April 2010 newsletter

April 2010
REGENTS CANOE CLUB
NEWSLETTER
Carnage on the Lower Tryweryn
Marc Labuhn’s Easter trip desce nds into mayhe m
T he end result was:
* 20 swims (or rather, we
lost count after that)
* 2 walkouts (two groups,
that is, not paddlers)
* 3 boats pinned (and two
heroic rescues)
* 3 people (at least)
required first-aid
* 1 paddle lost (but later
recovered)
* 1 paddler stuck in a tree
The river rang o ut with c ries of ‘SWIMMER!’
Easte r. For many, it is a time to re fle ct upon the ir
faith and spe nd time with the ir families. For me , it
is a four-day bank holiday, and it would be a
shame not to make the most of it, so I naive ly
offe re d to organise a kayaking trip to North
Wales. Four months, four hundre d e mails and
se ve n hours driving late r, much planning finally
came to fruition as we arrive d at the Bala
Backpacke rs hoste l, to a warm and enthusiastic
we lcome by Ste lla.
The plan was quite simple, really: have roughly
thirty paddle rs (give or take te n), arriving and
leaving at diffe re nt times and places paddle on a
varie ty of rive rs near (or not so near) Bala, while
trying to make sure that e ve ryone is also we ll-fe d
and ge nerally having a good time. What could
possibly go wrong?
It all starte d out quite innoce ntly on Friday. For
many, this was to be the ir first time down the
lower Trywe ryn and for some, their first time
leading a group by the mse lve s. To make it e ve n
more challenging, Llyn Ce lyn was releasing at 10
cume cs, rathe r than the 9 we had been e xpecting,
and the rain from the pre ce ding week (and that
morning) was doing its part to raise the le ve ls
e ve n furthe r.
* 1 paddler stranded on a
rock (but recovered
eventually)
* 1 visit to A&E (for one large bruise and a
slightly fractured skull)
Sadly, Paul did not arrive until Friday e ve ning, so
misse d most of the carnage . It should also be said
that no one was seriously injure d, nor was their
e nthusiasm.
Afte r a pleasantly hot showe r back at the hoste l,
most of the group made a beeline for the nearest
pub, be fore e ve ntually descending on the Plas Yn
Dre restaurant, who were quite happy to cate r for
thirty hungry paddle rs at ve ry short notice . Over
the course of dinner, many plans for the following
day were forme d and discarde d, but e ve ntually a
clear, if controve rsial winne r e me rge d.
Continued
on page 3...
1
April 2010
Regents Roundup
Email lucyleddy@hotmail.com with any news and comment
Well it’s the countdow n to the Alps trip, and being one of
the 9 or 10 Alps first timers joining the 40-strong group,
I’m beginning to feel excited and nervous in equal
measures. Having committed myself to a w eek in the
Alps, I decided it w as time to take the plunge and buy my
first boat & paddle – a big old Pyranha H3, the boat
equivalent of a Chelsea Tractor for me, (formerly
belonging to Dan T, so hopefully w ell trained w as my
reasoning). But at Easter, on my very first outing w ith my
new kit, a collision w ith a rock on the Low er Tryweryn
sent me on a
It’s that time again, as the elections approach; the politics, the candidates vying
bumpy sw im
for your vote, the promise of change...
dow n the river
and left my
...yes, the Regents AGM is upon us and your chance to support your club by
voting in the new committee. 8 pm Thurs 29 th April. And the nominations are:
new paddle
pinned under a
- Chair - Karen Shaw Wilson
rock in the
- Secretary - Alix Cordell
middle of a
- Treasurer - Dan Tattersall
rapid. It bobbed
- Training & Safety Officer - Christine Dov e
about
- Equipment Officer - Claire Tay lor
- Membership Secretary - Rachel Ty ler
precariously
- IBC Liaison Officer - Ian White
under the rock
- Newsletter Editor - Katie Cordell
and
- Website Officer - Ian Tok elov e
disappeared
- Events Co-ordinator - Mark Rowe
from sight...
