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Please send me your reports on todays paddle.

We parked up sorted our gear out and headed to the river . There was a fast flow so it wasn’t going to take us long .  Before we got on the water we went to look at the weir, Clive lead the way through the mud.  When we got to the bridge  there was not a drop of water going over the weir, Clive said he had never ever seen it like that before . Strange as the water was flowing very fast through the sluice gate just to the side . We met a guy who Clive knew in an open canoe there   and invited him to join us on our paddle which he did.

Back at our Kayaks there was a muddy, slippery bank we had to go down to get on the water . Wendy’s white trainers quickly became covered in mud and not so white ,  I slipped and slide down the bank on my bum, getting all  covered in mud.

Once on the water we all enjoyed a nice paddle and watching Clive balancing on his SUP and paddling .We probably could of gone the whole way without doing a sinlgle stroke and just letting flow take us at a nice pace . When we got to the end Liz, Emma and myself had a go at the stand up paddle. Clive attached his throw line to it so  he could pull us in safley if the current pulled us towards the bridge . Think it’s safe to say we were all a little wobbly but glad we had a go and had a good laugh doing it .

Reported by Claire Teagle.

As for Nafford, the reason there was no water going over the Weir, we eventually worked out, is that all 3 sluice gates were wide open and the water was thundering through. So much so that it was pulling water from the weir. Very unusual to say the least.

After a short brake and discussion on how we would work in two groups, eddie hopping our way down river until getting to Serpents Tail, we all got off the water to inspect and discuss how we would run it, we then set up a rescue point. Adam was first to go hitting the micro eddie at the top, then worked his way to the tail making it look easy. Then Graham went, also making it look easy. Next up Jules and in his own style went through with no problems. Now it was my turn, visualising how i was going to run it , it didn’t quite go as planned! I managed to hit the eddy and position for the next part, even get my line position but something didn’t go to plan as I’m upside down and ready to bail! For some reason the rest decided not to follow! After getting in the boat managing 40yds before revisiting the water it was time for a refuel before having another go paddling down to Mile End Mill. Regrouping into our eddy hopping groups we went down a drop river left with the intention of eddying out on the left but the angle wasn’t quite right so I dropped down the steep part of the shoot and over I went again! We all worked through the rest of Mile End Mill without any problems. The trickiest part was to come, you could hear the sound of the water as we aproached and looking from the bridge earlier it didnt look too steep. Adam took the lead followed by the rest of us, I dropped into the slot at the bottom , lent forward and started paddling, wow what a rush!! As I came around by the bridge Jane was already out of her boat and Paul came next and both Paul and I rescued Jane’s boat.  Next through was Emma (who swam) followed by Graham and Jules. A great day was had by all and everyone learnt something along the way.  Nick D

Report2
Sundays paddle – keeping the locals entertained

Arriving at Llangollen just before 10am with Emma; Adam, Paul, Nick, Jules and Graham were already there. The water didn’t look as high as I thought it would have, given the amount of rain we’d had. Before we got on the water we had to pay £5 each for river access at Mile End Mill. Starting from the Mill, we had a quick warm up then paddled across the Dee to the other side, walked through a field, over the railway line to get in the canal. For a mile we paddled along the canal to get warmed up, passing barges, walkers (taking photos of us) and steam trains until we got to the end of the canal.

We stopped for a bite to eat and then Adam demonstrated how we were going to work in teams and eddy hop downstream. Divided into teams, we practiced on dry land with the use of throw lines placed either side of the path to represent eddies. Ready to put our new skills into action we got back on the river and eddy hopped down stream for a short while. Just above Serpents Tail we got out to assess the falls, to see if we wanted to paddled or portage it. Adam assigned us places along the river bank to help rescue any swimmers. Adam paddled first to show which line to take, followed by Graham, Nick and Jules. The rest of us just took notes, with one swimmer we practiced our rescuing skills. Heading downstream, we eddy hopped until we reached Mile End Mill. Here there are three drops, a stopper and a surf wave which some played on or some had lunch.

