinburne.