[Richard D]

Andy Gough paid last week up at the tryweryn. I’ll let you have his money at the next pool session.

[Richard D]

Seems like a good idea Mick. I’ll contact Tim to see if he’s found out yet.

[Richard D]

I’d be up for that Chucky if a few more are interested.

[Richard D]

Nice report Dave, must get you to do more river reports. But the Led Zeppelin song posted by Tim seems rather appropriate !!

[Richard D]

The plan is :-Barry is coming to my house for 8.00am and we are picking John up in Hagley at 8.15. We will be aiming to meet Tim, Paul and Dave B at Morrisons, Leominster for 9.30 to have a coffee and bacon sandwich before heading off to Sennybridge and the Usk.

[Richard D]

Me, John , Barry & Paul are playing on Saturday and I’ll text other potential paddlers.

[Richard D]

Sounds ok to me Ricki. Midges should have died off by then. Half term in Scotland is
12th to 23rd.

[Richard D]

Whitewater Safety & rescue courses, Rob is sorting ? Should this come before the
Scotland trip ?
Extra £1 for non club members at pool sessions after initial 4 sessions.

[Richard D]

Nice one Kev. You paddled the Lower Wnion admirably. I’m sure we all look forward to paddling with you more often.

[Richard D]

Totally agree Tim. I visited the Llyfnii, Seiont and Gwyrfai when Oliver was up at Bangor University and checked out the put ins and take outs at the time and marked them on the relevant OS map 115. So the next one in that area looks like being the Gwyrfai, but check out the fall per Kilometre (gradient 18m /kilometre) The Llyfni is 8m /kilometre and so too the Seiont. I think the Gwyrfai is another river Mike has run before which is an added bonus.
Many rivers with poor write ups turn out to be far better than expected. Another example was last year’s first trip down the Alwen which from the write up you’d probably want to give it a miss. As it turned out we were all very impressed by this river and it left us all smiling. ( we reckon the river guide was written by a fisherman to keep us off it !! ) I’m sure there are many more hidden gems to find if we keep exploring.
The Twyrch is on the agenda for many of us especially after a few of us have scouted it a couple of times now and cleared a few trees.
The Welsh Rivers Book is excellent but let’s not forget it was written some considerable time ago and the updated version of 2012 still uses the old information and there are mistakes. Barry and I agree the picture on page 140 of the Afon Gam certainly does not seem to be the Gam we have run ! and the Conwy is on OS sheet 116 not 115.
I absolutely agree with your last comment ” go and find out for yourself”.

[Richard D]

Great picture from Barry with Snowdonia in the background ? The calm before the storm !! Great river very technical. Not for the feint hearted and certainly not novices. Good to have Mike along as he’d run it before, even though it was 15 years ago !
P.S Tim you’ve missed a “T” out of the Fellowship of the Wombourne Photographic Tim keeps TELLING off award.

[Richard D]

Must agree with Tim. it’s been another great year for the club thanks to Tim’s guidance and the enthusiasm shown by the committee and members alike. Well done everyone who’s been involved.

[Richard D]

In the back of my BCU folder I have a list of quotes that maybe help explain why we get out and enjoy paddling. See if you recognise them or think they may apply to you. They are certainly worth a moment’s thought !!

“There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. In or out of ’em, it doesn’t really matter, that’s the charm of it”.
Ratty to Mole, Wind in the Willows,
Kenneth Graham 1908.

“Once you have dabbled at paddling for a while you will start to get restless when you are away from the water for any length of time. Before you get serious about canoeing, you must consider the possibility of becoming totally and incurably hooked on it ” What first starts out as fun can quickly become addictive.
Bill Mason, The path of the paddle.

To quote a jet fighter pilot ” Never put your body where your mind hasn’t been first. Franco Ferrero ( BCU Level 5 coach ).

“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. Better to learn by the mistakes of others than try to find out everything for yourself”.
Ray Goodwin. Canoeing.

To venture outwards and upwards is to accept an element of risk, that can be reduced by knowledge, skill and planning; but never eliminated.
John Allen, Cairngorm John.
( Leader of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team ).

It’s not because things are difficult that we don’t dare; It’s because we don’t dare that things are difficult.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca ( Advisor to the Emperor Nero ).

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.
Helen Keller.

[Richard D]

As first under the arch of the tree I was unaware of what was going on behind me. Nevertheless as Rob has said and as Ian Dallaway mentioned on the 4 Star leadership training, paddling as a team definitely has its benefits with everyone having an understanding and knowledge of how others in the group will react. It is good to know that we are always looking out for each other as has been proven before. Credit to Dave for reacting so quickly and to everyone else for assisting in boat chasing and retrieval of kit. A great day all else considered and a lot was learnt.
Who’s out next Saturday ?

[Richard D]

At the moment the options are Dee, Vyrnwy, Alwen and Clywedog. Guess we can make a decision in the morning. Meet at the Stewpony at 8.15 and we can go from there.

[Author]

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