Awesome conditions - nobody about

[justin-g]

Well I have been paddling all weekend in the South West and also got in two fantastic runs on a fully ledge covered dart in the sun last night. There was absolutly nobody there - so where the hell is everybody - if it was winter and 6 inches below the slab the car park would have been packed - also Ollie said there was nobody there on Sunday either...

Does the sun and warm weather scare people away??

[Dave Manby]

Everyone was at home on the 'net moaning about lack of access!

[Bod]

Nobody must be a relative term!
It was pogie weather on Sunday, but even so there were 15-20 paddler's cars at Newbridge when we arrived at Midday. Given that the river was empty at 9am, it was mostly going to be locals, albeit we did make the long trip down from East Devon.....

[Pete K]

Everybody has been in the spate run mecca of the Peak District. Seriously, we have some rivers too!

[Rdscott]

I paddled in the north east all weekend lots ofpeople about but my week off has come to a halt as the clutch in my car died yesterday erghhhhh.

Maybe people from down that way have decided to paddle something other than the dart imean seriously can it actuly be that good.
(never paddled it so really is it that good? give me a comparison,north welsh scotish alpine,please)

Maybe ill make the effort toget down there

[justin-g]

Not sure - it's like a more continously rapidy Fassfern - it's just very continuious grade 4 that you can play around in with nice smooth boofs all over the place.

Seriously there was NOBODY htere last night.

[Strad]

working, hate it when works gets in the way of play :-(

[Mike79]

There were quite a few people out on Dartmoor on Sunday afternoon - Me among them. Actually I was surprised how many people there were. A few groups on the Upper Dart with varying degrees of carnage and we met some people in the car park who'd just done the West Dart.

Cracking levels too:

https://vimeo.com/41343270

[Myles]

We were down the whole weekend but the rain arrived a little later than we hoped on Sunday morning.

Mistimed the Erme slightly (sunday morning) though we did a few runs down the gorge once it had reached a nice level.
Did the West Dart on Sunday afternoon which was a great level.

I was actually surprised by how many people were around on the Sunday.

[mrb333]

I was out with a group Sunday and yesterday. Loads of paddlers in Newbridge carpark on Sunday when we arrived about 4.30pm but admittedly it was very quiet last night when we arrived at 6.30pm to run the Upper. There were a 2 or 3 other cars in the car park at Newbridge but we were the only paddle wagon at Dartmeet!

[justin-g]

Silver estate??

[AS Watersports]

Same again today.

Slab fully covered when we got on not one other person on the river I dont think.

Greentrees, Good levels and Sunshine make the Upper Dart world class.

Liam

[mattdennies]

We made a bad decision and headed to north Wales on Sunday. Spent 6 and half hours driving to the Wnion and Mawdach then back to the Wnion to find there wasn't enough water. Gave up and went to the Dee which was on a nice high level. With the amount of time we spent driving around looking for water we could of easily gone down to the Dart! To make things worse, about 4 hours after we'd been at the Wnion it came up to a high level!

[freerider90]

We made a bad decision and headed to north Wales on Sunday. Spent 6 and half hours driving to the Wnion and Mawdach then back to the Wnion to find there wasn't enough water.

We had a great run down the ogwen on sunday afternoon which was at a highish level. Sounds like if you had hung around for a bit longer you would have had the water you were after!
There certainly weren't the usual number of boaters around considering the rain.

[Rhod]

Erme and West Dart with Myles (above) and then the East Dart for good measure. There were loads of boaters about. At least 3 groups on the West Dart when we paddled it, another group on the Erme, and Loads and Loads getting on the Loop. Rivers didn't come up till about midday so far more people than I would have expected!

[mattdennies]

We made a bad decision and headed to north Wales on Sunday. Spent 6 and half hours driving to the Wnion and Mawdach then back to the Wnion to find there wasn't enough water.

We had a great run down the ogwen on sunday afternoon which was at a highish level. Sounds like if you had hung around for a bit longer you would have had the water you were after!
There certainly weren't the usual number of boaters around considering the rain.

