Lune Tour Report 2011
Written by Ade Stretch Saturday, 10 December 2011 21:24
The Lune - an improver’s day out.
Rumours of a legendary 17 swim paddle down the Lune had already circulated by the time we'd brightened up Burton services with 25 or so multicoloured kayaks. We were reassured that this had 'all been down to a broken thigh brace' and pressed on. An impressive spell of random cooperation eventually landed paddlers and kit at the 'get on' and we were off, away from the bridge and round a wide sweeping bend.
Wave trains seem to be a great feature of the Lune at medium high level and there were several opportunities to pull through the first big wave and then bob happily up and down as its successors gradually decreased. There were also a few trickier sections with side currents and cross-waves. This meant that us novices really needed to keep our wits about us and occasionally dipped more than a paddle in the water. Fortunately, the eddies were big and plentiful and there were many opportunity to slot ourselves in and check how we we're all getting on. The consensus seemed to be that we were loving it.
Now Dave, in his trailer for the trip, had described ' a technical grade three river, with a couple of sections that are known to capsize people'. It would be fair to say that in-between the bobbing and weaving these couple of sections caused a few tense moments and a good deal of gurning. Indeed, so much fun was to be had that Andy B quickly abandoned any thought of a throw line to capture this for posterity: The 'tombstone' rapid tripped a number of us with a strong cross wave at the end, but it was the Strid that properly sorted us out: This proved to be a great leveler with a number of lines being tried and a few of our more experienced paddlers taking to the waters. One novel approach was to hop out of the kayak before reaching the rapid and swim the whole thing unencumbered by boats, paddles and the like (those interested in helping pioneer the new sport of 'gorge surfing' should contact Roger). Others made it down the big rapid only to blow it completely on the smaller one below (….and yes, that would've been me).
It has to be said that there was some exemplary paddling on display from the younger members of the group. Seb, Daniel and Anna swept down the Lune with a level of control and composure that was truly impressive - and I, for one, learned loads from them.
Many of us portaged the 2 weirs at the end and received a master class from those who took it on; there's a beautiful boof ramp in there that just has to be returned to one day.
And so, the last and biggest wave train soon shot us out to join a second river and on cue a patch of blue sky opened above us. As we headed towards the 'get off' Andy S must've got fed up of paddling and floated contentedly down the final section. And with this I reckon that collectively we might have got close to the record, thigh braces and all. The only thing missing was a good pint by a coal fire and a few risqué jokes about Paul's pink kayak. All were found at the Swan and we head off down the M6 a well-contented bunch.
A big thanks to all who helped us down the river and to the instructors who still turned out that night to get us rolling at the pool: both reflect the welcome and support that we've unfailingly experienced at the club and which has made getting in a kayak a real pleasure: A cracking day out and big up the MCC.
