The last section of canal for us crosses the peat bogs and moor lands between Ballinacarrig and Ballymahon. The area is wild and remote from civilisation, at points you can hear no cars or motors and see only the odd farmhouse on the horizon.
We knew we had plenty of time today so set off at a relatively slow pace. As I had left the camera memory card in the computer the camera didnt work so we got no photographs of the departure or arrival. I have also managed to loose the small camera i took with me so at the moment no photographs for this blog.
There was hardly anyone on this stretch. Someone from waterways ireland helped us past on the five locks on the stretch and we saw one canal boat being painted. Given the level of use and the number of boats we saw it is amazing that the canal is so well cared for- the grass is cut at locks and bridges, the path is kept clear, the water dredged and weeds cut, and trees cut on the bank to keep it relatively clear. In fact we probably saw more waterways ireland staff than we did people using the canal.
At about 1pm we arrived at the aquaduct over the River Inny, which was where we were leaving the canal. The switch was a little difficult as we had to carry the boat down a steep embankment and the water was fairly fast flowing. This felt like a real turning point- we were leaving the canal, which felt like an uphill struggle, and heading downhill. It was also a little sad to see the Royal Canal behind us.
We had got soaked in heavy downpours in the morning and we were cold and tired so a stop off at a pub in Abbeyshrule was very welcome. The barmaid didn't bat an eyelid at two people wearing lifejackets and carrying paddles, dripping on the carpet and asking for soup and tea. There is an airfield at Abbeyshrule which seemed strange- it was a nice place but really near to nowhere.
The River Inny is a grade two white water river. In a canoe with no bouyancy bags and with a thirteen year at the front I was a little nervous. Unlike a Kayak a Canadian canoe can take on water and become unbalanced quite easily and you have to keep the canoe pointed downstream and move as quickly as possible to avoid taking in water. The River picks up speed shortly after Abbeyshrule and we soon hit the first white water. There were some significant drops and a few stoppers. Meara was brilliant here; he wasnt frightened and helped shout out from the front which line to take through each section. At one point the boat got stuck on a rock just above a fall and I thought we were going for a soaking. That apart and a few splashes we managed excellently. The speed of the River meant our constant speed paddling of the canal was repalced by slow paddling to maintain direction and mad paddling to get through the rapids. Tiring but a welcome change.
We arrived at about 4pm in Ballyshannon. A nice riverside town but with a degree of irony the first person we spoke to was from Salford on a fishing holiday.
Friday night Mick the Quilt arrived from England to help out for a days paddling- the length of Loch Ree and the possibility of waves and wind meant that muscle was needed!
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