Need to paddle. Can’t paddle due to Covid – Boo

Need to paddle. Can’t paddle due to Covid – Boo

Need to paddle. Can’t paddle due to Covid – Boo

(It must have been awful living with me, like a child constantly asking if we are there yet)

Gov says we can paddle!

Need to paddle. Will go after work on Friday from Sandy Lane – Yay!

Monday – Weather is great. Is it Friday yet? No. Boo

Tuesday – Weather is great. Is it Friday yet? No. Boo

Wednesday – Weather is great. Is it Friday yet? No. Boo

Thursday – Weather is great. Is it Friday yet? No. Boo

Friday – Yay!

Boo, its blowing a hooley.

Too windy to load the sea kayaks onto the car on my own?

Hmmmm, but I need to paddle and its Friday. Therefore it is not too windy! (Quality logic, and after a few squeaky bum moments they were loaded)

Collect Ruth from work. M53 is very blowy. 55mph, no 50mph, is plenty. Change of plan, Eccleston Ferry is more protected from the wind than Sandy Lane

So with that decision made we headed to Eccleston ferry. This is a great place to launch from to paddle flatwater on the River Dee (more scenic than at Sandy Lane). Point to note is that the car park is reduced capacity to reduce Covid risk – not that that stopped the person who was obviously living there in a campervan.

Anyway, a lovely paddle into the wind. A couple of sprints past the trees that were ominously creaking / depositing sections into the river and a decision made not to stop at the usual picnic spot at Crook of Dee ( a great little beach to land on – perfect for family picnics) and instead go to the iron bridge. Headwind all the way there, tailwind on the way back.

Not the longest paddle in the world, but so good to be back in boat!

As for the trip on the Dee.

Park at either Sandy Lane in Chester or Eccleston Ferry (details below)

Head upstream until reach turn around point (not too many stopping points – Eccleston ferry or Crook of Dee are best). River is more countrified above Eccleston Ferry, and there is an increased likelihood of seeing Kingfishers in this section.

Then paddle back

Distances / points

Sandy Lane to Eccleston Ferry (4km – Easy launch at SL, car park with slipway. No real stops until Eccleston Ferry. )

Eccleston Ferry to Crook of Dee (1.6km – slightly harder launching as have to carry boat over a fence or through kissing gate. Good point to stop at CoD with place for picnic / run around)

Crook of Dee to Iron Bridge (1.7km – no real get out points)