Matlock White Water Trip:
Date: SATURDAY, 18th July 2020
Location: Matlock
Distance: Not very far, but lots to do in a short trip!
Attendees in B team: Alice Smith, Kat Smith, Alison Hardy, Ben Hardy, Ewan Corbett, Dave Clarke, Richard Matthews
Photos: Members area Facebook Album
Whilst the A team were to stay between Artist’s Corner and the Slalom course, the B team took advantage of a discovery by Alice Smith of a get on point near Sainsbury’s to take a short trip. To maintain our distances boats were taken up in the Team Smith van and paddlers walked. Ben and Alice led the trip under Dave’s supervision. At the get on we first paddled up river on the quiet section to reach the diagonal railway bridge and the first play spot. The river at .45 is at nice a nice level though low enough to be just a little rocky in places. Then down to the Sainsbury’s rapid, then the Town bridge rapid to entertain visitors watching from the bridge. Next it’s the railway bridge, and then the Artist Corner top rapid, where we meet a small group from Ipswich up for the weekend.
After a pause for lunch at the car park we carried on working the features down the river and met the A team on their way back, but the B team were joined by Chris Hill for the play on the features of the slalom course. Then a paddle back up river with a couple of portages over the rocks of a rapid.
A lovely day paddling enjoyed by all in the group; thanks to Alice and Ben for their lead, Dave for the supervision and Neil for organising the whole event. This is an excellent variation on the two paddles we’ve done at Matlock (Artist’s Corner to Slalom course, or from Darley Bridge) and whilst the section from Darley Bridge is very nice, all of the features of the section are at the Matlock end and can be paddled on this variation with a little more time to enjoy them.
Richard Matthews