Upper Dart 5th January 2003

Gunnislake 1st Feb 2003

River Arun Weekend 17th May 2003

River Wye Part 1

Wye Wanderings Part 2

Wye Wanderings: The final episode.....

PADDLING PENSIONERS PARADISE. (The Sea of the Pyrenees- Embalse de Yesa)

Perth y Pia weekend

Lower Walkham : 2.2m into 2m won’t go

Upper Dart 5th January 2003

On Sunday 5^th January a group of 7 paddlers of different abilities and skills headed towards Dartmoor to put their skills to the test. Paddling abilities ranged from Pete a Division 1 slalom paddler, me a Junior in England Kayak Surf Team to the trip organiser Graham who was venturing out on to a British river for the first time since he arrived back from paddling the Zambezi.

Our group also featured Victor (mad dog vic), who is probably the most experienced in the group having spent time kayaking in Austria and Nepal. There were three other members in the group Steve, Ben and Nick who to be honest I don’t really know, but they were all strong competent paddlers.

We had arranged to meet at 7am in Ringwood, so we could squeeze in to as few cars as possible to keep cost to a minimum. As we moved boats and kit between the cars we all began to realise how cold it really was, Victor and Graham the more responsible paddlers were beginning to wonder whether it was actually going to be practical to paddle the Upper Dart on such a cold day.

Anyway after we reconciled ourselves to the cold, our group began the two-hour journey down to the River Dart Country Park. I don’t know about the others in the group but I was finding it very hard to comprehend why I wasn’t still in a nice warm bed.

We arrived at the River Dart Country Park where we had arranged to stop so we could have a soon to be well earned breakfast. Just before we headed off to the changing rooms several members of are group disappeared of to River Dart Kayak shop. It wasn’t till they came back that I realised they had all been to buy extra thermal layers..

As soon as we were all kitted up and ready to go we made our way to Dartmeet, the starting point of the Upper Dart. When we arrived my worst fears were confirmed the ground was frozen solid and there were icicles hanging of the rocks and plants in the surrounding area. Once the shuttle was completed we got on the water ASAP to make sure we didn’t get too cold before we had even started the planned trip. Those of us who weren’t involved in the shuttle had to wait in temperatures of around –1 and –2 whilst the drivers came back.

Whilst we were waiting at the launching point it suddenly struck me how our group contained several old school ‘period’ (1980s) paddlers and several modern paddlers. Victor, Pete and Nick were all kitted out in there in the Spuds, big white helmets and canoe kit, held together with duck tape. Whilst on the other hand there was Graham, Ben, Steve and myself in playboats and small helmets.

Once we eventually got on the water my first thought was not where is the best place for me to cartwheel or wave wheel. Instead it went more along the lines of how am I going to keep my head dry for as long as possible. Luckily for me the rest of the group were thinking exactly the same. It soon became very apparent to me that the old school paddlers certainly knew their stuff with Victor and Pete leading the group and showing us the easiest and less hazardous routes down the intricate rapids.

For those of you who don’t know the Upper Dart it is a 6-mile section of grade 4 with possibilities of two grade 5 sections in the correct water conditions. It is one of the most popular grade 4/5 runs in the Southwest.

For the first 3.5/4 miles of the trip the river is a steady and very constant grade 4, with only one major rapid which is called the mad mile. As you can guess from the name this rapid is not any normal rapid - due to its length! In anything above low flows the mad mile is a constant grade 4 with some powerful stoppers, it is well worth an inspection if you are unsure.

The mad mile starts soon after a stream is seen entering the river on the right hand riverbank, the river will then drop away suddenly whilst going round a right hand bend. After this you are in for some really good fun with roughly ¾ of a mile of solid grade 4. With our old school boaters leading the way we all managed to scrap through the mad mile with only one slight incident where Steve became pinned on a rock. After a bit of wiggling and pushing Steve managed to free himself and carried on as if nothing had happened. Little did he know we were all watching him from the eddy below hoping and praying that we weren’t going to have rescue him.

After the mad mile we were graced with the pleasures of Euthanasia falls, this is my favourite rapid on the Upper Dart. In medium to low flow Euthanasia is very straight forward, with a very obvious and well-defined route. Our group all decided to run the main fall, the line we took was to run down the stopper on the right hand side, which then led into a narrow chute where it can be possible to get you paddles caught. After this the chute turns sharply to the left and also towards safety. Our group all managed to complete Euthanasia falls however some of us definitely had better lines than others with Pete and myself both paying the price for our lines being a little bit wrong. At least by this point I wasn’t the only person who had to exercise there rolling ability!

