Mid-week Kent!

Commence the world’s longest journey to the Lake District. One hour passed to two, passed to four before eventually Earnshaw, Liam, Grog and I, arrived at the river, only two hours late having attempted to avoid traffic, and stopping to pick up Liam's boat that'd be rescued by a friendly NW Kayaker. At the Kent, we met up with another NWK, Stu Mac.

A quick scout of Force Falls delayed the get on slightly longer but before long, we were at the get on, eddying out above the first drop, and then continueing down en masse. The trip was exceptionally chilled, and despite the recurring nightmare of my last attempt of the Kent coming to mind, the casual mood of the day calmed me down quick enough. We bombed down the first few drops, while I celebrated getting down the first 100m without swimming.. Unlike the three times previously.

The Kent proved no issue to everyone on the river. Despite me portaging the weir halfways down, even it didn’t prove difficulty to those not in a playboat. In no time at all we had bombed past L-Shape weir and hit Force Falls, one following the next like lemmings. Everyone styled it. Except me of course with a roll at the bottom, because the story would have been dull otherwise.

Stu on Force Falls

We shuttled back to the top, and despite having to run the shuttle twice as Stu Mac had left his helmet in the car, we were back on repeating the entire river again in no time. Unfortunately, S-bend wasn’t quite as successful for me who made it through the first wave before sitting out the rest of the rapid, chilling upside down, waiting for the water to calm before rolling up. A couple others nearly got sticking surfing mid-rapid, and Stu M got caught halfways up, showing off his playboating in a Jefe with a nice pirouette to finish it off before everyone regroup, laughing at the carnage.

Force Falls again was taken by storm and no issue, other than another cheeky 1 point accumulation by myself. Finally found out the line I’d been trying to make both times was in fact, incorrect. Boooo.

After a unfriendlier bash on the head, I’d decided I’d had enough of Force Falls and retired to photo-b**ch. The others ran up the road to get on above L-Shape were they remained for a good half hour, rerunning it into the double figures before returning to Force Falls were Stu demonstrated his three-time attempt of a roll. One last run finished the day, Stu M and myself having swam over to the middle island at the Falls to get some better shots as the others came down. 

Subbing on the Falls

A dull day in terms of the point accumulation, but still a better way to spend a Wednesday than the rest of you!