I managed to get out on the river again today with Chris Hughes today. We met at Llangollen to make a plan and, with the water level at 7.5 on the gauge at the Mile End site, we decided to do the run from Glyndyfrdwy back down to the Mill. Having spent most of the night listening to the rain hammering against the house, I was … Read More »
Category Archives: Paddling
Canoe Skills Practice
With my 4 star canoe leader assessment booked for the start of next month, I was looking to use today to help prepare myself in whatever way I could. Having gone in search for enough water in less common rivers, Chris Hughes and I ended up spending the day at the Old Mill site in Llangollen on the River Dee. The aim quickly became to practice … Read More »
2 Star Paddling Week with New College Telford
I've had the privilege of spending this week with the Outdoor Education students from New College Telford. A couple of times a year, their lecturers / teachers take them on a residential trip away from the college to spend a chunk of time working on some of the more practical elements of their courses. They had students working on a variety of activities over the … Read More »
4 Star Canoe Training
I've been wanting to get my 4 star canoe qualification sorted out for 5 years now, but there's always been something in the way. To start with, it was purely being too busy trying to work my way into the outdoor education industry. Then, two and a half years ago, I actually did my training course. I should have just pushed on to assessment within … Read More »
A Week of Multi Activities with Adventure +
This is now the forth Summer of Adventure +, a kids holiday club run by Ellesmere College. They get me in to supply most of the 'adventure', and use other opportunities on and off site to provide the '+'. Although the club runs from Monday to Friday, I normally just get involved with the first four days, leaving them to do something like go-karting without … Read More »
One to One Canoe Coaching
It's been a real treat to do some one to one canoe coaching today. I was first approached by Mike's partner back if December, saying that she would like to give him the opportunity to get some canoe coaching as a birthday present. Like many people, they'd bought a canoe and associated kit to enjoy as a family. They'd been out a few times, but … Read More »
Penally Camp with Ellesmere College CCF
After spending half of last week on exercise with Ellesmere College CCF, I've spent all of this week with them on their annual Summer Camp. Each year they take a group of cadets to an Army training camp for a week of military and adventurous training, and this year we headed to Penally on the South Wales coat near Tenby. Sunday was spent on a watermanship … Read More »
A Day of Canoe Parties
It's been a busy day today with two canoe parties. Thankfully, both where at The Mere in Ellesmere, otherwise I doubt I'd have been able to do both. The first was for Sian, you turned 15 earlier in the week. She's invited a mixture of friends from School (in Shrewsbury) and the local area for a couple of hours of fun on the water. We actually … Read More »
River Dee – Glyndyfrdwy to Llangollen
It was a great day on the River Dee today. The river was running at a '7' on the gauge at the Old Mill, giving plenty of flow, but not making things too frantic. Combining that with a dry day and good company, made for a fantastic day to be out canoeing on the river. I met up with Chris and Matt, who both run their … Read More »
Canoeing on the River Severn
Looking to make the most of the milder conditions, Chris Hughes and I teamed up for a day's paddling. We had hoped to paddle from Lanerfyl to Meifod on the Afon (River) Banwy, but inspection of the water levels at Llanfair Caereinion suggested that it would have been a bit of a scrape along the bottom. This wouldn't have been much fun and, given the … Read More »
