Levels are a respectable low, but there is rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow. the heavy stuff will hit Scotland first but appear in over all the hills in due course. Following in its wake is broken and lighter rainfall for the next few days. So its looking optimistic for the rivers. The West should get the lions share in all regions.

Nothing special predicted for the NE surf but there is decent stuff coming from the Atlantic, but Ireland is in the way for us ;-)!

Tides are high so the all races should be working and the tides flowing well. 

Ben Jung, who came over for the Shap film festival to show a couple of shorts has been busy making a documentary on the damming of the White Nile. Heres the trailer, with some great shots of the river and playboating in the trailer. It's a difficult one to take on the complex issue of natural river/whitewater resource vs energy needs but all credit for taking it on and not just throwing up some 'context free' boating. Nice one Ben.

Also well worth checking out some excellent russian clips. Quality beatdowns aplenty here and (check out the the big loop!) and some excellent myth busting here with two guys firng up that classic big russian fall which is a trib of the Katun - in a duo! All this action is well off the beaten track on overnight wilderness trips. Keen.

Hi just a general shout to anyone who knows the Tyne and catchment rivers. You will know that the river levels are online here. I could do with a hand turning these numbers into something meaningful for paddlers. I dont know the area well so am dependent on others for this one. So far I have that 7 foot at hexham is getting near flood territory, 4 foot at reaverhill is a good level for wardens gorge and that the wave a the bottom will be in (thanks to Michael and Dave for that info) but could obviously do with more to build it up.

if anyone can help then drop and email to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and i'll collate it and publish, (or post on the boards and i'll pick it up from there).

Calibration will get done for the cams. Its a pig of job as those pages need to be written in HTML for techy reasons so I need to engage with it properly and have a run of time at it.

Couple of randoms as well.... I hadnt picked up before now but there is a forum of boaters here at the river crew. Seems pretty active and good banter (and you dont get marked on yer grammer).

and this amused me muchly ...