Spey ..all the way from Aviemore to the sea.

[willie]

I started just across from the pub in Aviemore last Sunday...the wife dropped me off and promised to pick me up on Tuesday at Speybay. The weather was fine for the whole trip apart from the wind at times made it feel like I was paddling upstream.
The first day was flat and easy with no problems...remember this was the first river I have ever paddled. A long but good day with tired arms when I stopped and made camp at a nice spot just on the outskirts of Grantown on Spey.
Started early about 6 am after a good breakfast I was on my way...I was well aware this day had very different water in store and it did not disappoint because not long after leaving the hidden rocks appeared from know where, you really had to keep your eyes on the river.
One of main things about this great trip is the amount of fisher people you meet.... and they are not really very happy about you passing and make it very difficult by asking you at the last minute to pass by ...some prefer behind them some in front...but what I found was it was really hard to change direction at the last moment and also the water was very shallow at times and scraping on rocks and damaging my canoe just to keep them happy seemed to be the thing. It did occur to me why do the fisher people have it all there way? Why do they have the river 6 days a week?
Why not share the river 3 days each ...remember salmon stocks would improve...the canoe people just glide by ...killing nothing.
The next camp was a nice spot just outside Aberlour where I enjoyed a few nips of local malt while watching a pair of Ospreys looking for there dinner.
Anyway...lots of rapids including the famous washing machine and lots of scary hidden rocks...but would do this trip again and again it was fantastic with lots of good wild camping sites and loads of wildlife including pine martins and otters...if there is one thing you do before you die its got to be this trip.
I have some photo's but not many as my camera is not very waterproof...I will try and post these later, if I work out how to do it.

If any body would like to do this trip ...give me a shout and I will gladly go with them and offer advice and encouragement.

[Scots_Charles_River]

Good blogg, did you read the speyguide on the SCA site ?
http://www.canoescotland.com/Default.aspx?tabid=512

They don't have the river 6 days you can paddle within the agreed guidelines whenever you want.
As long as you follow the SOAC.

Nick

[Matkat]

Where are the pic's.this thread is worthless without them

[TGB]

Short blog. But the content is all there. Sounds like an exciting run on a great route.

TGB

[jongooligan]

Willie, your blogg remided me of a trip some time in the past. Near Craigallechie we came across a group of novice kayakers being guided down the river. As they (& we) approached a fisherman with his ghillie he insisted that we take the shallow water behind him despite the guide telling him that the novices would be better off in deeper water. Anyway, we did as he asked and one of the kayakers hit the bank bow first. The current swept the stern around to hit the angler behind the knees with enough force to make him sit down heavily in the water. Even the ghillie couldn't hide a smirk. I didn't laugh at all, oh no.

[willie]

You see I really was so polite and tried keep the fishermen happy but my point is that I have spent a lot of money on my hobby and don't see why it should always be me that suffers the damage or feel inferior to the fisher folk as I think if they see someone in a canoe it would be nice if they pulled there line in and politely waved me by and smiled and wished me well...but as you know this is not the case they hate the fact that we come by them.

You Think different...tell me, and a message to the dude that said my blogg was no good without photo's....again I will say my camera is not waterproof and I suggest you do the trip your self or use your imagination until I get my photo's up loaded.

[tenboats1]

Very odd, I've had nothing but good rapor with anglers on the Spey.

In fact that goes for all the Scottish rivers (as opposed to loch side: different social class there, typically drunk and aggressive).

The only issue I have ever had was on the Tay at Stanley with the baliff. But then he is a well known individual. We accomodated his request to take a shallow line, he spoilt my day for all of...............well, about 30 seconds I guess

[MagiKelly]

Sounds like a great trip.

Picture advice is here

http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/for...ead.php?t=2482

[willie]

Yes you probably are quite right ...I may be a bit sensitive as I am giving up smoking at the present time and am a wee bit grouchie and I think I need to chill a wee bitty.....Sorry

[Silvergirl]

I have paddled most sections of the Spey now, but not all in one trip. Sounds like you had a great time.

I have never had any problems with the fishermen, although I did take on a bit of water avoiding a line near Blacksboat.

As for pictures I think, as Matkat probably meant , you have described it vividly enough without them.

I don't have a waterproof camera either

[Lurch]

I have spent a lot of money on my hobby

I bet you haven't spent as much as the fishermen for that day.
Not that pounds spent should equal primacy mind.
Saying that you wish the fishermen had pulled their lines in makes as much sense as the fishermen saying they wish you'd portaged your boat.
It's a difficult balance.

