Gwilym's Adventure Blog

On our last day we headed up into the hills for a walk and a chance to admire the scenary. As always it was hot and we had to be back in the shade by midday. Earlly start tomorrow for our drive back to the UK

Today we headed out into 30 degrees on Mountain bikes around the local hills. All students took part in this trip. In the afternoon, 5 of us headed back out for a road ride to the Pont d'Arc and back. Although only a 10km round trip it was very hot and hard work.

Today we headed up into the hills for a spot of climbing before the midday sun hit us. By 1pm the temperature was rising and we headed back to the shade of the campsite to sit in the river.

Today it was very hot in the gorge as we paddled the 32km descent from Vallon Pont D'arc to Sauze. The sun shone, the warm water flowed and a few students swam. It was very busy on the river with a number or large companies taking ridiculous size groups down with very little control or thought for other paddlers (you know who you are if you are reading this). Tomorrow is due to be the hottest day so far and we are out rock climbing

After spending 24 hrs travelling and a day recovering, it was great to get out and about today with a paddle on The Ardeche. The sun was out and all the students had some time to familarise themselves with the boats before we run the full 32km trip tomorrow. After a paddle down to the Pont D'arc and a play on the white water course, I headed off for a quick climb with one of the students

This weekend I have been at Wimbleball Lake teaching Canoeing and Kayaking to some year 8 students for Haygrove School. Whilst I was on teh water with them, other groups were biking, walking, climbing and using the High Ropes course. A good time was had by all and the weather held out for us. I am currently on route to France where I will be avoiding the thuderstorms in the Ardeche

Back on site at Cannington College for Abseiling skills and drills. This is the last day of the Land Based Outdoor Pursuits module for the Level 4 students. Next week a few of them are coming to France for some paddling and climbing in the sun (I hope)

At last, a break in the weather for Bridgwater College students who finally got some nice weather to go out rock climbing. Our last few sessions have needed to be inside at various climbing walls so this was a great chance to put all that practice into "real" climbing.

After a busy day in the office, it was great to get on on the water as part of the Safety Boat team for some of our students out sailing.

This weekend I have been at Portland on a Sea Kayking Coaching Course allowing me to extend my coaching remit in Moderate Waters. Both days had amazing weather and allowed us to explore caves and coves as well as the Portland Bill Tide Race.

Today I took a group of Boarders from Plymouth College Coaststeering as part of their Bank Holiday weekend activities. The weather was kind to us but the water still had a chill to it. The easterly winds gave us a reasonable amount of swell to play with and we got thrown around as we swam, climbed and jumped our way along the coast.

Today Chris Wilson and Dave Jackson were running a BCU FSRT Course in Exeter for a number of my clients. I enjoyed some sunny weather as I observed from the bank as part of the process to become a provider myself. All 7 clients went through a number of skills in mutiple types of craft in preparation for their Level 1 Coach Course in a couple of weeks time.

Going Up Look Closely Max and I Clearing on Descent Today I was on Pen Y Fan with my group from Bridgwater College. The aim of today was mountain fitness and navigation so fortunately (for me) the weather played ball and was super misty to make the students work hard to know where they were.