2014
NN2432 : Eas Urchaidh with the Orchy at 3m
taken 9 years ago, near to Arichastlich, Argyll And Bute, Scotland
Eas Urchaidh with the Orchy at 3m
Normally the Falls of Orchy are an awkward grade 5-6 prospect with narrow slots and lots of pinning potential for the intrepid canoeist. As the level rises, they become somewhat safer, but not necessarily a lot easier. On the day we paddled the lower Orchy (putting in below the Falls) the gauge just downstream was at 3m (rising to 3.3m by late afternoon), the road was already flooded above knee deep and the falls were a horrendous mass of crashing waves and seething waves. There's now no pinning risk, and a real prospect of a fairly easy line, providing one has an absolutely bomb-proof roll. With the river well into the trees, and going faster than one could drive down the road (let alone run along the bank) a swim here would probably be terminal !
Shortly after this photo was taken, a German gentleman in an automatic (and very shiny) BMW tried to drive along the flooded bit of road, stalled, and became immovable, even with a lot of effort towing with my 4-WD vehicle. This left one of our vehicles having to drive right back up to the head of Glen Orchy to achieve our shuttle, whilst I drove the now stranded driver and his son to the police station in Dalmally where the local copper knew exactly where we were - "Oh yes, we had a police car washed into the river there a few years ago". Needless to say, the paddle from here down to Loch Awe went very fast with plenty of adrenaline despite the guidebook comment that "This slow moving, meandering section brings its own delights to those who prefer their river trips with a little less excitement". That description indeed applies very well with the water two or three metres lower...
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