Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Today I was out with Bridgwater College students on The Quantock Hills for a nice ride on Mountain Bikes. The hills were busy with horses and hounds with all the usual 4x4 hanger ons but we managed to get away from them and have a good time on the forest trails and the single tracks. Only one puncture in the whole day made it flow nicely and the weather was fantastic, hard to believe it is nearly December.

Today Dan and I were back out on The Dart with our students from Plymouth College . We had a great time and even though there were a few swimmers, the sun was shining and they soon warmed up again. The river had sections of Grade 2 that was both challenging but not too difficult for our group of students

Dan getting some air Manderin and Mallard Ducks Today Dan and I paddled the Lower Dart from Holne to Staverton scooping it out for a group tomorrow. The water levels were better than expected and with the exception of a portage round one of the more dodgy weirs we stayed afloat and had very little scraping going on.

Today I was out with Bridgwater College students on their usual Tuesday paddling sessions where I took the Open Canoes for a journey up the canal which the students managed themselves.

Today was another wet and misty day on The Quantock Hills with students from Bridgwter College. They were following routes they had planned a few weeks ago. A few lessons were learnt in relation to steepness of hills and the joys of crossing streams.

Today Dan and I took a few students upto Haldon Hill for a blast around the trails up there. All 7 students did well completeing the blue and red trails as well as some time on the skills track.

After a few days of meetings with only a brief escape to a climbing wall it was great to get out and about today. I took my Pyranha Varun for its Maiden Voyage onto the River Walkham where Dan and I had an enjoyable afternoon paddle. The river was low with a few scrapes but there were still some spots to play and the infamous "Slot" which is on the video below.

Today I was out with Bridgwater College students again looking at Open Boating skills. We took a short trip down the the docks and back with some skills work on route.

Today I was working with Bridgwater College students who were walking a route they had planned last week. It was very misty on the hills today and we had no views at all but both groups made it round and got back to the minibus in plenty of time.

This weekend I was working the second and third dayof a WGL Training on Dartmoor. On Friday the candidates had been out with Andy Holborn in driving rain and wind so today were much happier with the weather i brought with me. We went North of Princetown in the Great Mis area and stayed out until darkness to enjoy some challenging dark misty nav back to the cars. Today we stayed on the south moor and looked at scenarios and campcraft.

Today I was out with Bridgwater College students in Open Canoes on the Bridwater to Taunton Canal. We looked at basic paddling skills as well a righting an uptunred boat and throwing throw bags. The weather has definately got colder since we were last out (3 weeks ago) but it was still pleasant enough when not drizzling.