Trip Reports

Been on a trip?

Please send me your report for the website

2011

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What a brilliant trip with 36 on the water. The Don was up slightly and we had 3 swimmers in the gorge section. Ian took a swim after rescuing someone from a rock. All in all an enjoyable trip with the money collected going to the RNLI, along with Friday’s baths takings. Anyone who would like to add to this report please e-mail me. - Ian

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New Years Day Paddle 2012

31 members + 4 spectators congregated for the first River Don trip of the year, for some it was their first river trip. Less experienced paddlers began at the bottom of the gorge, more able paddlers went from above top. We paddled to our Oughtibridge base. Who capsized? 2 out of the 10 children, 2 adults plus an experienced paddler who performed an impressive roll after being upside down in the gorge section. A great start to the year.- Ian

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On 11th December a small but determined group of mad people with kayaks escaped from the normal Sunday session to Stocksbridge to paddle all the way back down again. At the first big drop a couple of paddlers wedged ourselves nose-down in the rocks, but the rest of the group came valiantly to our aid by taking photos and laughing. As we made our way to Wharncliffe Side through the gorge section the number of swimmers increased rapidly from zero to four, two of whom fell in through being indecisive in the face of a perfectly obvious rock. After a refreshing dip we found some fallen trees and, determined not to get out and slither over the mud again, tested our teamwork skills by hauling each other in boats over the trunk. A long, tiring scrape past the tissue factory later (and the world's angriest dog standing on the bank) plus one step weir which everybody mostly managed to go over pointy-end first, we arrived back at home, where I immediately got pinned on a very familiar rock and had to be rescued with a red face matching my helmet. It was an enjoyable morning but I have never been so pleased to see a hula hoop on a string in my life. Eventual statistics: drysuits tested, 3; boats holed, 1; other outfits tested and found completely unsuitable for swimming in December, 2; paddles lost, 0; embarrassing pictures of me looking a bit scared, many. – Jo

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Thankyou Chris and Julie for organising the burrs trip last weekend (26-11-11). It was an enjoyable experience and was a new river for me. Everyone involved managed to do the weir with ease and i wont include what Jo said as she was about to go down!! It was a good river to paddle and was suitable for us all including the steep weir which was great fun. Again thankyou all for a good trip.- Jack

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Thanks for a good trip on Monday 24th October. It was a new stretch of  river for me with two weirs that I had not shot before. The short  stretch of canal I had paddled about 30+  years ago !! but had no  recollections of it. The portages were interesting with co-operation  between the paddlers good to see. It was also good to see the number  of paddlers and the age range and abilities of the paddlers. The trees  and vegetation on the banks were very pleasing and certainly obscured  the industrialised land on either side. Kingfishers, grey wagtails,  swans, mallard and a kestrel were a bonus. Thanks again Ian. It was a very worthwhile paddle. Hugh.

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