Shortly following Euthanasia falls is ‘Pandora’s’ box (aka ‘surprise surprise’), my personal opinion is that this is the hardest rapid on the Upper Dart. The are two possible lines through this rapid. The first is river right, which takes you down several small drops with many awkwardly, positioned rocks; this line has been the site of many serious pinning incidents in low water. The second line is river left where you will have to drop through a slot which can have rocks positioned at the entrance and along the sides. As the water level was not that high we all decided to run river left through the slot.

At this point we were all feeling quite confident as we new this was the last major grade 4/5 before the egress point. Everyone managed to get good lines down except for two poor people who unfortunately had a little bit more to contend with.

Graham had the perfected line towards the drop, until his boat caught a rock at the top of the falls, this incidentally made his boat tip over and leave his helmet and paddles to hit the rock ledge on the opposite side, luckily he escaped with no injuries.

The second unlucky person was me, I unfortunately got caught in a stopper several metres from the top which meant I dropped straight into the middle of the slot as I had no speed or momentum. This caused me to get several seconds of down time before my boat came to the surface vertically against a rock.

After this there was a short paddle to Newbridge where we gratefully changed into dry warm clothes, and compared horror stories with other paddlers before making the two hours journey home. Overall this was an excellent trip as I’m sure everyone who joined in will agree.

Dave Jaggs

Gunnislake 1st Feb 2003

The rate of attrition for this trip was alarming, at the start of the week, more than a dozen people were planning to go, but Flu, car problems and work commitments whittled that down to six, Barry and Paul, Roz and Dave, Mike and myself.

We settled into the headmasters house and then headed off towards The Sloop for dinner and a pint, however, true to Ringwood C.C. form the pub wasn't doing food that night! We then had a magical mystery tour around the Cornish lanes looking for a pub called either the New Inn [or the Rising Sun if you believe Mike!] Whatever it was called it was worth the wait! One to remember for next time.

We met up with Roz and Dave back at the centre and decided to do the Lynher on Saturday. Bev calls this the little one that tips you in. It’s quite fast flowing, narrow and twisty but a real pleasure to paddle. There is a weir where the flow comes in from the side causing Roz to take a short swim.The takeout had very steep banks with an old tree stump to climb onto, fine for the more agile members. Mike manfully tried to get me out of my boat without tipping both of us into the river, while from the top of the bank came hoots of laughter and unhelpful comments about Stannah stair lifts! Eventually Mike managed to drag me onto dry land. It was still quite early in the day, so after loading up we drove to Kit hill and spent a couple of hours walking in the weak winter sunshine. It was a bitterly cold weekend and the heating in the old headmasters house was only just coping with the outside temperature, still Roz and Dave prepared an excellent meal to keep out the cold.

Sunday saw us paddling the Tamar from Newbridge to Gunnislake under a dull grey sky. At one of the first weirs Barry tucked in behind a concrete groyne and as he sat there a mink swam across the river and ran up the groyne right in front of him. There were several weirs that the boys decided to play in, Dave had a refreshing swim in one of them. It was so bitterly cold that I was more than happy to sit in an eddy and watch the fun and games.

My turn came when on one of the last weirs I paddled over what I thought was a twig sticking out of of the water, unfortunately it was a twig stuck on the end of an iron spike. In no time at all I was stuck on the spike, with the bow of my boat hanging in the air over the edge of the weir. Roz inched her way over the weir to me and pulled me free, [I owe you one Roz]. I promptly dropped sideways into the stopper where I was sculling for dear life, Mike came in close so that I could grab his bow, but as I did so my bow got dragged under a branch that had me pinned in the stopper good and proper. Roz did her guardian angel bit again, lowering herself over the bank and pushing me free [thats two I owe you Roz!]. As Mike pointed out to me later it's a good job no one had a video camera there or I'd end up on every safety training video under the heading "three things not to do in a weir in the space of three minutes" still I always knew I'd be good for something in canoeing .

DOT

Update on the cooker abuse league [ask Dave]

Delaware centre Dave 1 Cooker 0

Pengelly centre Dave 1 Cooker

Frome 9th March 2003

Avon 27th April 2003

Thames 3rd May 2003

River Arun Weekend 17th May 2003

I had my doubts about the Arundel trip as the atrocious English weather had done its best to convince me it was a mad idea. But a quick call to Paul Kendal (totally mad) reassured me otherwise, his enthusiasm was boundless.

