Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Today I was back at Anstey's Cove with the remaining few Level 2 Public Service students from Bridgwater College who are finishing their course shortly. A drier day with more Sun than Monday. Low tide gave us some great option for weasling and wading with the jumps becoming usuable at the end.

Today I was out with Bridgwater College students down at Ansteys Cove. These were the Level 2 Public Services students who were getting a treat for the end of their course. Big thanks to Dave for assisting me (well doing most of the work really whilst I took pics).

Out on the canal with Level 4 students today and being watched by a pig! It was all about solo canoe skills today and we had a bit of wind to play with as well.

Inside (out of the rain) today at The Quay in Exeter with my Outdoor (or Indoor) Education students from Bridgwater College . Introduction to climbing looking at belaying, movement and just getting some routes done. Thanks Mark for you help today.

Exeter Canal Loops today with my Level 4 students. They got to make their own boat choice so it was one Sea Kayak, a Tandem Canoe and solo Canoe for me (regretted not taking my Broadland though with the sailing rig). We took the river down over the weirs and out on the tide before coming back up the canal with a little bit of wind assistance.

Having been in kayaks last week and canoes this week, I was pleased to be able to award a number of 1 and 2 star awards to the Level 3 Outdoor Students. We will be starting the land based module nest week. I do still have a few more session afloat with my Level 4 students to come

The title and pics say it all. A great day out today with Bridgwater College L3 Public Services Students on The Mendip Hills.

I was out on The Mendip Hills today with L3 Public Services students running a navigation workshop on compass use and pacing. It was cold today (colder than Scotland is right now I reckon) so not a day for hanging about. These students have an expedition coming up at Easter so we need to get out as much as we can

Supervising a mini canal trip today for L3 Outdoor Education students. Thought I would paddle one of my fleet sea boats for a change, needs some padding on the seat though (job for next week).  The afternoon was a bank based coaching session and I forgot to take any pics. The waterbased module is drawing to a close for the L3 students with next week being the last week so hopefully a few 2 Stars will be given out then.

Out on the canal with L2 Sport students. Today's brief "go boating, have fun". No assignments, no syllabus and no specific goals allowed us to have a relaxing paddle up the canal, limbo a few bridges, stand up, sit down, chill out. We even managed to get off before the rain really hit so mainly stayed dry.

Mega windy today for the Level 4 students. We are preparing for an overnight paddling expedition so it was all about getting the distance in and dealing with the wind.

Lots of Tandem and Solo work for the L3 Outdoor students today in relation to their British Canoeing 2 star assessments. Nice that there was no ice to clear first but there was a bit of wind to spice things up.

I seem to be spending a fair amount of time this week breaking a thin ice on the canal. Today I was at it again and this time with L2 Sport students. Different groups this week all seem to have had the experience of launching when it is icy but enjoying an ice free canal at the end of the sessions once it has melted. It was pretty warm in the direct sun today.

A short afternoon session afloat with my Level 4 Students. Much warmer today and no ice to contend with. We had a little bit of wind and looked at options of how to paddle into it and the more fun option of using another boat to sail with it.