MarkB and Andrew enjoyed an early breakfast before getting on the Leven. Lots of overnight rain left the river looking meaner than I had seen it for a long while and the memory of the thrashing that Backbarrow Weir had dealt to me at our last meeting was foremost in my mind. Still, since this paddling lark is a headgame, it was time to let the game commence….
The brickchute wave was working but very fast and not easy to get on, then down through the weirs and bouncy rapids to Buckbarrow Bridge. Get out, look, decide, walk – easy! Down to the weir and check that out. No mistaking the line or hiding the fact that I was shaking. Back in, close eyes, see the line, line up and go. One big boof later and I was down, grinning but still shaking! I think the river won that time but next time will be mine. Andy and Mark looked at me with quizzical expressions but I didn’t let on… Andrew still had the Fisherman’s Gorge to deal with.
The graveyard section was great – big, wide stoppers and haystack waves to enjoy the view from… a blast which was over too soon. Fishermans Gorge was looking big – and all that you can see is the entrance… it turned out that crunching through overhanging branches from the RR eddy and rolling up from the subsequent capsize is not the best approach. A new line, which I’d never seen water in before, extreme right was my claim to fame. As long as the boat stayed straight it’s good; otherwise you will end up jammed across a 5’ wide channel… Andrew found his line; ran it like he meant it and, I think, finally banished the demon that has been with him every other time we ran this rapid. A good days work – pity about losing the car key though (Andrew!!?)
The brickchute wave was working but very fast and not easy to get on, then down through the weirs and bouncy rapids to Buckbarrow Bridge. Get out, look, decide, walk – easy! Down to the weir and check that out. No mistaking the line or hiding the fact that I was shaking. Back in, close eyes, see the line, line up and go. One big boof later and I was down, grinning but still shaking! I think the river won that time but next time will be mine. Andy and Mark looked at me with quizzical expressions but I didn’t let on… Andrew still had the Fisherman’s Gorge to deal with.
The graveyard section was great – big, wide stoppers and haystack waves to enjoy the view from… a blast which was over too soon. Fishermans Gorge was looking big – and all that you can see is the entrance… it turned out that crunching through overhanging branches from the RR eddy and rolling up from the subsequent capsize is not the best approach. A new line, which I’d never seen water in before, extreme right was my claim to fame. As long as the boat stayed straight it’s good; otherwise you will end up jammed across a 5’ wide channel… Andrew found his line; ran it like he meant it and, I think, finally banished the demon that has been with him every other time we ran this rapid. A good days work – pity about losing the car key though (Andrew!!?)
Andrew styles Fisherman's Gorge (unlike his dad!)
(Click the play button twice...)
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