We pitched tent at the ‘Ship & Anchor’ camp site in the rain. The BBQ was called off and instead we went to the ‘Shaky Doo’ pub for a steak and ale pie meal, oh. And a pint or two. Tim and Karl were true to form managing to get nearly all of us locked out of the pub and then upsetting the landlord trying to get back in through the fire escape. We finished off with a rather loud sing song back at Tim and Lisa’s caravan well after the 10.30pm noise ban (camp rules) before finally retiring for the night.

The next morning we set off on the Arun in three Canadians, Margaret in her Kayak and myself in a Sea Kayak. The rain seemed to be holding off but we took little to chance and wore full wet gear and remembered umbrellas

As we paddled through Arundel, P.K. noticed the local market open so we tried to moor, but the current was too strong. Somehow though, we all managed to get stuck in a small recessed water outlet about 200 yards past the market. There was total confusion for a few minutes as everyone manoeuvred themselves out of the confined space and then decided to continue up river to admire views of the castle.

The next stop was the ‘Black Rabbit’ pub where we met up with Mike and Dot for a drink. Dot spoke to other canoeists that were there and apparently the landlord is happy to use this as a put in point. Maybe something to note for the future.

I was now getting used to the Sea Kayak and powered ahead of the group only to be greeted with the aroma of wild garlic growing densely along the river banks. It smelt gorgeous and as it also started to rain prompted everyone to stop for lunch under the trees amongst it.

Further up the river splits in two and rejoins. Karl decided we should take the right route instead of the left as this hadn’t yet been explored. This was fine until we found large nets draped under the last railway bridge halting our progress. This left us with 3 options – try to land the boats and carry them over the bridge; paddle back the long way round; or try to push through the nets. Fortunately the latter was possible as there was just enough room to squeeze through on the outside edge of each bridge pillar.

It was at about this point the Karl and Trish discovered wind powered Canadians. Using their golf umbrellas they succeeded in propelling themselves at surprising speed in the strong winds.. Not to be outdone, Tim and Lisa tried this but to little avail as their brolly turned inside out.

The wildlife along the river was plentiful – swans, shellduck, hawks, even a Cormorant but Karl managed to spot the most unlikely of creatures, the Bison. Yes Bison, up to three were spotted in a field high up on a hill. I think everyone saw them except Margaret who I’m sure still thinks we were pulling her leg. Oh, and then there was the dead horse Karl spotted in a field on the left just before we reached our furthest point, the Tea Rooms.

At the tea rooms we indulged in a hot drink and slice of cake – a snip at just under a fiver!? Then the heavens opened with even stronger winds. We went for our boats and faced the elements. I realised I was best suited being in the Sea Kayak and charged back to base – driving rain all the way! It was the hardest and fastest paddle I’ve yet made. I wasn’t stopping for anyone and I got back almost an hour ahead of everyone else. But, paid the price that evening, aching from top to toe. In fact, I gave the next days paddle a miss. Still, a top weekend everyone enjoyed.

Oh, thank you Karl for the nomination of this write up, I nominate you for the next one!. By the way, that dead horse was standing up on our return paddle – it obviously didn’t like dying on wet grass in the rain

Simon Ashley

Pewsey > Devises 1st June 2003

River Wye Part 1

This year we joined what seems to be becoming another annual event for the club. Dot and Mike paddled the river two years ago, then were joined by a large club group last year. The duration and sections of the river used have varied, and there are a lot of options with over 100 miles of water navigable by canoe and a sprinkling of campsites along the route.

Postscript

Wye Wanderings Part 2

Our story starts on Sunday evening after Barry Bev, Simon Mark & Helen left for journey home, pitching our tents we noticed that the two or three other occupants on the camp site had also decided to leave, we wondered was it something we said, still a short while after a new arrival decided to brave the sights and sounds of the RCC.

Whilst the evening went as planned their were one or two hay fever sufferers not enjoying so much as the rest, the highlight of evening goes to Sparky on taking to water like a duck, having an evening swim, Becky also had an eyeful trying to get a look at the worm that turned.

With the evening’s antics coming to a close the rain beginning to get heavier everybody decided to hit the hay.

