A Dart Double Header

My Whitewater luck seems to be holding. After two runs on the upper Dart last weekend, I was in for a classic double header on the Dart today. Not just paddling the upper, but swapping for playboats at Newbridge and playboating on the loop as well. The water level was sweet, higher than last weekend, but not yet BIG, covering most of the slab at Newbridge. I hooked up with Andy "the fatman" sorted out some boats, gear and a shuttle and we were off.
Trying to find parking spaces at Newbridge was a nightmare, but I managed to squeeze into a space, loaded creekboats onto Andy's car and headed for a much quieter Dartmeet. Andy and I had a quick bet, How many groups would we pass on the upper? We both reckoned about 5, how wrong we were! The upper was really busy, so we just put our heads down and paddled on, I didn't even get any pictures till we got to the paddle out! But we did pass somewhere in the region of 12 groups and knocked off the upper in about 45mins.

They don't call him the Fatman for nothing!

Andy, somewhere on the paddle-out of the upper

Top wave was OK, but not yet at it's best, so we had a few quick runs and then headed on down the loop, safe in the knowledge that the wave at Triple Three would be perfect. On the way down the loop we bumped into Dan, Dom and Tom B, who were squirt boating on the seam at the Webburn confluence. They all seemed to be getting some funky rides, lots of neck deep mysteries, and Dan and Tom both getting some long head under rides.

Tom B, Dan and Dom in their squirt boats

Dom, resurfacing. Is he gasping for air, or because of the cold?

Dan about to head for some downtime

The Triple Three playwave was just as good as we had expected, but the crowd was bigger than we had hoped for! But after a few minuets it started to thin out and we were able to get back on the wave fairly quickly. Andy decided to test out his dry suit by going for a few swims, jumping on other peoples boats, and generally lounging about in the river!! Somehow I just wasn't feeling the playboat vibe though, and seemed unable to do much more than front surf and flail (yes I know I can't do much more than that normally, but I was really struggling today!) Eventually though it was time to head on down the river. Once again we were able to make use of the excellent shuttle bus from Holne bridge to Newbridge.

Andy on the Triple Three wave

Benny 'the editor' Love, "It's alright, but it's not as warm as Uganda"

Andy, trying to surf on the back of Rosie C's boat!

All in all a great, busy, day on the Dart. I just hope the pattern of low pressures keeps up for a bit longer, and brings more water for the rivers and surf for the beaches.

One of Andy's rides at Triple Three