Expedition Dairy

Acclimatisation 14/06/11:

Our briefing meeting to Major B on the Acclimatisation day

We arrived in the vicinity of Hay on Wye at 2:00 pm but because of Os's navigating skills, or lack of them, we were lost for about one hour.

When we arrived at the planned launch area we were unable to launch because the privately owned land did not allow launching in the area. (See photo below), so we went and launched from Checkpoint 1 – because of access issues we can't launch tomorrow until 10 am.

The sign that met us as we tried to get on the river on the first day

We did some practicing such a ferrygliding, spotting and breaking in and out of Eddies.  Then we went to the hotel bunkhouse rooms and went through and packed our kit correctly for tomorrow.

Will Paddling solo

Day One 15/06/11:

Kiran and Os certainly not tensing their muscles for the camera.

Woke up at hotel at 7.00 am had breakfast at 8.00 am and Al managed to use up one loo roll blowing his nose.  We set off at a 10.00 am and I am writing this at 1.30 pm whilst having lunch.   

A nice spot for lunch on the bank of the river

Our hot drinks break on the centre pier of this bridge

We continued and eventually had a break on the pier of a bridge (see photo above). Just below the bridge we found this sign (below) showing that access on some of the banks of the river is "Strictly" prohibited.

In an interview with a fisherman he had a positive response. “There is enough river for both groups of people to share" and the farmer who owned our camp site said that the main issue with access is vandalism to property. The campsite cost £4.00 and had good access. The farmer was very friendly and we had a long talk to him about some of the accidents on the river and the jobs issues of the surrounding area.

A dinner of pasta and tuna in a tomato sauce

Day Two 16/06/11:

Al having a go at poling down a calm part of the river with James taking a short break

Planned to get up at 7.00 am but Al had set his alarm for 7.30 am but we got up at 8.00 naturally and had to rush through cooking and kit prep, but we still managed to get on the river at 9.00 am.  It was a 40Km paddle today with a strong moving current in the morning and slack water with a strong headwind in the afternoon.

A fishermen's rock and  concrete out crop which made paddling harder

An intricate pattern of nesting holes for sand martins 

 We arrived at the campsite at 5:30pm, and at 8:45 two ladies who were canoeing from another campsite we had past late on the first day arrived and we helped them to move their kit and boats off the river and to their pitch. 

A fisher mans hut looking somewhat empty the day before the fishing season started

After a hearty meal of egg fried rice and sweet and sour sauce, we talked to our new found canoeing friends about our expedition and their trip so far. As the sun set on a wonderful warm and sunny evening we decided to go to bed.

The ducks on the second evening next to our tent

Day Three 17/06/11:

We planned to leave at 9.00 am, but it ended up as 9.30 am (and got into campsite 30mins later).  Once we started to launch our boats, Will accidentally let his boat float away and so Al and I  jumped into the boats to catch the runaway boat.  Once on the river it started to rain, and so we had to put our KAGS on.  

Al and James rescuing Wills boat after he let it drift off   

Then the sun came out, I found a fishing hook and fly, for fly fishing and I wanted to hang the hook over the boat but could not because I did not have a fishing licence. Al had his birthday today and was impressed with the cold beans and bread breakfast.

Al doing a bit of gunnel wobbling 

We had a cake stowed for Al's birthday, and had seventeen twigs as candles for celebrating.  The access of the campsite we departed from, had good access via a pontoon and a set of steps. 

Al paddling solo 

Today we camped in a field which was in the grounds of a restaurant with poor access because there were no steps, however we weren't complaining because they didn't charge us for camping there.

Our camp set up on the third evening, which we are very proud.

Day Four 18/06/11:

Thankfully we set off at 9.00 am today, and had porridge with maple syrup for breakfast (we had savedthe best breakfast until last).  Today there was mostly slack water and the river became  very wide, quickly as it meandered along.  

