Eastern Cleddau, 1 - 2 November 2013

'3 pints of Guiness and a gin & tonic please,' 'what?', 'oh! don’t ask!!', 'who’s with us', 'oh! don’t ask!!!'

Hywel, Steve, Grant & John N spent the weekend in West Wales intending to do the Eastern Cleddau one day and then the Western Cleddau the following day. We all met in the pub in Little Haven the night before and planned the trip the following day. The planning took all of 60 seconds and the drinking took the rest of the evening. The following day the wind picked up and the rain continued, anyway we decided to give it a go whatever the weather and proceeded to the get in on the Eastern Cleddau at Llandisilio. Sladden’s book says the perfect level is 1½ to 2 foot on the gauge at the ford in Llandisilio, the water was up to just over 2 foot so we thought we would give it a go. After the usual sorting of kit, making sure we had between us all that we should and finding a hassle free parking space for Steve’s van we were on the river and away.

The river here, in appearance is very similar to the Ogmore but not as fast flowing, narrow and winding. A few obstructions and not much white water, nevertheless an enjoyable paddle if not for the weather. There were a few trees down and one section had to be portaged for a small section but generally no problem. However one section of the river was straddled almost the whole width by a tree giving a small gateway to get through but having to brush against small branches en route. Hywel went and inspected 'no problem, straight through the middle', Grant then followed and went straight through the middle, Steve followed and went straight through the middle but got tangled amongst the small branches, Hywel shouting 'stop playing around and let the branches go', 'I haven’t got the branches' came the reply, 'the branches have got me', anyway Steve made his way through with no problem. John came next straight through the middle but got his paddle caught under the bough and when pulling on it spun himself over and did some river bottom inspection, he emptied his boat and dried out about 20 yards further on!!!!!

The rain now started to hammer down and the river broadened out and became a lot faster flowing, but more or less an offortless paddle with beautiful countryside around, until we got to the wier at Blackpool, just passed Canaston Bridge. This can be a dangerous weir and we made the decision not to shoot it (the portage was not easy!). Just the other side of the weir was a smashing play wave where we spent the next 15minutes before the get out just another 20 yards.

We knew the rain had hammered down but when we collected Steve’s van from the get in, the gauge had risen to just over 31/2 foot while we were on the water.

Back to the pub, '3 pints of Guiness and a gin & tonic please,' 'what?', 'oh! don’t ask!!', 'who’s with us', 'oh! don’t ask!!!'

With the weather worsening the following day and the forecast not good we abandoned plans for the Western Cleddau and went to the pub for a coffee while Grant, desperate to get on the water, went surfing before returning to Cardiff.

Worth a trip but not a 'macho' paddler’s river.

Caldey Island, Sunday 6 October 2013

A GENTLE END-OF-SEASON PADDLE AROUND CALDEY………………………..?

Report by Rob G.

Hywel said he fancied Caldey as a gentle end of season paddle, whilst the weather was still mild. Sounded good so Rob joined him and after an early morning run to Tenby we parked conveniently next to South Beach where there were no charges after the end of September. A promising start!

We set off about 12.45 with about an hour or so left before low tide. No sooner had we hit the water than Hywel spotted two paddlers in the distance – turned out to be his mate Wayne from North Avon CC who he’d been to Scotland with earlier this year. Wayne and his mate had camped out on Caldey overnight and were on their way to Amroth. We continued our journey to the jetty on the island’s north coast, paddling into the breeze but mostly sheltered from it by Caldey.

We paddled around the island clockwise and after turning south-east we saw some seals at Caldey Point but as they were making some strange noises we thought it might be pupping season so carried on around the coast, stopping for lunch on Drinkim Bay.

After rounding Chapel Point we were into a stiffish south westerly breeze all along the south coast of the island with a lumpy sea all the way to West Beacon Point. Hywel had vaguely mentioned some “overfalls” there earlier in the day but I hadn’t paid much attention; wish I had because all along the south coast we could see a series of large breaking waves around the Point. I was concentrating on the lumpy sea but as we approached West Beacon Point Hywel said if we turned a sharp right (i.e. roughly north) then we could avoid the worst of it. But it still meant running the gauntlet for about 50 metres with breaking waves at your back. I’m not sure if Hywel heard my strangled cry to “stay close” but he was quickly around the corner and I had no real choice but to follow. After bracing against two waves which I reckoned to be about 1.5-2m I managed to turn and followed Hywel into the calmer waters of Sandtop Bay. Hywel said he thought I’d passed a bit too close to the rocks on our right – as if I had a choice. The sea was taking me where it wanted. I felt pretty relieved not to have taken a swim there, but more through luck than any judgment or paddling skills. Phew!

Sandtop Bay at 7.52 in the morning. Photo taken by Wayne from where he camped.

It was then a relatively gentle paddle to and around St Catherine’s Island before turning for home. With the tide and wind at our backs it took us only about 20 minutes to land back at South Beach again at around 15.45. A slog back up the beach but after a quick change and a coffee in an adjacent café (part of a new apartment block partially constructed at the end of the car park facing the beach) we headed for home.

