Trip Report Symonds Yat
On the fine Saturday morning of 4th June a group of 19 intrepid kayakers gathered at Symonds Yat East onto the smooth-running waters of the River Wye. Some first-timers had been perhaps more nervous than excited at the prospect of encountering white-water, but Martin Stretton’s clear prep talk and instructions allayed most fears. The kayakers separated into two groups; the experienced; and the beginners & intermediate.
The adventurous/crazy launched via an impressively long n lumpy (consequently rather painful) seal launch, whist the sane slipped gently onto the smooth-running waters by way of more sedate entries i.e. a gentle grass slope or the official access steps. Actually the steps were hellishly deep and defo not EU Reg compliant.
Once on the river we all headed upstream to ‘Splat Rock’ as a little warm-up session … and there the real crazies cooled down by seal launching & jumping off the rock to great splashes & whoops of laughter & cheers. Ro came a close second but Alice gave the best show by closely impersonating a diving kingfisher! She could well have caught a stickleback.
We all headed down river and after a splendid display of synchronised rolling the experienced group went ahead, as the beginners were gathered a good way before the white-water was in view. The river-horizon hiding any fall in level.
There Martin reminded everyone of the plan and how we were in safe hands of our coaches Neil Smith, Rob Harrison, Mick Somerville and Martin. It all seemed reassuringly doable and excitement built. However as we set off that excitement was moderated somewhat by growing trepidation, as in the background the drum of the water grew louder (more like Niagara Falls!) and the flashes of colours were suddenly identified as the tips of lots of whirling paddles!
Against our expectations we all got through and broke out into the lowest eddy, maxing out on adrenalin and sheer relief! From there we learned how to ferry-glide and practiced back and forth and up the levels. It was somewhat crowded and intermittently everyone huddled in the eddies as monster canoes hurtled through the falls at break-neck speed; the occasional metal canoe crashing into a rock creating a deafening boom!
With growing confidence we next learned how to break in and break out. A number of us swam (break under?) but were rapidly assisted by our coaches and luckily nobody was hurt. The gurning and swearing testified it was really hard work, but also great fun!
We returned to the campsite for lunch by way of a gruelling portage over slippery & rocky ground (lesson: wear substantially-soled shoes). After lunch Sarah Powell and Abigail Gurr decided to take a well-deserved break and join Hayley Clarke, Liz Owens and the children watch from the riverbank and relax in the warm sunshine.
Back on the water we headed straight to the first feature and attempted to break in on the top level, then work our way down. With varied degree of success we all managed it and had great fun playing about and chatting to fellow kayakers, who travelled from all over. Occasionally Ro and Fraser would shoot in and perform some amazing manoeuvres with ease then shoot back upstream like it was a doddle. It was like watching dolphins.
Not everything went well: there was a tumbleweed moment when some stranger carelessly pulled their boat over Neil’s brand new kayak; there were a few bruises sustained from bouncing onto unseen rocks; and one of Sara’s shoes decided to go AWOL leaving her to cautiously tiptoe about; but worst was that Jonny Bennett, the hero of an earlier rescue, had to retire having dislocated his shoulder. Ouch! (Hope you get better soon.)
Finally, as the crowd dwindled, we got the throw-lines out to practice rescues. This was immense fun both for the throwers and the swimmers! It was a fabulously fun finale to a fabulously fun day.
Many thanks to all for the camaraderie and especial thanks to Martin and our coaches.
Cheryl Payne-Dwyer
Pictures can be found here: Symonds Yat