Amazing canoe trip on river Dart last night. Discovered my inner hippy. Elderly, white and skinny Totnesian ladies in kaftans – baggy trousers underneath – meandering along towpath as we heaved our canoes in above the Weir, young girls with flower circlets in their hair and funny shoes. Totnes, twinned with Narnia indeed. We paddled upriver with Kingfishers and swans along the side of the Steam railway . Then sat on carpet tiles with foil backing on damp ground in woods and a “story telling session” commmenced. I groaned inwardly and turned away in the direction of dark trees to pull a face. but ….was quickly spellbound- as were all ages. Complete dark in woods just crackle of fire, occasional croak of rooks and Oli the master story teller , holding forth. “The Firebird’ a Russian one. Afterwards we paddled back in pitch dark. The litte flotilla of canoes bumping along together as the paddles hissed in and out of the inky, mill- pond calm water. Occasionaly the hull of one canoe made a muted, wooden sound as it nudged another. “Stay close” we had been instructed “and keep quiet” even the dogs in another family canoe were silent.
Felt like I was in Last of Mohicans – stealth padding as an interloper into someone’s camp. Had to take care to avoid over hanging trees. “Ouch!” Ahead of me in our the canoe the children’s dark shapes paddling hard and quiet as mice. Something they will never forget. Suddenly there was a deeper hiss of water and a “whoop whoop whack whack” sound and a huge white shape with slowly beating wings came up along the river, so low so that we ducked our heads in alarm. A swan disturbed.
Finally the lights of Totnes in the distance. We were back. 2200 hrs 31st Aug 2018. Sensational evening.
The River Files 