Its been a frustrating weekend of missed boating for me due to illness.  It was nice to get out and meet some folk and just watch for a change though. I think I will be able to handle my retirement from boating quite happily with a camera, a throwline and plenty of stories a that start 'eh you kids these days ... back in the day we used to run this in .....'

Those days are not here yet and I still have issues with rivers still to settle. The trouble is I still keep coming up with plans of things I want to do in a boat. Perfect drops, multi day trips, that one i've always portaged before, etc, etc. That then leads in to the desire to go out as much as possible, even if its not a new and glamorous location! I know I just need to keep getting on, otherwise the days when I get something done that I really set out to achieve, just wont come.

Hopefully i can ease myself back in to a boat and see if i've kept any of the fitness gained over the last month. The Leven is going to run for a week at least, so its back to working out on the local paddle gym!

Picture - Harry Black gets out on the duddon despite it being well to the low side of good.

We'd been up to have a look at some slides towards the bottom of Stickle Ghyll as the water levels were just off good so thought we'd go exploring. they looked pretty fierce so we sacked it off and just jumped on GLB for a nice drift down the valley at class 3. It doesn't need much water and has a tarn to soak up some of the last 24 hours worth of rain. It s worthwhile when the little stuff is just off and the bigger rivers haven't budged yet. Although there is not much on it, its good for a work out, and is a common solo run of mine. With two cars its worth the 10 minute float across Elterwater to round off at Skelwith force.

Skelly was at a nice level. There wasn't enough for the ledge move (easy but starting to get serious) so its of an off angle and wet boof down the right. Its pretty familiar to me now, but I keep coming back as it always gives me 'the fear.' Overcoming that regularly really boosts confidence. Lining up with a bit of forward speed (but not enough to go through that cushion), and really leaning left to get a blade full of the water underneath drives the boof and picks you back to the upright position if all goes well! 

It always washes right if your in the hole, so set safety on that side if needed. There is then the chance to get wet at the looping pool! Little boats are fairly frenetic in there. We only had the creekers, but previous experience suggest that older style, and pretty big, playboats work best for cartwheeling.

Well the Autumn drought broke so we managed to get out. Water levels seemed medium good and I was keen to get over to the Duddon again. The main river was ok, but on the low side, whereas Tarn beck had a bit more in and was looking fairly spicy (here in lower water). After messing about to get across some braided channels so that we could enter the first rapid on river right we wound up for the main move of the run, a sideways drop in to a slot to avoid the direct entry which looks awkward. Rob styled it [sorry rob - no picture], but after watching Steve jam his paddles across this slot and leave them behind on the new festival showreel, kris decided he would go for the same move. He gained respect for getting really good elevation on his blades after giving them a good twang, but lost marks for missing the hand roll!

From there the river races down some slots and slides which are really good fun and continuous for a good 100 yards or so. One pool has a backed up hole, which requires respect, but we had plenty of 'sony throwlines' and bank support from a crowd of onlookers out on a Sunday afternoon stroll after their pub lunch. Kris led the line and it all proved good.

We rounded the day off with a mellow trip down the upper duddon in lowish, but not srcapey, water. I just tried to paddle as a bit of a work out, as its been a while, and the fitness is lacking at present. Still time to chat and take in the atmosphere on what is a beautiful stretch of river. Get the focus back for Wallowbarrow gorge (here in high water levels), and then it was back home in time for tea.

Well its been enough days since shap to take stock and to re-engage with kayak projects so I guess I need to start with my take on the night.

It was really great to see folk there and I think the films really worked well together this year.  Putting Dave 's old video of their famous mission to Nepal in the 70's next to the Fat cats inspiring trip to Greenland was a masterstroke of good fortune! Both showed the spirit that is needed to pull those kind of trips off. The boating might have changed almost beyond recognition, but the people haven't. 

Hopefully we'll do something similar again. I'd seen the local stuff before but it seems to have gone down ok. I really want the night to show that all that stuff in the videos is achievable from here. Ok the water here is mediocre at best by international comparisons, but thats just a reason to make the most of it. Hence rainchasers. If thats not enough proof its all achievable, the Fat cats are british guys who all have to earn their trips.

To that end, the local stuff is important within the film line up. Thanks to Jon Josh and stu for their clips and Kris for the time spent editing. We'd really like to include whatever we can of local boating so contributions are great. Also i think what Jon is doing over at DBP is doing good stuff for the local scene. 

Unfortunately a couple a film project of mine didnt make it out for the night but hopefully soon ...! Ah well. Bigger and better next year!?!

I discovered that last nights rain was hard enough to get stuff moving on quick stroll out in the morning. I couldn't get out till later on so settled into some nice autumn colours at the lake.

Once off and boating I managed to pull a classic fuckwit moment! Having gone up to the upper duddon with the aim of take some pictures, picked people up and driven up to Birks bridge I discovered that I'd forgottton my drysuit. Fuck. Back down the valley to get the suit while they went for a stroll to meet back at the pub. 

The river had dropped of a fair bit and the light was crappy by then, but the Duddon is always pleasant and certainly keeps you honest about your boating! Its got to be the best river in the area, with great mid grade rapids punctuated by three harder falls.

Birks bridge is first up. It went fine today (especaily after the cunning plan to let the water go down a bit) - just keep it straight and do'nt try and do too much! I dont like that last curling thing much, but just ignoring it, and letting the boat float though felt better than i was expecting.

Troutal looked pretty ugly today as it was getting low, which messes up all the best options. We were pretty happy to leave it until a big flash gun was produced to get the piccy in low light. Kodak courage kicked in.  The tricky bit is the move above the picture, trying to get set to go right out of a little boxed in pool that naturally wants you to scoot straight on and into the cushion. It gets easier with more water as there is more room in the pool, and more flow missing the rock bottom left of the picture. Its easiest in flood conditions though that produces an easy but dramatic shoot over all the rocks on the right of the pic.

A good day out. Hopefully there are more coming soon.