Club President Clive’s 2025 Paddling Review

So 2025 started with a solo breakfast paddle on the 2nd January.

In reality it started for me in December 2024 with a decision to ‘Paddle more

in 2025, try to get back to where my paddling used to be back in the years leading up to 2018 and 2019’.

So what has 2025 looked like so far (January to November). Well there were a number of play sessions at Nafford refreshing the memory on what to do and have fun. Then early morning breakfast paddles which are great for mind, body and soul!. A trip down the Wye and 2 trips down the Severn. Several trips to Cardiff and Llangollen, as well as a few trips on different sections of the Teme. In addition were 2 overnight trips on the Avon and a night paddle of course.

Then there were the weekends away. Surfing weekend at Rhossili and quite a few weekends on the Tryweryn and Dee, and of course The Bala Lake trip. And not forgetting the WKCC Llangollen Weekend, always a great trip, paddling and socially.

Thursday nights have always played a key part of my paddling, whether it is with being in a canoe, kayak or otherwise in or on the water. With lots going on, new faces to greet and engage with. And all of this across the varied locations we always visit. As well as pool sessions on a Tuesday to practice and practice again when you loose your roll (doh!!).

Overall I have been really pleased with how my paddling has redeveloped, although it has not been without incident, fortunately nothing major, and mostly gremlins in my head and;

• Sitting in the eddy above Bala Mills Falls on the Tryweryn, a run I have done countless times over the years and thinking ‘What am I doing!!’

• Finishing the Grave Yard, not paying full attention, hitting a rock and then having to roll

• In the middle of the Grave Yard, just below the Judging Hut, going for an eddy and getting it wrong, going over, take a swim in a very shallow and rocky section and grazing my face and bruising on my legs and thighs and Elise (quite rightly) shouting at me ’Swim, swim, swim to the side!!’

• And my personal favourite Kenny following me down Town Falls on the Dee and I got the line a bit wrong. Kenny followed me and we both hit the slot, hard! I rolled and Kenny swam, sorry Kenny!

However, the good times were also there.

• The afore mentioned Bala Mill Falls, taking a really great line and repeating it on every visit

• Punching through Ski Slope and Davies Bridge on a number of occasions

• Getting 3 of the breakouts in one run down Serpents Tail on the River Dee including one of the top right ones!

• Surfing and getting thrown around at Rhossili, then rolling up

• Overnight paddles, sat out drinking whiskey under the stars

• Surfing a Canoe in the bottom hole at Jackfield Rapids on the Severn

• Numerous breakfast paddles and weekends away

• I am sure there are many more to mention, but anytime out on the water, in kayak or canoe, is always a good time.

So, returning to my initial statement and looking back now as we approach the end of 2025. I think I can safely say I have given it a damn good go and I have definitely moved my paddling in the right direction, although it has not been an easy journey, physically and mentally. I have had the support of family and my numerous paddling friends, who are far too many to mention but you know who you are. I really appreciate your support, even through you may not realise you were, and still are, being so supportive. Everyone I have paddled with, past and present, as well as those who I have not paddled with yet. In one way or another you have been part of my short, medium and long term paddling journey.

I hope that 2026 is going to be even better, and I am finally going to tick some more off my list;

• The Lower Tryweryn in Canoe (I will need some support on the water)

• The Lugg that I have not done for a very long time

• Back to Scotland after a few years break and do another multi day solo canoe trip, ideally on the Royal Dee

• Of course, this is in addition to some new rivers not paddled yet.

How has your 2025 paddling journey been, what are your aims for 2026. I suggest you take some time out and give it some thought, create a realistic plan, try really hard to stick to it. Then in 12 months time look back, what have you achieved, what worked and what did not work?

Finally, over the last few months I have created a map of all the locations I have paddled, Rivers, Lakes/Lochs and Canals. If you are interested take a look, I am sure I have missed a few. I found it interesting going through my old log books and photos. If I can add some more to this in 2026 that would be great. Clives logbooks

Thanks for reading.