Nick, Mary and I, set off to paddle the Lagan on a grey but mild day. This is really the continuation of a trip we did last month, and as we finished at Donaghcloney that's where we started this time. There is a little housing development right beside the bridge called Lagan View and a couple of the residents have approached us about canoeing when we were there, so they had no problems with us leaving our cars there.
The road bridge is in front of an older lower bridge which required a little limbo dancing to get under it, and could be challenging in higher water levels. However the farmer that owns the field on the low side of the bridges told Mr Nick that he had no problems with us getting on the river from there if necessary.
Mary and I pose in front of the bridges.
There are a few big slopey weirs on this river, most of which could be run easily and safely if there was enough water.
Mary and Nick approach with caution.
Unfortunately there wasn't enough water when we were there. So I opt to line my boat down.
There are lots of these wee ones that Nick loved as it was his first "Solo" river trip.
As usual Mary strikes a perfect pose.
Nick negotiates the bridge.
Here's me making the Disco 119 look tiny.
Most of the trip was a quiet bimble down a bendy river with lots of little drops, until we came upon a Buzzard up on the bank about to tuck into his Sunday lunch. At least that's what he thought until we startled him and he took off down the river with his kill in one claw.
Unfortunately the trees on either bank started to close in on him and he decided his only option was to break for the sky up through a gap high on his right. So he jettisoned his cargo to gain more altitude, and the carcass of a small bird plopped into the water just ahead of us. He must have been really annoyed with us at losing his lunch as he must have been about to get to the good bit, all the feathers were gone, as was the head, and one leg. We couldn't make out what its prey was by what was left but it was about the size of a blackbird.
Time for our lunch so we stopped at a small stream and got out our grub.
We finished the trip at "Steps Bridge" near Magheralin. We met a few fishermen along the way, who were all friendly and ready for a chat. The Buzzard incident was the highlight of my trip and I spotted a few grey squirrels along the way too.
I definitely will do this run again, hopefully with a bit more water next time so that I can run some of the bigger weirs.
Not a bad way to spend a dull Sunday afternoon.
