River trips

2.57 metres ........ 06 January 2007

Not quite as washed out as it was last week, but the highlight of the trip was still the wave river right just below Thistlebrig.

Linn

The main channel and the next one on the right are more or less one big river - the rocks between them are pretty obvious, but there is water flowing over them. I couldn`t get close enough to say if there is any way down it.

The next channel is getting a bit bony in places, and there looked to be two possible ways down it, the first one looked to be a neat route down just 1 metre out from the river left bank. However it turned out to be shallower than it looked, and so was rather rocky. The other route was river right of centre, then turning and running down a ramp. I didn`t run it, it might have been a bit rocky as well.

The fourth channel was running quite full, and is a major river in its own right. There was a considerable stopper along it, but it might be possible to blast through, if coming down the river. I am not sure if it would be too easy to escape from if you approached from the side and surfed on to it. I think it would hold you pretty strongly.

Linn bypass

The Linn bypass would have been running well, I think. Looking up from the main river Tay, the bottom end of the bypass didn`t appear to present any problems.

Wall

Water is coming over the wall.

Wave right hand side of wall

This was fairly washed out, but there was some waves further right than normal. They were just about surfable, but you only get one shot at them.

Weir

The whole of the weir has water coming over it, and there are big stoppers over most of the length of the weir. However the main chute has an asymmetric wedge of smoothish water below it, and is probably the best way down the weir. Be aware that the on the approach to this wedge, above the weir, there is a diagonally running current, so the approach to the chute needs to be a bit further left than you would expect.

I make no apologise for repeating this again - the stoppers below the weir are large and holding - getting the wrong line down the weir will probably result in death, as I have no idea how you would rescue someone who is stuck in the stopper. If there is the slightest possibility that someone might get the wrong line down the weir, they should portage the weir.

Rapid down to Hell Hole corner

This section was roughish, but doesn`t present any real problems if you come down the centre or so of the river. There are a few possible playspots river left.

Hell Hole corner

The main rapid is very far from straightforward - there is about 200 metres of very confused water all the way down and round the bend. Loads of waves, haystacks, and cross currents make for quite a complicated section of river.

At first sight it appeared that there was a clear and easy line right down the river right, however almost too late you realise that the there is a significant hole stretching out from the right bank for about 50 metres across the river. To avoid the hole requires a considerable diversion left out into the worst of the confused current.

Thistlebrig

Thistlebrig is fairly washed out at this level - however the normal waves river left are forming. The easiest run down is to stay right of centre, and look for the dark channel down past the white water on each side of you. It`s quite rough, but is the least challenging route through.

Wave below Thistlebrig

At this level there are two good waves in succession -

the first wave is a playboaters dream - the river right half is smooth and green, and great for straight surfing - easier to surf than last week. Quite long times could be spent on the wave. The right hand half is steeper, with a foam pile right down to the trough.
the second wave is not too well defined, a bit messy, with a bit of a foam pile. It is a bit too short for my boat, however it was quite good for 180`s.

On this occasion, these waves were once again the highlight of the day, and I spent more time there than on the run down the river.

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