A family of paddlers getting on the river at a activity site on the river

Towards the end of the day when we were approaching the end of our expedition, we noticed a large increase in the amount of tourists using canoes and also the amount of engine powered pleasure boats.  The weather started off poorly but towards the end of the day it became warm and pleasant.

On day four we found a couple of signs that weren't very welcoming to canoeist.

Being very tired in the morning, we still continued, and were spurred on by how close we were to completion, and on the journey home everyone was so exhausted we slept for entire journey back to Shrewsbury where we rapidly cleaned the boats and returned our kit to the CCF stores.

One of the inquisitive animals we met on route 

Writen by James and edited by Al

The Canoe Access on the River Wye

The River Wye is notable for its canoeing and kayaking.  A public right of navigation runs from Hay Town Bridge downstream to where the Wye joins the Severn below Chepstow.  The dramatic scenery of the Wye Valley encourages many thousands of canoeists annually.  The Wye Valley AONB is particularly popular, especially between Kerne Bridge and Monmouth, where the river flows a dramatic course through the Wye Gorge revealing cliffs, woodland, abundant wildlife and a wealth of historical heritage features.

Admiring the local swans from our boats

General guidance for all river users:

• Be courteous to all other river users at all times.
• Look after the environment - avoid damaging the banks and bankside vegetation.
• Take special care not to disturb beds of waterweed and gravel beds.
• Avoid dragging equipment over rock slab and boulders.
• Don’t disturb birds or wildlife - keep clear of nesting birds, areas important for breeding fish, and salient otter sites.
• Protect native species and habitats – use dry or disinfected equipment if used in other freshwater bodies.
• Don’t trespass on private banks or moorings.
• Never throw rubbish into the river or leave it on the banks.
• Park sensibly without causing obstruction.
• Get changed out of public view.
• Be patient with those new to a sport.
• Be as quiet as possible - don't spoil the enjoyment of others.
• Be friendly and polite to local residents and try to avoid arguments.
• Competitors and organisers should take into account the effects on other river users.
• Event organisers should display warning notices at each end of a stretch of river being used for competitions.
• Observe the countryside code and have regard for others' property.

A quick break on a bridge arch, what we think to be one of the more ingenius places to stop.

General guidance for boaters

• All boaters must use the river in a safe fashion and have appropriate safety equipment.
• Park vehicles and trailers responsibly so that they do not cause a nuisance.
• Don’t land on gravel shoals and islands between 1 April and 31 July when birds may be nesting.
• Avoid trampling and launching / landing on or near sensitive otter sites
• From October to April inclusive, trampling and launching on gravels used by salmon and trout may damage unhatched eggs and young fry. This is of particular concern upstream of Glasbury and when the water level is low.
• Groups of young and inexperienced boaters should be led by a suitably experienced responsible person – preferably a qualified instructor.
• When boating in a group try to keep together, especially when passing anglers.
• Upper Wye access agreement - there is a public right to navigation downstream of Hay-on-Wye, and on the upper river there are a number of negotiated access points for canoeing. Details can be found at: www.wyeuskfoundation.org/navigation.

A quite spot for lunch

Guidance for boating near anglers

• Look out for all anglers. Whilst assuring your own safety keep a good distance from them and avoid their lines.
• Pass anglers quickly and quietly, creating as little disturbance as possible and do not loiter in fishing pools.
• Keep well clear of wading anglers or anglers in boats and leave enough room in front and behind for them to cast.
• Comply with any signals anglers make to indicate whether they wish you to pass by or to wait a moment. Hail if you think your approach has not been noticed. Please leave the water if an Environment Agency Officer asks you to.
• Fishing from a boat is not allowed unless you have a valid rod licence and permission from the owner/tenant of the fishery rights. If you are boating upstream of Hay-on-Wye you also need permission from the riparian owner.
• The following descriptions can help you identify the various types of fishing and how best to share the river with anglers:
• Types of fishing:
• Coarse fishing - These anglers are often seen with an umbrella. Look out of the float 5-10m out and try to avoid their area called a ‘swim’.
• Fly fishing - Usually standing, wading or on bank. Avoid area opposite and, as they keep moving downstream, avoid downstream in particular. Watch out for end of line.
• Game / fly fishing - Sometimes best to paddle behind them after acknowledgement.
• Fishing seasons:
• Salmon and Sea Trout - 3 March to 17 October, except above Llanwrthwl Bridge where the season runs from 3 March to 25 October.
• Non Migratory Trout - 3 March to 30 September.
• Coarse - 16 June to 14 March

