Gwilym's Adventure Blog

 After the SUP session I was straight down to Dartmoor to help out Plymouth College with some DofE groups. Sunny Saturday turning onto Showery Sunday (ok, not true, it was torrential rain).  Every cloud has a silver lining as the group finished early and Olly and I went boating on The Lower Dart.

 A weekend of two halves working on Dartmoor with Plymouth College students on a Silver DofE training expedition.  Yesterday was wet and windy with the Devonport leat fuller than I have seen it for some time. Today was a drier and less windy day that even produced some significant sunshine for the groups to enjoy.

Today I was down on The River Dart at Totness working with U6 BTEC students from Plymouth College.  

Today I have been at The Life Centre running an Indoor Climbing Assistant award for 6th form students from Plymouth College Lot of stuff covered today including personal skills, coaching skills and "assisting" skills.

This was my second and last week as Temporary, Acting, Part Time Head of Outdoor Education.  With Storm Brendan giving us some pretty serious weather, I have ended up inside at The Life Centre climbing wall every day this week with different groups of Plymouth College students. Quote of the week from one student to me was "Sir, when are the proper instructors coming back?"

This week has been a blast from the past for me. I am temporary, part time, acting Head of Outdoor Education at Plymouth College for two weeks paternity cover. A couple for indoor climbing sessions including coaching lead climbing, a few classroom lessons and a day at Haldon Hill on mountain bikes interspersed with some paperwork and other essential admin to keep the department running until everyone comes back to work. Today was so wet on the bikes, big effort from the students as we rode through deluge after deluge with mud and water flying everywhere.

Back at Plymouth Life Centre climbing wall today but this time with some older Plymouth College students for some bouldering and top roping. Much better being inside with the weather we have had this week

Today I was out on The River Dart "Lower Section" with some Lower Sixth students from Plymouth College . A couple of them in kayaks with me and a solo plus tandem canoe with Olly. Great fun had and some excellent river running skills shown. Also some excellent river swimming skills shown by the majority of the group.

This week I am back in at Plymouth College cover some staff absence. I will be a fair bit over the next few months so I had to lean all the IT and other procedures again. The afternoon was spent down at The Life Centre Climbing Wall with a some year 7 to 10 on their afternoon activities.

Lower Dart with Plymouth College students today.  3 kayaks for me whilst Mr Rees had 3 Open Boats. First time on White Water for all the students (apart from one) and as always, the Lower Dart was a perfect intriduction.  A few swims of course but then Hot Chocolate in the Salmon Leap Cafe to finish whilst Mr Rees and I went to get the minibus back

I was out on The Loop section of The River Dart today with a small group from Plymouth College. Some good paddling demonstrated and lots of fun had by all even if the river was a little low in places. All the main features still had plenty of water. Looking forward to getting back on the water with a different group tomorrow.

Today I was working for Plymouth College overseeing some 6th form students running paddling activities for Year 7. A nice relaxed day and nowhere near as cold as I expected. It was great to watch the older students take the lead from greeting the younger ones, loading boats and minibus, running sessions and packing up all the kit as the end.

Today I was working for Plymouth College with some Year 9 students looking at Navigation on Dartmoor. It was very wet and windy and we survived outside of the minibus for half a day before running back to the bus for some food and warmth. With rain falling on and off all day, it was clear the Dart would be good to go. After we dropped the students back to school, Olly and I jumped on The Loop section which was much better than yesterday. We had planned this all along and my car had been pre positioned at 7am this morning making it pretty quick and easy to get a run in and be off again before 6pm