Nooo!
Amy, w ho was leading a group for the first time, made valiant efforts to retrieve the paddle.
And as we faffed about w ith ropes, trying to figure out a w ay to get to the paddle, the last tw o
groups of regents paddlers passed us (without stopping to help – thanks guys!), and w e
realised that at the back, w ith no splits and a paddle dow n we were going to have to w alk out
and leave my paddle, w ithout much hope of
seeing it again...
But the story has a happy ending - Conveniently at
about 4 pm they turn off the taps to the Tryw eryn,
so a rescue party of Dan, Liza and Amy returned
to the scene of the drama. And there, bobbing
about behind the rock w as my paddle. As a rescue
plan w as hatched, it disengaged itself and floated
off dow n the river – a heroic chase commenced
and my errant paddle w as finally captured and
reunited w ith it’s ow ner. Phew ! I w ill be keeping a
firm grip on my paddle in the Alps.
2
April 2010
QUOTE OF THE NEWSLETTER
PET OF THE NEWSLETTER
“I don’t think kayaking is
very good for you...”
Henry (owners Paul & Christine)
Likes: Eating (espec ially his Dreamie treats!), sleeping
and having his tummy tic kled
Dislikes: Going outside in the snow
Louise Reissner – After running the
Upper Tryweryn for the first time.
Easter at the Tryweryn continued...
Marc Labuhn
...Continued from page 1
Saturday morning saw an early start for some,
and afte r some initial confusion about what the
plan for the day actually was, and who was
meant to be whe re, most heade d back to the
lower Trywe ryn while a smalle r contingent
we nt off to investigate rumours that the
Conwy was in a paddleable state. Luckily for
us, it was, providing a we lcome change of
scene ry and an opportunity for the resident
grumpy farme r to te ll us to stay off his land.
Afte r an all too short, but thoroughly e njoyable
paddle we playe d a quick round of spot-the ge t-off, not he lpe d by Dan's ve ry insightful
comment that it was somewhe re near a tree.
In a display of e xce llent timing, both groups,
and se ve ral late arrivals all turne d up in the
Trywe ryn Cafe at roughly the same time, and
the more eage r among us heade d upstream for
a quick blast down the upper T. For three of us,
this marke d our first desce nt down the uppe r,
but much to e ve ryone e lse 's disappointme nt,
all of us manage d to make it down without
swimming (sorry Paul).
3
April 2010
The e ve ning saw us
and have a quick trip down the
dining at the lovely
Dee. We decide d to do the latte r,
Bryntirion Inn, and for a
ge tting on at the Chainbridge
few short hours e ve ryone
Hote l and off at Mile End Mill, the
on the trip was actually in
plan being to run Se rpent's Tail
the same place at the same
and finish the weekend off with a
time. Afte r anothe r hearty
ge ntle paddle and a bit of a play.
meal, and much food we
Upon arriving at the Se rpe nt, we
Barry & Marie take on the locals
re turne d to Bala, some of
found that all the wate r it had
us to turn in for the night,
bee n drinking recently had made it grow quite
othe rs to continue drinking into the wee hours,
spectacularly, and give n it a rathe r bad te mper.
and othe rs still to pick fights with the locals.
Afte r a brie f inspection, we de cide d that none of
Sunday morning came , and with two long days
us really wante d to be stuck be twee n a rock and a
and nights be ginning to take the ir toll (and no
hard stoppe r and decide d to take our boats for a
more rain to fee d othe r rivers) all
walk, instead. On the
of us re turne d back to the
bright side, all that
Trywe ryn again. Now that
wate r made the
e ve ryone was comple te ly au-fait
re mainde r of the day
with the river, it no longe r
decide dly more
prese nte d too much of a
inte resting.
