Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Another day with the group from The Hamp Estate and this time for some kayaking in Torbay. Small numbers again and we had a paddle around on a dropping tide, playing around the rocks and trying (not very hard) to stay upright. After lots of falling in and climbing out on rocks the session was over. We even saw a seal today.

Lots of floating about today as I assessed 3 students form the Bridgwater and Taunton College Level 3 Outdoor Education course deliver some Sit On Top sessions. 1 trip and 2 skills sessions were run today. A horrendous 20 mins of rain mid morning certainly added to the spice and no one survived getting a drenching.

Today it was Sit on Top Kayaking and Coasteering for my L3 Outdoor students from Bridgwater and Taunton College. We left a wet and misty Dartmoor and headed to Torbay where the sun shone and there was little breeze. Thanks to Dave who was helping me out today. After kayaking round from Meadfoot to Anstey's we had lunch before Dave led the group on a Coasteer whilst I supported (took pictures) from a kayak. This was the first day out for one of the Wet and High Adventures Dagger Stratos (the green one in the top  pic) and I was very impressed.

Almost an exact replica of yesterday. Sun, Sun, Sun, supervising SOT kayaks and paddling my SUP. What is not to like? Another 2 good groups from NCS based at Cannington Activity Centre .

Today I was teaching SOT (Sit on Top Kayaks) from a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard). This was a NCS group from Cannington Activity Centre . Initially due to a kayak being unavailable but it worked so well I will be doing it again tomorrow. One scary moment when a pair paddled into me and I through I was going in but other wise great. Nice and warm on the water. A morning and afternoon group with a couple of swimmers on each.

As it was wet and windy on the moor, we took the students over to Torbay where it was slightly less wet and windy. Firstly they visited Grenville House as part of their coursework (to see how a centre runs) and then we took the Sit on Tops out for a paddle to Berry Head with a Coasteering session in the middle of it. The students used their confirmed space manoeuvring skills to explore the many little caves and inlets along the way.

Back out in Bridgwater Canal with my college students (second yeas this time) for some paddlesport revision before they start to look at leading some sessions. Good performance and some comitted lunges for the ball leading to a few swims. I am now on my way to North Wales to direct a Mountain Leader Training Course

I was working in my role as Associate Lecturer at Bridgwater College today with the Year 1, Level 3 Outdoor Students looking at transferable paddlesport skills on the Bridgwater Canal. Keeping with the basic skills of paddling forwards, turning and sideways all students had a go as Tandem Canoe, Tandem SOT, Solo Canoe and Solo SOT.  There was even time to test their balance and see how stable the canoes really are. A wet day today with heavy rain at times but this did not dampen their enthusiasm.