[Richard D]

Another good river report Nigel, it’s always good to keep a record for future reference. And I agree with you about a great bit of video footage again from Geoff particularly when your first run of a river is captured on video, brilliant.

[Richard D]

With so many people away for the Bank Holiday weekend our numbers were somewhat reduced. Never the less 5 intrepid paddlers set off for the Tryweryn on Saturday morning. Another beautiful sunny day in Wales and it was decided by choice we’d run the lower with the option of Bala Mill Falls to finish off for those that wanted to, depending on how things had gone up to that point ! With no problems on the way down ( other than an irate female farmer who complained we shouldn’t be on her land ). With Geoff volunteering to act as cover with a throwline, the other four of us ran Bala Mill. Well done Rob, as he said it was probably 10 years since he’d last done it and to Kee who ran it in his playboat ( his white helmet being the only thing visible, with the boat submerged most of the time ). Fish and chips in Bala to finish of another great paddle. Well over 7*C what more could you want !

[Richard D]

I’m picking John up at 8.30 so should be at the Stewpony for 8.45 to meet Geoff and Kee. Rob we should be at Dobbies for 9.30 ish. can you let me know if you’re definitely coming in case we decide to change the venue, cheers Rich 07831 185914

[Richard D]

Only sorry that Mick, Mark and myself could only make the Sunday but still a superb day. Looking forward to photos and another classic video from Geoff ( if Keelan turned the camera on !! )

[Richard D]

I agree Tim it was a great day and one where you couldn’t afford to switch off for a moment. Thoroughly enjoyed having to manoeuvre the boat around, through and over so many obstacles, quite challenging at times.
Well done to Rob for leading us down the upper section in what was only his second paddle with the club and for making all the right calls, quite a responsibility with all those trees about.

[Richard D]

Nice one Geoff your videos get better ! Shame about the camera man forgetting to turn on his camera though !
A big welcome to Bob on joining for the first time out and for remembering to turn on his camera !
Good to see Simon Bincks back on the water after what appears to be a long break (must be because its getting warmer at last )
A pleasant paddle even though it wasn’t what we had planned although that bottom rapid did look a bit like Clapham junction with us all trying to have a go.
So where to go next week ?
Well done to Nigel, Scott, Will and Paul on completing the FSRT hope you all had fun

• This reply was modified 11 years, 7 months ago by Richard D.

[Richard D]

That was such a great, fun paddle, enjoyed the whole day apart from strapping the boats on Zafs motor in the snow !
Special thanks to the drivers, Tim Zaf and Chucky for getting us there and back safely.
Looking forward to doing it again soon, when it’s over 7*

[Richard D]

Great to have both you and Mike along with us today and hope you’ll get chance to join us and offer advice a lot more this year. Shame about Mike’s paddle but like some of the paddlers I think we can put it down to old age !
Looking forward to sunny days and warmer waters with a cold beer to finish rather than Nigels much needed warm drink, still, conditions not to bad today.

[Richard D]

Just hope everyone had a good day on the Dee in the sunshine and it’s a great venue for a bit of practice and surfing even at such a low level. Not sure about your comment about my play boating skills Nigel ! The rolls (and brain freezes ) definitely outnumbered the spins.
Nice bit of editing by Geoff again with Rich P in control and surfing and spinning smoothly whilst leaving out my many failed attempts and Keelan just enjoying himself and improving every week.
Nice paddling from Duncan too finishing off nicely on seal launch rock.

[Richard D]

Excellent pictures Nige and another great bit of video editing again Geoff, it looked warmer in the pictures, almost 7* ! I hear Steven Spielberg is looking for a new camera man for his next film, shall we put Kee’s name forward ?

[Richard D]

Thanks for that Geoff, Just wanted to have a look and see what I might do differently if it happened again. Typical Barry, always throws the line spot on so I couldn’t just pass over it !!

[Richard D]

Good video again Geoff especially the last couple of minutes with the music and “stills”. Great to see so many smiling faces in the photos although the one group photograph did look like a group of veterans with their mascot !!
You’ve obviously found your true vocation in life.
Good river reports from both you and Nigel. I’m hopeless at remembering the sequence of features, what came where etc, so I think you guys have found yourselves a job.
For your information the Web cam gauge at Brecon would have been around 1 foot 5 inches when we got on, which would probably be classed as low.
Thought the idea of meeting at Strensham services was a good idea for travelling south. Easy to get to and is en route to Usk, Symonds Yat, Cardiff via M50 or M5 to Devon and Cornwall, should we ever go to the Dart etc.

[Richard D]

Hi Tim,
Yes 9 of us had a really enjoyable paddle yesterday. Me, Barry, John T, Rich P, Nigel, Gary Wood, Paul Williams, Geoff and Keelan.
We got on at Talybont-on-Usk and decided we’d get off at the Gliffaes Hotel as we weren’t too sure as to how long it would take for the full trip to Crickhowell which was 9.5 miles.
An interesting point was that on Wednesday morning I checked the Wye Usk foundation web cam gauge at Brecon which was showing 1 foot 4 inches. It rained and snowed all day Wednesday and throughout the evening so I checked the gauge again Thursday morning, no sign of the gauge !! So I looked at the E A gauge at Brecon, it had peaked at 2.2 metres ! (about 7 foot 3 inches). We had no more rain and by Thursday evening the Usk had dropped to 1.27 metres. By Friday morning the E A gauge was on 0.77 and the web cam gauge was visible again at around 2 foot 6 inches ( the level at which there is a red line, below which we are not supposed to paddle during the Salmon season ! )
I’ve only written all this for future reference and to show how quickly the Usk falls, the Severn and Wye, both of which we passed on route were both still in flood !
After the initial slow start to the paddle it slowly picked up pace with a few little surf waves etc. There was one little drop which I’d read about that had apparently been the cause of many capsizes and swims, the guy had said it was a 10cm drop, I thought this must be a typing error and he meant 100cm. My mistake, it was only 10cm and held a boat firmly and I spent a minute or so back paddling hard to get off.
Mill Falls is described as the “main event” and much thought went into which lines we were going to run, to everyones delight we all passed through unscathed.
Further on we encountered a variety of features, ledge drops, wave trains and bouncy rapids with boulders to avoid. There were 3 or 4 unlucky swims where people were caught by surprise but overall a great day out and a paddle I think we’d all do again.

[Richard D]

Hilarious, best bit of kayak porn I’ve seen for ages !
Hope the elbow and thumb get better soon Geoff. Was that bone I could see where there should have been skin on your thumb ?
Did exactly the same to my thumb and paddle on the NRA wave at the Tryweryn about 3 years ago. We’ll have to compare scars at the pool session on Thursday.
P.S Get a new cameraman !

[Richard D]

Thanks for that Chucky, well worth sharing with anyone keen on outdoor activities. I forwarded it to Oliver (my son ) out in the Alps straight away. He’s had to get Mountain Rescue out a couple of times when he was in Snowdonia. Once when he found a body on the banks of the River Llugwy and also when doing his Mountain Leadership award and the instructor broke his ankle !!
Makes me think I must get a decent dry bag so I can carry my phone with us when we’re out paddling.

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