challe nge to anyone , and we all
made it down without major
I would like to thank
incide nt. This marke d the end of
e ve ryone on the trip
the weekend for most, but
for making it a
having come all this way, some
success and at least
of us we re de te rmine d to stick it
Mark opt s out at Serpent’s Tail
as far as I am
out until the ve ry e nd.
conce rne d tre me ndously rewarding and fun, with
Ove r a re latively quie t dinne r, and with river
a particularly big thank you to Dan, for putting
le ve ls still dropping, the options for the final day
nearly as many hours into organising the trip as I
we re limite d to paddling down the Trywe ryn ye t
did.
again, or stop off in Llangolle n on the way home
Duty Rota
Being on duty is easy! Someone will be there to unlock the cupboards and cage s and sho w you where the duty pack is.
All you have to do i s welcome visitors/newco mers, sho w them around and provide them with info rmation abo ut the
Club. Al so ensure that everyone getting on the water to paddle signs the book and signs ag ain when they get off.
Everything you need is in the Duty Folder provided.
If the date we have given you is not suitable, please arrange to swap with someone. Thank yo u fo r doing
your bit for your club.
Lee Cookson
Thursday 29 April 2010
John Davi son
Monday 24 May 2010
CLUB CLOSED
Riaan de Jager
Thursday 27 May 2010
Monday 3 May 2010
Katie Cordell
Thursday 6 May 2010
CLUB CLOSED
Monday 31 May 2010
Alix Cordell
Monday 10 May 2010
Michele Del Campo
Thursday 3 June 2010
Monday 7 June 2010
Marianne Crowder
Thursday 13 May 2010
Anne Marie Donovan
Marie Czajkowski
Monday 17 May 2010
Chri stine Dove
Thursday 10 June 2010
Thursday 20 May 2010
Megan Dowsett
Monday 14 June 2010
Ian Davidson
4
April 2010
TOKEY-TUBE
Ian Tokelove brings you a
selection of Youtube’s finest
For those slow Friday
afternoons...
Contributions from Ian
Tokelove, Ralph Wilson
and Dan Tattersall
One
. of Norway, totally worth its 20 minutes:
http://vimeo.com/nordic kayaking#8010744
Genia sent me this one, with the comment "I
wanna be as big a fighter as him"
Laughing at Loc hsa raft trashings
Kayaking Lower Guisane - Hull and Distric t
Canoe Club
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=PEM9gS ZC
BFI
If you watc h the video you'll see what she
means!
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=b7GtTizpR08
Midge and Ralph on Mini-Huka in Norway
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=aohLGnk0988
By contrast, Huka Falls, NZ
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=UBud9uAPovI
Most annoying spec tator:
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=avqJCnzgDgA
My c urrent fave - titled Colorado Extreme
Kayaking Blow-out - fantas tic footage and a good
soundtrac k.
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=d_JJZY9ACBc
Never say Nevis again - a beautiful film that's true
to the spirit of Scottish kayaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=q_nYMiwJO9g
The full version c an be downloaded from
http://breadandbutter.me.uk/news45.htm and is
highly recommended.
One to make you smile - The Rac e (Kayak vs
Mountain bike). Guess who wins?
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=qh7m3-fHFAA
My favourite c lip this week is a pro-boater
spoof http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=ETU7TPS aL
c U - but you should watc h the original first
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=0vFKh22bAl
Y
In terms of kaying in the news this c lip http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=lMydURBW
B0k from 2008 has got to win. It’s the get in for
the Tywi whic h we may be paddling on Beth's
trip (only joking!). For the bac klash c hec k out
http://news.bbc .co.uk/1/hi/wales/7735242.stm
amongst others.
Finally, anything from our very own "S teve the
Otter" is a must. Chec k out
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=oTHP0aTbf
6Y for example.
5
April 2010
Upper Dart
Ian White sees what all the fuss is about
Barry (Skynyrd) Warren was the culprit.
Caught red handed consuming Polly's sticky
toffee pudding when he had ordered chocolate
sponge. Polly was not happy. There was
disquiet in the camp. Judge Polly 'they sleep
with the fishes' Rossetti convened the
kangaroo court and Barry was sentenced to
suffer a whole evening of Polly's scowl.
