Now that the evenings are getting lighter, our regular evening paddles have resumed. This first one didn't turn out quite as expected! Thanks Ruth for the write-up:

Bath Adventure

Three intrepid kayakers set out on what was expected to be a quiet evening paddle from Locksbrook to Pulteney weir in Bath and back. However after half a mile we met a swan behaving a little strangely- swimming with its head right back and puffing out its wings. Although we stayed close to one bank- it suddenly took flight and flew into Ruth’s paddle. We kept paddling and it followed us and took flight again- landing very close- and then a third time hitting Ruth’s paddle again. Eventually, after we had passed what we assume was its nest, it left us alone and we continued into Bath.

Further into Bath, we were paddling under a bridge when small stones were rained down on us. We were extremely glad we all had helmets on.

At the weir, Dave and Mike went to investigate entry and exit points for a later trip, but we then had to pluck up the courage to return past the stone-throwing youngsters and the swan- not being sure which was more scary. We also had to negotiate partially sunken shopping trolleys- not exactly the image of Bath we normally expect to see.

On the return journey we were again attacked with stones, but although our kayaks were hit- none of us were hit. We then had to negotiate the angry swan. We tried to stay together and stay as close to the bank as possible- but it still tried to chase us off, and followed us for a very long distance. Mike and Dave tried to scare it off as we entered the side channel up to the lock where we had left the car (while Ruth paddled off into the distance) and thought they had succeeded, until we heard the unmistakable sound of an approaching flying swan. This time it decided Dave was the target and flew right over his deck. Eventually we managed to get out at the lock and were all unscathed- though it had been a much more stressful experience than expected

Paddlers: Dave, Mike and Ruth