Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Another short blast around the moor with the Gold DofE students and a far cry from last weeks glorious weather. Unfortunately the 20 mins of rain will have done nothing to fill up the rivers so next weeks white water kayaking is looking unlikely.

With very little water in the rivers at the moment, the white water boats stayed at school and the sea kayaks came out for some tidal touring. Today's trip was riding the tide from Cotehele Quay up to Gunnislake and return on the outgoing tide.

I am beginning to spend most of my waking hours on the River Dart. We paddled from Holne to Buckfastleigh today but untill it rains, I won't be going on it again as levels are still falling and it is very low. I was working with the L6 Adventure students some of whom are showing good skills now.

Out on the limestone at Chudleigh today running the second day of an SPA training course. Great weather and dry rock made for a good day looking at abseiling skills, gear placement and leading routes.

This evening I was running the Climbing Wall session (at Plymouth Life Centre) as part of a Single Pitch Award training course. The students had already been out all day with Andy Holborn looking at set ups so we were able to focus on movement and games to encourage effective climbing techniques.

Out on the moor this afternoon with Gold DofE Groups for some practice walks in some of the best weather we have had this month.

Back out on the River Dart but this time from Buckfastleigh to Staverton with both L6 and U6 Adventure students. For the L6 it was their first time on white water so a good challenge form them whilst the U6 looked at leadership skills.

Today I was on the River Dart from Holne to Buckfastleigh with my U6 Adventure Students.

Today I was out with our students looking at 2 Star skills in a range of paddlecraft at Alder Lake near Okehampton

This afternoon I managed to escape the office and all the paperwork I seem to have been drowning in and got out onto Dartmoor with some of our Silver DofE students for some Nav Training.

Today I was out in Plymouth Sound Sea Kayaking with my adventure students. Nowhere near as much wind as forecast an a relatively flat sea made for ideal beginner conditions.

Today I was out with two students on the Lower Dart. Buckfastleigh to Staverton. Great water levels and a good first White Water trip for one of them

  Back out on The River Dart today with Matt and Olly, but this time in Open Boats and on the lower section from Buckfastleigh to Staverton.