I had wanted to paddle the river Eden for a long time, but had always been put off by the faffage associated with the booking in process. So it was great when Ian Bell told me that he also wanted to do an open boat run down the Eden and that the booking process appeared to have been abandoned. Project Eden was go!
So, on the new year bank holiday 4 LCC open boaters met at the easy put in (its a car park with canoe launching steps) at Lazonby. Due to the temperature being rather cold there was no faffing, or was it that Andy Garland wasnt with us, and we were soon on the river. Although cold, the water that splashed onto my airbag froze, it was a lovely crisp winters day – perfect open boating weather.
The river starts easy and allows paddlers to build up confidence as the rapids get slightly more challenging, at the level we paddled it is a superb improvers trip (it felt a step up from the Carrog to Horseshoe falls section of the Dee). We paddled away from the start and were amazed that for a lakeland river it was wide and had a remote feeling to it, quite similar to the Scottish Spey.
Past elegant fishing huts, sandstone cliffs and ancient carvings, we paddled on.
Enjoying the easy rapids and chilling on the flatter sections we made our way down to the weir which we portaged over the rocks mid river. A final flatish section down to Armathwaite where we exited the river on river right just below the bridge – easy egress onto a public footpath with steps out of the field onto the main road.
Thanks to Ian for organising, I am sure we will do this river again soon!
Now, where will the next open boat trip be?????