Pudding 'gate' was brushed aside once Barry
explained that his taste buds had been eroded
from several years of art college canteen food.
Polly remained
resolute in her
indignation. This was
the scene at Exeter
YHA's Saturday night
dinner, when Liza
asked me 'Want to do
the upper tomorrow?'
Three years ago I
swam eight times on
the lower in one day.
At that time I
wondered if the day
would ever dawn that
I would navigate the
Surprise, Surprise!
lower without
swimming. So, here I
am being asked if I want to do the upper. It's
not as though I hadn't thought about it and
what it would be like. How mad is the 'mad
mile'? Is Euthanasia Falls there just to
smother me with her watery pillow? How big
a surprise is 'surprise, surprise'? What is
continuous grade 4 like? I had already
rehearsed my answer to Liza's question. A
resounding 'Yes please!' came from me and
Ed Green, my fellow invitee and
neighbouring diner. It transpired that in order
for me to go on the upper somebody else had
to drop out and go on the lower. Thanks Dan.
Or maybe I should ask Sarah James who had
suggested to Dan that I should do it.
However you slice the cake, I am grateful.
The water levels on the lower on the Saturday
had been low, in fact the lowest I remember
paddling it. This made it ideal conditions for
me to try the upper with less flow, giving me
more decision time.
Two Ed's, Geen and Antoniak, two Ian's,
White and Tokelove, and a M idge made their
way to the get on. I had always had visions of
a cluster of cars parked cheek by jowl, in a
small lay-by on a desolate moor while getting
changed in a blizzard surrounded by sheep
droppings. How surprised was I to find a
tarmacked car park with toilets? The river is
no more than
20 feet (6
meters for the
continentals)
from the car
park,so no
lengthy
portage to the
get on. I am
not really a
nervous type
but I do
remember
being very
apprehensive
during my
first Alps trip
but I had no 'pre upper' nerves at all and was
genuinely intrigued as to what lay ahead.
After the essential but brief safety chat by
group leader Tokey, we got on and Ed A led
followed by Tokey, Ed G, myself and with
M idge taking up the rear gunner position.
The start was a scrapey affair with the flow
split into several unconvincing channels.
Once through this initial section the flow
picked up and we could navigate our way
between the rocks and make eddys without
too much boat bashing. Progress was slow
but purposeful and beautifully controlled by
the river leader Ed A. To me this was real
river running with the river leader finding an
eddy within line of sight of the next paddler
and each paddler filling the 'vacant' eddy
when the downstream paddler moves on. I
am really enjoying myself and learning loads
6
April 2010
at the same time. Fortunately there was
the bottom flipping him over. Nice line. To
enough time in the eddies to soak up how
be fair, there wasn't much else on offer so we
beautiful and remote an area this is. The
all took pretty much the same line. M idge did
valley is wooded throughout with trees
a grand job and got us through some tricky
flanking the banks often overhanging and
bits, although I am still questioning one line
dangling their branches in the water. For the
he gave me which spat me straight into a
first half mile or so we were being observed
folding wave which munched man and boat
by a couple, hiking, who stopped at each
leading to my first and only swim of the day
feature to marvel at our skill, or maybe they
(can you feel the shape of my dented pride?).
just hoped we would crash and burn. No
Later we encountered Euthanasia Falls which
sooner had they departed and we arrived at
are two very large rock slabs formed into a Vthe first main feature which I managed to do
shape with a constriction at the bottom.
mostly upside down with my head banging on
M idge and Tokey ran it. The rest portaged.
the rocks.
Fortunately the roll
worked. I thought
that it might be a
long cold day if I
keep going over and
steeled myself for the
harder bits that I
knew were ahead.
