Weekend Excursion to Snowdonia

Safe to say this trip was not the smoothest ride us at LUCC have had, but it made for many tales of daring do and many moments to laugh about.

Adventurers: Dom, Ben, Graham, Fiona, Chris, Jak, Jack, Gaby, Jess, Sarah, Charlie, Aqueel, Louis, Maeve.

Friday-To Snowdonia, or Not to Snowdonia?

The trip was in jeopardy due to a change of policy with the AU over bus hire, but once this was ironed out by some sweet talking and fast phone work, we had ourselves vehicles. Next step was food; I proceeded to speed around Bookers to pick up the necessary items; but this time not £25 worth of cheese, instead an industrial tonne of pasta and porridge. Packing up our kit into the van and bus was done with minimal faffing, but the usual scurrying around checking everyone had paddles, boats, BAs and the like. I was driving most of the merry band to Snowdonia in the bus, with Graham following on in the van.

So off we went, with jokes every few metres about my driving after a slight disagreement with a hedge in the Lakes the other weekend. The air of mirth was added to by loud music and general hilarity occurring as we zoomed over the water and onwards.

A stop in Queensferry supplied us with non-nut snacks, plenty of alcohol (as Dom had lifted the curfew idea), and other such delights, including a full Indian meal for Jack Ward.

So further in foreign lands we travelled, until the roads became more adventurous and signs for Deiniolen were spotted. And so ensued the usual malarkey of scout hut hunting, a favourite LUCC pastime; around the village we pottered until eagle-eyed Dom found out destination, and without much further ado, we were installed into our lair. The evening was spent deciding who wanted what bedroom; regaling kayaking tales with Spud, Earnie, Greg and Andy; and discussing the lack of water and paddling options for the next day.

Saturday-Menai Straits and River Conwy

The day started early for some people with Jack Ward neglecting to turn off his alarms at 6.10am, 6.15am and 6.20am. Suffice to say, Greg’s room were not amused, as Jack was snoozing happily in the other room.

Dom had a cunning plan to paddle the Menai Straits, making use of the early morning high tide to play around on. So after a breakfast of porridge so thick it defied gravity we set off down the road.

After careering around some picturesque roads of Anglesey, we kitted up and observed what we believed to be a porn film set, then launched into the clear(ish) waters.

We circled around under the bridge, nailing our ferry-gliding (kind of) eddy hopping and soon learnt that the sea is a whole different ballgame to our native rivers; with changing currents, whirlpools and boils to contend with, we soon tired of the sea, and without a change in tide arriving we pottered off in search of adventure around the corner. Only to find swans and some friendly holiday makers. Off the water we came, had a re-think and decided to go in search of places to gorge walk.

We loaded onto the bus and zoomed along the beautiful roads of Snowdonia, wind blowing through our hair and the world at our feet..until  a call from Aqueel brought us crashing back down.

We had left him alone in the car park back in Anglesey, 30 mins back down the road.

We then realised with nowhere to U-turn we had to press on to the next location, reveal our error to the van drivers and Tolly (who had been alerted to Aqueel’s situation via Facebook). While a gang went back to collect our comrade, the others enjoyed sandwiches in a field and chatted.

Aqueel returned we started a system of number checking before setting off anywhere for the rest of the weekend.

Gorge walking was an expedition exploring the strength of our dry seals, and the Freshers ability to withstand cold water immersion. We leapt into pools, practiced our swimming styles and bouldering techniques. As light started to dim we made a move for home, via a tricky loam bank and a march back through the wood, as opposed to the handy pavement.

Back in the scout hut and warm showers soon made everyone much more cheery, and the prospect of 2.5kg of pasta, and sauce cooked by yours truly and Dom. We had fun in the kitchen manoeuvring the pots and pans, avoiding contaminating the vegetarian option with dead animal, and creating chaos. Louis and Graham were put to work hacking into the mammoth tins of tomato, which I then proceeded to explode all over my face, much to Dom’s amusement.

Once everyone was fed, beverages were consumed and talk turned to drinking games; a good game of categories was started; with topics ranging from Liam’s previous lovers (with Dom disputing what was meant by lover) to cities in the UK, rivers in North Wales and brands of beer. Fiona led the pack with a move for bedtime shortly after 10pm, cracking idea.

