The Exe (Saturday 6th October) white water trip is a nice easy paddle with a few rapids to liven it up. It will be on the Exe and providing the water levels are suitable it will be from Bolham Weir to Bickleigh, we can shorten to Tiverton if necessary.
This section is mainly flat with some grade 2 rapids and many weirs. It is about 6 miles long and will be about 3 hours of paddling. The minimum standard is passed the Intro to Paddlesport and completed the 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.
Meet at the club by 08.00 - 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 be 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
Normally we share the cost of the fuel (200 miles) and depending on ingress/egress car parking.
Jon Brown