In the middle of the night on Friday night I was woken up by the hail storm. It should have passed by the morning, I thought. In the morning the sky was blue, and, out of shadows the puddles weren't frozen. I would have joined hypothermics anonymous, but membership's been frozen.
Fortunately, the day before some boots arrived that I had acquired second hand. These would complete the neoprene shell round my body, and this day I needed it.
I arrived on time, but some were already there, setting up and others getting themselves kitted out or just chatting. It's a nice part of the day, I think, when there is no particular rush, just slowly preparing for the trip. It was good seeing so many of the club turned out for this, as it was due to be a publicity shot. AJ had got the Method Air ready for me. I hadn't planned on using this, as the previous week I had lost my roll in it, and had switched back to a Pryanha 2000. My idea was that I could use a Pryanha today and practice my roll in moving water, something I had spectacularly failed to do at Mile End Mill. Well, I thought, it is too cold to do any rolls, so I might as well use the Method Air.
Then we were ready to get in. First the warm up. We needed this, as the wind was cold, even if the sun was bright. It isn't often that people play rugby in wetsuits. In fact, I should say American football, as we were also helmeted and our BA'a looked like padding. Then to get into the river. I had wondered how we would do this, but that was quickly answered, seal launching. I was the second of the non-instructors in, after James, who went in very smoothly. I'm still nervous of these, but it went well.
Now I could practice again in a river. My confidence levels were a lot higher than the last time I was in the Tame, and after the river Dee, it seemed quite erm...tame. This gave me the chance to try things out that I hadn't done before in moving water, like brace strokes and draw strokes. This got me a little wet, but there was no way I was attempting a roll. We were then told to head upstream to Mark. Off we paddled, but Mark kept on back paddling upstream. We got there, and then it was a race back to the footbridge. Once again, this was just to warm up.
The photographer from the Tamworth Herald then showed up. AJ, on the bank still, spoke to him, and then the photographer was ready to take photo's. From nowhere, AJ had been able to get dressed into his boating gear and was in the water, cartwheeling.
Photographs were taken of us paddling around and then the photographer wanted some group shots, so he told us where he wanted us to be for the photo and we rafted up at that place, completely forgetting the "moving" part of "moving water" by the time we were ready we had drifted down river, and the photographer had to run to catch up. Chris then had the great idea of holding onto he bank. Not normally recommended, but the Tame isn't that fast, so it worked.
More photo's, but by now I was getting tired so I headed upstream to where I could see a small eddy. James followed shortly after and we sat, almost out of sight, resting and chatting, until Mark saw us and told us to stop hiding and join the rest. Downstream we both went, coincidentally keeping at the same speed, so the photographer took some photos of us heading towards him. Despite what people said, we weren't being posers!
That was the end of the photo shoot, and I knew that some of the people there would be taking their BCU one star award. I was lucky, I had it already, so wouldn't need to do the necessary capsize and swim to the shore. I coulod stay warm and dry. This was too good to last, I was given the opportunity to go for my two star award.
Getting wet was now inevitable, and so I thought I would try for my roll. In a boat that I was not confident to roll in moving water, which I had never rolled in before, but it worked! The trouble was, after that, I had to capsize. Over I went. Capsizes don't need to be fast. I am not the fastest swimmer, and can't hold my breath for ages, but I am able to swim a length of Peaks under water. When people start kayaking, they forget that their lung capacity gives them some time under water and think that they have to get out fast. This time, though, I got out as quickly as I could. The less time I was in the water, the better. I grabbed my boat and paddle, lay on my back and kicked to the bank. The river was taking me downstream and it didn't seem like I was making any progress, despite the paddlers round me watching out for me, telling me I was doing well. To find out how well, I turned my head to look. The river Tame doesn't taste too bad, actually, I have found out. I got out, and James, helpful as ever, helped me lift my boat onto the bank.
Out came my trusty flask, and I had a nice hot cup of tea while talking to the spectators and trying desperately to explain that we were doing this for fun, not because we had lost a bet. Mark also told us that if we are planning to go under water it helps if we splash our neck and face with the water first, so that the gasp reflex can be controlled. He also apologised for not mentioning this BEFORE we had to go under water.
Rescues were next. There are two that we had to complete, the deep water rescue and the T rescue. I volunteered to be rescued by the deep water first, and James would rescue me. Capsize - grab the boat, pull it to James. He lifts it onto his boat upside down and I pull down on it to rock it and empty the water out. James then turns it the right way round and holds onto it tightly while I pull myself up over the side and in. It actually takes longer writing that than it did to perform it on the day. James was fast and efficient and I didn't fumble. A perfect rescue. Unfortunately, I didn't rescue James quite so well. It didn't go wrong, just took a lot longer to get him in the boat. Now only the T rescue. I didn't want to go over again, but it would be necessary. Despite what I said earlier about not being a poser, a couple of my friends walked over the bridge at that time, so I was able to demonstrate (or show off depending on ones point of view) a roll. Then upside down and wait under water for the three hours or more that it took for someone to bump into my boat so that I could grap hold and lift myself up. Well, it seemed like three hours to me!
I had to rescue Simon, and it shows my confidence now that I told him to go when I was not quite in position because I knew I could get into position quickly. It went smoothly, and I hope that he didn't feel like I had left him for three hours dangling there.
It was then time to get out. AJ confirmed that we had all passed, which was good news, and we got changed. Then we took the boats back to Peaks and headed off home.
To see the report that was in the Herald, follow this link