Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Out with good friend and general boaty play mate Olly on SUPs on The Lower Dart. A really nice day on the river trying to stay upright on SUPs (I still find eddy lines tricky).  After getting out we even had time for a high speed run down The Loop in kayaks before coffee, pasty and brownies.

 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.

Today Jo, Hannah and I had a quick blast on The Barle from Tarr Steps down to Dulverton.  I think this was my first (and possibly only) white water kayak trip of 2020. I am clearly out of practice in taking in focus photos for a start

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.

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 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

A bit of low water fun on the Teign and The Loop (Dart) today with good friend Olly. Seems the camera was not working very well

Out on The River Tavy this afternoon working with Olly from Plymouth College with some of his students for White Water Kayaking (more muddy brown to be honest) with some challenging river levels all over the moor.

A quick blast down The Barle from Tarr Steps with Hannah and Mike before having lunch in The Tavinty in Dulverton. Good levels today and loads of paddlers out on the river including a large group of 20 plus paddlers.

Back on The Dart today with Dan and Mike. A classic run of the Loop and Lower but with a little detour. We carried the boats about 300m up the Webburn before blasting back down onto The Dart to continue playing. Good levels just on the slab and this gave a good play wave at the bottom of triple. As always, coffee and food at The Salmon Leap Cafe to finish off the day.

Another day on the river. This time with client Jamie and in my new Dagger Mamba that I picked up yesterday. We paddled the Loop and The Lower section of the Dart and it was great to have my usual paddle partner Olly along to help out as he wanted to try my Dagger Axiom out. This is my last (planned) work day of 2018 for Wet and High Adventures Ltd so now it is just fun, fun, fun until the New Year.

Today was a busy day. This morning, Olly and I were drinking coffee and cake, think about the day and discussing should we run The Loop or The Lower section of The River Dart and should we canoe or kayak? As we were unable to make a decision we came up with a plan (now about 10:30am) - do it all!! So, my van to the end of the lower dart, all boats in Olly's van. Up to the top of the loop, canoes off and ready to launch (11:45), canoe down the loop and down the lower section, off at the cafe and lock up the canoes (13:30). Drive my vehicle up to the egress for the loop, pick up Hannah, up to the top (13:55), kayak the loop, Hannah left us here and Olly and I continued down to the cafe at Buckfastleigh. Blag a lift back up to New Bridge and load all the boats. back drinking coffee by 16:30