Up the River Wey Without a Paddle

Published on: 3 Apr, 2019
Updated on: 3 Apr, 2019

By Chris Dick

Chris Dick is The Dragon’s Effingham reporter but a reader’s letter made him recall an old adventure…

I’m not sure I want to admit to this. But like Ken Geddes, I know Sutton Place from the River Wey. The reason I’m a little wary about this matter is that I don’t come out of this story looking too good.

It was early summer 2017 and my friend David King (pictured) and I were returning from a day out canoeing. We were heading upstream to Bowers Lock when some fool … might have been me… suggested going straight on, up the river, instead of staying on the navigation. I was at helm. “Helm” being the bloke at the back who does the steering.

The river was wide, slow-moving and utterly delightful. The first quarter mile was no more than a tranquil affair with nature. Then we came upon some fallen branches. Nothing too dramatic. Someone had been through before with a saw so we squeezed through like two intrepid explorers. Ever onwards [“Ever onwards”? This was the River Wey! You were probably only 100 yards from the A3, not half way up the Limpopo! Ed].

We came to another more serious blockage across the water but had to fight to get through. And then we met two fallen trees. One from either side of the bank resulting in a funnel that caught the front of the canoe and flipped us over and out. [Cue Titanic music.]

I could immediately see David at the front hadn’t gone under. He was in the water but safe. On the other hand, much of our kit including the all-important paddles were rapidly being washed away downstream. No problem thought I. I threw myself downstream after the flotsam and promptly went out of my depth and was swimming in ice cold water.

Chris Dick on a safer part of his canoe journey.

Well, I got the paddles, lost the little bailer and sponge, and got bloody cold. Happily, we carry two buckets tied on to each end and so we were able to bale out and recover the canoe but not my pride.

David still lets me steer [In the words of Sgt Wilson, “Is that wise captain?”] but we haven’t been back up that part of the river. [No, you are probably wanted by the National Trust!]

We have completed over 300 miles in three years so going over once is not that bad … or so I keep telling myself.

Responses to Up the River Wey Without a Paddle

Sue Reeve Reply

April 4, 2019 at 6:50 am

From one paddler to another, I am pleased to read all was well as ‘strainers’ (as fallen trees across rivers are called in the paddling world) can be extremely dangerous!

At least Hugh Coakley could get back in and carry on. One of our early forays into faster moving water (in Wales) ended ep with our canoe wrapped round a rock with water bending the boat. That didn’t end happily for the boat although we were fine. It certainly focussed the mind on future expeditions!
Jim Allen Reply

April 4, 2019 at 12:05 pm

This article fails to mention the 150 trees in danger because of speeding on the Wey or the loss of navigation towpaths. 20 trees have been lost since the last count. Observations on river bank erosion should be sent to GBC, the National Trust and the Environment Agency.