On a cold sunday morning, three weekend warriors set off to the Dee. With promise of good levels and rain to come, it was set to be an interesting day of holes and good playwaves. At a (rainchasers) 0.87 we got what we wanted. With little else running in the area it was predictably busy but not so busy that we didn't get a lot of play in. We opted for a bit of a chicken shoot around horseshoe falls given they looked like they could swallow a horse.
After a good play on the first wave we moved down to serpent's, and after a bankside inspection, we decided it was worth a bit of safety, a pluck up of courage and hit it head on! After watching members of Birmingham uni take the chicken shoot it was voted Ben take the first run at attempting to punch the hole. A slightly off centre line got him through nicely but a braver route directly at the hole seemed much more fun.
Graham having watched went second and followed the same first line, and a cautious Dom took a slightly more sensible river left line as to avoid the hole. After a second run from Ben punching at the hole, we moved down knowing we would be making a second run and giving us all another shot at nailing the beast.
All the drops at JJ's were meaty, but friendly, so we got in a lot of play, and some nice holes allowed the GTX to get a couple of (less than purposeful) play moves in.
A high looking town falls offered many line options, none too tempting but all needing some skill, some luck, and a bit of a do or die/roll/swim approach. After a quick round of noses Dom lead the way, followed by a slightly dodgy line from Ben earning him a roll, Graham also made it to the bottom in one piece. A great first run was done.
A spot of lunch, followed by a half hour slog up the canal, the labour of love leading us back up to the horseshoe weir, prepared us for round two of the day. Tired and less enthusiastic, we paddled down once more, still playing, hitting the eddys and had a bit of 'king of the wave' action.
It seemed a little bigger this time but we powerhoused serpent's and worked our way down to town falls again, all trying a different line hoping for a bit more success or a slightly more challenging route. Triumphant, the warriors egressed at the steps below town falls and Dom had a jog up to his car so we could all head back over the mersey until next time!
Paddlers:
Ben Thwaites
Dominic Williams
Graham Whiting
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