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.