River Wye February 2007

Today the group was made up of myself (Angelo), Steve L., Petrina R., Jo E. Good to see Jo out again after a year or two stuck behind a computer studying.


The sun was shining and the river had plenty of water in it - perhaps a bit too much as many of the features were not there.
We put in at Erwood so as to shorten the day and so it was only a half mile or so to the infamous "Hell Hole" rapid/shoot.
Today it was more of a bouncy run rather that a boat goobling stopper or boat crunching slot. Still enjoyable and I managed to get one of the gang to film me.

It was interesting to get back on the Wye, especially this stretch as I have not paddled it for probably 2 years now. I have been doing smaller rivers and so the width of the river was a pleasant surprise - I can see why it is a favourite for canoe training and assessment - plenty of room and no real difficulty. That said Hell Hole can be daughting in levels lower and higher that this.

I have included some video of Hell Hole, strange set of lines down but conditions allowed for some experimentation.

Angelo - Hell Hole



Well done Petrina - Good line, sorry I did not get the full film.



Jo running Hell Hole


Steve running the stopper alongside Hell Hole.

River Usk January 2007

Best laid plans and all that - I thought I would be clever and put a very expensive camera around my neck and paddle the bounciest run between Aberbran and Brecon - trouble was I took my attention off the river and drifted too far to river right - anyhow you will see my frantic effort to get back on line. Just incase you think you will see me swim and drop the camera you won't - I managed it but it shows the run quite well




With the rain this last couple of weeks we just had to do the Usk again but mainly because it was now off spate but with a good volume - the brown water was turning to clear and with the sun shine all the white water was glistening - I think this is the Usk at its best - easy paddling, very pretty and just enough interest for a morning paddle.

I am not in the film below, these where some guys playing in the weir at Aberbran, just under the bridge - a good level for playing.

Water, canoes, and trees that remind you of middle world in Lord of the Rings, that's the Usk

Sunset over the River Usk near Brecon

River Usk January 2007

Paddling a small rapid on the Usk - Click the arrow to view

The River Usk must rate as one of the most pleasant grade 2 paddles around. Superb scenery and gentle rapids with one or two exciting runs and depending on water level a few surprises.

Practicing my J Stroke on the flat part near Brecon

River Cothi December 2006

Click on the image below to watch a short video. If you cannot see this then create an account with www.youtube.com it is free and will allow you to see all videos I post.


It is always good to get out in the boat between Christmas and the New Year - somehow it justifies all the over eating, ok it doesn't but humour me.

Today was an interesting day, an early start, a long shuttle and a little wind and rain - and boy did it get worse. What started off as a reasonable volume and damp day ended with the river going into spate - not too much though so it was challenging but very doable.

As usual the obligatory shuttle, although this time we surpassed ourselves and performed the quickest, slickest and most economical shuttle I have seen for years, well done guys!

The Cothi is a sensitive river and so we must treat it with respect - spate conditions only and no damage to the banks etc. The put in is in the picturesque and award winning village of Abergorlech outside Brechfa. Well done Abergorlech for maintaing such a pretty and welcoming village. There is a small tributary that runs from the forestry carpark but while this offers the only realistic access to the Cothi is is strewn with trees. Today there was a tree bloccking two of the three arches across the Cothi Bridge in Abergorlech so only the far river right is passable.

The small standing wave was there after the bridge and gave us a little fun - I did not film it later in the day when we returned to pick up the vehicles but it had risen by a good half to three quarters of a metre during the day.

The rain and the wind were a bit off puting at the start although it did ease up a bit during the day - the river continued to rise and the curent ran quite a bit faster - somehting to keep in mind when paddling rivers that have a tendency to spate.

This is a steep sided valley with more than its fair share of trees and so you need to keep your wits about you at all times, especially when there are few eddies to get into and the trees seem to want to encroach even further into the river every year.

I have did not mamange to get many photos on this run as the rain meant I have to keep the camera covered and while I will try most times to get the photos it was just too wet today.

