Well, after spending hours last night building the new website, I think it’s basically finished. I have added a few Reports and Articles, including Liam’s views on life in the Lake District and a trip report from last years Wet West Paddlefest. Because WordPress is so helpful, I have been able to create sub-pages and as such I hope the reports section can become more like a vast archive, unlike the old website which only allowed us to display one report at a time. Because of this I have also uploaded a climbing article, ‘Mozzies and Misfortune’, which was published in issue 7 of Gravity Magazine earlier this year (I will add photos as soon as I can get hold of my laptop, which is currently on loan). Hopefully, we will add more reports and articles as time goes by, in addition to keeping the blog updated.
And so to the first blog entry:
These past few weeks have been exceptionaly wet, and the rivers around here have been consistently high. Most bizzare for June and July, but you’ll have no complaints from me! I have taken great pleasure in exploring my backyard, including running seven rivers (or sections of rivers) new to me in the past two weeks (one of the many benefits to student life). What made this even better was that the majority of these were with new paddling friends. Hopefully, I will get out with them all more in the near future, and continue to explore the huge variety of white water the Yorkshire Dales has on offer.
However, as the rivers have dropped over these past few days, Jonny and I went to our ‘old faithful’, the eddyline and rapids at Appletreewick. Having not been there for a while, I forgot just how much I really enjoy paddling there - it is one of the most beautiful places I know, and was made all the better by the evening sun . As one might say, there is nothing better than ’simply messing about in boats’:
I have not heard a forecast for the coming weekend, but I am hoping for more rain to allow some serious beck bashing. We shall just have to wait and see, although I should really be content with the recent downpours and just settle for some summer cragging.
All the best, Tom.