Continuing downstream where the river is quiet for about half a mile, then you arrive in the town centre. The Town Falls were downstream and the riversides were packed with tourists, so no pressure as they were pointing and taking photos of us! First there is a small right angled shaped weir leading you to a series of drops over the weir, then we were to go river right underneath the bridge. As I approached the first main drop, the weir lead into two big steps, somewhere I got turned over, so before I knew it, I was swimming! There was one other swimmer, Emma so enough to entertain the onlookers and enough to keep everyone busy in the group with rescuing! Paul managed to rescue my boat downstream so had to chase him down the riverbank, and by the time I’ve found him everyone was in the car park. We celebrated with ice-creams, then headed home weary but happy with what we had achieved!

Thanks Jane

The trip will be a good grade 2 / grade 3 with two portagable grade 4s.  If you need to ask what this means its probably not a trip for you.  If you have been paddling over the winter and are confident on the Teme, Lugg, Symonds Yat, etc this will be a good trip.   It would be an ideal progression for our level 1 coaches, Matt S, Emma, Jane and people at a similar level.  I’m not intending to take Tom although Sophie and Emma would enjoy it.   Please get in touch if you would like any advice on the suitability of the trip with regards to your paddling.

The intention would be to get up to Llangollen for 10:00hrs which would mean leaving Worcestershire arounf 08:00hrs.  We can consolidate cars to minimise fuel when we have some numbers.  Let me know if are coming and we will take it from there (before Friday please).  If anyone did not want to paddle but fancied a day out in Llangollen a ‘shuttle bunny’ is always useful and Town’s falls and Serpents Tail are always entertaining to watch.

thanks
Graham

Edward C

I would just like to add to this that I thought all the coaches were really good today.  Today was run largely run by the new (ish!) level 1 coaches and they all did a great job, well organised and showed great leadership.  Thanks to them all!

Thanks
Simon

Report2:
After a chilly early morning the sun started to shine. A good turn out this morning, and after the level 1 ladies sorted out what our plan of action was  we got  on  the water just after 10.00am.Perfect timing.
We went into 2 groups to watch some of the juniors do their paddle power skills .
I decided to go  in an open boat with Ed to brush up on some of my skills ready for the Doggy paddle in May .
We had only been on the water for a few minutes with the younger members having a quick ball game when we had our first swimmer Ed C.  He tried to reach too far to get the ball and over he went.  After a quick rescue and Edward back in his boat off we went.

We paddled up to the weir at a nice leisurely pace. Once there some more assessing was done. Ben went up the weir to help anyone who wanted to shoot it, not that there was much water flowing over it. Ed went first and after much persuasion Lucy went too. They both loved it and had a few goes Ben being happy to drag them up to the top each time.

After some of the kids decided to explore the large rocks supporting the weir we headed of back to the Riverside Centre.

The sun was still shinning and after a good paddle we all helped put the equipment away.

Looking forward to many more paddles this year on the river.

Reported by Claire T

Report3:

Looking out of my window  the ground was frozen over making the idea of a paddle slightly less exciting…. however it soon became obvious that it was going to be a glorious warm spring day. For those of you who know us, we are fairly new to the club, and we are rather a large family…. 2 adults and 6 kids; however today there was only 6 of us!

Getting 6 of us on the water for the first time could have been really daunting but when we arrived in the car park every one fell over themselves to help us. There were kind offers of loans of equipment by everyone and Ollie took us round to the well equipped containers to fit us out with buoyancy aids, helmets, kayaks canoes and splay decks. Everyone mucked in getting people onto the water.

We experienced our first seal launch. We were then split into 2 groups; paddle power and the adults. The kids had a game of bull dogs the girls proved too quick for the ever enthusiastic and dare devil Ed who was the first capsize of the season! As ever he was soon back in his boat undeterred and smiling.

The adults set off up towards the lock, soon followed by the kids. It was just a short paddle to assess how everybody managed. As usual there was plenty of advise about technique. At the lock a few of the kids went down what was left of the weir. The Jelly Babies ( apparently a tradition of the club) were passed around prior to paddling home.

It was a fabulous opportunity to find out about purchasing kayaks and equipment. It was interesting to sit in different kayaks to see the pros and cons of each, to make you aware of what you need to take into account when buying one.

The kids had a great time and we feel much more confident now and are looking forwards to many more trips over the coming summer.   A great big thanks to everyone who helped us and made us feel part of the group.

Sue M