Soon we were into
some steep gradients
strewn with large
rocks. Gone was my
controlled paddling
and easy eddy
hopping. Suddenly
my reactions and
ability to compute
the flood of
information coming
Euthanasia Falls... the co mpassionate way to go apparently
at me failed and I
crashed through a
serious of chicanes and around large boulders
Next up was the 'surprise surprise' known also
until I found a big enough eddy in which to
as Pandora's Box, which Ed G and I portaged.
compose myself. At the bottom of this
It didn't look too difficult from the bank but
section Tokey remarked that it was the hardest
the myriad of rocks combined with the flow
section on the river. Phew!
can push you in directions you don't want to
Somewhere the order changed and Ed A went
go. This was graphically illustrated by Ed A
to the back and M idge took over as river
who was forced into sharing his bit of water
leader. There were some lovely drops which
with a dead sheep. I have never seen a
must be quite different in bigger water. This
vegetarian back paddle so fast. We had
is apparently so for the 'slab section' which is
passed the last main feature and a hot drink in
a river wide sloping slab of rock which was
the car park was half an hour away. We were
fairly innocuous at this level but has a large
all knackered. The get out at New Bridge
stopper at the bottom at high levels. M idge
came into view. One very elated paddler
led far river right bashing loads of rocks on
clambered up the bank. Four hours of
the way down and then clattered into a rock at
unrelenting continuous grade four. I loved it.
7
April 2010
Flip it
Emma Stacey e xplores the stoppe rs of the mind
There’s a favourite quote of mine by John Berger, the novelist, art c ritic and painter:
Never again will a single story be told as
though it’s the only one.
We meet this all the time in life. One tale told, believed and formulated as the ‘truth’. Fac ts given
in blac k and white when there are many, many shades of grey. Think of an example from your
own experienc e when you’ve been told one side of a story, believed it wholly, and then heard
another whic h shifted the ‘fac ts’ and c hanged your perspec tive ...... and then relate this to how yo u
talk to yourself on the river.
Confused? Well does your
internal monologue sound
something like this, “I missed
the eddy, I’m useless.” “Damn,
I didn’t roll. I may as well not
bother.” “I swam again! I’m
never going to stay upright.”
We’re all aware of the hundreds
of positive mental attitude
theories, personally I like Joe’s
home grown brand, “If you’re
going to be a bear be a grizzly,”
it’s light hearted and it works
for him. However, I’m
avoiding the normal
psyc hologic al mumbo jumbo
speak and I’m not talking about
mind over matter where you
battle with your internal
feelings to turn them into
something they’re instinc tively
not. I’m talking about those
moments when your automatic
response is to feel fear, when
roc ks seem like monsters,
rapids like tsunami’s, you’ve
feel like you’ve failed and
wonder why on earth you paddle. Those instinc tive feelings seem as strong as fac ts, but they‘re
only one side of the story, the other goes something like this, “I almost got the eddy.” “I didn’t roll
this time but I gave it a really good try.” “I swam again but on a harder river than I’ve ever
paddled before”. These are all fac ts too. You c an c hoose whic h side of the story to foc us on. You
c an c hoose whic h one to believe.
8
April 2010
There’s also a common misconception that others on the river are braver than you. However,
courage is not a natural inc lination one has towards over-riding or not feeling fear. What you see
when you judge yourself against others is simply prac tic e and progression. Courage is doing
something even though you are afraid. It is keeping on trying even when, time and time again, the
fear does not subside. You could feel the weakest member of the group but be the one with the
most courage as maybe staying in for that eskimo resc ue takes greater bravery than others running
a large rapid that they’ve done over and over again. This may sound like the basic s of the ‘Feel the
Fear and Do It Anyway’ philosophy but I’m not talking about pushing yourself through a situation
like a battering ram or proving something out of pride or being in it to win it, I’m talking about
your own voic e on the river; the acceptanc e of your fear, being gentle with it, staying with it and
then recognising that although you may feel you’ve failed, there’s another story that says you’ve
succeeded and although you experienc e fear you’ve had the courage just to be there in the first
plac e.
