Down the Zambezi (aka river Severn) day 1

I had this idea for a canoe adventure for a while. Toby was up for it so we booked the weekend. Parked in Shrewsbury, train to welshpool with the Neris canoe (folding/inflatable) then canoe back. 

Started on the Montgomery canal which is beautiful but not used much. It was really choked with weeds and lillies in places made paddling quite hard work. 

Then a short but tricky portage on to the river Severn. The upper section was good and fast moving, lots of turn in the river, some small rapids and lots of fallen out overhanging trees. 

Had to do another portage in llandrinio as there wasn't enough water over the old weir to run it. 

Had a bit of a mishap at another rapid later on, we got stuck and had to get out, but on getting back in in deeper water after, Toby slipped and ended up getting a bit wet. 

The last 5 miles to the campsite were really hard work. Had a tail wind but there was little flow in the river, we were both tired and it really dragged. 

Campsite is ace. 30km paddled and my shoulders know it. 

We've made an executive decision to shorten tomorrow's route and we'll finish a bit short of Shrewsbury.