Finhorn Gorge

This morning we woke to rain which quickly turned to snow. This got everyone's heart pumping as the thought of the rivers rising. I hate to say it but with 5 minutes of start breakfast the Hastings Canoe club had created a reputation for its self here at Glenmore Lodge. One instructor said cake dessert for breakfast. Yes said Alex and Jason. after breakfast we here the staff over talking about us, they had a cake dessert for breakfast strange lot said one instructor to another. The morning started with a briefing with our instructors, to discuss passed paddled rivers and our aspirants for the week. A short drive to the first river the Finhorn Gorge. A gorgeous boulder filled technical river in a stunning setting. Throughout the day the instructors dropped little hints and tips for safe paddling, little things that perhaps we wouldn't have thought of. Our first job was to move tree wedged across the feature cauldron snout, great team work was needed to clear the route. Plenty of inspection were required to check the route and choose the lines to run. Our guide Giles paddled ahead on several sections so he could film us coming down the various sections on is helment camera. We can't wait to watch them. The river gave great opportunity for boofing, quick turning and plenty of continious eddy hopping. Everyone stayed in their boats, with the only incident being Adrian who caught his face on a rock whilst up side down to leave a small gash. No other casualties or swims but a lot of scraping on rocks as the water levels are very low for this time of year. Jake our other instructor pointing out how high the river normally is making our paddling quite difficult. The get out was a massive scramble up a hill which warmed us all up. The Glenmore instructors carry a small mo-ped in the trailer so the mini bus can be left at he finish and the instructor can get back to start. It was agreed that this should be clubs next investment. 3 Course dinner was fabulious, chocolate lava cake for dessert just melted in your mouth. We could go home a stone or two heavier. Can't wait for breakfast again, more grumpious food. On the drive back to the lodge from get out it began raining, this a caused our instructors to get excited and start about the different rivers we could do tomorrow. Over dinner it rained even harder and eventually turn to a heavy snow shower, forcast said the possible of a foot of snow my morning. A clearing the weather revealed the mountain tops covered in snow.