Saturday's Paddle with some New recruits

Today 29th June,
A group of us today ventured to the fine Market town of Ironbridge, in Shropshire, steeped with many years of history, from Sir Thomas Telford and his magnificent engineering of some of the Country’s most Famous steel Bridges to the Darby family History, famous Ironmasters, and Quackers to which Ironbridge, still holds a flame close to it’s heart.
Some usual attendees, Rich D , Barry, Rob, John, Kee, Dave Bennet, Myself and welcome back after a long break young Duncan. We also had some New recruits, Virgin moving water paddlers, well done to Jim,Mick,Ken and Clive, who all did extremely well having gone from a couple of pool sessions at Wombourne leisure centre, to a taste of the real thing, we broke them in gently putting in at the top of Ironbridge, town behind the Gorge Museum, a steady amble down and under the Famous Ironbridge itself, with the regulars in the team giving good one to one advice and showing how to tackle some basic moving water skills to the new recruits. We then arrived at the Big event for the New crew, may I take my hat off to all of them, Clive, Ken, Mick and Jim, who all got stuck in and managed to tackle the rapids of Jackfields , very well, a couple of small swims but no one was phased and they got back in the boats and ran it again, showing a great amount of determination and will power, I have never seen anyone with such a huge smile across their face as Jim, he paddled the rapid 5 or 6 times and each time he had the smile of a Cheshire Cat right across his face, he was really smitten and it showed.
A big thank you to the usual Saturday crew, I think we made the New guy’s feel very much part of the club and am sure they enjoyed and appreciated all the help we gave as a group and individuallly.

Thanks all 🙂