December has proved to be a busy month so far. The month started with the Gene17 Adventure Paddler Weekend, ticking off two descents of the Upper Dart on the Saturday and then a descent of the East Lyn from Watersmeet on the Sunday.
In the couple of days preceding the next weekend, messages were flying around as Simon was trying to organise a group to hit Dartmoor on the Saturday. Plans were made and we set off early doors on the Saturday. Driving down the M5 towards Exeter, our appetites were whetted as past field upon field under water. We were expecting big levels and decided that it would be sensible to start with the Upper, Upper Plym. This starts from the middle of nowhere high upon Dartmoor, with a walk-in of approximately one mile!
Looking back across the walk-in
The only incident of note on this river occurred when Simon decided to capsize as he launched into the river at the very start, immediately letting go of his paddles and floating off downstream upside down. Luckily for him he managed to roll back up with the assistance of a rock on the river bed!
Next up we headed to the Erme. This turned out to be a nice medium level and was a cracking run down. Robo made sure we were on our toes with a swim not far from the get-on, but the remainder of the run down to just above the gorge passed without incident (except for Doug’s discussion with a tree) – well, we did walk around Slot-and-drop. I proved to the rest of the group why you shouldn’t run this kind of river in a playboat by getting back-looped part way down a rapid and running the remainder using my head as a rudder. My helmet now has some lovely new war scars! On one of the rapids just downstream, another of the group, a friend of Seth’s, ran it upside down and snapped his paddles clean in two in the process. Luckily for him Robo was now walking down the bank and threw his paddles across the river to allow Seth’s friend to continue downstream. The gorge passed without incident…. almost. Simon decided that we hadn’t had enough rescue practice so far so very kindly helped us out by getting pinned before freeing himself, capsizing and promptly swimming at the end of the gorge. Thanks Simon! The day was not over yet though, and Dave S gave us further practice following a long ‘play’ in the stopper at the bottom of the rapid into Ivybridge – the last rapid of the river. He started the rapid by piling into a rock and reshaping the nose of his new Pyranha Burn (he seems to have got the knack for doing this!) before dropping into the stopper at the end of the rapid. He spent a few minutes trying to get out of the stopper before popping his deck and swimming out. We rescued his boat and he got back in to paddle the final one hundred metres down to the get-out.
I was intending on entering the Hurley Classic the following day, but due to a combination of factors including the long day on the Saturday and the early start required for registration, I overslept and missed it. I did, however, make it down to see the end of the competition.
Today I have been down at Hurley with Martyn. It was a really nice three-gate level, but the water was really cold! Here are some pictures from today.
View across the riverside park
Martyn
Only a small queue
There were only five or six of us on the water!
Heading home
A few more photos are available here
This is not all the paddling I have planned for the month though. I am hoping to get back down to Hurley tomorrow, and then hit some south Devon rivers between Christmas and New Year 🙂