The first part of this open canoe river trip can be found here.
With Rab giving encouragement and instruction we decided to ‘go with the flow’, soon finding the perfect spot to practice our ‘Ferries’. We must’ve made an odd sight, our fleet constantly criss-crossing the fast moving water trying different combinations of angles, speed and paddle strokes to achieve the most efficient ferry glide.
Colin and Bill, who have never paddled together before, soon realised that shouted communication is vital, particularly in noisy rapids.
We had an anxious moment watching a high support stroke being performed.
We needn’t have worried; we were amongst professionals! A surprised dog walker on the bank stated that he hadn’t seen canoes on this stretch before.
He spent quite some time watching us; wonder what he was thinking, ‘Mad Fools’, or wish ‘I could be with them’?
We’ll never know as we sped round a bend through a bouncy wee rapid.
This was great fun!
Our mentor was clear with his guidance;
We soon got the hang of breaking in and out, bow rudders, and hanging draws in the moving water.
It was quite different from Drumkinnon Bay on a Tuesday night.
The rain continued to pour down, the Endrick was in a 'state of spate'.
We reached a section of rapid with some good waves. Colin and Bill sat perfectly balanced on the waves enjoying the pure buzz, no effort required to control the power. Everybody said it was a brilliant feeling.
Rab was hooked…….it was difficult to stop him surfing!
It became a competition to see who could be the surf star. Donald misjudged the angle, and shot downstream, there was much hilarity and no sympathy! This short video gives an idea of the flow and fun we had .Young Davie and Ron judged it perfectly. The audience were getting cold (it was now only raining heavily) so we pressed on down a longer section of rapids. We made sure we avoided the shrubs and trees on the right bank. The banks of the River Endrick are looked after by a team of volunteers from the L.L.A.I.A who try to improve the fishing on the river. They inspect overhanging trees and trim when necessary. As anglers are restricted to fly only, it makes sense to remove branches which interfere with casting; it’s a great help to paddlers too, so thanks guys.
And still the river rose………….and look, we’ve found another play spot: we jostled for the best wave. Colin and Bill saw Rab off this time; Janice and Davie enjoyed an adrenaline rush. Passing under the main A81 road bridge we were exposed to the full force of the wind.
We realised that even in a river, windage is a very significant factor in open canoes.
All too soon we were at the take out, just above Gartness Weir.
The rain stopped, and some of us saw a kingfisher, which was a nice ending, but it’s not quite over until the boats are back on the cars………..
It was a great wee river in the conditions; Grade 1, with plenty of interest but no real difficulties for the paddlers.
A highly recommended day out on a rising spate.
Be aware that the best time for fishing on the Endrick is a falling river. Sometime after the last heavy downpour you will probably meet fishermen, in season.
(The fishing season that is, not the fishermen!)
We took a short walk to look at ‘The Pots’ quite a famous salmon leap.
One word to describe them today – Awesome – what power
Bill’s comment to Andy one year ago;
‘Do you think we’ll ever have the skill to do them?’
Andy, Elizabeth & Bill have always seized any opportunity to kayak or sail.
The Moray Club used to have an annual fun weekend at Gorton Sands, Back of Keppoch, when we borrowed a trailer load of OB Loch Eil kayaks to splash about in the tidal channels and skerries under blue skies and blazing sunshine.
Who remembers Roshven in a Mediterranean heat wave in 1986?
Our ‘floaters’ have joined the Drumchapel & Clydebank Kayak Club. Since then they’ve been learning new skills, exploring the coastline and lochs whenever time, tide and weather allow.
However this was different; DCKC had planned to take open canoes on the River Endrick.
As this is five minutes from Bill’s door, he couldn’t miss it!
The Endrick is normally a placid pastoral river, frequented by solitary fishermen looking for sea trout or salmon, and by locals walking their dogs along the bank.
It flows from Carron Reservoir and in its upper reaches is quite wild. On reaching Fintry it becomes more interesting for paddlers (only in high water), before skirting Balfron and Killearn on its way to Loch Lomond.
Today’s trip was from Endrick Bridge at Balfron, with the take out just above Gartness. The Moray Club has a well deserved reputation for coffee and scones before (and after) each hillwalk.....Well we don’t have to worry, we’re in good company with DCKC……
We met at 10 but it was 11.30 before we left Doyle’s coffee shop in Balfron. (the home baking is good)
There was however, method in this madness.
Both Bill and Rab independently inspected the river the previous day/evening, and were disappointed to discover that it had a very low flow.
However there is no substitute for local knowledge!
Both knew that the Endrick is a spate river and rises quickly after heavy rainfall; and it was pouring down as we drank our 2nd coffee….
Our ‘delay’ allowed the river to rise 0.3m in 90 minutes!
The put in at Endrick Bridge was tricky; and we weren’t even in the water.
Never seen a seal launch with an open boat before?
You have now!
Soon we had all the canoes and gear assembled and Rab gave as a few last minute tips, about not tipping, as we launched. (Always was careful with money!)
Boy oh boy, was it raining hard. The river was coloured 'milk chocolate', and the rate of flow impressive for such a small river.
Compare the colour of the water to the previous day.
Our journey was going to be a mix of skills practice, and fun. Launching proved to be both.
We were soon afloat (4 canoes), and with no mishaps we headed downstream at a fair pace. Click here for part 2 of our Endrick 'epic'.
We must’ve made an odd sight, our fleet constantly criss-crossing the fast moving water trying different combinations of angles, speed and paddle strokes to achieve the most efficient ferry glide.
A surprised dog walker on the bank stated that he hadn’t seen canoes on this stretch before.
Donald misjudged the angle, and shot downstream, there was much hilarity and no sympathy!
This short video gives an idea of the flow and fun we had
The audience were getting cold (it was now only raining heavily) so we pressed on down a longer section of rapids. We made sure we avoided the shrubs and trees on the right bank. The banks of the River Endrick are looked after by a team of volunteers from the L.L.A.I.A who try to improve the fishing on the river. They inspect overhanging trees and trim when necessary. As anglers are restricted to fly only, it makes sense to remove branches which interfere with casting; it’s a great help to paddlers too, so thanks guys.
Colin and Bill saw Rab off this time; Janice and Davie enjoyed an adrenaline rush.
Passing under the main A81 road bridge we were exposed to the full force of the wind.
The rain stopped, and some of us saw a kingfisher, which was a nice ending, but it’s not quite over until the boats are back on the cars………..
Since then they’ve been learning new skills, exploring the coastline and lochs whenever time, tide and weather allow.
It flows from Carron Reservoir and in its upper reaches is quite wild. On reaching Fintry it becomes more interesting for paddlers (only in high water), before skirting Balfron and Killearn on its way to Loch Lomond.
The Moray Club has a well deserved reputation for coffee and scones before (and after) each hillwalk.....Well we don’t have to worry, we’re in good company with DCKC……
However there is no substitute for local knowledge!
The put in at Endrick Bridge was tricky; and we weren’t even in the water.
Never seen a seal launch with an open boat before? 
Soon we had all the canoes and gear assembled and Rab gave as a few last minute tips, about not tipping, as we launched. (Always was careful with money!)
The river was coloured 'milk chocolate', and the rate of flow impressive for such a small river.
Click here for part 2 of our Endrick 'epic'.
