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

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.)

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.