This section is mainly flat with some grade 2 rapids and many weirs. It is about 6 or 3.5 miles long and will be about 3 hours of paddling, plus sometime picking swimmers out of the water, emptying boats and may be eating a bit of food.
The minimum standard to join in is membership, passed the Intro to Paddlesport, completed the Winsley trip and ideally had some moving water practice at Saltford Weir or Symonds Yat.
As always we need experienced paddlers to make this trip safe, enjoyable and happen.
Please register if you intend to come, it has car details and if driving how many boats you can carry, plus emergency contact details that make it a little easier for the organisers.
The club house will be open by 07:45 so that we can leave by 08:30- we need the early start for safety; it takes a while to load boats plus it's about a 1:45 drive, we'll need to do a long shuttle run, we need to factor in extra time for any swimmers and ensure we have sufficient time to be off the water well before it gets dark. So a full but probably fun day.
What to bring
Warm paddling clothes, there may be plenty of opportunities to capsize and you really don't want to be cold with 5.9 miles still to paddle.
Shoes mainly to paddle in, but there may also be a little walking.
Boat - one that will be comfortable for several hours but suitable for white water - check that the air-bags are fully inflated
Paddle (check it's right/left handed before you leave), helmet and buoyancy aid
Spraydeck - make sure it fits and won't just pop off too easily.
A hot drink - an unbreakable flask (attached) in the back of your boat is good
A cold drink - plenty of exercise paddling like energizer bunnies
Food - nice energy food (flapjacks/mars bars/banana etc. are ok)
A towel - one big enough to change in public places!
A waterproof jacket/warm clothes to get changed into and stand around discussing why one of the experienced paddlers decided to capsize.
Transport
We share the cost of the fuel (200 miles so £30-£45 per car) and depending on ingress/egress car parking.
Jon Brown