Symonds Yat Trip

On 7th October a group of 18 from Wokingham Canoe club travelled to Symonds Yat on the river Wye for an introduction to moving water. After a week of heavy rain the river level was high but the weekend itself was dry and mostly sunny.

In the morning we paddled on the Yat. The experience paddlers played on the Yat although it was a bit washed out due to all the rain. The less experienced learning techniques such as breaking in and breaking out, ferry gliding and carrying boats over squidgy ground. In the afternoon some paddled on the Yat while others went for a paddle up river.

Later we went to the camp site and pitched our tents. Some cooked at the campsite while others went to the Gamekeepers pub for supper. Later everyone gathered around the campfire for a chat about the important questions in life were answered like how many paddles Marion owns and why Jonathan needs 4 tents.

On the Sunday we were joined by more paddlers from WCC. We decided to go for a trip to Monmouth so while cars were dropped at the pick up point, we paddled around the start and seal launched down the shute (great fun if your spraydeck doesn’t pop off).

When the drivers returned, we all set off down the Yat where everyone stayed in their boats. We then continued downstream. Yet more seal launching was carried out on route although the kayak decided to take a different route from the one planned.

We paddled downstream at a leisurely pace and with a bit of munching along the way (the hobnobs were popular) and arrived in Monmouth around 2pm from here people returned to Wokingham. Everyone agreed it had been a really enjoyable trip.

7th to 8th October 2006