D4DR Induction Weekend in North Wales

I took up paddle sport in spring 2005 with Port of Plymouth Canoeing Association looking for a leisure activity which would get me outdoors, meeting people and getting fit. It has given me all of this and so much more, and now, nearly three years later I am embarking on what I hope will be the adventure of a lifetime. With trepidation I set off from Plymouth with the wrong boat, second hand paddle, loads of enthusiasm, peer support that I was up to the challenge and a brand spanking new white water B.A.

After introductions on Saturday morning, I felt apprehensive and possibly that I was punching above my weight. The credentials of my fellow ‘improvers’ made my handful of trips down the Lower Dart a bit pitiful. I still felt ready though, after all I had thoroughly researched the Tryweryn on Youtube and knew every rock and ripple. When Leo told us we weren’t going down the Tryweryn because the dam wasn’t releasing I fell at fate’s mercy and decided that I would confront the unknown with my usual mantra ‘What will be will be’.

Eyes wide and heart pounding we went to the River Dee and did a bit of ‘blind’ ferry gliding where I learned to mind read [don’t ask]. Further down river, despite feeling like I was paddling a lead plimsoll, I got even more in touch with my sensitive side and worked on how to ‘feeeeel’ the ferry glide, “I’m loving it now!”. Confidence mounting, fate decided it was time for my first swim of the day. Leo was so pleased with my swimming technique and posture that fate decided I should give him a second showing about ten minutes later!

After demonstrating to Leo that I really could roll the lead plimsoll, I decided that enough was enough and hung up my ‘armbands’ for the rest of the weekend. Sunday brought the challenge of the Serpents Tail and for me the chance to experience a grade of water that I had not been on before. I followed Leo with his words of “Keep right and one boat length behind” echoing with every stroke. The guidance was designed to avoid me leaving a sticky mess on the rather spectacular cliff that appeared on river right just before the end. This created what I can only describe as a log flume to the left of it. Paddling from right to left during this stretch was going to be essential if I was going to avoid a walloping at the mouth of the flume.

After a successful first run, Leo stepped aside to watch us. Unescorted I felt a little apprehensive but was quietly confident that I could conquer this. I was probably more focused on keeping right than I needed to be and at the mouth of the flume nicked the cliff edge and found myself upside down. Resisting the urge to bail out, I waited until the boat was completely over before executing the roll that had escaped me twice on Saturday. After a quick de-brief of the weekend, we packed our cars and left for home.

I came away from the weekend needing a hug but wanting more. The uncertainty and anxiety I felt at the beginning of the weekend was gone and I feel excited and am looking forward to the eight weeks in Slovenia that lie ahead.

Martin Mills from Plymouth, UK