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.)