Gwilym's Adventure Blog

L3 Outdoor Education students from Bridgwater and Taunton College afloat on the Exe today from Bolham down to Tiverton. Nice levels and other that a portage round the Salmon steps a great little jaunt with only one swim per tandem boat. Both swims in awkward places min you so had to work a little harder than yesterdays " Bimble on the Barle "

Out for a pootle down the Lower Dart today with Will, Hannah, Paul and Ben. A single blade day with both Open Canoes and OC1's for a lowish paddle down to the cafe for lunch. I had full intentions to practice some upstream work but the draw of coffee and food was too strong so that will be saved for another day.

Out and afloat in Brixham today for the 3rd and final day of the Advanced Canoe Leader Training course. Pretty blowy at the start of the day which made progress into wind a little difficult. We had some excitement with the solo sailing but typically (as always happens to me) at the end of the day, after we had rigged the full sail to get back, the wind dropped and it was a bit of a let down. We were followed by a couple of seals for most of the day and they were very interested in what we were up to. More likely thinking we were mad.

On the lower part of the Upper Dart today looking at portages, tracking, lining, rescues, poling and of course paddling and leading each other on the rapids in between. Then it was a quick break, and a drive round to Stoke Gabriel to complete a 3 hour night paddle up the tidal section of The Dart to Totnes. A long day but lots covered and a very pleasant evening for the night navigation exercise.

Today I was on the River Dart (The Loop section) on the first day of an Advanced Canoe Leader training (previously 5 Star) course being run by Gary Peverill of I nspiring Adventure . Lots of skills and leadership styles looked at today as well as refining our existing paddling techniques.

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.

Out on the canal today with a couple of members of Bridgwater College staff for some pre-season rescue training. It is always good to get this in at the start of term before we get any students. Nice weather and a pub lunch always makes these things even more pleasant.

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.

Out on The Dee for the second day of my 4 Star Assessment. Again, the Silverbirch Broadland 15 made me look good and we had a very warm and sunny day on Grade 2 (we lined down The Serpents Tail) looking at river leadership, rescues, poling, lining, skills and tandem paddling. Thanks to Gary and Ian for a very relaxed but professional assessment. I was left to get on with it and there was no "standing on my shoulder" but they seemed to notice everything and I am pleased to say the canoe passed and so did I.

Today I have been on Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) undertaking my 4 Star Canoe Assessment with Inspiring Adventure . A great day afloat with sailing, rafting, navigation, solo canoeing and all in rescues were covered. I had a great relaxed day and the Broadland 15 coped well with whatever I asked it to do (and was obviously the best looking boat there)

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