Excellent and challenging day on the river Deveron yesterday paddling from Turriff to Banff. Storm Dennis skirted this part of the UK and we had brilliant blue skies with (pretty sporting!) gusts of wind up to 58 knots. Spent part of the time being blown back up river when the wind came towards us and remainder of the time we where whisked along by the bloated and hurrying water with the wind at our backs, giving us an extra oomph. When the gusts caught our paddles they threatened to overturn us and we were constantly fighting with the wind/current to avoid going in circles.
An otter crossed the river right in front of the lead kayak – which unfortunately I didn’t see. We saw a large crowd of whooper swans in a field, and one loner in the river which, as we approached, spread its huge wings and water-pedalled furiously between us as it performed its take off manoeuvre, lifting off just as it passed me. We startled a Highland coo which was lazily paddling, causing it to lumber up the bank, casting doleful glances behind it.
We saw six herons take off simultaneously and attempt to fly upriver over our heads, but which remained stationary above us, flapping stoically and stubbornly but making no headway until they banked and whisked rapidly off to either side.
We picnicked in a cosy fisherman’s hut whilst the river rushed past and the wind buffeted about us, rattling the roof and the door.
A perfect day to unwind from the events of the previous weeks.
Senior daughter, slowly healing, was meanwhile ferried in style, reclining amongst many cushions and blankets, in the back seat of the car, by ‘im outdoors and junior daughter to a lovely coastal pub for a slap up lunch.