I think this photo just about sums up the weather for the day but in case you need more proof here is one of me, I just knew that poncho would come in handy one day!!! And Steve a big thank you for looking after the boats while we brought the vehicles back from the put in. Finally thank you to kind gentleman of the Cothi Bridge Hotel for allowing us to egress and also to The Cresselly Arms for serving us good coffee and a particularly good Baked potato with prawns marie rose.

Rivers Duad and Gwili near Carmarthen

At last I have a video of me for a change - thanks Steve L. I have always liked this stretch of water and this clip is on the lower part of the Gwili often called Tunes Pool. A bounchy bit of water and the site of many a capsize for the unaware. Anyhow play this and see what you think. Oh yes I have to say I got the best line today - you can check it out by seeing Steve L and Steve P in the longer video below.

This is the extended video of our recent trip - Photos and write up will follow.


Steve showing us how to get 3 boats into a ditch! Ilove ditch paddling but this one was only 25 metres as a access to the Duad - a bigger ditch, no seriously a reasonable river with a slope!
The river was just off spate and dropping so it is a good level for a Sunday morning run. This is a small and snsitive river so please anyone running it small groups and do not make it too obvious. The locals are friendly and as long as you are well outside the fishing season you should not get any opposition.
Today there were 3 of us all in open boats. The sun was shining, it had stopped raining, the wind had gone, the sky was blue and the birds were singing - so all must be well with the world, well it was OK with my world for a while - good water, good weather, good company and a good boat (Mad River Synergie - thanks Huw from White Water Consultancy - 8 ish years and still in good condition - and I do hit rocks - ask my mates!)



Oops sorry mate but I couldn't resist this one. I got through by fluke - a nasty tree across the river caught us all out to some extent - fast running water, sun in your eyes and small gorge and a tree blocking - recipe for disatser but we negotiated it well, ok so a little capsize - hey that's paddling. The water was runing very fast here and Steve did well to recover this without incident - nice one I think I would have had a huge swim here. Anyone paddling - we have moved the tree enough to allow a reasonably clear passage (top part of the river as you start on one of the small gorges, near the house with the big tv mast - check it out on the way up to the put in)

Well Steve is smiling now!










Anyhow here is a web album of the day - Click on the photo of the boats for more.

Afon Gwili, River Gwili November 2006

Usk November 2006

I thought I would attempt to develop a small Blog for some of my canoeing trips on local Welsh rivers. This is the start, although I have been padddling in the area for over 15 years.



NOTE This is not me, in fact there are very few pictures of me paddling because I always end up taking photos of everyone else

This clip is from last Sunday's paddle . A gentle grade 2 run with some friends to get back into
the swing of things after a long break through the summer months (yes I only paddle in the winter!). It is surprising how little water there is around in the last few years. Nothing like a cold winter morning to get you into the mood for a good paddle.





So as usual it was the mad rush from the cafe in Sennybridge down to the access point at Aberbran. It is always a mad time this and I always seem to get the shuttle wrong - but hey today was going to be different - drop the boat off and then down to Brecon to leave my camper at the egress point - nice warm changing room at the end - perfect.


I just love the logistics of going canoeing - the mad rush, the checking of kit, getting all the food, cameras, safety equipment organised - most times Ithink I need a rest after just that - OK those who know me will be chuckling - I am gadget man and so my boat and kit are, well lets say, well equiped - look you guys its just as much fun for me !!!

The Usk is a very pretty river with enough to keep even the most hardened paddler involved - you cannot but be impresed by the scenery and the small but sometimes technical parts of the river - not grade 5 but at least you can chat and relax as you follow the river downstream to Brecon. The river seems very clean but after a good downpour it turns brown and its character changes considerably - you can do the trip in about 3 or 4 hours with normal water but I have paddled it in spate and done the trip in 1 hour!!! Rollercoaster stuff!





The start of the run is under a bridge where there is a small but deceptive weir - this is the one that freaks out new paddlers and catches the more advanced if the are not careful - I chalenge anyone to get down cleanly with water this level and not bump a rock. Good to play in though and warm yourself up.

After this the river meanders through open fields with tree lined banks, with a sunny day like this the light can be quite special and the river sparkles as it ripples through small runs and mini rapids.