Cliff, Stu and Jezz along with Ann woke up at 5:30 on Saturday morning to drive to Wales. Arriving at our destination at 8:40 we meet up with Garry, Geoff, Kenny and others and then we put in at Sennybridge; more up-stream than last year. The total number in the group was 13 so we decided to split into two groups Jezz and Stu going in the probe group to scout the Falls before the second group, containing Cliff and Garry. The first two falls were negotiated without problem from either of the groups. However on the third falls, the hardest of the three, there was more action. Everyone was running river left and all except Simon made it over without drama. The tow back was not long but it was strong and Simon was unlucky enough to be dragged into the main stopper where he swam. This is caught on video are several others who ran the falls. After the falls it was a straigtforward paddle down stream for lunch. After lunch a stretch which last year took all day only took an hour and a half due to lower water. There were a few small features and no drama. The group was off the water by 1:30 when the heavens opened for the first time that day. (Typical Wales)
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Hurley 27 December 2007
A cold day after boxing day full of sweets and chocolates Jezz, Stu, Cliff, Joe, Luke and Mel set off for Hurley in hope of some big Water. However the water was too big for most and only Jezz and Stu were able to surf the wave. The video shows Hurley on four gates and a particularly retentive wave on gates 2 and 3 as shown by Stuart's Roll in the hole. The others did, however, have the chance to shoot the wier with parents watching and taking photo's. Their experience on white water will put them ahead on their three-star course in the summer.
Monday, 10 December 2007
Dart Trip December 2007
FRIDAY 7th December
Cliff, Jeremy and Stuart left Grendon at 4.30 on Friday to make the three hour trip down to Ashburton, Devon. Stopping at Taunton for fish and chips and going straight to the pub in Ashburton before retiring to our cottages near by.
SATURDAY
Cliff, Jezz and Stuart set off with the some of Thames Valley Freestylers to run the Walkham a smaller river in the Dartmoor national park which runs into the Tavy. Due to the large numbers the group was split into three and our group ran last. With loads of rain over recent days, the river was quite high and there was some big bouncy water. the group who lead off before us had two swimmers within the first two minutes of getting on the water.
Our trip started out OK, no real drama to begin with until one of the group lost his paddles. Fortunately for him, Garry was carrying a pair of splits which he then paddled with all day. We carried on running the river the water was big and bouncy but with some help from Garry in choosing the correct lines we where able to paddle the features safely and avoid any stoppers. Jezz and I and a couple others, running it in play boats, were having a great time avoiding the big stuff. About half way down our trip hit a little drama. Due to a lack of concentration on Jeremy's behalf he became pinned up against a tree losing his paddles and eventually capsizing and swimming. On his 500m travels down the river he gathered a few bumps and scrapes and a bang to his head off Garry's boat while being rescued. His paddles were gathered and his boat retrieved but he was in shock. While this was happening, Geoff was following Jezz down and decided once past Jezz he would have a rollathon consisting of three rolls until finally getting into an eddy. When retrieving Jeremy’s paddles Craig and Stuart ended up on the wrong side of the river and decided to ferry glide across to the other side Craig was first to try however found difficulty and ended up rolling he successfully navigated the first set of rapids however was unable to survive the second set and again we had another swimmer. Once rescued we all re-grouped further down-stream where we had a short break. All of us got back on the water and by now we were close to the Tavy.
Before reaching the Tavy we went through some more big and bouncy water (where Cliff rolled in a big wave) before being approached and told by another paddler that the bridge ahead was too low to paddle (actually I mean the water was too high making the bridge a limbo hazard). However on inspection it was found to be OK but we had already carried our boats down and didn't want to carry them back up so decided to skip it.
