Lake district low water desperation boating

We had a visit to the Lakes scheduled long in advance, surely something would be running in mid Feb, prime UK boating season....

Well no... Pretty much everything in the Lakes was dry, so it was the fallback option ... The mighty Kent!!!

The lowest I have ever paddled it, it was a bit scratchy in places, but all the gorges were worthwhile, and was probably the only place in the lakes that had any water.

Cheryl and I were joined by Goodsy and Jonny Laud... Good to see Goodsy has 'retired' the Queen Mary......

Heading into the first Gorge below Prizet bridge

The first slot

The upper gorge

Force Falls.....

So the river was low, but at least it was paddling, and hopefully the next time we're up there we'll catch it at more classic levels...

Snowboarding in Tignes

Suffering a lack of the white stuff, we headed out to Tignes in the French alps. Luckily plenty of snow had fallen just prior to our arrival!!! Tignes has a great reputation for off piste, and it didn't dissapoint.

The view from the Hotel was just stunning...

Beautiful hidden valley gorge run.

Andy finds the only tree on the mountain....

Miles and miles of Open snowfields and glaciers, and onlya few draglifts.

Park action from Cheryl

Some serious off piste, and exploration.... Huge mountains to explore... Thanks Andy and Steve for joining Cheryl and Simon!!

Xmas and New Year in the Lakes

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy new year!!!!

Wedding season!

Its been a busy summer with no less than three weddings in the last couple of months, all with associated stag and hen nights... Even with these hiccups in the kayaking calendar to work around, we've been able to get out onto some great rivers in North Wales, and managed to make good use of the biblical flood conditions in the Lakes recently.

First up was Robs Stag do... A great weekend in North Wales, Biking, boating and drinking. Rob did exceptionally well to be actually mobile and able to paddle the next day(with some persuasion)

He's normally a bit slimmer, but that is his normal biking gear

The big ramp at Llandegla

Mr Box head made an appearance later that night, or the night after.....

Rob looking surprisingly well, and able to kayak the next day (a major achievement)

The day of the wedding!

The Wedding was also a great event. Congratulations Rob and Bub.

Next up was my brother Mark and Hannah. A great day out in London for the Stag do (no photos survive), then a fantastic night down south for the wedding at a great venue.

Dad and Mark

Hannah and Mark

Granny Wiles's Wedding cake spectacular

End of night shots!!

Finally our good friends Damon and Ashley from Vermont. What better excuse to visit our favorite place in the world. We managed to arrive just in time for hen and stag dos, then had a week to see what we are missing in Vermont, before the Wedding. Unfortunately it was pretty dry which meant no Vermont creeking, but we did get to hike and visit all our favorite restaurants. Thanks to Jonny for putting us up again. We did have to go home to the UK but hopefully we'll be back soon....

Stag do survivors photo - morning after in Montreal!

Cheryl and DamonSimon and Ashley

And finally Cheryl and Simon

We used to work just by that chimney!!

Hiking Mt Abe, near Bristol VT

Beautiful Fall colours!

Hiking with Ed

The weekend after we got back to the UK, the heavens opened. As huge amounts of rain fell, we headed up to the lakes, and found great conditions. We paddled some new rivers, as well as some old favorites. I think that certainly Welsh and Vermont ditches have some rivals for the 'most manky' award in Wasdale beck! (it was great really!) It was great to catch up and paddle with Mark and Heather after so long too!

Backbarrow falls - no head room!

Duddon rockiness

Birks Beck - scary low bridges and wire fences!!!

Wasdale beck - steep with relatively few fences (2)