1st / 2nd December - High water in North Wales

An early (and I mean early!) start saw us passing Leyland at 6:30 am; far too early to even think about a Tesco's Fat Bob Breakfast! Phone calls and texts to and from assorted mates told us that we were going to be an hour early at JJ's and so it was happy campers that settled for full Welsh breakfast in Llangollen.

The usual BCC suspects were milling about in the car park when we arrived at JJ's and before long we were off, together with Nige and Dave Clift, down the A5 to the get-on for the Conwy. A good blast, at good level and within the hour we were carrying boats up the muddiest of muddy tracks to the car. As we were stowing them on the Astra, we were offered home made flapjack by Sophie, as we later discovered, whose dad runs a watersport centre near Landeck. Contact details were exchanged, and of whom more in later posts...

Off again, and at speed, to Pont Cyfyng and the Afon Llugwy with Dave's battlebus making the shuttle fun (try turning that beast around in the small car park in Betws y Coed!!). On the river and we were off again; big and bouncy level, hititng the eddies hard and plenty of surfing to be had all the way to the drop at Forestry and the must-make eddy above Swallow Falls.

Dave rippin' up the Llugwy campsite wave

The portage around the Falls is straightforward, but getting back down to the river calls for ropes, teamwork and some luck if falling ass over head down 50 feet of near vertical mud is to be avoided! Once back in the boats and one of my favorite sections of river in Wales was in front of us. At good levels, the continuous grade 3 boulder gardens lead to Bench Falls (sticky, ups the grade to 4 - just) and then time to get out again - or take your chances with the grade 6 "Mincer". The final section, from the Mincer down, runs at grade 4, under the Miners Bridge and into Betws y Coed; a perfect finish, 100 metres away from the Pont y Pair chip shop. Heaven, and plenty of salt and vinegar please : )

Andrew ready to boof the drop under Miner's Bridge

A quick trip round the gear shops landed me the bargain of the weekend award (replaced my recently lost Asolos with a pair of returns in Rock Bottom for £40!) before hauling it back to the Goat at Corwen for beer, beer, Christmas dinner and more beer while we listened to the rain falling non-stop into the wee small hours. Sunday could be a day of promise...

Dave decided that our read and run, scouting from the cockpit approach was not as relaxing as it might be and so Sunday's dastardly trio was Nige, Andrew and me. Thinking on our feet we determined that the Afon Ogwen would definitely be "on" and that a short detour would let us see what the Nant Gwyryd looked like as well. As it turned out, the wind and sleet was the real issue, not the water level or the paddling! A gentle start then full-on grade 4, tight and technical speedier than a fast thing on Nitrox blast led to the carry around Llys Falls (would go, but needs more water than we had) and then gradually easing off to the bridge above Garth Farm Falls. We were whipped by hail laden arctic winds while inspecting the drop until I uttered the immortal "Sod this, I'm off" and headed carwards with my boat on my shoulder. Decision made and we were off through the Nant Francon to the Ogwen.

High on the Nant Gwyryd

(Photo from UKRGBS)

There are just too many good things to say about the Ogwen; from the Gunbarrel to the Gorge, it really is one of the best rivers at its grade (4). Suffice it to say that as we packed the car at around 2:30, ready to head back North, it was with beaming grins and more than one "must do this again soon" exchanged with Nige!

Andrew powering through one of the many holes in the Ogwen Gorge