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

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.)