Aire Waves: 3 Washburn cherries popped

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Aire Waves

Leeds Canoe Club Blog. We paddle... lots!
Airewaves used to be Leeds Canoe Club's magazine letting people know what the club was upto. Its quite hard work pulling together a publication letting people know what the club is doing and publishing dates in advance is always hard as things tend to change. Step forth the blog.. Push button publishing for the masses. So here is the idea a few people in the club take it in turns to write up trips and talk about things in the club.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
3 Washburn cherries popped

A beautiful February morning I arrive with John
somehow managing to get here before the rest of the
group even though we we’re not quite sure of the
route. The water had already been release and some
paddlers were already on the water, we take a look at
the water, far faster than anything I’d paddled
before, feeling a bit nervous but the worst that’s
going to happen is a swim and I’m getting used to
those at the moment. At least I’m not the only
Washburn virgin in the group today we have Cat, John
and myself.

First run of the day the intention is just to run it
straight and not try to make any eddies. We set off,
my the water is quick, nerves are still showing I go
through the river wide stopper and feel the gabbiness
and paddle through starting to relax a bit.

Just when you think you’re out they pull you back in.

As I round the corner before the main drop I see the
others disappearing over the drop I get across to the
leftish and try to follow their line but clearly I’ve
gone too centrally and end up in the messy white
stuff. I try to paddle hard and almost managed to get
out but as I go for another stroke I feel the boat
going backwards and I’m pulled back in and turned
over. There followed a long chase with James and
others trying to get my boat into an eddy with me
jogging down the bank. Eventually they managed to get
my boat just after the s bends. As I’m pulling my boat
out with the help of Daniel a calls goes out swimmer
and Tanya swims by with a smile on her face, she’d got
boxed in at the drop by a white water racer when every
one had been chasing my boat, and the chase for boat
and paddler is on again. A few others get out at this
point and walk back to the top to prepare for another
run.

This time we’re in smaller groups and I’m told we’ll
be trying to make eddies as we go down, oh dear.
However despite my apprehension this run goes far
better. Taking the drop further to the left this time
I get through no problems. And manage to get a few
eddies without disaster although I probably missed
more than I got. Sat in an eddy I see Cat coming down
about to go for the eddy behind me. She miss judges it
and hits the back of my boat wobbling me but Cat comes
off worst as she goes over against a tree. With little
chance of rolling with her boat stuck against the tree
she swims. Unfortunately for both of us on the third
run the same thing would happen only that time both of
us swam.

Another lesson learned, don't leave your lunch and
money in someone else’s car and then get split into
separate groups. Normally I keep a couple of quid in
the pocket of my cag but as we’d be coming back to the
car park after each run I didn’t bother this time.
Thankfully Simon’s there to bail me out and I tuck
into a nice helping of grilled meat, Bacon and burger
combined mmmm.

Richard and Daniel Sykes had fun being taken down in
the Topos by Eddie and James Gray.

Swimmers of the day we’re Cat, Tanya, Simon and of
course myself.

Washburn virgin stats:

My personal record 3 runs, 2 swims not too bad for a
Washburn virgin.

Cat managed 3 runs with 2 swims as well. Lesson for
Cat don't try and get in an eddy next to me at least
one of us is likely to swim. As can be proven by Cats
3rd run of the day in a separate group from me where
she didn't swim.

John did great at least 2 runs and no swims although a
refusal to try and make any eddy's helped ;)

Thanks to Rescuers and baby sitters who took us down
safely and gave great advice as usual. I often forget
to thank people at the time what with the swimming and
adrenaline flowing.

Richard.

# posted by jh_dempsey @ Tuesday, February 27, 2007

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