DAY 5, THURSDAY 18 MAY 2000:
12 MILES BLACKSBOAT TO BOAT O’FIDDICH

This part of the river features not only some of the best fishing, but also the best of the white water, including the famous Knockando Rapid, a designated white water training area. A very scenic and picturesque section of the Spey, this day’s run passes through some very attractive countryside, though at times the banks are heavily remodelled and manicured for the benefit of the fisher-folk and consequently lack the concentration of wildlife seen elsewhere.

However, some of the artificial river features gave good eddies and fun paddling, though I suppose it may disturb the fishing…

The paddling was more fun with a couple of reasonable natural rapids and the day proved wetter and more fun than previous days, with more opportunity to practise skills and strokes.

Steve had a minor epic in a wave, which I had told him to avoid, and to which Rachel and I were oblivious, being unsighted downstream. Rachel was then encouraged by Steve to drop into a fishing eddy, over a practically dry wall, while lying under her centre thwart and with the canoe broadside to the obstacle!

The highlight of the day was Knockando Rapid which proved great fun and on which we played for some considerable time.

It was at Knockando that we met the only other open canoeists, three RAF personnel, on what has to be a superb river for open canoes, despite the need to dodge anglers every few yards!

The end of the day saw us drift down to Boat O’Fiddich, where there is free camping by the Speyway Visitor Centre. This is next to the river, so once again we had a short kit carry - and no boat carry.

The toilets were in the nearby park with a superb old fashioned inn filled with old fashioned locals and fisher-folk a little further on.

As the inn was in Glen Fiddich I drank Glenfiddich malt, the campsite was in Craigallachie, so I drank Craigallachie malt, the nearest town was Aberlour, so I drank Aberlour malt…

I returned to my basha a little later than I had previously intended and settled in for a night of heavy rain drumming on the nylon.

DAY 6, FRIDAY 19 MAY 2000: 17.5 MILES, BOAT O’FIDDICH TO SPEY BAY

The last day of the trip started grey, overcast, drizzly and with the fresh wind blowing straight up the river.

Rachel and Steve seemed to take forever to get going, though in consolation I did spot a deer wandering up the opposite river bank. This was pointed out to Steve who had by that time surfaced.

Despite some interesting manmade features, the river proved generally uneventful with only a couple of mild shingle rapids. The surrounding country appeared strangely flat after the views of the mountains in the earlier part of the trip.

The headwind gave us all some trouble and despite re-trimming, Rachel seemed most affected and appeared not to be enjoying herself at all.

Eventually we arrived at the river mouth where Steve and I paddled out to beyond the first line of surf before struggling back up to the landing.

After the boats and gear were safe in the car park, the three of us repaired to the café where Steve Brodie met us. After a bite and a wet, Steve whisked us back to Grantown where everyone was booked into a hostel for the night.

Despite an excellent pub meal and late (12pm) night, I found sleep in an over-heated room and in an over-soft bed difficult, had my worst night of the trip and woke my earliest next morning!

LAST DAY: SATURDAY 20 MAY 2000

After a café breakfast, some of the hill-walkers plus Steve went canoeing at Knockando, climbers climbed and some of us just chilled out.

I was frustrated in my plan to visit a distillery (purely educational of course) and just sorted my kit instead.
At 3.30pm we were all in the vehicles headed South and home.

My thanks go out to Steve Brodie – top of TOPS – and to David Craig, the River Spey River Adviser, for their help in getting this trip organised.