Yep that time of year has come when I run out of excuses and jump back into a kayak for a run down the mighty Tryweryn! Taking advantage of the Pyranha Fest and stealing a Burn from an old Team paddler Jamie Burbeck it wasn't as harsh as it could have been. In fact the river was pretty much the same as it always was. I may have been a little shakey, but I didn't expect to be hitting every micro eddy after 12 months out of a boat.
Weirdly the sun was shining ( the sun never shines in Bala ), and it does make me think about alpine trips and classic Ogwen sessions. But then he muscles in my back remind me why I used to end up sleeping on the floor ( as it was the only place comfortable after a day in a boat). 10 years of paddling will probably keep a Physio in business when I get older!
I always joke that not much has changed since I left the industry. In fact I was paddling a Burn which was the last kayak I worked on ( I still claim ownership of the name! ). However I did catch a look at the new Mark II Burn ( slightly softer, probably for the lame ass US market where edges are the sporn of the devil ) and the new playboat the Pyranha PDQ ( which I know as the machines that process credit cards, though it more than likely relates to 'Pretty Darn Quick' ). There are even rumours of it being available to the public in carbon....that could be interesting!
So yes, it was a cracking day on the river. Lots of awesome paddlers hanging out, the sun shining and Vicky and Immy there for a spot of lunch. Yeah, it would be nice to get a run down the Conwy, Llugwy or Ogwen this season, but with the water levels so hard to predict, it probably won't happen ( but it would be nice if I could at least squeeze a run down the classic Conwy..just to get my face wet ).
Roll on next year and another day out in a kayak....
