A weekend in Wales with York Canoe Club. Not only was this my first club trip in a long time it was also my first time on 'real water' in almost 2 years. Things are never simple and I spent most of the week before in bed ill but did manage a day at work on Friday and then the journey over the M62 that night! Friday night was the usual beer (and whisky, rum, vodka, etc, etc) based evening of banter in the Eagles @ Penmachno until about 1 in the morning when the landlord really wanted to go to bed!
I didn't paddle on Saturday due to still feeling lousy so missed out on the Tryweryn. It was only running on 7 so no great shakes. It did give me the chance to point the camera at a few people. Not feeling so good meant very little came out. A few that did work are featured lower down this article (click 'read more' if you can't see them). The low levels didn't deter anyone and the Tryweryn offered the perfect opportunity for everyone to work on their personal skills as well as their leadership skills. A few beers and some food in Betws and we headed back to the Eagles for some much need showering and more beers and pig snacks. Daz of Pure Land Expeditions fame dropped in with the entire back catalogue of 'Playboating' magazines to keep us entertained.
Sunday we headed to the Dee. Seems like half the paddling world was there including several rather large groups. There was some significant queuing and carnage at Serpents Tail and after a couple of out of boat experiences (one above the drop!) we floated down to Mile End Mill for a play. Part of the way down we found a football on the side of the river and had a quick play with it to keep us amused, didn't last very long and the ball disappeared … we'd find out where later!
Once we made it to Mile End Mill we hit 'Sticky Hole' for some Jefe extracting practice! It was quite sticky and those of us man enough to paddle without edges were having a barrel of laughs trying to get out. After a little coercion James decided to give it a bash and got mashed! Eventually he decided to bail … this is when we worked out where the football went. The ball was well and truly wedged between James' legs and was stopping his exit from the boat. Needless to say we all piled in and saved his sorry ass, but that was because it was a hole we all know we could escape … it wasn't letting go of James in a hurry though. Lesson learned … don't wedge things between your legs unless you are 100% sure what to to when things go hairy. Whether it is a football you've found half way down the river, or a peli case with your SLR in it if it is stopping you getting out of your boat it can't be a good thing.
Last drop of the day and the weekend was Town Falls. We dropped down and ran it follow my leader stylee. Only problem with this was I got off line and Buzz followed me. I took a roll but Buzz took a swim, sorry Buzz! A good day out even with a roll and a the small mishap on the way down!