Some rain at long last meant that running a trip might be possible. On Friday evening arrangements were made at the last minute, and finalised at the pool session the following morning.
We met at Forest Farm at 2 - 2.15 and after almost an hour of phaffing around with kit and shuttle arrangements we were all on the water around 3pm. The water level was low but there was enough there to allow us to float, rather than scrape - apart from at the start.
Grant led and coached Emlyn and Carys, Ifan and Bleddyn, and Dana, while Matt and I acted as tail-end Charlies and I gave some coaching to John who had come along to a pool session for the first time that very morning. (Readers: fear not, he was not an innocent novice thrown straight onto moving water for the first time, but had some experience of sea paddling).
Anyway, Matt and I ran Radyr weir to join the others below. Ifan put in a sterling performance, as did big brother, and the rest. Middle-aged men make the best swimmers, so Emlyn showed us how on the one rapid. Da iawn Emlyn. Cofia gadw dy gau yng nghau. (Meaning: "Remember to keep your mouth shut". Note Dana - useful phrase for GCSE Welsh).
I looked at Llandaf weir at the end but an inspection when dropping off the cars had revealed number of nasty looking bits of steel work and as I couldn't see any of them when on the water above the weir it seemed wisest not to try to run it.
A very nice trip came to an end with a pint in the Plough. Very civilised. Must repeat.
Thanks to all involved especially to Delyth who couldn't paddle because we couldn't figure out how to get her a boat - and who shuttled us all, as well as looking after her boys. Diolch Delyth.
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