Eating up the miles as we paddle on, on the first day

Sourced and amended by Will, from: environment-agency.gov.uk

Wye Not?

There’s nothing better than to get on the river early in the morning. Tasting the fresh, sweet scented air, the singing unison of birds frolicking around and the bright morning sun shining off the front of your canoe - but then to be told that you cannot get on the water just yet due to ‘access issues’? Something clearly doesn’t make sense.

Will Paddling solo early on the first day

Whether I put my boat in the water at 10:00 or 9:50 does it really make that much of a difference? Are they really justified in preventing canoeists from getting on the water early in the morning? Does the sleek sweep of my paddle really have a detrimental effect on the river or the local habitants, or does the pre-conceived idea that canoeists are rowdy, loud and ignorant not hold water (pardon the pun) in this modern society?

‘There’s enough room on the water for both of us’ firmly stated one fisherman, and to be quite honest he has got it right. The childish separation between fishermen and canoeists does not need to be an issue, but yet the underlying tension between the two groups seems to have remained. Yes, we did encounter the odd fisherman who (in polite words) was not too happy with our presence on the water, but most of them seemed to be sensible and understanding towards us if we did the right thing (not canoe straight over their lines!) The Environment Agency talking on the river Wye state that ‘with so many activities and interests relying on the river or affecting it, it is inevitable that they sometimes come into conflict.’

A photo of a pleasant and cheerful fisher man we pasted.

It is understandable that fisherman can become irate due to the constant stream of canoeists disturbing the fish they are trying to catch, but the idea of compromise needs to be installed between the two armies to protect the unique nature of the river. 

A friendly pub that we pasted on the trip

But the real question is; should canoeists be allowed unprecedented access to all rivers? Obviously as a canoeist I am inclined to say yes, but unfortunately my conscience screams otherwise. I learned to share when I was about 3 years old in nursery, apparently other people wanted to play with the same red toy bus, and we worked out a method by which we could both play at the same time instead of having to inefficiently take turns. The same principle applies to rivers. If we can’t learn to share peacefully more legislation introduced could see the separation between canoeing and fishing times on a river. If we can’t all play nicely, why should we be allowed to play at all?



Kiran

An overview of the blog and our Gold Expedition

    This blog is about our Gold Duke of Edinburgh canoeing expedition down the River Wye from Hay on Wye in Herefordshire to Symonds Yat near Monmouth. The expedition was from 15th June 2011 to 18th June 2011 with one day of acclimatisation before hand. Over the trip James kept a dairy of what happened on each day and all of the photos were taken on two cameras by Os, James and Will.

Part of the river Wye

 As we decided to use canoeing as our mode of transport, we took three canoes on the expedition with two people paddling tandem and with one solo paddler, which alternated between Will and Al. All of our equipement was then packed into one large blue 70 litre barrel each plus a couple of dry bags for items that need to be close to hand during the day. The camping arrangement consisted of two tents and for the third evening a canoeing tarp over the top.

The group of us just before we set off

A main road bridge just above our first get on point.

 The weather on the trip was overall very good apart from one day where it rained for the afternoon and evening, it also happened to be Al's birthday however spirits were not dampened. The trip ran smoothly overall with the only misshape being Will dropping his paddle infront of two families who paddled alongside us for an hour.

A last group photo before we depart, from left Os, Kiran, Al, Will and James.

Al