Friday 22nd February - Decisions, decisions...

Have been chatting with Paul, trying to decide where to head on Sunday; the Met Office rain radar is showing rain through Saturday but mostly in the East / South East Lakes and the Borders.

Central Lakes - Troutbeck at last? - Lune, Tees or take a chance and head North...? Too many miles and we really should be considering the old carbon footprint (yeah, right!) Watch this space......

Sunday 17th February - Andy goes to Teeside

Paul invited Andy to dash across to Teeside for the day; sounds like they had fun in the concrete ditch....

Saturday 16th February - Hot and cold above Coniston

A late-ish start and Sue showed me the right track up towards the Coppermines hostel above Coniston! The day was stunning, the resident high pressure meant that there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the sun shone but it was plenty cold (-3C at 750m according to MWIS later in the day). We left the car below Coppermines and followed the track past the Youth Hostel and United Utilities construction site before crossing Levers Water Beck and up, past waterfalls and rockslides, to the reservoir for our first stop and a few photos of the frozen margins of the tarn.

Ice around the shoreline of Levers Water

The path followed the east side of Levers Water and then climbed steadily under Erin Crag and Blake How to Swirl Hause where the view across Wrynose Bottom opened out. From here, a steeper ascent with some good scrambling took us up Prison Band and the top of Swirl How. Duvets came out of our bags; Sue produced sarnies and we had a lazy lunch while admiring the view.

From Prison Band, across The Prison and Brim Fell Rake toward Coniston Old Man

The Scafells from Swirl How

Across Seathwaite Tarn; Harter Fell in the distance

It was good to stride out along the ridge, the plan being to drop back toward Levers Water, then follow the west shore before dropping into Boulder Valley and returning to the car. All went well; initially the way off the ridge was quite loose and broken, but soon led onto a very well made, unusually discrete path which led - almost - to the reservoir. Almost, because I "saw" what proved to be an imaginary path keeping higher above the shore and which, I believed, would save a little re-ascent... almost all of which was in my head! The path wasn't; instead we had 10 minutes of edging practise, easy enough for me, but for Sue, with a keen Scotty tugging at his lead, not so clever - oops! The rest of the walk - once I had been shown the right path - was fine and soon we were heading back to the Church House Inn at Torver for a well deserved brew or two.

Finally - had a play with Google Earth; not bad what you can pull out of it; just to dispel any thought that we'd been on a long walk - it scales off at 5.8 miles!

A Google-eye view from 680m above the shore of Coniston Water

6th / 10th February - Ups and Downs in Snowdonia

Wednesday - A big breakfast and early departure from Frodsham saw me arrive at Luke's family cottage in Gellilidan by late afternoon. Sophie was out on her WWR Technician course, so Luke and I were away, one car between us, looking to paddle something with a short shuttle. The Afon Prysor was unfeasibly low so it was the A5 layby and a run on the middle Conwy. The level was just making 5 on the gauge and running at a fair lick, though probably not worth venturing on at anything much lower than this.

For a first run (Luke's) however, it was ample and, with the sun breaking out, made for an incident free run with an inspection of the G3 rapid at Bryn Bras. Rather than float the last section, we jumped off above the roadworks and walked back to the car, collected boat and headed to Betws to see what else was on. The lower Llugwy, from above Bench Falls to Miners Bridge is a sweet section and only a five minute walk, plus, at a just float-able level, ideal for Luke to eddy hop down. No epics and so it was with smiles all around that we drove over to Bala to meet Sophie and a few of the lads from the WWR course for a couple of shandies.

Thursday - Ouch! The shandies had led to several bottles of wine with dinner and a long evening in the cottage. Having turned over several times in the dark, my phone woke me way too soon; Sophie had broken down on the way to Bala and needed a tow. Of course it was hissing down and Nige was on his way to Llangollen to meet us; this was never going to be fun!

Except that it had been raining all night and the Llugwy was at a good medium / high level. From Plas y Brenin to Betws, walking Pont Cyfyng, Swallow Falls and the Mincer, a brilliant run getting better - and harder - along the way. A "moment" in the pool below Miner's Bridge saw me paddling out on splits but set up for a lefty. I ended up back in the water very quickly and a delayed exit at B-y-C ensued. Lesson learned - set splits up properly!

Friday - John, Joel, Claire and Natalie from Birmingham CC had only just arrived at Mile End Mill as Luke and I pulled into the carpark. Somebody let slip that Paddleworks were knocking 20% off all their stock, so, as they didn't have a helmet in my size or spraydeck to fit my boat, and an ankle seal had dropped out of my drysuit, I treated myself to a new Sidewinder. Oops!

We ran the Lower Dee to Trevor with plenty of coaching and an interesting conversation with a "I'm a Bailiff, get off my river, NOW!" old git on the way down... Of course, no-one was getting off the river and, when he asked if he should call the poice, gave up the game when I said "Yes please - and be sure to tell them you just threatened me...." A gentle days paddling with more than a few laughs.

