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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, June 27, 2006Steve Donegan is "The Washburn Virgin"
Washburn Virgin - Steve Donegan...
My first run on the Washburn river was amazing...
Starting early as Leeds were running the day - I arrived in good spirits to help erect the marquee and generally help out, by the time the water was released we had everything ready for the day and the fear was rising within!
Looking around, everyone was starting to get changed and make themselves ready, a quick trip to the loo, then time to get my wetsuit on. Fully protected from top to toe, skull cap too, I had a feeling I might have a swim!
Just waiting to see who would escort me down, talking with the guys, I had to remember to eddy out and lean downstream, except when eddying, and don't forget to keep in the middle of the river and keep line of sight and...
I felt the fear rising within, and yet another trip to the loo soon followed...
El presidente [Jo], was trying to reassure me, "you'll be ok," "mmm," I thought to myself, [I'm a good swimmer!] Then Jo really put my mind at ease by telling me that Dave, Nick and Paul would be coming down with me. All solid paddlers, and I was more than happy to trust my life to them, just maybe need to go to the loo before we start...
So having familiarised myself with the internal waterworks, familiarisation with the external waterworks had to begin. All the chaps were on the water so just some final advice to forget... Straddling the boat I lowered my body into the small space that for the next ten minutes would be my little capsule...
Finally on the water, more advice from the boys, and a growing feeling of needing the loo, AGAIN!
Right, given the finger from the chaps, I took a deep breath and I was off. A little faster than the Aire and double the danger of Tees, I gritted my teeth and prepared for the drops to come. Round a few rocks so far so good, then the first big drop, going under the bridge, I remembered to smile - this is fun! Over the drop and a huge cheer from all of Leeds Club - most encouraging!
Not long after came my first swim, eddying out is an excellent idea - but watch out for the treeeeeeeeeeeee.........
Back in and off again - more and more advice - I do know it but making it happen through the adrenaline!
Another swim over an eddy line, then to surprise everyone I managed to avoid another swim by doing an excellent roll - well they tell me it was good but I wasn't looking!
Holding onto another tree made me swim for the third time - but all in all not too bad for a virgin run, making it down to the bottom a rush of feelings over took me and I had to shout who-hooooooo though the bottom bridge - thanks all round for the supper support and kind encouragement from Dave, Nick and Paul, also not to forget Mark who walked all the way with us and held a throw line - just in case!
My first run completed I couldn't stop smiling - what a rush!
Second run, well need I say that another mammoth swim was involved - cuts and bruises all over and a sense of immense well-being...
I cant express how great it was to share this experience with the whole club - seeing everyone cheering me on and having the guys right there to back me up was incredible! All in all an excellent day and an experience I won't be forgetting in a hurry..! More hard work to do now - and of course - I should remember which way to lean!
posted on behalf of Steve Donegan
Contact details
Andy Smith's Email address has now changed to extremepaddler@ntlworld.com
Sunday, June 04, 2006Liffey Descent > Competition Time!
Liffey Descent > Home
I was just looking at the Liffey Web site and noticed the picture they are using on the site for this year. So on this picture are a number of Leeds Canoe Club paddlers. There will be a prize* to the first person that emails me with names and locations on the picture of the paddlers.
Here is a link to the picture just incase they move it off the main site..
*Prize might not be worth anything, could be a pint of Guiness at the end of the race, and its just for fun anyway...
