Friends & Family Camp/Paddle, Ross on Wye, June 2011.

Off to the Wye again ... yippee.

The car was packed with camping gear, food, paddling stuff etc leaving just enough space for the 3 of us to squeeze in too. Canoe loaded on top, Karen taking James’s kayak down on top of her car (thanks loads) ... and we were off ...

M6 slowdowns ... M5 worse ... loads of lane closures for roadworks but nobody seen at any of them?? Resolved to return by the scenic route avoiding motorways. Arrived at Biblins to find Nettie, Mack and Steve already in residence.

Set up camp, designated “Vangoland” for James, Diana & myself

Ant, Del & team arrive ....

Saturday, lost keys caused a slight delay but we were on the water and ready for a fun day ...

James and Diana discussing tactics ... for what I don’t know. The rescue of all my canoeing gear from Symonds Yat if I wash out in the rapids (again) this year??

Ant & Tom looking cool & collected

And we are all on the water and set to go ...

Del said we’d not managed to put her picture on the web yet ... must change that ... so here’s Del & Karen in the foreground

Steve, Isaac & Jas, steaming ahead of us in their Canadian ...

Oooh ... there’s Del again ...

James, homing in on wildlife ...

Ant shadowing James and now we see the wildlife ...

This couldn’t be Del again could it?

And Del passing the swan ...

Isaac is left to provide the power in the front of the Canadian whilst Jas escapes to a kayak ...

Jas coached by Ann

Good grief ... it’s Del again

A log-jam rest stop ...

Ant (big), Tom, Gabriel & Sam .. who seem to have managed to avoid most photographs, so far.

Mack awaiting the team ...

Professional paddlers on their own home ground ...

Mud slide fun at the Yat rock stop ...

The Yat Rock ...

And on to Symonds Yat Rapids ....

It was at this point that my camera batteries gave up the ghost, so no more pics from me I’m afraid. We paddled down to the rapids, parked up and took a good look. Some of us portaged down but most of us paddled the run ... no upsets ... so no swimming awards for Saturdays paddle. Does this indicate the demise of the ancient Yat gummy pike? A gentle run then down to Biblins, dried, changed, showered ... go to get the cars ... sort food and relaxation around the camp fire. Plan a potential swim/rescue practice for the Sunday ... but it didn’t happen as the promised glorious weather turned to rain and we had a wet strike instead.

OK ... there have to be some awards for the trip ...

• Photo opportunitist award ... new one for this trip .... it has to go to Del
• Biggest super soaker award ... Isaac
• Biggest soaking award ... Isaac again, my 5L bailer (oops!)
• Swimming Awards ... we have to have some, so Mack & Tom for their Friday night immersion

Please let me have any further nominations.

A magic trip, yet again, many thanks to all attendees for making it so enjoyable.

Mike.

N.B. all photos published by kind permission of parents.

Yay ... the write-up continues thanks to ‘Del’s photography and Ant’s camera ...

Next Award goes to Karen ... the “Super Tug Award” ...

And the last award (the Little & Large Award) goes jointly to big Ant and Gabriel for their transit of Symonds Yat (well we’ve photos to prove this one) ...