Claire nails her roll while Joel stands by

Back to the cottage having stocked up with cold remedies, and wait on Paul and Andrew arriving. Some wait - it was 12:30 by the time we'd talked them in and another couple of hours of chatting and drinking before we crawled into our pits. Who ever said this was going to be a quiet weekend?

Saturday - Best intentions aside and it was after 10 before we were away and back to PyB and the Llugwy.

One reason we were late getting away; not a pretty boy!

The level was marginal, but we mostly floated, taking plenty of time working on technique and timing, chatting with Ben and Pete from PyB at Cobden's and generally enjoying the sunshine. All made good lines through the Slot and Forestry Falls where we also took time out working with throwlines, setting up taglines, etc. An evening visit to the "local" in Gellilidan left me wondering if it was inbreeding or the fall-out from the power station that left the natives the way they were...

Paul guides his Java through the Slot above Cobden's - Araf Araf

UFO at Cobden's Falls, Llugwy

Sunday - JJ's or the Tryweryn? A difficult call given two dry days and a hard frost, but as we passed by the decision was made for us - the big T was releasing.

BCC had made the same choice as Steve, Pete, Bec, Dave H, and quite a few more wandered in just after us! Another good day in bright sunshine, a couple of runs of the upper section beefore paddling right through to Bala and off the water by 3:30. A long drive home with Paul dropping Luke in Manchester and Andy and me meeting Sue for dinner in Broughton wrapped up a good weekend.

Andy cartwheels in the slot below Chapel Falls

Me in the boil under Bala Mill Falls

Sunday 3rd February - Off to Keswick for a change

Thought we'd take a look-see though didn't expect to find a lot of water to be honest. Paul arrived at Threlkeld for 10 and, with the level on the Greta just on the mark, we shot across to Little Braithwaite and set up a shuttle for Newlands Beck. On arriving at the top though it looked too low to be much fun, so we completely changed our thinking and went for the Greta anyway, putting the smile back on Andrew's face.

The river was cold; much of what was in it having, quite recently, been sitting on the fells in the form of snow. Sadly I guess much of the run-off had happened overnight, so there was a fair bit of rock bashing occuring as we made our way down to Keswick.

I guess it's a case of familiarity, but I've paddled the Leven far more than the Greta and always enjoy the Leven. What is it that stops me enjoying the Greta then? Anyway, we did at least get to paddle, which is a bonus, blagged a lift back to my car and found the van keys laying in the road at the top - a successful trip after all!

Sunday 27th January - A gentle float down the Derwent

Lazy day with Sue and Paul off for a gentle paddle down the Derwent from Great Broughton Bridge to Wookie Weir. River at a medium level, Sue's first time on a river and she stayed dry throughout...walked around the first weir (but only because her legs had gone numb, plus we got out and looked at it!), looked concerned on the approach, but then smiled all the way through Church bend (the bouncy bit on the river) and, dare I say it, enjoyed the last slide and bouncey weir at the bottom of the river.

Did a little coaching with Paul who, paddling his Java, looked far more stable than in his little boat of last week!! We both had a play at Wookie weir before heading off and getting warm... though Sue and I stopped for a coffee before taking the Scotties for a stroll along St Bees beach : )

Sunday 20th January - Five go mad on the Leven

MarkB, Steve (Madyaker), Paul, Andrew and YT met for a quick coffee at Newby Bridge; there was water everywhere, but not having paddled with Steve or Paul before, thought that we'd play it safe by getting on the Leven before heading off to Troutbeck or the Lune... Best laid plans etc...

The first swim took place below the Brickchute when Paul caught an edge in the boils and missed his roll. He swam toward the central island as I chased his boat down the river right channel - all good, given the possibility of going over the drop on river left! Paul washed over the island, missed the trees and clicked the back of my i4 for a ride to the bank. Steve and Andrew nursed his boat into an eddy and all were soon reunited with no damage done.

The rapids between the Brickchute and Horseshoe weir were washed out, big and boily and Kirk's rapid claimed another swim from Paul; again, no problems and boat and owner soon reunited on the river right bank. We pressed on to the Horseshoe weir where, between us, we managed to unsettle Paul with mention of Backbarrow downstream of the weir and the need to make one of the eddies above the bridge. This resulted in Paul going tense and swimming under the weir; all efforts were on getting him to the bank, then going after his boat. Unfortunately, I had to abandon the boat or miss the last eddy above the drop which, at todays level, both floodgates open, would not have been pretty! The boat continued it's descent alone despite my rapid portage over the bridge and sprint stylee paddle down to Backbarrow weir. At least Paul was off the river and safe!

Backbarrow Bridge the day before our run; on the day the level

was up to the steps on the right in this photo

There were no takers for the smaller weir below Backbarrow and the remaining four portaged to directly below it, putting in with some difficulty, under the trees on river left. From here on it was a case of paddling with eyes wide open, hoping to spot blue and white plastic hung up on a tree or in an eddy somewhere downstream. This was harder said than done since there was only just enough clearance to duck under the pipebridge, Fish's weir had a stopper (of sorts) to negotiate and the Graveyard demanded attention - it was as big as I've known it!

