Upper Dart - Feb 09

With heavy rain forecast for the southwest Martin, Nige S, Barny, and Rheanna form CSCC aswell as Mike and Tim from WYCC headed down for a run of the Tavy (after picking up a boat Tim had bought from Exeter services which looked like a kayakers convention), Unfortunately it had no water in it, no really none. So we headed in search of some water, luckily Martin is a human guidebook and soon found us a river we could float in.

The decision to do the Upper Dart was met with mixed reactions, Nigel looked plain scared (this didn't change much until the car park) Rheanna and Barny where excited whilst everyone else was somewhere in between. Martin reassured Nigel slightly by telling him that it was low so he would be fine whilst everyone else wound him up more.

The rapids started of fairly easily but soon got steeper and more powerful until the start of the 'Mad mile' was reached, Martin announcing this did nothing for Nigel's confidence! We paired up Nigel and Martin H, Rheanna and Mike whilst Barny and Tim led. The 'Mad mile' gave some excellent technical grade 4 with the rapids merging into one. Nigel began to relax and enjoy himself. This was short lived as a roar indicated we were aproaching Euthanasia falls. Everyone ran it down the right hand side of the island without too much carnage. Barny decided he wanted to run the actual falls. Whilst inspecting it appeared there was lots of water going over the falls, when Martin was asked about this he said 'yeh its a bit higher than I said but don't tell Nige' .Barny walked up and ran it as everyone watched, no problems.

The river continued in the same way, steep and technical, until 'Surprise Surprise' this was a steep boulder garden with a nasty looking slot or sneak round the side. Everyone went for the sneak root and ended up at the bottom fine, Nigel didn't fancy it and decided to walk round which just left Martin. He took the same line but hit a rock below the surface which capsized him and trapped his paddles leaving him to be dragged paddleless down a boulder garden upside down. Needless to say he swam and looked very shaken at the bottom. The next thing was to retrieve his paddle, Mike clambered action man style to the paddle and we were soon on our way.

The River now eased off and we were soon in Newbridge to Nigels relief. See you next time.

Barny