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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.
Monday, March 26, 2007Kings of Linton
Well possibly a slight exaggeration but as I sit here listening to Molly's Chambers it seems an appropriate title.
The day starts as a gentle beginners trip on the Wharf. Only one actual beginner Andy, yes another Andy in the club we're going to have to start limiting the numbers soon or just calling everyone Andy. Water levels are ok, A little scrapey in sections but not too bad. Time to set off and after telling Andy not to follow my line down anything just to be safe off we all go.
Coniston falls and the first test for our beginner and me as I needed T rescuing last time. Eddie goes down the centre to start to show how it should be done and Steve takes the Horseshoe to show off. After the Canadian is lowered down it's my turn. Lean forward and keep paddling all the way this time no problems. John follows with our beginner next, first drop complete and no swimmers. Andy is sat at the side in his boat with a big grin on his face.
Approaching Ghaistrill Strid and the decision is made to run the first part without inspection so as not to put off Andy. Steve and Eddie go ahead and get ready for any swimmers but everyone does fine. An inspection of the next section and today Simon's not put off and nobody takes the chicken shoot. The Canadian goes first piloted by Don and Rob. A bad start as they run aground almost straight away and Eddie has to push them free. It looks a bit bumpy down the right in such a big boat. As they go over the rock on the right and drop down Don at the back is sent up as if on a see saw and the boat is pinned. They both abandon boat and drag/swim it away the first swimmers I've seen from a Canadian.
Canadian clear, Russian Paul heads down the right channel I attempt to follow Steve and Eddie's line. Start right and cut left just after the tree branch and go down the centre. Clearly I'm in two minds as I approach the turning point and don't get a positive turn early enough. A moment's panic as it looks like I might end up going down the right hand side before my frantic back paddling gets me into safety and all is well as I turn round and head down the last bit. Two rapids run and no kayak swims only Canadian.
More paddling and scraping and we're approaching the end the weir as usual proves no problem we head on down to the get out and to have a look at Linton Falls. The beginner has made his first river trip with no swims, nice one Andy.
Eddie and I stand by the bridge looking at the falls. The last few trips to the Wharfe the waters looked high enough for it to be run able but neither of us has had the confidence to give it a go.
"Looks run able".
"Yes it does!".
"I'm tempted to give it a go. What about you?"
"Yes I might do it if you're doing it."
The conversation goes on for a few minutes back and forth. Finally Eddie cracks, "Right I'm doing it." and we both head back to our boats while the two Steves and Paul grab their throw lines. Of course we're not mad we're talking about the chicken shoot drop on the left not the main channel on the right.
The approach is a bit scrapey giving us both chance to get a little nervous and regret our decision. By the time we're in position what had been a group of 3 or 4 paddlers watching has now built up to a bridge full of on looking spectators this could be embarrassing if it all goes wrong. Thankfully no one from the club has a camera with them.
Eddie goes first and disappears around the corner and out of my sight. A few moments later I get a signal from the bridge to wait as Eddies swimming. Apparently he got down the drop fine but went right at the bottom instead of left. Got through all the boily stuff ok then swam just as he was about to raise his paddles in celebration, of course at this point I'm not to know that. I get the signal to go and I run through a boof in my head. As I approach the drop I mess up the boof and pencil in but keep paddling, (I think I'm finally getting it but keep shouting at me anyway) and I head left down the last bit then right to pick up Eddies paddles. A big smile on my face, my first thought now damn no one had a camera.
After some level of success on the Washburn followed Abbey Rapids, Linton Lock the other week and now Linton falls my confidence is up. I may be in danger of a little too much bravado so if anyone sees me thinking of attempting anything beyond my limited ability just wag your finger at me and say "No don't be silly Richard".
© Leeds Canoe Club 2010