Well, after a whole year of planning, the 3rd June saw a bunch of Inverness Canoe Club paddlers head off to Slovenia for some paddling in the sun. After a day on the Soča last year, I couldn’t wait to get back to sample all that the river has to offer!

It was a fantastic week (driving there and back aside) and much fun was had both on, and off, the water. I’d recommend a trip to Slovenia to anyone; there’s stuff for all levels of paddler on the river. Even the rescue/pin situation in Syphon Gorge was a great experience!!

So, without further ado, let the pictures and films tell the tale:

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Well, my bro and Emma Garden (plus me) decided to go for a wee jaunt down the Lower Findhorn today….

Not much rain about, so the rivers have been all-but empty of late. However, the Lower Findhorn was actually running at a nice (albeit low) level. Enough water to get a good paddle and not too scrapy; although not many playwaves about this time…

After capsizing on the lower part of Randolph’s Leap about  20secs after getting on the water, Richard picked up the pace and had a solid paddle; his first since January and first outing in the Mighty Lower! Emma had a good paddle too, only her second time on this stretch, with an unlucky swim on Triple Steps…and was my first time leading on the Lower…

Anyhow, the highlight of the day, however, was the rope swing near the get-out. It’s not often you can swim in the Findhorn without getting hypothermia, but today was tropical and we couldn’t resist…it would also appear that I couldn’t resist the pies, as my first shot on the swing saw it snap and send me flying into the water!

Ok, well today I went for a wee paddle up Strathconon with Kenny.

A nice potter down the Upper Meig on medium levels…no problems, no swims, no rolls and a nice blast through the bottom stopper to finish…

On the way home, I thought I’d take a wee nosey at the gorge section and spotted a couple of kayakers making their way down through the rocks and slides.

Managed to grab a few wee pics, but the light wasn’t very good and I was trying to keep the camera still while hanging off trees above the gorge!

Anyhow, I’ll defo make sure I get a run of this river before the close of the year; looked fantastic!