Yes you read the title right a post that isn’t about cycling!
This past weekend I joined up with past and present members of the University of Surrey Canoe Club for a weekend in Wales.
We met at 3 in the boat shed to sort out kit and load the minibus, the first challenge to overcome was fitting 8 kayaks in a mini-minibus! We didn’t get the one we requested so this only had 9 seats and a much smaller roof rack. So after loading all the kit in the back we had to unload it all and take out three seats to fit the boats in. But we managed it all in the end and left the shed at approximately 4:30pm. Had a smooth but long journey up to Bala Wales – specifically the Tyn Cornel camp site for 11:30pm. Booked in and set up the tents. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to put up my tent having not done it before!
Up early the next morning (I always get up early) but stupidly early – managed to read over 100 pages of my book before anyone else got up. Had a lovely cup of tea cooked on a camping stove and a couple of bacon butties.
In the morning we set out to paddle the lower Tryweryn. This is fairly fast flowing grade 2-3 water with regular rapids and lots of boulders to avoid. This was really enjoyable, I can’t actually remember the last time I went on fast flowing water so got plenty of time to practise ferry gliding, breaking in and out, edging etc as early on their were plenty of large eddies. Oh I forgot to say I was paddling a Lil Joe Creek boat which I was thourghly pleased with, if I just had a spare £600! Carrying on down the river we travelled as a group, it was a great chance to improve my river reading skills, and paddling ability. On occasions when I did make mistakes and went over or nearly over my reflexes kicked in and I rolled back up or high braced.
At the end of the river before the town is Bala Mill falls which is a class IV rapid. We got out and scouted the falls from above first to pick the best route (it also helped watching others go through it!) and I successful went down the falls, then it was just a short paddle to the town car park.
Saturday afternoon it was time to attempt the top section of the Tryweryn. This proved more difficult. The river is narrower with steeper drops and more technical routes. Also their are much smaller eddies (slack water areas) which with the faster running water are hard to get into. I found it fairly easy to just run the rapids but hard to get into eddy’s, with the water running so fast you have to fully commit early on and aim for the very top of the eddy while still thinking about the rapid you are in! This caught me out a couple of times, however I was very pleased that my reactions have changed! When upside down in a boat with my helmet knocking the bottom as I rapidly descend a rapid I didn’t think about bailing, I instinctively worked to roll the boat upright, however the flow of the water worked against me and after about a minute and a half I remembered I needed to breath so bailed out! I held onto my boat and paddle but these kept dragging me into the flow so as soon as help arrived I relinquished them and headed to shore!
I went over a second time in a much faster shallower section and again I couldn’t get my paddle in position to roll, I bailed but didn’t get out so luckily. When you are in a kayak it is relatively easy to move across the water but when you are in it as a swimmer you can feel like a passenger sometimes unable to get out of the flow. I used my PRSI defensive an offensive swimming techniques to full effect but got to the bank with several cuts on my hand bleeding fast and what is now a massive bruise on my knee and legs.
Despite this I had a brilliant time paddling and it has taught me the areas I need to focus on.
In the evening we all enjoyed a BBQ and sat drinking, chatting and playing games till late.
For me the weekend wasn’t just about paddling, it was a mini break, so I spent Sunday walking by Lake Bala, around the town, having Tea and lunch in the local pubs and then helping pack everything up for a quick getaway at 3ish.
It was a great weekend and I can’t thank enough everyone who organised it, drove, rescued me and just those who were there! Hopefully we can do another soon!
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