This article is dedicated to the memory of James helmet
No greater love hath a helmet than this, that it give up its shell for its owner.
There was something not quite right about this trip, something that no amount of reading about the subject had warned me about. It was warm. Well, it was hardly summer, but at no point did I get cold in the slightest.
James and AJ met me at my house, we loaded the car and we were off, only to meet John and Wade at Lichfield. The timing was perfect, without planning they were directly ahead of us. We followed them some of the way, until AJ overtook, which helped later, as when we got into Llangollen, we received a message from Caz saying that there was a speed trap at a spot where they often waited. AJ could then slow down and keep his dad going slow too. George and Cath were waiting for us too. Cath, as she was not going on the water, kindly took control of the camera and video. George, the youngest, spent the day showing us, by example, how things should be done.
Looking at the river at Mile End Mill, it didn't look as bad as last time. Despite all the rain we had in Tamworth, it had missed North Wales and the levels were slightly lower than last time. After breakfast, and some revision from AJ, we got changed and we got ON the water. We didn't get IN the water, did we Fran!
We went straight out and right up to the small wave, which we had taken ages to dare to get up to before. This time we were on it quickly and using it for warm up. Then I realised a mistake I had made previously. I had told AJ that I would like to practice my rolls here. Before I could try James went over and was able to roll back up. His first roll "in anger". I could see it was going to be hard keeping up with him. Wade hadn't been paddling for a couple of months, but he looked as smooth as ever. Once again he demonstrated Zen and the Art of Kayaking. Extremely little effort but the boat completely under control. One sight to behold is where he does a draw stroke across the pool at Peaks, perfectly, with his eyes closed!
Most people tie their nose clips onto their helmets, I just keep mine round my neck. Well I did. I didn't put it on, and when I messed up my first attempt at a roll, and AJ 'T' rescued me, I realised my clip had gone. Every time I went over, after that, water went up my nose too.
Time for another attempt. My main fear last time was hitting my head on the bottom, so AJ and I used our paddles to check for depth. AJ, of course, put his in at a narrow angle to show that it was deep. Thanks! Then I tried and it worked. Remembering to keep my head under water until last is the hardest thing for me to do, but the most important thing to remember. With some force of will, I remembered and that is why this roll worked. One more practice and I thought that would be it. No need to roll anymore, I could dry out and stay dry for a while.
The coaches had a different idea. It wasn't enough that we could surf a little on the small wave and we could also roll. Now we had to combine the two! We had to head up to the wave and then roll towards it. I asked AJ which way would be the best, from the left or right, and he said either. This was it. Over I went, and realised I had gone the wrong way. My paddle was on the wrong side of the boat. Quickly, I switched sides and rolled. It had worked! I had rolled when I wasn't prepared. Still not as good as James, though, as it wasn't truly in anger.
I could almost hear the coaches thoughts - Rolling into the wave was obviously too easy for them, as they are able to do it. Let's find something that they won't be able to do. That's it - let's get them spinning. Back up to the wave, let the water push you round, look back over the shoulder you are turning towards and paddle with forwards and back strokes. Could I get it to work? No. The boat would go half a turn and then stop. Here I am, two feet from a pourover and the boat does not move. This isn't a stopper; it's just an eddy that I hit every time. What is worse, river left of the stopper, there is a patch of aerated water, so that every time your right paddle goes in (we're pointing upstream, remember) nothing happens. The blade just sweeps through it with no power at all. Finally I go over. It had to happen at some point, but the amazing thing is, I rolled! Now I know that all my months of work on my roll have paid off. I didn't capsize. My legs by now are getting cramped, I could do with a cup of tea, but without getting out of the boat I can't stretch or get a cuppa.
Eddy hopping was next. Downstream ferry gliding between eddies on either side of the river. This was good, until we had to go back upstream. There were two rocks on either side, forcing the jet into a smaller gap. The idea was from river right, ferry glide with power across to the eddy that was just upstream of the river left rock. The coaches made it look easy, and then James did it, but I just couldn't. Paddling hard, after getting three quarters across I would see that there wasn't enough room, and have to drop back. At least I could do that safely. Turning with the current held no fear over me anymore. Try as much as I could, there was no way that I was going to get the boat up that jet.