From the bridge we entered the Tavy. The Tavy was wide and bouncy but nothing threatening however while eddying a whole host of boats went past without paddlers. Our group carried on with Pete and Wylie blasting ahead rescuing all the boats they came across. After a few episodes of losing group members we reached the Tavy weir with a 3 metre tow back. Jezz and I in our play boats decided we would choose life rather than the stopper. While others in creek boats and Pete and Wylie safely negotiated the weir. From there the river was simple and we had no drama until Jeremy confused the instructions from Garry to eddy on the left ran “river left” straight into a stopper. However, he didn’t get stuck and rolled up - but during the roll one of his knees popped his deck and he was swimming. Once we had recovered Jeremy, there was not long before we were at the get out and off the river.
On Saturday night we decided to head over to the Dart Country Park Centre where there was a whole host of paddlers from all over the UK to listen and watch a couple of paddling presentations.
SUNDAY
On Sunday we went for a no-nonsense approach and got up and 6:30 to have breakfast to be on the water at 8am. A small select group who were nutty and awake decided to run River Dart "loop" at 8 o'clock and we joined them! The level was good; a few features were washed out but with water big and bouncy the bigger features were good to run. The group blasted along without eddying out much and stopping at one tributary (the River Webburn) to walk up and paddle down. This was a great run, a blast down continuous rapids, that only flows at high water levels. However at the bottom I went into a stopper without seeing it and almost back flipped in my Ronin but I was OK and we paddled on. There was no drama going though the washing machine or the spin dryer or lovers leap. As in all trips there had to be some drama and in this one it was on the Triple Falls where Bruce ended up swimming. Thanks to a speedy rescue, his recovery was swift and he was in the boat and we blasted down the rest of before stopping at the Holne Bridge egress.
After this run we returned to the cottage before leaving for home at 10:00.
We heard that a group had an "epic" run of the Upper Dart later on Sunday which included lots of swims and walking out for safety...
A great weekend and big thanks go to Geoff for organising it, Garry for leading the groups we were in and all the Thames Valley Freestylers who made us feel so welcome!
More here including details (towards the bottom) of the “epic” later on Sunday: http://www.tvfreestylers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=267&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
Cliff, Jeremy and Stuart left Grendon at 4.30 on Friday to make the three hour trip down to Ashburton, Devon. Stopping at Taunton for fish and chips and going straight to the pub in Ashburton before retiring to our cottages near by.
SATURDAY
Cliff, Jezz and Stuart set off with the some of Thames Valley Freestylers to run the Walkham a smaller river in the Dartmoor national park which runs into the Tavy. Due to the large numbers the group was split into three and our group ran last. With loads of rain over recent days, the river was quite high and there was some big bouncy water. the group who lead off before us had two swimmers within the first two minutes of getting on the water.
Our trip started out OK, no real drama to begin with until one of the group lost his paddles. Fortunately for him, Garry was carrying a pair of splits which he then paddled with all day. We carried on running the river the water was big and bouncy but with some help from Garry in choosing the correct lines we where able to paddle the features safely and avoid any stoppers. Jezz and I and a couple others, running it in play boats, were having a great time avoiding the big stuff. About half way down our trip hit a little drama. Due to a lack of concentration on Jeremy's behalf he became pinned up against a tree losing his paddles and eventually capsizing and swimming. On his 500m travels down the river he gathered a few bumps and scrapes and a bang to his head off Garry's boat while being rescued. His paddles were gathered and his boat retrieved but he was in shock. While this was happening, Geoff was following Jezz down and decided once past Jezz he would have a rollathon consisting of three rolls until finally getting into an eddy. When retrieving Jeremy’s paddles Craig and Stuart ended up on the wrong side of the river and decided to ferry glide across to the other side Craig was first to try however found difficulty and ended up rolling he successfully navigated the first set of rapids however was unable to survive the second set and again we had another swimmer. Once rescued we all re-grouped further down-stream where we had a short break. All of us got back on the water and by now we were close to the Tavy.
Before reaching the Tavy we went through some more big and bouncy water (where Cliff rolled in a big wave) before being approached and told by another paddler that the bridge ahead was too low to paddle (actually I mean the water was too high making the bridge a limbo hazard). However on inspection it was found to be OK but we had already carried our boats down and didn't want to carry them back up so decided to skip it.