[willie]

I know where your coming from but I really did feel that ...they own the water and they are just putting up with us cause they have to.....end of!!!!!

[willie]

As promised but not brilliant a few photo's to show my trip.



First night camp in perfect weather...just outside Grantown.



Thought this was a smashing wee beach.

Its another nice day and no wind to fight against.



The second nights wild camp just outside Aberlour...perfect.



Just outside Fochabers I spotted this wee guy....can you see him yet?



It was amazing I managed to paddle right up to him/her and she/he just stared me out.



Anyway a great trip and one I know I will do again.

[TGB]

Nice pitches and a view of a creature, one hardly see.

TGB

[Sparky]

Looks like you had a great trip, I'd love to do the Spey again, it's a beautiful river, it's the 12 hours of driving that puts me off.
Mike

[aslan]

The couple of times I've paddled the Spey I must say I took great delight in watching the salmon leap out of the river a few yards away from a fisherman. Almost as if they were saying " can't catch me"

Can sympathise with the view that it gets a bit confusing trying to second guess if fishermen wan't you to go infront, behind or which way. I always try and live and let live - but it doesn't always work.

[willie]

Thanks for all your support and I thinks we should live and let live but I still ain't happy but such is life.
I go offshore on Sat for maybe 12 days and then home and then up north with tent and canoe who knows where.....cant wait.

[Big Steph]

Willie nice blogg

Fishing contributes ALOT of money to the local economy and keeps many local people employed

As paddlers we get free access to the rivers

So if a ghillie is trying to get someone who has paid alot of money a fish, then all it costs us is a wee bit of time, not a bad trade.

Try a whistle, many times if your beside a river looking downstream you can't hear anything above you

Steph

[Mutineering Maggie]

Well done on the blogg. Your'e definately hooked. Was that a Pine Marten?

[packman]

hello willie, great blogg and photo of the elusive pine marten beastie! you were particularly blessed with that chance encounter on the river! regards w

[Howard Mc]

Hi Willie

Nice blog & good photos of the Marten, good spot.
The Spey decent was my 'first & second ever' canoe trip, I bought my own canoe after the second trip, and I hope to return every year.

I usually paddle it early in October, after all the fishermen have left.
Given the number of huts, and miles of managed bank, I think this would spoil the experience just a little. My 3rd trip was last November, a little colder but sublime all the same. Two of these trips are blogged here in the the SotP archives.

Would advise you have a friend along, especially on large moving water, Solo trips are a significantly greater risk!

Roll on October, Loch Inch to Spey Bay ..again!

Best regards
Howard Mc

[innerhaven]

I loved that blog! Only done a couple of days on the spey as part of a deliverance themed stag weekend, but your mention of the 'washing machine' brought it all back in an instant! Great fun, very exciting, cleared the hangovers in seconds!

[Genon]

Excellent!

[Timinwales]

Excellent!

pretty much says it all for me

[eds]

Did 2 days a few weeks ago - never ha a problem with the fisher folks. Most were very chatty.

[Windblown]

Excellent first blog, willie.

For those who need to see it as well as read it, have a look at this:

http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/for...highlight=spey

Best Wishes,

Frank

[Glenn]

Glad you posted pictures
I've never been there so couldn't imagine it, and it looks a nice stretch.

Nice first blogg, keep em coming

[Adrian Cooper]

I bet you haven't spent as much as the fishermen for that day.
Not that pounds spent should equal primacy mind.
Saying that you wish the fishermen had pulled their lines in makes as much sense as the fishermen saying they wish you'd portaged your boat.
It's a difficult balance.

ishing contributes ALOT of money to the local economy and keeps many local people employed

As paddlers we get free access to the rivers

So if a ghillie is trying to get someone who has paid alot of money a fish, then all it costs us is a wee bit of time, not a bad trade.

You have an absolute right to navigate the river. You may well not have any right to walk on the bank. If the fisherman wants the minimum of disturbance to his day, it makes sense for him to reel in and recast, it takes minutes. A lot less than you portaging your boat and all your camping gear and the disturbance this creates.

As to the money, a large chunk of the money goes to the landowner and the people fishing can obviously afford it. Likely the cost of the days fishing compared to annual income is a significantly lower proportion than the cost of a canoe and gear to a lowly canoeist.