For those interested in what the Builth Wells trip (Move to the 3rd March 2012) is going to be like, here's a 2000 trip report, when I was a wee nipper...

SUMMARY

This describes our first ever white water trip, down the river Wye, Wales, from Builth Wells to Llyswen. It describes where we got in, some hazards we encountered, and where we got out. It also tries to capture our feeling during our first ever white water run, especially our…

It started off as a most auspicious day - a 7-30am start and Janet was early. The omens were good. All eight of us, Ed (our glorious leader), Rene, Neil, Janet, Jon, Dave, Gareth and myself were soon packed up and off to Wales for some proper paddling. The weather forecast was good: warm and a slight chance of rain. Needless to say it was tipping it down most of the way, especially on poor Shrewsbury. But the good old BBC got it right, and hardly a drop was seen all day at the river...…

I have been paddling for far too many years so I agreed it was about time I organised and ran a trip.  The Usk in past years had always been a good trip for the start of the year and a nice easy white water trip.  The day before the trip I was beginning to feel a little anxious and horrible ‘what if’s’ began to run through my head.   It was too late, to back out now.

The plan was to meet at the club at 7.15am and yes I was on time, I was not the last to arrive. (Please note this for…