From the bridge we entered the Tavy. The Tavy was wide and bouncy but nothing threatening however while eddying a whole host of boats went past without paddlers. Our group carried on with Pete and Wylie blasting ahead rescuing all the boats they came across. After a few episodes of losing group members we reached the Tavy weir with a 3 metre tow back. Jezz and I in our play boats decided we would choose life rather than the stopper. While others in creek boats and Pete and Wylie safely negotiated the weir. From there the river was simple and we had no drama until Jeremy confused the instructions from Garry to eddy on the left ran “river left” straight into a stopper. However, he didn’t get stuck and rolled up - but during the roll one of his knees popped his deck and he was swimming. Once we had recovered Jeremy, there was not long before we were at the get out and off the river.
On Saturday night we decided to head over to the Dart Country Park Centre where there was a whole host of paddlers from all over the UK to listen and watch a couple of paddling presentations.
SUNDAY
On Sunday we went for a no-nonsense approach and got up and 6:30 to have breakfast to be on the water at 8am. A small select group who were nutty and awake decided to run River Dart "loop" at 8 o'clock and we joined them! The level was good; a few features were washed out but with water big and bouncy the bigger features were good to run. The group blasted along without eddying out much and stopping at one tributary (the River Webburn) to walk up and paddle down. This was a great run, a blast down continuous rapids, that only flows at high water levels. However at the bottom I went into a stopper without seeing it and almost back flipped in my Ronin but I was OK and we paddled on. There was no drama going though the washing machine or the spin dryer or lovers leap. As in all trips there had to be some drama and in this one it was on the Triple Falls where Bruce ended up swimming. Thanks to a speedy rescue, his recovery was swift and he was in the boat and we blasted down the rest of before stopping at the Holne Bridge egress.
After this run we returned to the cottage before leaving for home at 10:00.
We heard that a group had an "epic" run of the Upper Dart later on Sunday which included lots of swims and walking out for safety...
A great weekend and big thanks go to Geoff for organising it, Garry for leading the groups we were in and all the Thames Valley Freestylers who made us feel so welcome!
More here including details (towards the bottom) of the “epic” later on Sunday: http://www.tvfreestylers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=267&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
Sunday, 25 November 2007
Hurley 25 November 2007
Last minute decision meant only Cliff, Jezz and Stu went to Hurley. However it was on a four gates, too much for the others. Cliff didn't even get on the wave. Jezz and Stu managed to get on the wave and pull off some cool moves and spins. Loads of other paddlers turned up to have a great paddle on a great wave. There were some wicked moves. It was a great paddle and guys this is what you are looking to be doing soon.
Last week Hurley was only on one when Jezz, Luke, Joe, Stu and Cliff had a go on the wave, every one but Cliff got on the wave and surfed. Joe and Luke both successfully rolled on the white water which is great, you guys just need to keep it up, you're doing great.
Last week Hurley was only on one when Jezz, Luke, Joe, Stu and Cliff had a go on the wave, every one but Cliff got on the wave and surfed. Joe and Luke both successfully rolled on the white water which is great, you guys just need to keep it up, you're doing great.
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Jezz's Video
Jeremy decided to mess with some previous footage and make a neat little video here it is.
Saturday, 3 November 2007
Poo Pipes 03 November 2007
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On travelling down the A41 with Cliff at the wheel me in the front and Joe behind me, Mel found some quite time to take a nap. Note this is before we even went on the water. All the violin in the morning must have been hard work. On arriving at the poo pipe the water was good and we were able to ride the wave in the tunnel Mel capsized a few times but DIDN'T swim wicked. Joe managed a few neat tail squirts while I concentrated on cart wheeling. Great paddle and hopefully will have some footage which will show all this. Great Paddle well done Joe and Mel.
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Poo Pipes 26 October 2007
Trip for Mel, Luke, Jezz and Cliff to the Poo Pipes featuring a successful roll from Luke on the white water and Mel surfing on the wave in the tunnel.
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
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