Monday morning and the rain gone for good we hope, the slippery slope gave us some perilous fun as we tried to board our vessels, this accomplished we set of for a 19 mile paddle with stops, the first being a lunch break with little meg giving us our entertainment dashing in and out of the water retrieving apple cores and a huge branch which Lisa tried in vain to throw into the river out of harms way.

Onwards to Hereford, and just as we arrived Mike and Dotty spotted a mink playing on a large piece of concrete, also on the way can’t remember where they spotted a fox cub playing on the river bank this as well as the usual spotting of kingfishers flying down river and fish large enough to put on your dinner plate were seen jumping clear out of the water, a great paddle.

Due to strict instructions our stay in Hereford was limited to 30 mins that was just enough time to purchase a crate of beer and some light shopping. Having made good headway we arrived at Lucksall caravan and camping site at about 5.15pm reasonably whacked and looking at the sky our tents were pitched just as quickly as possible, no sooner was this accomplished the heavens opened up, luckily for us it was short lived and managed to cook our meals outside and empty a can or two of beer before settling down for the night once again.

A very nice day had by all even Tim who got the brunt of all the water pistol fights, a really big thanks guys for making the trip so enjoyable for us and thanks to M&D for organising it, we might let you do it again sometime…………..

The motley band, down to 8 people, 1 terrier continued on their journey.

We’d had a long 18 mile paddle the day before and were all fighting off our aching muscles as we set off from the campsite at Lucksall. It was a pleasant site with a small shop and a good shower block. Access to the river was relatively good as well up some concrete steps, with a launching slide for the boats. Equipment was packed up quickly and boats loaded very efficiently, we were getting quite good at that by now. We had the prospect of another long paddle ahead of us, but also that this was the last day. I didn’t want to think of the actual distance at this stage, as our final destination was about 19 miles away!!

We set off at a good pace trying to cover a few miles before our first coffee break stop.

Tim didn’t moan too much and still had enough energy for water fights. Poor Becky seemed to get the brunt of it although there were several retaliation attacks. I tried to stay out of it but its difficult if you happen to be in the same boat as the instigator. Karl must have had a dozen wee stops that day. (must have been all that cheap beer from the night before). He was nicknamed Sir Edmund Slack Bladder for the rest of the day.

We’d covered a good distance by the time we’d stopped for lunch and set off of the final push to Benhall Farm, which was our bed for the night. It was as pleasant section of the river to paddle, a few shallows to navigate our heavy boats around.

We arrived at the farm in good time, a huge relief, but tinged with sadness for me as our four day adventure was over.

Unloading was difficult up a very steep slippery bank, we formed a human chain piling each boats contents in a separate pile at the top. This proved very efficient. While we engaged in this highly organised activity. Meg the terrier celebrated being back on dry land by finding the freshest, soggiest cow pat she could find. She rolled in it while still wearing her nice smart buoyancy aid, lovely!! She rushed back to us feeling very pleased with herself and was most surprised to find herself dunked in the river again.

Kit all unloaded and packed in our cars, six of us were booked in for bed and breakfast. Karl and Trish were braving another night camping, this time in the relative luxury of their van.

Suitably recovered after being fed tea and cakes by our hosts we headed to the pub. Only about a ten minute walk into Hay on Wye. We had a very nice dinner and a few bevies to celebrate our epic 60 mile paddle. I think we all found our muscles that hadn’t dare to ache for four days suddenly ached badly all at once, walking back to our beds was quiet an effort.

Thanks again to Dot and Mike for organising and to Becky’s parents for helping us with the long shuttle. A trip well worth repeating next summer.

Even Tim thoroughly enjoyed the trip apart from the camping! and Oh! the canoeing!!

............... Lisa

PADDLING PENSIONERS PARADISE. (The Sea of the Pyrenees- Embalse de Yesa)

For the last five years, Dick and Jane have headed for St Malo for two weeks canoe/camping, first in the pink Selway Fisher double, and then in the two Cobra Sit on tops - into which camping gear, food wine and water for four days plus portage wheels stow easily.

2001 and 02 were spent on the Cele and in the Lot area but with some disappointing weather in June. This year we broke away from France and continued on through the new tunnel at the Col de Somport heading for the River Aragon and The Sea of the Pyrenees- Embalse de Yesa. Leaving an overcast damp and chilly France, we emerged from the 5 ½ mile tunnel into wall to wall blue sky, temperature in the 30’s and a Golden Eagle soaring above. We followed the infant Aragon tumbling in true WW fashion down through Jaca, where both it and we turned hard right toward YESA. Some 60 miles on, We called into the Pilgrim hostel in the semi ruined and deserted village of Ruesta on the Southern shore of the lake. Here we got directions to the campsite some two miles further into the wilderness. Great site with few facilities, as it was not really open, and only had two young Spaniards camping there.

