Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Out on The Exe with my L3 Outdoor Education students from Bridgwater and Taunton College today. A blast from Bolham down to Tiverton and a first experience on white water for the students. Thanks to Ollie for his help. Kayak fleet on hire from Wet and High Adventures Ltd

Out on The Exe from Bolham to Bickleigh today working with Wellington School . They have a nice fleet of boats, keen staff and a active kayaking group and so it was time to take them onto White Water (for the first time for some of them). A great paddle though a little chilly at times and I am looking forward to working with the students again next weekend. Although a local farmer was trying to move the tree from the bridge, it was still there when we left as he had been unsuccessful in his attempts.

After a morning of admin, I was out in the sun on the River Exe mentoring a trainee L2 coach as he prepares for assessment. The was also the first trip out for my sea boat this year as I seem to have been in my canoe a lot so I fancied a change of craft. We were afloat for about 3 hours so loads was done and it was nice to work with a keen, motivated and capable trainee coach. Good luck with your assessment.

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.

Today I was on the Exe at Tiverton working for Wet and High Adventures with one client, Jamie. This was an introduction to White Water Kayaking looking at using his previous flat water techniques and applying them in the moving water environment. The river was up a little from my last trip but still nice and clear. Please Rain!!

Today I took the Bridgwater College Level Three Outdoor students to paddle some of the Exeter Canal Loops . What a day with low (zero) wind and sun. A quick blast down the 2 weirs out of Exeter and then it was helmets off and a relaxing paddle with the tide down to Countess Weir Bridge. A short 10m portage and back on the canal to Double Locks and lunch before paddling back up to the minibus and home.

  Brrrr it was chilly today but OK if we kept moving. A one bladed jaunt from Tarr Steps to Exbridge down The Barle and The Exe just for fun with Hannah and Heidi. The levels were lowish so plenty of time (and opportunity) to mess about including trying to pole down through the play wave (pic above) though I didn't actually manage to stay in the boat.

Today Hannah and I went for lunch at The Anchor Inn at Exbridge. Of course, we parked in Dulverton and paddled there. We were going to launch from Tarr Steps but due to the blizzard we drove through and the amount of snow around and having had previous issues with conditions on the access road to Tarr Farm we decided Dulverton to Exbridge was the better choice. The water was pretty cold today (not that we swam) so winter is coming.

Today was the annual AS Watersports Sale where I seem to always come away with some more boats. Hmm. Anyway, after spending lots of money and getting my ears moulded by Surfplugs it was time to jump in the river at Bolham and potter down to Bickleigh. It was a bit low but we had a good group and a real mix of boats. I was testing out the Pyranha Loki that I picked up a few weeks ago. I liked it but having picked up a Pyranha 9r  (#fastisfun) this morning can't wait to try that out either. BRING ON THE RAIN (only over night so the rivers are full in the morning)

I should have been out on the sea today but conditions were due to be a bit too tasty for the planned work so I paddled the Exeter Canal Loops with Leon, Hannah and Heidi. Good to get my sail out heading down the river and then a paddle into a small headwind back up the canal (after coffee and cake at the cafe). A spot of shopping in AS Watersports completed the day.

A gentle intro for the new Silverbirch Broadlands 15 supplied by AS Watersports today, a bit of a shakedown to check out how she handles on the River Exe from Bolham to Tiverton. There are a few scratches on the bottom now. So far I have not fitted a kneeling thwart and I am experimenting different kit locations to get some good trim, I may or may not fit one in the future. First opinions are impressive and she is faster (much quicker than my old Mad River 14TT) and handles well. Need to get her out on some bigger water soon to see how dry the ride is in big wave trains. (hopefully this weekend) Thanks to Leon for taking some nice pictures of me in the boat