Lower Dart, Holne to Buckfast

Get in: Holne Bridge

Get out: South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh

Distance: 3 miles

Grade: 2 (plus weirs)

Jane, Andy and I took Buster for his fourth trip on moving water this Sunday and though we'd move up a section. We got in at Holne bridge and headed down though the Country Park, when it came to the Anvil we headed left then down School Rapids, which Buster enjoyed being the hardest thing he'd paddled to date and managed to stay up right!

 Bit blurred but still a nice group pic



With only a couple of upside down moments Buster did well, although one almost envolved taking me with him!

Buster heading down a nice little rapid

Getting back in after walking the Buckfast Abbey weir

Not even paying attention!

All in all a nice little paddle, its a lovely section either for newbies to whitewater or current paddlers looking to practice some skills and fancy a nice scenic paddle. The two main hazards are Holne Weir, not far from the in, either you can sneak over the left hand side or get out and easily walk round. Then theres the Abbey weir which is usually runnable far right but i find it best to walk round this one as in higher levels it can be rather nasty and in lower waters its shallow and you'll leave half your boat behind.

Lower Dart, Buckfast to Staverton

Get in: Layby river left below the Dart Bridge Inn

Get Out: Dart Valley Rail, Staverton

Distance: 5 miles

Grade: 1-2

Buster's third trip down the lower, we dry suited up and Buster & Andy got a little carried away. We headed down to the get in and had a nice smooth paddle down only stopping for afew pics and to practice a bit of breaking in and out.

 Inflatable drysuits

 Buster having a special moment

 Andy posing for the camera

Chilling out after a pleasant paddle

A fairly simple section with no major hazards in very pretty scenery, its a great trip for beginners as after each rapid there is a large flat section.

Colligan Gorge Games - Ireland

I popped over to Ireland for a few days to visit my friend Ad who was working at I-Canoe.

Spent a couple of days wandering round Dublin and wandering round some large shopping centres. At the weekend we headed down to Colligan near Waterford in Southern Ireland for a day of paddling, with over 200 entrants it was pretty busy. I went and signed myself in, then had to go and get changed it was pretty cold, only just above freezing and there was still frost on the grass. I watched the guys, then it was my turn to head to the top as i walked up i checked the the river it was a narrow shallow gorge, with a drop at the end of the course.

I didn't get the greatest of starts and the first section was narrowed by rocks, i overtook one girl because she swam! Then tried to catch up with the others almost caught them, then hit a rock above the bottom drop and ended up going down backwards, i then just managed to overtake another girl but still ended up third and didn't make it though to the next round.

The team event went alot better, we didn't win but was a smooth run and managed the whole of it forwards!!

We finished watching all the finales and headed back up to the van, just as we were clambering up the bank Ad slipped and managed to hit himself in the face with his paddle and chipped his front tooth. He was feeling a little sorry for himself after that! We watched the prize giving then headed to our Travel Lodge and had a well deserved shower then headed onto the after party at a local club.

Then it was a long drive back up to Dublin, where i cooked a yummy dinner, then flew home again the next day.

Would defiantly go back to Ireland paddling again. There is a couple of events planned for next year so may have to head over again.

Sailing for Dads Birthday

For my dad's birthday i booked a small yacht at Dittisham and me, Mum, Dad, Buster and Andy got up early and drove over. We started off with a safety brief to explain about the boat we were using afew safety aspects, etc.

Mum and Dad had owned boats for years before me and my brother were born and Andy used to teach at a sailing school so i was in safe hands.

We started off by heading down to Dartmouth, where we had a quick stop and got some coffee's and hot chocolates to warm us up a little.

We then headed back up the river, we stopped at Dittisham again for a spot of lunch.

After lunch we then headed up further to Stoke Gabriel, we did a bit of tacking up the river and moored up at Stoke Gabriel where we stopped again for another hot chocolate.

Then we cruised back to Dittisham and returned the boat all in all a good day, though i did end up pretty soggy by the end of it, Thanks Andy!!

Sea Kayaking - Seaton to Branscombe

Information source from South West Sea Kayaking by Mark Rainsley

Seaton to Branscombe and back

Get in: Seaton Beach

Get out: Branscombe Beach

Distance: 5-6 miles ish

We had a few days holiday so borrowed a couple of Perception Essences from the work hire fleet, Andy paddled the 17 and I took the 16 because it’s a little smaller on the cockpit and a better fit for me being a smaller person. We stayed at a campsite near Seaton, got up and had breakfast, then sorted our kit out and headed down to the sea. We parked on the road side near the River Axe and paddled down with the tide, we headed out and round to the right. It was a nice still day, I just had a light weight cag on and a thin Helly top.

Andy paddling form Beer to Branscombe

It’s a lovely section to paddle, we went round past Beer which is a very lively seaside town and round to Branscombe the tide was just high enough to paddle though the arch then as we started to paddle along Branscombe beach, we aimed to paddle up to the far end of the beach, it was a hard slog as we got a head wind.

Andy looking at the rather impressive arch

We eventually got there and came into the beach for a spot of lunch and a bit of a rest. After a bit of lunch we started to cool down so headed back off again, it was much nicer paddling with the wind behind and we zoomed back. The tide was a fair way out by the time we got back and we had to walk the boats over the beach which as it’s a chunky pebble beach was very hard work, we then managed to paddle up the now shallow River Axe and got out again.

On our way back to Branscombe

It was a very enjoyable day and I’d like to do it again, it have would have been better if we were able to do a shuttle and paddle further round instead of having to double back.