‘’Upper Upper’’ Taff, Merthyr Vale, Saturday 21st October

John N, Grant, A N Other

Grant and I after paddling the Upper Taff on many occasions, last June decided to walk the section above from Merthyr Vale down to Quaker Yard to scout for a future paddle when conditions permitted. We walked the majority of it and decided it was worth a paddle as soon as possible. Last Saturday we parked in Merthyr Vale at a very easy get in and set off in quite shallow water, not surprising, but nevertheless we wanted to do the paddle. The sides of the valley in this stretch are quite steep and the river banks more densely populated with trees so although the morning was sunny a lot of the river was in shade.

Along the stretch of the river are a number of rock gardens and small rapids that could probably be a bit more fun with more water, we did have to portage one section for about 10 metres, not far, and scraped by on another occasion. It is a very picturesque section with the usual Kingfishers, Herons, and although having seen mink on a number of occasions previously was surprised to have come within 10 feet of an otter.

All in all it was a pleasurable paddle but not too exciting (probably different with another 300 or 450mm of water). Main hazards are trees and fishing line. The get out at Quakers Yard adjacent to the bridge is not  good, but an alternative may be found. Very much warrants another paddle in higher water. John N

Mumbles - Pwlldu, Sunday 8 September 2013

Paddling out of Mumbles for a round trip to Pwlldu is a sea trip I undertake quite often but it struck me that I hadn't done it in 2013. When John N. e-mailed asking if anyone fancied a paddle on Sunday the trip came to mind. I checked the wind forecast: XCWeather seemed to suggest a Force 3 from the south west, though the MetOffice's inshore forecast wasn't quite as good: F3-4, possibly F5 later. The tide was a Spring but with low water around 14.40, I reckoned if we got on the water around 12.30 we wouldn't have to wade through mud and we'd get to Pwlldu around LW so would have the wind and tide with us for the return trip.

Anyway, John and Rob G. bought this story and so we went for it. We got on the water around 12.45, still having avoided the mud although a bit later than the master plan. The put-on at Mumbles (Knab Rock car park) is nicely sheltered when the wind is from the south west or west so we started in very calm conditions. As we approached the light house though we could see some breaking waves on the outside. No problem, they weren't big and we were paddling into them and into the wind which was around F3 at that point. As we went on though the wind was variable - as was the rain! When we started to pass Caswell, the wind picked up to a stiff F4, maybe F5, as the next big black rain cloud came in and it became a hard slog to get to Pwlldu. Arrive we did though, in the end, more or less on schedule, around 14.15. As soon as I landed I got my bothy shelter out as the conditions were so miserable (and I was keen to use it as I've had it for years and never had cause to use it before). The three of us got under it - for a bit: John decided rather than peering through 3 inch square blurry plastic to see if he'd pulled his boat up far enough, he'd be better off outside. As the rain had stopped Rob and I shortly joined him.

We launched for the return leg around 14.45. Typically, the wind had now eased so we didn't have as much assistance from it as we expected. Paddling with wind on your back and a following sea is generally a bit trickier than paddling into the wind, so having a weaker wind wasn't all bad. As we went on the waves got a bit bigger as the tide picked up but we all seemed happy enough.  I started surfing a bit at the head of the group. As we passed Langland though a shout went up and I turned to see John in the water and Rob a fair way back. Back I went for a rescue, in proper sea conditions of course - cliffs on one side (though a decent distance away) and waves. Rob rafted up with us once he'd rescued John's hat and I'd got John back in his boat to give support as John pumped some water out and then struggled to get his spraydeck back on. Then we were off again.

Unfortunately, we hadn't gone very far when John went over again, after having put in some frantic splash strokes and low braces. At least this time he was just in front of me so I got to him a bit quicker. A touch more excitement this time as after I'd emptied my boat John pointed out that my spray deck had come off. He kindly offered to stay in the water before trying to get back in his boat, wisely spotting that it might get interesting if my boat too filled with water. As we were making a bit more progress towards the cliffs this time John didn't get as much time as before to pump his boat. Off we went again then though with John a bit wobblier again, and me shouting instructions at him - mainly just to keep paddling and to avoid putting in low brace support strokes if possible (they kill your speed and make you wobblier again). He made it around the lighthouse into the calm water (leaving me to be caught for a wetting and short bongo slide by a breaking wave).

Rob found this all so exhilarating that he suggested we should practise rolling/rescues. He'd shrewdly spotted that the water was really rather warm and guessed that if we didn't practise on this trip I'd be more likely to nag him on our next trip when the water would most likely be much colder. As he was wearing a dry suit, and I wasn't, he'd also spotted he had another advantage. So, Rob attempted a roll, failed, and so let me practice another rescue. Then it was my turn, but I discovered I could still roll, so no fun for them this time. John wasn't keen to get wet again at this point but he was persuaded by the time we got back to the take-out. Unfortunately, his roll failed but he wasn't having us rescue him again and walked to shore this time. No mud again, around 16.30 if I recall correctly. Good planning Hywel.

Although I'd had 6 days paddling in Scotland just the week before I really enjoyed this trip: rescues (as long as it's not me in the water) are fun, at least when the water is warm. If it was February, the story might have been a bit different. Finishing at Mumbles means you can have an ice-cream or coffee at the end of the trip. We went for a coffee this time. Very civilised.

Thanks to Rob and especially John for a good day out. We were all paddling sea kayaks by the way: don't think of doing the trip in river boats.

Hywel