Wales Kayaking and MTB

The first trip out for Richie's new toy was a success!

Richie rocking out his new pair of Crocs. Dan's new playboat also had a first outing on the Mighty T.

Saturday

After a steady drive over to Bala we managed to get on the river for 11am. A quick warm up run saw us back up the top for some more action. Plenty of people had come out for the day as none of the local rivers were running. Cafe wave was the favourite spot to stop and play on. Caving round the wave and managing a few flat spins. Lunch was up next, and Richie changed into his 88. Another run down after lunch and a lot of playing in the Cafe wave. Richie decided to ditch the creeker and join us again in his playboat. However as we were walking back up the course we noticed the water had been turned off! Asking one of the raft guides it turns out they mixed up the release times and were switching it back on. Half an hour later and with Adur Canoe Club following us we headed back down for another run. No real incidents although a slalom boat managed to get pinned on the ski jump. Finally got off the river at 6pm and headed to the campsite on the west coast of the lake in Bala. Tents pitched in record time, we headed back into Bala for dinner. 

Sunday

After an unsettled night, due to wind and rain we packed up and headed to Llandegla Trail Centre for the first time. 

Richie halfway round.

Richie and Dan. 

The nights rain made for an interesting and slippy ride. Dan had a little moment on the board walk loosing the back end under braking but managed to recover it. Llandegla's black trail was a hit with all three of us. The mix of fast downhill sections and lots of rolling jumps, table tops and doubles were amazing! Hopefully next time we ride it it'll be dry. Confidence was building in the wet conditions, and getting used to the jumps. Towards the tail end of one section however Dan had a little off after a jump. Protecting his bike he chose to slide down a sandy muddy bank. With me not too far behind I had to stop sharply so not to run over his front wheel. 

Blood runs thicker than water, Dan's leg after his little off.

All back in one piece, now just the three and a half hour drive home.