RIVER CRAKE

[Dave @ TRC]

RIVER CRAKE ???

Im going this weekend anyone got any pics or video?????



Thanks Dave.

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Hi Guys

Not a bad river, easy group trip, with twoi easy grade 3's, the second grade three, is after the little wier with a bridge over the river. This is probably the hardest part of the river!!! Is hard to portage but is a good line downt the right hand side.

Enjoy!

Sorry, but I don't have any pics or vids.

Rick

[Poke]

If you're still reading and haven't paddled it yet, the grade 3 running through Spark Bridge can be entertaining if really high as getting under the bridge in the middle of the rapid becomes difficult! Its quite a cool river as you can paddle it from source to sea if you're feeling energetic!

If you have paddled it by the time you read this, how was it?

I also have no photos as the only time I've run it in recent years has been in the dark...(?!)

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Hi guys,

Another thing I forgot to mention is trees. Can become a problem in high water. Doubt that this weekend. Therefore when it's low, the rocks are very sharpe on this river, one guy a few years back had to have his eyebrow stitched up!

Rick

[Mathew]

If you have paddled it by the time you read this, how was it?

It was a disaster.

If the two families at the side of the river read this post, we're all really, really grateful for the help today.

[Tom_Laws]

It was a disaster.

You can't leave us hanging like that.... Hope you were all ok.

Tom

[Mathew]

Sorry. Yeah, we are all fine. Someone swam on the FIRST rapid, hurt too bad to walk out or continue, we all made the decision to get off the river call it a day.

We'd never have got off the river where we did without the help of the best landowners ever. I felt guilty for not leaving them more than a bottle of wine.

[filo]

Was on the river with the above every one is fine. But 1 lad came out and banged his leg real hard, mat was great ,but we ended up in the garden of a couple who were brilliant, sat the lad down in the livingroom (dripping wet) and gave us a lift to our car.The couple wanted to know more about the sport but told us about a lad that had come out in the same spot and ended up on thier lawn (like us) when she went over to ask if he was ok the lad replyed with a barrage of abuse.Not very nice, as she could have thought we were all the same and just told us to get of their land and if it had of been more serious we'd have been in a right mess as access is poor. So just be polite to people you meet along the river it might help you one day.

Follow me I know the way!!!

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Hi guys

So was this on the first grade 3-? What was the level?

Were these the people with the garden that runs along the river with a 1 foot wier next to it?

Rick

[Dave @ TRC]

I totally agree with you matt. Danny cant be hurt that bad as hes gone out with his mates now. But don't worry Ill break his leg when he gets in .LOL

I was surprised how good the access is on this river. And feel I need to say to all the people that are chucking there boats over the wall at the put in could you please use the common land As the land owner is not happy with having to repair the wall over and over again. And he was very nice when he came over and asked if we had paddled the river before. And then gave us directions for the best access to the water.
I feel it would be a grate pity to loose his cooperation over such a small mater.


As for the very nice people on the left after the first grade 3. Who where most help full and even sat my soaking wet son in there dinning room
after hurting his leg on the river. And then calling 999 for us (which was later cancelled thankfully)And then letting us get changed in there barn. I was disgusted to hear that when asking another paddler who was sat in there garden if they where OK. The reply they got was.
(what the fuc*s it got to do with you )


If I could find his name I would name and shame him. Access is bad enough already. With out us messing up the rivers we've got agreements on all ready.

I just hope we left them with a better impression of paddlers.
Again many thanks Dave.

[Mathew]

I don't think naming and shaming the bad apple would do any good. I agree that its disturbing to hear, but people like that just need to think about what they are going to say before they say it - even if they are hurt.

Anyway, more importantly... same time next week?

[Dave @ TRC]

I still like the look of the ashop if we get some rain looks a blast.


Dave.

[Dave @ TRC]

Filo your new boat looks top. All you've got to do now is get your first swim. Were gonna take bets on which river its gonna be on.








Dave. LOL

[RAO Cumbria]

Dave,

Sorry I only just got around to looking at the site; sorry to hear about the ineresting, if short trip, on the Crake. Glad to read that all turned out well in the end

All paddlers, please take care when people on web sites say "easy grade 3" with regards to any river! I (and the friendly house owners river left at the first rapid) have seen numerous bad swims and a number of boats pinned, broached and broken on this "easy 3" as well as on the bottom bend.

Local house and land owners with interests in this river are very supportive of paddlers but there is, unfortunately, a history of the people at the house river left at the first grade 3 and the houses down by the bottom rapid getting abuse from paddlers. As stated on the river guide elsewhere on this site, the bottom rapids should only be run by parties competent to make the trip. I know this is not always known, and we can all get caught out, but if this is a first grade 3(or even 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade 3) then maybe this is not the right river.

Portage on these lower rapids should only be in an absolute emergency as to do so involves going directly through peoples back gardens.

As a region we are currently in the process of getting new signage in place at a number of points such as Brown Howe & Blawith Common re: access, but as a guide, if you are about to climb over a wall to get to the river you are on private property; please do your research and find out where the agreed access points are.

Lots of time has and is being spent in constructive dialogue with land owners in this area and it would be a shame to spoil the current (relatively) good feeling and good will on this great little river.

As RAO for the region, I am always happy to give advice, water levels etc etc for rivers and lakes of the region so please feel free to give me a call or email me, whether you are a BCU member or not when making plans.

Happy paddling

[Grumpy Fisherman]

Having spent this last weekend at the town hall in Spark Bridge, we have found, again (I have been there for the last three years) that the people in and around the village are incredibly friendly and willing to help.

Last year we had a member of our group who had a nasty swim on the lead-in to the Bobbin Mill rapid. While in the eddy above the final left bend with her, the owner of the adjacent house came out and asked if she was ok. She subsequently walked out through his garden. The house owner was incredibly friendly and willing to help, and I hope that everyone who paddles this river and sees any of the local people gives them a wave and a smile.

The river, as always, was full of overhanging trees, and one of the bridges (the first down from Coniston, I think) now has a gate under it on the right hand side. There is a tree branch in the left hand side and the result is a fairly narrow gap to get through. Please be aware of this if you are paddling down with an inexperienced group.

Owen

[filo]

Cheers dave, I ll have the camera next time for the underwater action shots. lol
You could have used the photo of me trying out stu's boat.

[Dave @ TRC]

What this one LOL
You want me to use photo shop

[filo]

My missus thinks I look quite cheesey,but she now has a new background/screensaver.