So I’m going to c all this ‘Flipping’. When you find you’re beating yourself up, flip it. Look at the
other side of the story.
Dates for your Diary – For booking de tails see website : http://www.re ge ntscanoeclub.co.uk/cale ndar.htm
11th May, 8th June, 6th July Pool Sessions
Britannia Le isure Centre , 40 Hyde Road, N1. Each session
lasts from 7.15 to 8.15pm and costs £5.
1st,2nd &3rd May
Safety &
Rescue courses
- Tryweryn
Christine has arrange d some safe ty / rescue courses (all
now full) at the Trywe ryn for the club.
15th -16th May
T he Big Paddle
at Symonds
Yat
Please see: http://www.thebigpaddle.com/.
24th &27th May
White water
skills on flat
water
We will be cove ring a range of routines on flat wate r that
will he lp de ve lop, improve and maintain your white wate r
skills.
29th -30th May
Alps warm-up
trip at
T ryweryn
Camping trip planne d to the Trywe ryn (release -de pende nt)
for the spring bank holiday weekend.
30th June
Barbeque at
the club
Club BBQ at 8.00 pm. All welcome. Cost £5, bring your own
meat / ve g option and booze.
12th -13th June &11th -12th
Se pte mbe r
Mile End Mill
Propose d trip to Mile End Mill. More information to follow.
19th -26th June
French Alps
trip
Trip now full.
17th July
Paddle, picnic,
pirates (and a
bit of sailing)
A trip to the island of Mersea in Esse x on the 17th July.
21st-22nd Aug
Surf trip to
Devon
Propose d trip to surf the waves off Woolacoombe.
9
April 2010
A Daytrip to Holme Pierrepont
Ian T okelove finds the rive r Tre nt close d for busine ss
A c hilly S aturday in early February saw four
Regents paddlers heading up to the white
water c ourse at Holme Pierrepont,
Nottingham. The brown, turbid waters of the
River Trent are squeezed between a series of
conc rete walls to c reate a c hunky series of
white water rapids and waves – a haven for
white water kayakers, slalom paddlers and
rafters.
We had abandoned a trip to North Wales due
to a lac k of water, but we knew that the Trent
course would still be running – and worth the
journey up. Ian’s mondeo set off from S E
London, pic king up Alex and Ed A on route,
before stopping off at Desperate Measures to
pic k up a demo boat for
Alex. S teve S joined us
at the Holme Pierrepont
c arpark, where for
onc e, there was plenty
of room to park.
The course was muffled
in a low, dirty fog, but
the water was running
and all was looking
good. Despite the c hilly
air we knew we would
warm up once on the
water. The usual jokes
were made about the
river’s water quality –
the Trent has a
reputation as a dirty
river and it’s best to
keep your mouth shut
if you find yourself
upside down.
Alex was first to the
tic ket offic e and firs t
bac k with the news.
The course was shut!
Rather like a c arton of probiotic yogurt the
river was now full of bac teria – but these
weren’t the good kind - and the river’s murky
waters had been c lassified as a risk to human
health. There would be no paddling today.
There wasn’t muc h we could do but shrug
our shoulders and smile – any one of us
could have made a simple phone c all to c hec k
– but none of us made that c all. We
disc ussed, and quic kly dismissed, alternative
plans – we knew the only available water was
right next to us, and we couldn’t get on it. So
we went home…
Lesson learnt: if you’re heading to a white
water c ourse, c all first!
This is the website for
Nottingham’s white
water c ourse.
http://www.nwsc notts.c
om/welcome The
website doesn’t
advertise white water
kayaking but for a
tenner anyone with
suitable experience c an
use the course – just c all
first to c hec k it’s open.
To make the most of the
venue (and if you want
to enjoy the experienc e)
you will need to be able
to roll on moving water.
And to keep your mouth
firmly c losed if you do
go over.
. new dry suit, designed
Ian models his
for all year paddling on t he River Trent.
10