The Lakeside beach for launching was a couple of miles including a very steep rough track. Once there, the lake was deep aquamarine calmish and warm. The median line of the lake was about 9 miles, giving many more miles of coastal paddling. There was an abundance of fish – surface feeders, or maybe sunbathing like us! As Yesa is a flooded valley, one could paddle into and under the trees where, to be within 15 feet of a Kite or an Eagle sitting on its nest or eerie – was almost commonplace. The abundance of birds of prey was possibly responsible for the absence of small mammals and reptiles. All in all Yesa is a great flat water paddling area. The Aragon River flows on after the dam, toward the River Ebro. This I think would be a good wilderness paddle for possibly younger and fitter people with cars to shuttle for fairly long distances.

Our nearest town was Sanquesa, a small Basque town of character with well-stocked shops, friendly people, few if any tourists, and a great tapas bar. All this 40 minutes drive from the campsite.

There is huge potential for flat water paddling in wilderness areas in Spain, as there are a large number of dams. There appears to be little information available in English, so I really must learn Spanish. My river guidebook is German! That is another problem. Do have a look at the vastness of Spain on a decent scale map. Think of the heat and inexpensive food and wine, and go for it.

Dick Thorn

The Gods smiled on us for this trip, it poured with rain all day on the Friday which brought the river up to a perfect level. There was a good turnout of 16 adults and 2 sprogs.

Friday evening kicked off with most of us meeting in the pub at Lllanbedr for a meal and a few drinks. Tim and Jenny did the same as most of us have done in the past and drove around in circles for about an hour.

On Saturday we got the shuttle under way, but found it very congested at the put-in. We were passed by a group paddling Canadians two of the them were solo paddlers with Labradors in the bow. When we came to the first feature, a technical drop on river right we got out to check the feature and watch the Canadians progress. There was quite a bit of carnage with about half of their group swimming. One of the dog owners told his dog to stay on the bank and paddled into the current to negotiate the drop. The dog promptly jumped in and swam down the chute after his master in fine style, and was back in the boat in no time at all.

There were some good play spots and these were enthusiastically utilised by the more energetic members of RCC.

Mike Dew had his new river running boat out for its first trip and seemed well pleased with it. Late in the afternoon we came to a fall which has a rather nasty stopper in its centre [ I know I nearly got grabbed by it last year]. Mike ran it close to the bank with a throwline ready but the rest of us portaged. As we got in our boats, another group of kayakers turned up, one took the line straight down the middle and promptly got trashed by the stopper, it took a while for him to get out of the stopper while his boat was being recirculated and the river sucked out his airbags and other gear.

We were off the river by 4pm and back to Perth y Pia for well earned tea and biscuits. Paul T cooked the evening meal, a super veggie bake, however this was eclipsed by four pudding Becky. Seconds and thirds were the norm, and some people had portions for their lunch the next day. Perth y Pia now boasts a dishwasher, so with everything cleared up we sat around drinking and chatting. Barry and Paul elected to walk off their dinner with a walk to the pub, when they returned rather than the social interaction they were expecting, they were met by a room devoid of people but full of glasses and bottles. CRC had decided en masse that they were shattered, full of pudding and most had retired by 9.30!

After an excellent breakfast on the Sunday we split into two groups, Barry and boys, Paul and Becky and Mike Dew paddled the Brecon canal, but not before Barry had reversed over his paddle.

The rest of us put in at Talybont and paddled towards Mill Falls in sunshine. At the falls we got out to inspect and watched one novice come to grief down the falls and have to be rescued, perhaps more unnerving was an instructor who rolled and hit his face on a rock, covering him in blood. All of us made it down unscathed apart from some increased heart rates. Like the previous day we had good water levels and lots of play spots. At lunch several of us practised with throw lines. Unsuspecting passing kayakers were subjected to throwline attack but took it in good part. Mike and I had never paddled below Llangynidr bridge before, but thought it was a super stretch of water.

We took out at Crickhowell, and with boats loaded had a farewell drink at the pub. A great weekend - about as good as it gets.

Dot