Sunday-River Vyrnwy and a Field

Another round of porridge fuelled us for the day, a rapid tidy up and clean around the hut, quick feeding of the local donkeys and we were on the road again, facing a nice 2 hour jaunt to the River Vyrnwy. Alas this didn’t work out so nice; we made good headway until turning off towards Bala meant the roads were on the narrow side, and so I met a large contingent of local Welsh drivers pegging it along the highways. From those minor incidents, we progressed to enter the Welsh rally circuit by accident; thus meeting several high speed, suped-up motors around the bends. Finally out of the race and into impenetrable fog, with oncoming drivers failing to turn on their lights, we progressed on to the valley. Both Fiona and myself were knackered, and thankful to be at the get-on.

A quick lunch, and not-so-easy shuttle were completed, with the entertainment being Jack Ward attempting to seal launch in 1ft of water, he was dissuaded by a stern Fiona.

And off we went down the river, with Ben and Chris leading the way around tree after tree, around rocks and corners. We were doing well, along a nice scenic route, with me and Fiona trying to remember any of the river when a completely unexpected drop was done all together and Jak took a swim. The drop was tucked around a corner, hidden away, but some decisive swimming and boat collecting ensured he was returned to his craft.

Much more wary we pressed on, to discover most rapids were fine to run without safety-ing. Our next episode occurred via fallen tree, the line was meant to gently pass under a nice archway in the foliage, but much to Charlie’s surprise, she was tipped in by the sneaky branches. Chocolate and star-jumps were completed before she was back in her boat.

The rest of the river was completed with no great problems, but with shouts of LEFT LEFT, or PADDLE PADDLE AND KEEP PADDLING. We completed the final bit before the portage of a hideous weir/drop, with a couple of swims and rapid lining and Fresher grabbing.

Onto the second half, which no-one knew and expected to be a gentle 2/3.

This is where the excitement started to set in. The river descended into a gorge with some meaty rapids claiming a good few swims from both groups. Maintaining line of sight became a challenge but we managed. The drops were fantastic fun, and claimed a roll from Jack Ward, after accidently going down one unprepared. Jak Hill decided he was going to boss down them all in quick succession after zooming past the eddy.

Unfortunately more than a few people had started to notice light was fading rapidly, and with Aqueel having disposed of his paddles, the call was made to hop off the river. Dom and Chris set off to the end of the river. Graham and Ben were dispatched into the gloom and up the banks to locate a route up and a road. Graham was met with a vertical cliff and impenetrable hedge. So we camped on river left. A shout signalled to us that we would try and ascend the gorge on the left, so the freshers (who were cold and soggy) were sent up with the paddles, while the rest of us set about tying knots and pulley systems to haul up the boats.

The system involved me and Graham hauling the boats from the bank; then up to Louis at the midpoint, then up to Fiona and Jack, then on to Ben and Jess, and finally Aqueel and Jak tugged them into the field. We had no light at all, so throwing lines down was a fun business. With the Kanali, Hoss and Burn boats nearly breaking us, we completed the haulage of 12 boats. Louis was fantasising about McDonalds and I was lying flat out in the mud. Next step was to untie the Italian hitch knots and to get ourselves up the slope. Upon reaching the summit, news that Chris and Dom were not with us, nor were we ANYWHERE near civilisation, let alone a road made life a bit tough. Jak had set off into the gloom and had not yet returned, so the decision was made to set off in his wake in the hope he had found them.

We got perhaps 5mins down the track before light was seen, and out of the angelic haze came Chris, looking stressed out by greatly relieved. Dom soon appeared, as did Jak with a divine being (this was the farmer) with a tractor and trailer. We loaded the Freshers and some boats onto the back and trekked toward the farmhouses.

As it turned out, Jak had befriended the farmer and had run into Chris and Dom; who had been circling the local area by use of phone satnav for the previous 2hrs. They had one back road to check before the need to call mountain rescue was deemed necessary.

But thankfully that drama was avoided, and we returned to our vehicles around 8.15pm, 3 hours after getting off the river. We changed in the company of a herd of happy cows, and discussed the nights events.

All the drivers were exhausted, but a stop near Oswestry for a much needed Burger King re-fuelling powered us home and back to sheds for the much loved task of unloading boats, bits and bobs.

A whistle-stop tour of the kayaking residences and we were home to chocolate cake, tea, hot showers and beds with duvets.

Thanks and Mentions go to:

Dom and Chris for stress management

Gaby, Fiona, Graham, Dom and Chris for driving

Ben, Dom and Chris for leading

Jack, Louis, Jess, Fiona for safety-ing/scouting/seconding

Jak for his ability to befriend a farmer (not something kayakers are famous for)

Aqueel for being very understanding about the being-left-behind episode

Charlie for staying happy and helpful despite being obviously very cold

Sarah for her very lovely paddling and post-swimming smile

And to Maeve for her endearing laugh and happy demeanour on the river