CSCC Reports 2012: River Tryweryn  - 16^th - 17^th June 2012

Account 1 - Stephen Street

Martin, Gavin and Stephen went to the Tryweryn at the end of a very wet week in England and Wales.

To avoid the worst of the rain we set off on Saturday morning and set up camp at around midday before getting on the river to paddle the lower river.  We had the Tyn Cornell camping site to ourselves, and there were very few other kayakers on the river.

The river level was pretty high on Saturday, but significantly lower on Sunday.  Bala Mills falls in particular looked quite different on the Saturday, with both the eddy and the usual lines less distinct than at lower levels.

We only took one car so needed a taxi or a lift to do the shuttle.  For future trips it is worth knowing that there is apparently only one taxi in Bala so you cannot guarantee either that you will be able to contact them or that they will be available.  Martin managed to get a lift from some slalom paddlers on Saturday, and booked a taxi on Sunday.  An alternative would have been to take a bike, but we couldn't fit one on Martin's car with three kayaks.

Both runs (Sat and Sun) were successful.  The only capsize was by Martin on Bala Mills on Saturday.  He was briefly stuck in a stopper at the bottom of the falls but sound theory and good skills meant that he was able to extricate himself quickly.

Martin got some practice for his trip to the Alps in a couple of weeks time and Gavin and Stephen got a chance to experience the river with more volume than usual.

All in all, a successful weekend.

Account 2 - Martin

Friday night was a bad night to be camping in north Wales. The rain lashed down and the wind howled. Fortunate, then, that Gavin, Martin and Stephen had decided to set off early on Saturday morning instead.

The morning began with a game of hunt the throwline, as they had all disappeared from the boatstore. We were very bad at this game, and Further Research In This Field Is Necessary. Eventually we drove out and got to Tyn Cornel campsite with tents pitched before 1.

Attentive readers will have noted we only had one car-load of people. And on that day one of Bala's two taxi firms wasn't answering the phone, and the other was supporting a stag do in another town. Thankfully the 20th car to go past Martin's outstretched thumb was a kindly slalom paddler, and we were on the river in reasonable time.

The Lower Tryweryn was quite high with all the rain. This meant that the rocks were easier to miss, so long as everyone kept their edging up, which they did. Stephen proved that excessive sea-kayaking had not dulled his edge, and Gavin showed masterly confidence even though it was only his second trip here. Bala Mill Falls was a bit bigger than usual. Stephen sailed merrily through, while Martin discovered just how grippy the stopper at the bottom can be when sat sideways.

We all slept very soundly. The next day one of the taxi companies did pick up, in both senses, and the shuttle was much easier. There being little else to do, we were on the river by 10:30. This time our technique was better tested with rocks to dodge. But we also managed to squeeze round the very big tree that blocked most of the river, doing proper signalling and eddy-hopping and everything. Somehow Martin's earlier trashing hadn't inspired Gavin to run Bala Mill Falls, but this time all went well. Stephen even had a little sit at the top to inspect in more detail. And with that we were at the bottom and headed to the Siop Pei for a celebratory feast.

Poem - Chris

A paddling wallah
Went to Bala
In a shower of rain
He got caught in a stopper
Which was a whopper
But still went down again.