It has been a great weekend. We started the weekend with a trip to Shepperton after reading reports that it was on a good 10 gate level. When we arrived, we could see it was down to 9 gates, but I can assure you that it did not disappoint. For one of the party (who shall remain nameless), however, the excuses started flowing - "I am not feeling quite sharp enough" and "I don't like the look of that" were among them. Despite my best efforts there was no changing Martyn's mind so we had a photographer instead. (Well, there was only me and him there so even if I hadn't named him you could probably have worked it out from the photos!!)
Shepperton on 9 gates in the sunshine
It was proving tricky to actually get onto the wave, but once on there were good rides to be had. On occasion I was even allowed to feel that I was in control!
Sunday afternoon saw Martyn, Dave Hodgkinson and myself make a trip to Hurley. The weir had dropped to three gates (with Bucks weir on 4). The first and third gates were producing holes, but the middle gate was forming a lovely wave. Seeing as it was the first time for a few weeks that Hurley had been on 3 gates, we expected it to be heaving with all the paddlers in the Thames valley making the most of it. We were pleasantly surprised to find out expectations proved wrong.
Martyn and Dave Hodgkinson in the eddy at Hurley
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