Now I was tired. I hadn't come out of my boat at all. I was losing feeling in my left leg, as it was becoming slowly numb. I paddled to the side, got out and took out my trusty flask. The river looks different while standing on the side with a warm cup of tea in your hand.
Back in, and it was rock-hugging time. I had practiced this before, so I didn't have any worries. Paddle down to the rock and really hug it. Grab it with both hands and lean on it. Literally give it a hug. The boat then edges downstream and the water flows under it. Edging the wrong way and the boat will be pushed over by the force of the water. Not nice. Then AJ thought we could stack boats against the rock. We tried, and even John slipped out of position (no, you weren't pushed - we have video evidence!). Then it was my turn. I can rock hug, how different can this be? Very different. I held onto Georges boat, but slipped and...went over. Water swirling everywhere, very close to a rock, my roll was nowhere to be seen. I capsized out and reached another rock. This is where I became an expert at rock hugging. This was sanctuary. The coaches, after seeing I was stable and okay, went after my boat. Fast! Then Caz came back to tell me it was time to move away from my rock. It's alright. You can leave me here. I'll be okay. You can collect me tonight, before you leave. No, that won't work. I would have to swim out. Leave the safety of solidity and enter the river. After all that, getting across was easy. Cath took my paddle and picture evidence of my mess up, while John held onto my boat. That was impressive as it had half the river Dee in it. Five minutes after I had voluntarily left my boat for a stretch and cuppa and I was pushed out.
Eddy hopping upstream again. Caz led the way, and showed me a great line to get into an eddy. Ferry glide across and I was prepared for the jet, which I hadn’t beaten yet. Phew! I managed to get out below my Rubicon. Time for lunch. I must take this opportunity to recommend the lemon cake at the café!
After lunch, it was time for river running. This is what I really enjoy. We went up to the top, where the seal launch is and because the river was a little lower than last time, noticed a rock. Was I bothered? Did I look bothered? Well I should have been. Forgetting the advice to lean back, the stern of my boat hit it and I was over. Once again, my roll didn’t work and I was about to pop my deck, when I remembered this place was still water. There were four people round me, so I was T-rescued by AJ again.
Last time we stopped at an eddy before eddy before each rapid and AJ told us how to go down it. The soon we were down, we hit an eddy and waited until we moved to the next one. Now, a quick mention about the best line and off we went. After each rapid, we broke into an eddy, but we didn’t stay in it. We ferry glided, went up to the wave, Paddled through the jet. Our confidence and experience, limited though it was, gave us much more freedom to try things out.
The first wave went well, then after going down a small rapid, we ferry glided over to an island in the middle of a long stretch of rapid. AJ then put rocks on people’s boats and got them to ferry glide to the bank and back without losing it. All he did with my boat was shower it with mud and pebbles.
Down to the Tombstones rapids. It is called this because there used to be a lot of rocks in this part. We were told river left, close to the wall then slightly right. I went second and it felt good. A bit scary by the wall, wondering if you are going to get far enough across to miss the rocks but then down you go. Fantastic. James didn’t go down so well. He clipped a rock and went over. His roll worked and he was up, but he had hit his helmet against a rock. How he managed to roll after that, I don’t know. The helmet had cracked, which is what it is supposed to do, but is now useless for river running. It did a great job of protecting James head, though and reinforces the importance of wearing a helmet while doing this sport.
Now down to the Middle Hole. I went down it. Through the rapid beautifully, following a twisty line. No problem at the stopper, straight through. Hit the eddy and I go over and my roll fails again. There were a few times when my roll worked, honestly, but I only remember when they didn’t. I got to the side just in time to see Wade swim. This was the first time I had ever seen an instructor swim, and it is comforting to know that, once in a while, even Jedi masters have an off day.
