One Man And His Boat

Category: Lowland Canals

  • Day 3 – End of the Lowland Canals

    • Kirkintilloch to Ardmore Point
    • 45 kms

    I was up early today as I had a long paddle planned and was a bit uncertain about how long the canal portages were going to take.

    Midday would be a good time to be at the end of the canal. It would allow me to take advantage of the last of the ebb on the Clyde and, more importantly, it would give Wendy time to get home for her German lesson.

    I wheeled the kayak back to the canal and was paddling again just before 6.30. My kayak was almost empty this time as Wendy was taking most of my gear to Bowling by car.

    Although the locks presented a number of challenges, having an empty kayak made all the difference. I could lower it down steep grassy banks or pull it up over concrete walls. I had brought along the plastic base from an old kari-tek trolley to use between wall and kayak that allowed the kayak to slide easily. It worked well on the two occasions I used it today.

    I completed the trip with just six portages, rather than the eleven I had feared. I managed to squeeze under all of the low bridges. One involved hanging on to the girders below the bridge and tipping my kayak on its side so that I could get my torso under – anything to avoid another exit.

    Maryhill locks. Just one railing on the ramp makes all the difference for getting the kayak turned.
    Getting back on the canal after the Maryhill locks.
    No pontoon at all at the Dalmuir drop lock.
    One of three low bridges that I could just squeeze under.
    No ramp! I had to jump from pontoon to canal verge and then pull the kayak up the bank.

    At Bowling, Wendy conjured up yet another excellent picnic lunch (courtesy of M&S), which we ate by the side of lock 38. The kayak was then loaded up in time for me to catch the last of the ebb tide. This, along with a slight easterly breeze, made for easy paddling down as far as Port Glasgow.

    Eventually, after a few ventures into shallow sand banks, I was able to cut north over to my final destination at Ardmore Point on the north bank of the Clyde.

    The Clyde at Bowling
    Dumbarton Rock and Castle
    Spreading my stuff about.
    I have the chance to upgrade to an orange boat.

  • Day 2 – Wheel and Locks

    • Falkirk to Kirkintilloch
    • 29 kms

    As soon as the sun went down yesterday evening, the temperature plummeted. It was a cold night in the tent, and there was even frost on the kayak when I awoke. Today, the sun was out again, and it started to warm up quite quickly over breakfast. I was on my way at 7.30.

    Paddle through a tunnel
    Walk through a tunnel
    Portage past a wheel

    … and then I was on to a new canal – The Forth & Clyde Canal.

    This canal runs between the Forth and Clyde rivers. It has a total of 40 locks numbered from 1 at the Forth end. The first 20 go up, there’s a long flat section, and then 20 more take you down. The Union Canal (which I’ve been on up till now) joins the Forth & Clyde Canal (via the Falkirk Wheel) between locks 16 and 17. That means I only have to get past four locks before I’m on the flat bit.

    The route between Edinburgh and Glasgow is all part of a recognised canoe/kayak trail and a certain amount of effort has been made to make the portages easier. The main one being the provision of low-level pontoons, from which it is easier to extract yourself out of your kayak and then pull the kayak out of the water. The edges of these pontoons are even covered with a thick nylon strip that allows a kayak to slide smoothly between water and pontoon (though you do need to check for raised screws first – I’ve seen several).

    Getting the boat from pontoon to canal path appears to have been less well thought out:

    The impossible right turn

    In this case, I had to put the boat back in the water and pull it straight out in line with the ramp – unfortunately, this is now the higher pontoon with no nylon strips and a mooring cleat in the way.

    When the locks were less than half a kilometre apart, it proved easier just to continue the portage rather than paddle between them.

    After lock 20 it was plain sailing (well, paddling) through some lovely countryside.

    Even the swans were chilled

    Paddling was over for the day in Kirkintilloch at 2pm. Time for a shower and a civilised night in a hotel with Wendy.

    Only 20 locks to look forward to tomorrow…

  • Day 1 – Ducklings and Cygnets

    • Edinburgh to Falkirk(ish)
    • 46kms

    What a great send-off. Getting up early enough for a 6am get-a-way goes above and beyond – even for The Team.

    The early birds

    Once at the canal, it didn’t take long to get the boat ready and in the water. As I pulled off a recorder magically sprung into David’s hands, and a fine rendition of the Skye Boat Song sent me on my way.

    Since paddling part of this section of the canal two weeks ago, it has come alive with ducklings. I must have seen 10 to 15 families in 30kms. As I approached they were always ushered into the reeds by an attentive mother and out of photo range.

    The angry Broxburn swan from two weeks ago was still in location, but this time, all I got was a hiss. I could see his mate sitting on a nest just a few metres from him.

    One pair of swans already with youngsters

    All the great photography today was done by Josh, my nephew, at the Avon Aqueduct.

    Today’s paddle at 46kms was a little longer than I’d like to do on a regular basis, but I needed to find a camping spot away from built-up areas. Thankfully I’ll make up for it with a shorter paddle tomorrow.