Ah b*ll*cks! We were debating whether going to check out the ogwen but couldn't be arsed with the drive by this point!

[Tom_Laws]

I reckon you just smell Justin, maybe people are avoiding you?

North Wales was brim full of paddlers on Sunday morning*, and it was was hoofing it down from about 8am in Snowdonia, with the main rain getting here just before lunch. I made a bold prediction that the Ogwen would be good to go for about half five, sixish just when everyone has to go home, so we had lots of coffee and cake, and sure enough she came up with the goods.


*it was snowing when I woke up at 8am, so I went back to bed.

[tonytoothums]

Agree Justin !!

Saturday couple runs on Lyn was lush. Sunday a scary fun high Upper at midday !! only saw 6 other boaters on water. Then an exciting Erme in the late afternoon. Note to all - Erme has two fresh fallen trees lying across the viaduct / entrance to gorge.

I did keep asking myself where everyone was !? ! here's looking forward to the next one

tony broc

[Onecar]

So with this much activity on The Dart and surrounding area and considering "the new access agreement" did anyone get any hassle off local landowners / fishermen?

[cswalker]

I was at "church" in beautiful BC on the Callaghan, Rutherford and a high water Soo! Brown...

[Onecar]

I was at "church" in beautiful BC on the Callaghan, Rutherford and a high water Soo! Brown...

V jealous. I did The Soo and Callaghan creek many years ago. I really should get myself back to BC.

[boater rich]

Sunday in South Wales - we saw one or 2 including Cardiff Uni. We got the Nant Bran at slightly bony level, then the Tarell (how have I missed this gem over the last 10 years!) at a really good level followed by the middle Usk for a bimbley warm down. Cardiff were only getting on a 3pm for their first river of the day - slackers.

Great day out.

[Myles]

So with this much activity on The Dart and surrounding area and considering "the new access agreement" did anyone get any hassle off local landowners / fishermen?

The landlord in the pub on Saturday night mentioned that he was surprised we were there as it was 'closed season'. I think a local fisherman in the same pub also had a chat with one of our group (rhod) saying we shouldn't be there. Didn't see any angry landowners when on the river though.

[Chriscofferson]

53 seconds into that video gave me a squeeky bum moment. looked good paddling. im jealous

[justin-g]

Nope - no hassels...

[Strad]

53 seconds into that video gave me a squeeky bum moment. looked good paddling. im jealous

I concur on the squeaky bum moment -

[Mike79]

53 seconds into that video gave me a squeeky bum moment. looked good paddling. im jealous

I concur on the squeaky bum moment -

Me too! I had to stop and take a little quiet moment after that... Just enough time for one little back stroke to get round the tree, you wouldn't have wanted a second roll attempt.

Not my finest hour but I got away with it.

[quicky]

The landlord in the pub on Saturday night mentioned that he was surprised we were there as it was 'closed season'. I think a local fisherman in the same pub also had a chat with one of our group (rhod) saying we shouldn't be there. Didn't see any angry landowners when on the river though.

Hope you corrected them

[Poke]

I was at "church" in beautiful BC on the Callaghan, Rutherford and a high water Soo! Brown...

Done the Callaghan and Soo. Not done the Brown.
Is it any good?

I started the drive over to N. Wales at about 1.30pm on Sunday, got there just after 3pm and the Glen had just started to rise (and quickly, at that). Two runs down the glen, followed by one on the upper Conwy, then home for tea and medals.

[TheKrikkitWars]

I was at "church" in beautiful BC on the Callaghan, Rutherford and a high water Soo! Brown...

Done the Callaghan and Soo. Not done the Brown.
Is it any good?

I started the drive over to N. Wales at about 1.30pm on Sunday, got there just after 3pm and the Glen had just started to rise (and quickly, at that). Two runs down the glen, followed by one on the upper Conwy, then home for tea and medals.

Oddly we drove over the upper conwy around the time you set off and it was empty; drove back at about 6.30/7 and it was big and brown; I was suprised at just how much water was coming down.