Back on and, avoiding the two or three rafts, we tried surfing the hole. Very halfhearted attempt on my behalf. Caz and AJ tried to encourage us, but the water looked too big. George played for a while here, but after edging the boat the wrong way a couple of times; he hurt his leg a bit. As it was crowded with rafts and some other boats, we headed down to the bottom hole.
Caz took James and I ferry gliding across the river, eddy hopping behind rocks to inspect the wave. Good idea, I thought until I realised that we were now on river right and needed to get to river left to go down the rapid. All the practice paid off. Even with the sound of the wave behind me, I was able to follow James down clearly and knew that now we could rest in the eddy and watch the experienced people surf and play in the hole.
No such luck! Firstly, the eddy was crowded so we would be jostled a lot. Secondly, Caz and AJ had got it into their heads that James and I would like to have a go. They’re joking I thought. I told them I wasn’t going to go anywhere near that place. The water looked huge. The pourover looked smooth but just behind it was a load of messy water. Maybe later, I said, as the people that know their stuff were going in and some were rolling out of it. James and I were slowly building our nerve. “Are you going to do it?” “Well, are you going to do it?” “Well, are you going to do it” was a much-repeated conversation. The problem was, it didn’t seem to matter how much back paddling I did, I always ended up at the front of the eddy queue with either Caz or AJ at my side saying “Are you going to do it? All you need to do is paddle forwards and the water will do the rest.” Great. I go forwards and let the river play with me, rather than the other way round!
Finally we decided to try it. First, I paddled to the front of the eddy and paddled across to the wave. No, I was told. Paddle directly into it. Caz showed me a boat hanging up outside the Eddylines shop and told me to go near the eddy line and paddle in the direction of the boat. This wasn’t hard physically. The current wasn’t strong, but knowing that you are deliberately pushing your boat towards this heaving water meant that the will to be there evaporated. I had been told before “you have to really want to be there.” This would take some work. It was all about commitment. With the paddling so easy here, it was mental commitment that was required. I was told to lean forwards, paddle hard and let the water do the rest. Then I hit it, was pushed to the side but wasn't far enough forwards to catch the wave. I was pushed onto the messy water, but that felt powerful enough. It rocked the boat a bit, but I felt stable. I now knew it was safe. I tried again and got a bit closer. All this time James was going through the same stages. The other people in the eddy queue, not connected with our club, were very helpful, offering advice and encouragement. I had heard how the paddling community were supportive, now I felt their friendship.
Trying not to think about what I was attempting, I went again, and got the wave for a moment. The feeling was great. I was both completely in control, but the water was taking the boat where it wanted and I couldn't have stopped it. I tried again, and stayed a little while longer. On one of James attempts he went over, and I saw him attempt his roll in the middle of the messy water. "It won't work!" I wanted to shout to him, but he popped up like a professional. Each time I tried, I got further and further, paddling on the left side to hold the boat in position as it shot along the wave. Then the inevitable happened. It was my turn to go over. Upside down in the messy water, I had the presence of mind to wait for a few seconds. The river took me down stream, and into calmer water, where I rolled back up. I was so proud, and then AJ and Caz said it was about time to finish.
Caz said she would take me to the place we started, by the small wave, so that I could compare how I did now with earlier. We carried the boats above the bottom wave and ferry glided above it. This didn't bother me now. Then up through the jet and eddy hopping until we reached the place that I had failed before. Now I understood commitment, so I used the same attitude that I had gone into the bottom hole with, got three quarters of the way across and failed. Dropping back into the eddy, I tried again and after paddling really hard, with the right technique and attitude, I made it. This was even more pleasing to me as I was so tired. It shows that kayaking is much more than strength.
We went up to the wave and I played in it for a short while, but still couldn't get the boat to spin. It felt so easy, now, after all that I had experienced in the day. Caz asked if I wanted to get off now "No!" I answered, but knew that it was time, so paddled to the side and got out.
Wade and John had alaready left, bu the rest of us spent a while just chatting about the day. It had been my best day on the water so far, and would like to take this chance to thank the coaches AJ, Caz and Wade for their excellent tuition, and the others that were there, Cath, George, James and John for helping make such an enjoyable day.
Now I am just working out when I can go again!
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