2025 01 03 The “Moonshine Run” by Roy M
Horseshoe Weir to Overton (30km)
Date: 3rd January 2025
Participants: Chris and Reece (first part) with Sarah G, Stuart T, Roy M and Keith S
Distance: 30km
Conditions: Very cold with 0.9 and 0,95 on the Corwen Gauge
Our latest club outing took us on an exhilarating 30km journey down the River Dee navigating from the iconic Horseshoe Weir to Overton Bridge. This stretch offered a mix of technical challenges, stunning scenery, and opportunities for teamwork with no other boaters on the river.
We started at Horseshoe Weir, where everyone took a moment to warm up and practice their moves in the rapid’s playful waters. The river was running with a very lively flow, providing us with plenty of downstream energy for the day. The initial section featured some fun Grade II and III rapids that tested our paddling skills and set the tone for the adventure ahead. Serpents was one long bouncy rapid with water running over the rocks on the river’s left.
As we progressed, the river sped us along the flatter sections at least at double walking pace, perfect for catching our breath and taking in the picturesque Welsh countryside. Around every bend exciting playwaves and confused water kept us on our toes. The camaraderie among the group shone as we scouted trickier sections and shared tips for clean runs.
Town Falls was shot on the river right by most but some preferred the drier line on the river left of the main rapid. I always find it a grade easier at these higher levels but the speed is much quicker. Chris and Reece left us here as they needed to head back to Liverpool. The rest of us paddled on, combining the three usual sections in one longer trip.
Before long we approached Trevor Rocks and the bridges and aqueduct below. It was too cold to stop anywhere but we did surf a few of the waves dotted around most bends. There had been a few landslips of the steeper banks due no doubt to the heavy recent rain. Many of the side streams and small tributaries were still full and adding to the flow as we continued downstream. We paddled past Tŷ Mawr Country Park (the usual get-out for this section) and continued on downstream.
This lower section was largely washed out but did have numerous “soft” play waves but it was too cold to stay too long. The steeper section below the A483 high road bridge was fast but usually has more technical rapids in lower flows. While paddling over the large wave-trains here, I uttered the phrase, “This is just like the sunshine run” [A long bouncy run in the French Alps]. It even has the sun out pointing to a watery outline of the sun through the thick, cold cloud. It actually looked like the moon rather than the winter sun!
Eribistock Weir was the last real hazard on the route. As we approached, white water was splashing up from the boiling water on the river right. Stuart scrabbled out on river left to take a look at the weir. Large uprooted trees had been strewn along the whole river and one could have possibly been lodged in the bottom of the drop. I was rather glad that he had taken the time to look, as the ramp on river left, which can be a green wave in very high flows, had a meaty stopper 12m wide which could not be seen from the kayak. The best route was a narrow chute immediately to the left of the middle stanchion of the weir.