Afon Sawdde, Saturday 31 December 2011

A new river for all but one of our paddlers - me (Hywel), Matt, Phil D, Nick B, Rhys Evans (no.1), Becs, and Tom, the odd man out who'd done it before. It took us about 2 hours and 40 minutes of driving (there and back) for about 1 hours 30 minutes paddling. Having met at Asda at 9.30am got on the water around 12, putting in at Pont-ar-llechau, and off at 13.30 at Bethlehem Road Bridge.

The first feature, the slot drop shown in the UK Rivers Guide site did indeed grab the tail of a couple of us. Given the water level was pretty low (4 on the gauge downstream), it does lend support to the though it might backloop you at higher levels. (The chart shows the levels at Felin-y-cwm, somewhere on the Sawdde).

Once past that we were in a gorge which went on and on, and contained various other little drops and rapids. All agreed it was brilliant and at the water level we had a pretty easy run (only Becs having to put in one roll for real when caught out at one of the drops).

A pint at the Lord Rhys in Llandovery finished off a nice day and provided a good end to the year.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda.

Teifi tour, Saturday 29 October 2011

A year on, and here we were again, this time it was Matt and Luke (aged 6), Fran (1st river trip), Steve (2nd river trip), Becs (who paddled with us last year) and her student, Phil (1st river trip). The water was much higher than last year.


As Luke was paddling with us, on his first river trip, we went up to Llanfihangel Bridge to run the Grade 2 section down to Llandysul. I'd never done this before and it was very pleasant though the weather had deteriorated to rain and wind in our face by the time we broke for lunch at Llandysul. While getting ready to put on, another paddler worked out that Luke must have been the youngest paddler on the tour and asked to take a picture of him in his boat. The photo is probably on the web by now: have a search for it.

Phil broke the ice by capsizing more or less immediately once we put on, a trick he pulled off about 10 times during the trip. Luke decided he wouldn't capsize until he got to a rapid, a good decision which made the incident much more interesting for the rescuers. Matt and I surrounded him and when he started saying it was cold, I decided to take pity on him and yanked him on to my front deck and started to paddle to the bank. He slipped off a few times (I think he thought that's what Les has taught him to do in the pool) but we reached the river bank pretty quickly. Matt tempted him back on the water with promises that all he had to do was to reach Becs to get a Mars bar. Once he'd had the one Mars bar I think he thought feigning capsize would be a good way to get another one so later on he had another go. While he was stopped on the bank I met up with Brian from Aberystwyth who I'd paddled with in Switzerland last May and he called an open boat over to give Luke a ride. So, Luke arrived Viking-like at Llandysul.

Unfortunately, the cold had got to Fran and Steve by this time, so it was just me, Becs and Phil who made the run down to Henllan. Phil took about 4 swims getting from the Llandysul put-in to get past the Cauldron so when we got to Pentrecwrt weir we decided he'd better portage while Becs and I ran it (there was still a tongue, just).

I ran Hendre successfully but Brian (who we'd caught up with) who came down after me took a bad move to go right, and swam, and he misled Phil who did the same, followed by Becs, who told me later (I think) just rolled.

All good fun. A shame not more members joined us. I'm sure everyone voted enthusiastically for the tour at the most recent meeting at the Plough. Next year maybe?

Taff, Saturday 19 February 2011

This trip was arranged by Amber to count towards her GCSE. It attracted a large turnout. As far as I remember (and me writing it up on 29 May!) there was Andy R, Matt, John O', Emlyn, Steve White and friend, Nick B, Rhys, Jon and Lewis, Chris and David, me (Hywel) and many others! (Let me know if you were there and I've left you out). The water was at too high a level really and the river was largely washed out. We split in two groups and only the second went over Radyr weir. Nick B led us over nearly in the centre. Shortly afterwards, John O' capsized and I rescued him. Later on, many practised safe swimming, coming under a bridge and having throwlines aimed at them. Most survived as far as I could tell. A well arranged and enjoyable trip.

Afon Tarell, Sunday 6 February 2011

4 of us did this. I've blogged it on my personal blog: If you can't read Welsh, you could try to see what Google Translate will make of it!

Afon Honddu, Saturday 8 January 2011

Seven of us made it on this trip: me (Hywel), John C, Gareth, Matt, Phil, Aled and Emlyn. Emlyn took the photos. As they show, the main difficulties on this river are not the water per se, but the trees and the man made kayak traps, put there no doubt by the anti-kayaking Wye and Usk Foundation. They'll say that this river isn't kayaked. Well, they're wrong. As well as this trip, John and I did it, on 29 December 2002 to be exact, when the water level was, according to John's memory about a metre higher than we found it.

As well as the trees causing 3 capsizes and 1 swim (under!!!! a tree by Aled after he broached on a tree branch) we also had the excitement of hearing gun shots in several places as we found ourselves paddling alongside a couple of shoots.

When we scouted the end of the river the water was red and pretty high. By the time we reached the end (after 2 hours 5 minutes) it was much lower. Luckily it was high enough all the time we were on it so that there were no substantial scrapes.

End of story. We all went for a pint/coffee to the Nant Ddu Lodge (passing Tai'r Bull which seemed to be open this time!). A good time was had by all. Why don't you come next time? (2019 for this river).