A rich, full weekend

What a great weekend; A rich, full weekend as I like to say. Over the weekend I managed four runs on the river Dart, each one in a different type of Boat. I started off on Saturday with a playboat run down the Dart Loop. The level was good, but just to low for Top wave to be Awesome, and just to high for Triple playwave to be ripping. Bit of a bummer, but good fun none the less. Then I switched to the squirt boat, for my first try at sinking at the 'Breathalizer' seam. I had a few 'so-so' mysteries, but I got my first taste for proper downtime, when I got sucked down into the depths! It really did take my breath away, but I can't wait to get in there again and get some more squirt boat action.
Then on Sunday I had an Upper Dart run with Tom and Andy, again a nice level, a fraction higher than when I ran it last week. Followed by a Loop run Tandem in the Open boat with Louise.
What a great weekend! Great weather, great water levels and great paddling!!

Great Autumn colours on the Loop

Tom and Andy Below Surprise Surprise

Andy, in the meat of Euthanasia

Dan and Andy testing new uses for creek boats!

Another weekly round up

Another hectic week here, results in another weekly round up from the ongoing shenanigans of 3Rider.

Last weekend a nice day out at the beach, fun snorkeling, lumpy surf and a relaxing afternoon!

Lots of rain on Wednesday led to a fun quick trip down the Dart Loop with Andy and Ewart. Ewarts first time on moving water since his shoulder Op.

And Thursday night saw the 'Tour event' road cycling race in Exeter. 50 Pro road riders tearing round a 1.5km road circuit in the middle of Exeter for an hour.

Large and lumpy surf at my favourite Cornish spot

Getting on the dart loop on Wednesday

Andy having fun at Triple play wave

me, in a Liquid Logic Biscuit at Triple

Riders flying through the first corner out of the high street

And tearing down the hill at almost 40mph

Fridays Dart Fun

Once again there was lots of rain forecast overnight, but this time I didn't have to work today, so I could spend more time on the river. Awesome!! The river wasn't quite as high as I had expected when I got to Newbridge, but it was still completely covering the slab, so it was all set for some playboat action.






Top wave was good, but not quite high enough to be really great yet, but it did mean that the eddy service was excellent. So I spent some time there before heading on down the rest of the loop. There were a few other smaller waves that were worth a quick surf, the wave below washing machine and a small wave above the crazy seal launch. The wave at the bottom of Triple drop was still a tad to high, surfable, but without a shoulder and quite flushy. Finally there is the wave after the spin drier.






Being on my own meant that I didn't have a shuttle, so I started walking back to Newbridge with my boat. Luckily though someone stopped and picked me up within 100m. So it was back on the river for a second run! The level had dropped a bit, but not too much. Top wave was still OK, but the wave at triple was much better. It still didn't have a great shoulder, but there was more of a shoulder than previously, and it was more retentive. Second time round I had to walk a bit further, but I managed to get a lift again, this time with Simon Westgarth.
What a great day on the river!

Dart Dawn Dash

With the weather forecast showing lots of rain Wednesday night/Thursday morning Ewart and I made the decision to get up early Thursday for a dawn run on the Dart Loop, before having to head to work at 9am.
The Dartcom online rain gauge was showing almost 50mm of rain in the previous 12hrs on Thursday morning, and when we got to the river we found it flowing through the third arch, and lapping up the first wooden step from Newbridge car park. So without hanging around we got kitted up and hit the river as the skies started to get light. We had a good blast down the river, but it was all over too soon, and before we knew it we were stuck in traffic trying to get back into Exeter.

The river, lapping up the steps at Newbridge

Ewart looking serious, about to put on the river while it was still fairly dark

And we're done, now just got to run back for the car!

First Dart Trip of the Winter

The South West Canoe Show is always planned to be on the first 'official' weekend of the Dart season. But previously there has not been any water in the river. This year however was different. The heavens opened over night, and then the sun came out. We spent a great day on the Dart enjoying awesome water levels and sunshine. The river was up the steps when we got on, and the river was a non stop wave train, with a few bigger rapids thrown in the mix.

Owen, floating well over the slab at Newbridge

Ewart, about the break in at Newbridge.

The Last drop at Triple, in big water.