18th January – Radyr Weir to Llandaff with Open Boats (friends of the club paddle)

Friends: SW,JN,NB

Not much time to spare this Saturday morning, so the 3 of us, not having used them for a while, decided to spend a couple of hours in the morning on an easy section of river in open canoes.
We arrived at Llandaff Weir, only to be met by 3 obviously newcomers to the sport but with plenty of adrenalin to spare. ‘’I got turned out of the kayak last week in the weir mate, I managed to get out but my kayak kept getting turned over and over again almost like it was stuck!!!! but no problem I managed to edge my way along the edge of the weir on the narrow concrete bit and managed to pull it out’’ said one, ‘’mm’’, ‘’oh’’ came the response from us. Then looking at his two mates who both had buoyancy aids on but only camoufladge trousers, camoufladge jackets, jack boots and no helmet or anything else besides were obviously going to attempt to go over the weir on a sit on top. The guy who had the epic the week before was determined to go back into the weir also, he did have most of the kit, except helmet, I think he had a buoyancy aid, at least there was something bulky under his spraydeck that made him look 9 months pregnant!!
The water was tremendously high again with a very long tow back the full width of the weir.
Then these guys then wanted us to watch them, at which stage Steve and I turned our backs and started to move our boats to the beach just below the weir, while Nick continued to try to persuade them not to do it. Ten minutes or so later Nick came to join us having convinced them not to attempt the suicide and we proceeded on down the river.
The river was very fast at this stage and it didn’t take us long to get down to the natural broken weir, where although the ‘white water’ was mostly washed through the flow was very fast and formed huge waves so it was like being on a roller coaster. We had forgotten how much fun it was in these big open boats. We broke out on the beach just below the next bridge for a cup of tea and our thoughts went back to the three guys at the weir, wondering what the storey had been after we left them. We hadn’t had any sight of them since leaving. The next section of river was much slower, still some bumpy water in places but in no time we were down to the get out.
Not a long paddle bur again very enjoyable.
Back at the get in the 3guys vehicle had gone so we assume all ended well for themwhatever they did.

(by John N.)

11th January – Upper Boat to Radyr Weir (friends of the club paddle)

Friends: GC,SW,JN,AR,ST,NB

A quite day’s paddle with some coaching of a newish member of the club who joined us for the paddle as a friend not club member.

(by John N.)

28th December – Upper Boat to Llandaff (friends of the club paddle)

Friends: GC,SW,JN,AR,ST

After the enjoyable Club Xmas Paddle with the water still quite high 5 or 6 of us were keen to get out again, the forecast being very good as well. The stretch from Upper Boat to Radyr being fairly straight forward but with very big waves just by the first industrial estate which some shot twice (and another body surfed down) and the small drop just below the bridge at Taffs Well where the waves were very high also.
We arrived at Radyr weir and after taking only one second, decided to portage. We have all shot the weir many times and decided not to a few as well but on this occasion the tow back looked at least twice the longest boat length.
From there down to Llandaff took no time. Another uneventful day really but better that than the armchair!!!

(by John N.)

Club Xmas Paddle – 21st December Talybont to Llangynidr

After all turning up at the Indian on the A470 we all made our way to the usual get in near the bridge at Talybont.
At the first look at the water, one of the Last of the Summer Wine crew said 'looks fast and furious to me!'.
Followed by one of the Young Bucks who said 'ha! It was twice that height last time I did it, and twice as fast, in fact I capsized, lost my boat and never got it back!'
'Great' came the response.
The water was fairly fast and brown but Matt assured everyone it was our imagination running wild, and it would be fine.
After the shuttle we were all on the water and away, we drifted fairly quickly but without any problems, a bit bumpy in places from waves not rocks!
We got down to Mill Falls fairly quickly and broke out just before on river right as usual while Matt went to inspect as much as he could. Matt then broke out river left just before the falls and we all made our way one at a time ferry gliding over to Matt and from there on down through the falls. Toby’s turn came about midway through the process no problem ferry gliding about halfway across the river to Matt but then got turned and flipped upside down. Calum started to make his way to rescue but in no time Toby was upright again after performing an absolutely effortless and what looked a perfect roll and continued to proceed safely over to Matt as if it had never happened (well done Toby).
The rest got through the falls with no real problems. 10 minutes later we were into an area of very large hay stack type waves which was fun and lasted about 100metres or so, I have a fairly long boat but at one stage I think three quarters of it was bounced out of the water from the crest of a wave.
After that it was pretty plain paddling down to the get out at the bridge at Llangynidr.
Thanks Matt for leading the trip (and the cag), and other helpers for a ‘no incident’ but enjoyable paddle prior to Xmas.

(by John N.)