Scotland Trip Day 7 - Upper, Middle and Lower Roy

By Jack Ward

With it being our last full day in Scotland, Jordan planned to do the Roy Gorge to give the more experienced boaters a chance to crap themselves along with the lower Roy as a a nice gentle way to finish off the trip for everyone. 

Roy faff level: LUCC

What he didn’t count on was Dom throwing the Upper roy into the mix. Dom assured us that it was definitely, definitely suitable for the whole group despite the water looking pretty quick and some definite grade 4 rapids being seen on the way up.The shuttle was particularly long however the majority of the club killed time by seeing how long they could annoy Liam for until he snapped. 1 hour and 40 minutes of standing at the get-on later led to Liam chasing the group with a large stick. Good effort.

The large volume and speed of the water surprised most people and “group friendly” was definitely pushing it! Still it gave people plenty of practise rolling and put them in good stead for the alps. Moment of the river goes to Meg for going hard right when the line was hard left and managing to get backloooped in the hoss, a feat thought to only exist in myths. 

We finished at the start of the Roy gorge where many exhilarated, exhausted and soggy paddlers got off, including Jess who after seeing Doms boat take on the gorge without Dom in it decided against it. 

Top line from Fiona

The gorge carried on where the upper left off, increasing in size and speed with less forgiving rapids. 

The first half was a success and, after a ball-ache of a portage, we got on post-syphon where I was informed by a cheery chris that this was where the good stuff started. Cue back to back grade 4+ rapids and my pants were getting browner by the second. As 4th in group of kayakers I saw Jordan expertly pick his way through a series of nasty holes, and disappear over a sharp horizon line. I was slightly concerned to see him upside down and this only increased as Chris and Graham took the same line with the same consequences. At this point with the horizon line fast approaching I knew I had to either find a new line or trust Jordan's. 30 seconds later I'm upside down after landing sideways in a nasty slot with Todd valiantly trying to hand roll off my head. 

Oh Dom..

The gorge finally opened up to my relief and Liam's disappointment and we met up with the rest of the group at the start of the lower Roy. The lower Roy was at a lovely level compared to previous years which normally claims half of your boat and bits of your face and knuckles for good measure. We bimbled down with Sarah, Andy and Meg all having a go at leading. I got out to do safety for the final rapid, contemplating my first Scotland trip without a swim, looking at my progress over the last 4 years and looking forward to many more trips in the future. I then swam on a grade 2 wave by trying to ferry across without a deck on and subbed out. After trying to paddle with the boat on the riverbed for a few seconds I got out and seriously considered taking up stamp collecting instead. Swim of the week 3 years in a row. Woop woop.