Any Paddling groups paddling from 28th Oct - 9th Nov

[walkonwater]

Hi I am Chris

I live just inside of Cornwall so my usual rivers are the Dart, Tavy, Plym, Tamar and Lynher. The Dart only being about 25 miles away. I paddle grade 3 to -4. I spend about 6 weeks a year in the Lakes and would like to join in with some local kayakers if they do not mind me joining in. The only local river I have paddled is the Greta a couple of times. I am next in the Lakes on Sunday 28th October & due to leave on Friday 9th November. Fortunately I have more holidays than friends I kayak with (unfortunate for them) so I go away with myself at times walking, cycling, kayaking etc but do not wish to paddle rivers alone.

I roll with no problem so swimming is out (unless I run out of breath some day) I appreciate the river levels will dictate paddles but are is there anyone or group of people who would mind me joining in for a paddle?

I paddle either a Liquid Logic Big Wheel or Liquid Logic Jefe

Regards

Chris

[ned]

Hi, im sure someone will take you up on that. As you say its all rain dependent so try nearer the time?
feel free to p.m me. I've not paddled much down there - how does it compare?

[Jon]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the forum!

If there is any water about then I'm going to be doing some paddling... I'm itching to get out as it's been far to dry for too long. :p:p If I get out you certainly can come along. I'll post on here or PM you.

It's really the aim of the forum to help mix up the many discrete groups of paddlers so we all gain a better knowledge of our sport and fellow sportsmen / sportswomen.

There's also the Rainchasers Shap film night during your stay - a good opportunity to meet local paddlers if you like?

[walkonwater]

Hi Jon, Ned

Thank you for the welcome. I would like to join you at the Rainchasers Shap film night and I will make it. It will be nice to join like minded people who paddle the local rivers, as I said I go to the Lakes for about 6 weeks a year.

I will keep in touch and hope for the rain when I come up.

I have been paddling the River Dart tonight although at the lowest I would like to paddle it. We had about 46mm of rain yesterday but the rivers were so low it has only just brought the levels up slightly.

Within a 25 mile radius there are 5 good rivers with most of the rivers having various grades from 2 - 5 with the occassional 6 at high levels. The most well known is the River Dart especially "The Dart Loop" a classic grade 3 very similar to the Greta when the Greta is at high levels. Most of the rivers are like the Lakes rivers, rise and fall quickly due to the granite on Dartmoor.

Maybe in the future bring a group down and join us, I paddled the Greta this year a few times with friends when we went away for a long weekend.

What are the main rivers you normally paddle? presumably The Leven, Kent, Greta, Lune etc.

Regards

Chris

[robbeale]

Pm when the rains come! I usually go out 2 - 3 time a week on rivers ranging from the greta to the Leven to Skelwith so give us a shout!

[Jon]

Regular paddles are the Leven, Kent, Duddon, Greta...

But mostly the Leven as it holds it's water longest and it always rains at the beginning of the week when I can't get my boat out till Saturday when all thats left with water is the Leven. :o

I really want to get some becks bagged this season!

[walkonwater]

Hi

I will be in touch, thank you again for offering to paddle. I will be available all of the two weeks at any time of the day. I have always wanted to paddle Skelwith Force (if I survive) I can reliably roll anyway should I end up the wrong way up! . I have heard so much about the Kent and Leven and access, what is it actually like? What is the grading of the Leven?

Regards

Chris

[ned]

Officially there is no access on either the kent or the leven. In practice it seems tolerated if you do the basics of keeping people sweet.
The leven is a stedy 2/3 but then has one section though the village of backbarrow where it drops though 'the bridge' which is fine in low/med levels but probably worth a 4. it gets really noisy when the levels get a high and in flood is a portage. The weir below that is ugly, but does go on a very fine line down the right. Its pretty easy when youve sussed the line but is not one you want to get wrong and is often portaged. The smaller weir below that also has a sticky hole which requires a boof so is arguably a 4. Th elowe section returns to nice 3. The nice thing about the river is the reliable water that is deep enough to actually get your paddle in to it in medium levels and up. i reckon this happens around about 50% of weekends through th winter. there are some pics in the rainchasers media gallery.
Skelwith eh? Is all good fun unless its really high or low when its ugly.
See you at shap if not on the river.