23 June 2013 – Sea/Estuary Trip - Neyland to Haverfordwest

club members: HJ, JN, GC, EJ

Our original thoughts were a sea trip off the West Wales coast so we planned dates and were off, unfortunately wind and sea conditions were against us and instead Captain Hywel decided (thankfully) it was more sensible to paddle the Cleddau Estuary.
After the worst shuttle ever looking for a place to get out, getting caught going the wrong way through one way streets in Haverford West and a our small group of cars getting split up, we eventually arrived back at the get in next to the Jolly Sailor in Burton, just up estuary from Neyland. By this time Hywel (who wasn’t part of the shuttle but stayed at the get in on his own waiting for our return) was climbing the walls and not in the best of moods but nevertheless held his cool and more or less said ‘’lets just get on the water I’ve had dinner warmed up three times, been for a walk, and looked for something else to do, now lets go’’.
By this time the wind had picked up and was terrifically strong, with the waves not huge but very strong being helped by the wind.
I was first on the water Hywel yelling ‘’paddle hard, fast and straight’’. We had to get out past a jetty/pontoon before turning up estuary and didn’t really want to get blown into it.
It was quite a task with the wind, the current, and the strong waves to cope with, trying to compensate for one, then the other, anyway Emlyn and then Grant followed and then Hywel, all of us turning the corner past the pontoon ok where the paddling was a little easier, but still hard going.
We paddled not directly into the wind but battled with quite strong odd squall winds, and changes in the direction of it etc for about 20 minutes until we were inside the land masses of the estuary and a little more sheltered. The going was still fairly hard and because we had taken so long with the shuttle we were eager to make good time before the tide changed.
After we had changed direction, following the estuary, the paddling became easier and the weather became much better, the wind having now dropped quite a lot and the sun trying to show its face from time to time. We were now more or less in the river not the sea although the estuary is still very wide at this point.
The countryside and estuary is very beautiful here and we passed Lawrenny Quay on the far side before stopping at Llangwm for a break and snack.
Hywel was doing the tour guide stuff, map reading and keeping up to date with our progress in relation to time and the change in tide direction.
We paddled fairly hard then for ¾ hour or so to the sound of Grant singing Calon Lan until we got to the ‘river proper’ where it narrowed and followed the valley up to Haverford West and the get out. There were a lot of fishermen along the bank here but no problem whatsoever. Then we shuttled back to the pub at Burton for a bar meal and then for a drink later.

The following day the wind and sea conditions again were not good and although we took a look at Dale we decided to call it a day and return home.
Thanks Hywel for a good trip even though we didn’t get out to sea, very far!!

JN.

22 February 2014 – Ogmore - Brynmenyn to Merthyr Mawr

(club members) JN, SW, EJ, NB

After deciding the usual get in at McArthur Glen to Merthyr Mawr was too short a paddle for today, we decided to get in up river not at Blackmill but at Brynmenyn.
The water was at a good level for an enjoyable paddle, no scrapes and high enough for plenty of play. Most of the drops gave a fairly good wave and we progressed fairly fast between them but spent the time playing at more or less each one. The closed weir about half way down upon inspection looked as if it may have been a problem if not hit correctly, but after having set up some safety, the first one through, Nick, blasted his way through no problem. We all duly blasted our way through, the tow back being a bit ‘grabby’ but no real problem. Steve was keen to try out his new camera and persevered trying to get action shots of us at the weir but unfortunately got plenty of kayak sterns, plenty of kayak bows, plenty of kayakers heads plenty of kayaker’s bodies but none complete (except one of Emlyn).

Then down to Bridgend town, where we stopped and inspected the weir in the centre, but it looked no problem and we just enjoyed the drop. After that it was plain sailing paddling down to the stone bridge just above Merthyr Mawr where we got out. Another good days paddling.

JN

25 January 2014 – Usk - Aberbrân to Brecon

(club members) JN, SW, EJ

Good to see Emlyn back paddling after getting over his bad arm/shoulder.
I had done this section (stupidly) in huge water and spate probably 10 years ago and swam a couple of times but not paddled it since, until last year when I did the WWSR course, the river section of the course being done here, the water levels were then quite low. Having done this section in spate and then 10 years later when the level was fairly low I was keen to do it at a ‘’medium’’ level.
We got in just above the bridge (the usual get out after the 3 drops section) at Aberbrân and dropped below the bridge where there were a couple of play waves before moving on down the river.
The river is fairly wide in places and is a very pleasant paddle with plenty of small drops and waves to practice in, which Emlyn made the most of.
Over the full section there are about six or seven sections of small rapid, but which form quite good waves & white water to play in, and one or two larger, dependent upon the level I guess.
Throughout the trip there were birds of prey overhead and the usual herons flying about, luckily with all the bad weather the morning remained quite sunny and the valley being fairly wide meant we paddled in quite a bit of sunshine.
The river was fairly fast in places and beside a little bit of play at various sections and a coffee break meant we were in Brecon after about 2 hours.
It was the consensus of opinion that it was an excellent paddle and to revisit this section again shortly, probably with open canoes next time for a change.
We got out at the promenade in Brecon after a very enjoyable morning.

JN