The Fishsteps weir also had a playfully sized stopper at its base, although this didn't cause any problems. I checked the mill race on river left, but no sign of Paul's boat and so it was with a sense of disappointment we cracked on to Fisherman's Gorge.

I led into the last river right eddy only for Mark to miss it and head straight into the gorge; no problem, I just broke back out and followed him keeping a couple of boat lengths behind. No problem until, having run through the dog-leg approach, I saw the tree jammed across the bottom of the gorge and realised that here was a strainer in the least accessible or inspectable section of the river! Mark ran a tight left line, ploughing through rhododendrons but missing the timber. I aimed for the gap but still took the forearm thick upright branch across my deck. Just before it hit my chest I grabbed it and gave an almighty upwards shove; it moved and I was through. Hard right, into the first mini eddy and out of my boat ready with a rope, but too late, Steve was on my tail. He bounced over the timber and I watched the branch that I had shoved float away downstream! Luckily it must have been rotten timber and a large part of the potential problem had now gone. Still Andy to come though; I frantically signalled for him to take the right hand flood channel, but he misunderstood and ran the usual line, but stayed hard right. Fortunately this kept him clear and that was that; we'd finished the hard stuff and just had a float to the take out.

Paul was waiting for us; Coastguard and police were called before we headed off for a quick search upstream on the river left bank. No joy and so we decided, given the time, to call it a day. Shuttle was sorted and eventually all headed of in various directions, but Paul decided to drive along the south side of the estuary while Andy and I said we'd have look across from Greenodd on our way home. Which was as well because, using the binoculars that live in the car, we spotted a blue and white boat on the mud way across the estuary - just where Paul had driven! A quick phone call and soon he was within sight of the missing boat! His happiness turned out to be short lived however...

Ouch! What happens to a kayak that runs Backbarrow solo!

Saturday 13th January - Over hill, down dale... A Magical Mystery Tour

Off on a tour with Poke, meeting his mate Jim over in Sedbergh where the Rawthey and Clough were both too low to bother with. We tanked over to Ingleton and had a quick look at the falls - not that appealing at todays level with a couple of drops that I just couldn't see working, so....

Back in the cars and to Newby Bridge for a fast run down the Leven; big level and was taken for a munching at Backbarrow Bridge - I did nothing out of the ordinary, just ran the tongue before being melting into the mess under the bridge. My paddles were wrenched out of my grasp and, simultaneously I felt something dragging across my shins - turned out to be my boat! Not too long in the green room and Poke chucked me my paddles before punting the boat into the portage eddy river left - a 132m swim according to Google Earth! No more "moments" and soon we were back on the road and heading to Seathwaite and the upper Duddon. Flooded roads promised a meaty level on the river; we weren't disappointed!

While we mere mortals kitted up, Poke ran the Gorge section above Birks Bridge before we all tanked of down the Upper at a cracking level. A portage around Troutal Fall, otherwise solid G3 read and run, continuous all the way to the confluence with Grassguards Gill. Poke or Jim hadn't been on this tree-fest of a ditch, so I left them to it, carrying a paddle and 3m of tape in case a throwline was needed... We were soon back on and sprinting down to Wallowbarrow Gorge. After a "bottom-up" inspection, I picked the boat up and carried on by; the other pair leapt in and paddled like fury, rejoining at the bottom of the Gorge just as darkness fell. Luckily we were parked just below Tarn Beck and so the last quarter mile went quickly enough!

3rd / 8th January - On the piste in Avoriaz

John and I flew from Birmingham to join Nige at his apartment in Avoriaz for a few days skiing and being lads at large about the place. Missing the connection at Geneva left us in the bar for four hours longer than planned though. Oops - that'll be another beer then?

John hadn't skied before and so had a morning lesson on our first day while Nige and I would go and hit a few reds - or so I thought - doh! After scaring me witless I realised that I hadn't completely forgotten how to ski and, as the week progressed, and with coaching from Nige, it came started to come back! By the end of the week the three of us had not only skied the World Cup course, but also showed the locals who was boss in the board park (that would be Mr Woodhall!) We also attempted to drink the resort's entire stock of Pastis. That'll be a good trip then!

Amazing what a little coaching can achieve...

(Click the play button twice)

Saturday 5th January - A blast from the past

Odd isn't it? Having arranged, via the UKRGBS (internet forum for paddlers), to meet two lads from Nottingham at Newby Bridge, I was rather surprised when one said, as he walked across the car park - "didn't we meet in Slovenia in April 2006?" Even more odd was the fact that we had!

Slim (aka Chris) and Ollie were up for a faff-free mission; they had to be back on the road by 2 pm, so it was straight onto the Leven, straight down and off to the Kent for a fast and furious days paddling and conversation about good times in the Soca valley!

A previous visit - Alec hucks Force Falls