River Dart Weekend Saturday 12th to Sunday 13th December.
Dart Loop grade 2-3 reported by Martin Cattell.
Most braved the bunkhouse with it’s additional snoring, except me, Dave W, Penny and Calum, we headed for the B&B rooms.
Day 1 – Penny Spooner, Martin Cattell, Dave (Rocky) Walker, Richard Matthews, Nikki Aldridge, Dave Carrington, Abigail Gurr and Robert Newitt.
Everyone paddled well, but won’t bore you with that. Dave Walker entertained with another episode of Rocky perching on the odd rock. Abi was steady as a rock all afternoon except one occasion came face to face with one, ouch but no damage. Long feature, all who entered survived, actually Robert changed his mind at the end with a swim, bit of international rescue practice taa. Triple feature, two parts completed but on third part the awaiting watery trap door was ready for us, water was pouring into it. Penny first and capsized, rushed roll not successful but up on second attempt, too embarrassing not to when trip leading. Dave Walker swam, Richard Matthews swam. Had a little chat with Nikki, ‘this is not going well’, but joined the newly formed swimming club, excuse was I was rock worrying with a failed rushed roll, but whoops I was sitting in a deep watery eddy. Nikki decided not to join in and sailed through, so girls 2 boys 0. Dave C succeeded from toppling in fighting his boating wobbles as he was experiencing his new environment of grade 2 to 3 white water. Richard’s smiley face showed he was enjoying his long awaited first adventure onto this river and Robert looked comfortable all afternoon.
Day 2 – Martin Aldridge, Martin Cattell, Dave (Rocky) Walker, Richard Matthews, Dave Carrington and Robert Newitt.
It’s good practice to do river run days consecutively. Water level was slightly lower than yesterday. Martin Aldridge joined us, Penny and Nikki went the other way to sink their teeth into the Upper Dart, and Abi rested. We decided this time to quicken the pace down to the features. Long feature had an extra obstacle of a paddle pointing out of a rock, Dave C put every effort in his locker to avoid coming face to face with. No swimmers, stop press Robert decides to swim in virtually same spot as yesterday, but by eddying out this time getting caught stationery in moving water. That’s more like it was starting to get bored. Triple feature Dave C at the part 2 section came out of his boat and with prompting swam quickly out of the flow. Woof woof boat chasing time. We all went through the watery trap door upright this time knowing from yesterday the water flow gives a little push from the left just in front of the hole. Definitely a great weekend including getting to know people more than before.
