www.energy4uteam.co.uk Is a new venture for me feel free to pop along there and scope it out.
It's a new system for the home to save you on your utility bills. Have a look at it and let me know what you think and how it looks. www.energy4uteam.co.uk
g
Thursday 26 March 2009
Friday 16 January 2009
Middle Doon with Epic water levels.
Epic water levels was what we were greeted with on arrival at the get out. Everything was running well. We quickly changed , dropped our shuttle van off and then off to the get in.
When we got to the get in it didn't look as promising as the first few little weirs were not looking good to paddle. However we could see signs of the water levels going up. We got on and quickly got into the groove with the river loving every minute of this Ayrshire gem.
The middle Doon, Patna to Skeldon Estate section of the river Doon is an unknown river in respect of huge rapids and scarey names. What it does is tick a few other boxes.
It's close to home. I live in Kilmarnock so it's only half an hour away which keeps the fuel costs down. When it's got alot of water in it it's a fantastic strech of river to test your skills.
It's graded at grade 3 but on this day I'd guess it would be running above that at 3+ simply because of the amount of water in it.
After the get in there is a few small weirs that are allways going to be a scrape you've just got to get down through them as best you can without wrecking the underside of your boat.
After these weirs the river settles into an easy flattish paddle for a while then slowly it picks up interest, there is some small drops and rapids which lead into longer boulder gardens and then some more little drops. The largest drop won't be any higher than 5/6 feet but at certain water levels 1 or 2 of the drops have retentive holes that require a look just to make sure your out of the way of them.
After these drops there are a few more boulder gardens which are on a nice slope and then on round the corner into the gorge.
In my view the run down into the gorge and the gorge itself is the crux of the paddle.
There have been problems in the past with trees in this gorge and in the warmer weather when the water is low we have been known to walk into the gorge and set about the four trees with a chainsaw to try to clear them. This hard work came to fruition as there is now a cleanish line through the gorge.
(Not for beginners though).
After the gorge the river settles back to boulder gardens and small drops until the get out at Skeldon Estate.
This was a fantastic paddle today and with lots of water running it's a must do. We found it a little pushy but great fun. g
When we got to the get in it didn't look as promising as the first few little weirs were not looking good to paddle. However we could see signs of the water levels going up. We got on and quickly got into the groove with the river loving every minute of this Ayrshire gem.
The middle Doon, Patna to Skeldon Estate section of the river Doon is an unknown river in respect of huge rapids and scarey names. What it does is tick a few other boxes.
It's close to home. I live in Kilmarnock so it's only half an hour away which keeps the fuel costs down. When it's got alot of water in it it's a fantastic strech of river to test your skills.
It's graded at grade 3 but on this day I'd guess it would be running above that at 3+ simply because of the amount of water in it.
After the get in there is a few small weirs that are allways going to be a scrape you've just got to get down through them as best you can without wrecking the underside of your boat.
After these weirs the river settles into an easy flattish paddle for a while then slowly it picks up interest, there is some small drops and rapids which lead into longer boulder gardens and then some more little drops. The largest drop won't be any higher than 5/6 feet but at certain water levels 1 or 2 of the drops have retentive holes that require a look just to make sure your out of the way of them.
After these drops there are a few more boulder gardens which are on a nice slope and then on round the corner into the gorge.
In my view the run down into the gorge and the gorge itself is the crux of the paddle.
There have been problems in the past with trees in this gorge and in the warmer weather when the water is low we have been known to walk into the gorge and set about the four trees with a chainsaw to try to clear them. This hard work came to fruition as there is now a cleanish line through the gorge.
(Not for beginners though).
After the gorge the river settles back to boulder gardens and small drops until the get out at Skeldon Estate.
This was a fantastic paddle today and with lots of water running it's a must do. We found it a little pushy but great fun. g
Monday 5 January 2009
Boxing day paddling
Christmas had taken it's toll on a few of my regular paddling friends. Alistair had the flu, Jake was out in Africa and everyone else was paddling harder stuff. I don't feel the most confident lately while paddling. I don't mind grade 3 ish but I'd like to be able to consistantly paddle grade 4. I have a plan which will come out in time to push towards regular grade 4 paddling. Lets wait and see.
Any how back to Boxing Day.
It was bloody freezing. Myself, Andy,Wee billy and Sean were out on the Riverside to Rugby club section of the River Doon near Ayr. The Doon is a great little river for learning on. It's a big fishing river so is managed to a degree by local fishermen, They put large rocks and gabbion baskets in the main flow to assist the Salmon on their quest up river. These works by the fishermen make the Doon a good learning river for new paddlers as there are easy eddy lines and some small drops and weirs to navigate. It's does not have anything hard on it thats why it's good for new paddlers.
Andy,Billy,Sean and I were out on Boxing Day to blow away the xmas excesses. It was good just to be on the river. There were no mishaps just good craic. I forced the other 3 to eddy out and into the flow of the river which was low. Good excercises for when the water gets higher.
All too soon we were nearing the Rugby club and take out.
An easy day on an easier river.
Any how back to Boxing Day.
It was bloody freezing. Myself, Andy,Wee billy and Sean were out on the Riverside to Rugby club section of the River Doon near Ayr. The Doon is a great little river for learning on. It's a big fishing river so is managed to a degree by local fishermen, They put large rocks and gabbion baskets in the main flow to assist the Salmon on their quest up river. These works by the fishermen make the Doon a good learning river for new paddlers as there are easy eddy lines and some small drops and weirs to navigate. It's does not have anything hard on it thats why it's good for new paddlers.
Andy,Billy,Sean and I were out on Boxing Day to blow away the xmas excesses. It was good just to be on the river. There were no mishaps just good craic. I forced the other 3 to eddy out and into the flow of the river which was low. Good excercises for when the water gets higher.
All too soon we were nearing the Rugby club and take out.
An easy day on an easier river.
Blogging
Hi,
This is a new concept for me so if you stumble upon it then hi.
I'm in the process of getting this up and running so look back soon.
g
This is a new concept for me so if you stumble upon it then hi.
I'm in the process of getting this up and running so look back soon.
g
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