Twymyn and Dulas

• Late Steve
• Forgotten boat
• Fried Breakfast
• Mc Donalds
• Twymyn
• Poor navigation
• Gorge inspected
• Big boilly water and interesting falls  tail squirts
• Get in arranged
• Dulas at Llanidloes

Access was quick and well arranged with the shuttle run and the boats quickly by the river bank.

A landowner approached one of our number and quite rightly asked us to use the gate rather than climb over it. He had no objections to us accessing the river but did not want the gate damaged. The first through the gate had presumed it locked when in fact they had not worked the catch properly.

The river was at a medium level and therefore promised an exciting trip. We headed off with me leading. Round the first bend we came to double gate hung across the river. With care this could be snuck close to the left-hand bank.

Directly below this was a tree strainer that necessitated a portage. Grade two to three water took us on to yet another fence that again was portaged – river left.

The dramatic gorge is then entered as the river drops into a steep sided rocky gorge.

Nick and Mike were now sharing the leading and two constrictions and tight drops followed both grade 3+ to 4 at the level. The falls were effectively a double drop with a small pool in between, they were both run together.

The gorge continued round tight bends with small eddies and swift flowing water.

I remembered from my last run, many years ago that something of interest was approaching and shouted to Mike and Nick that the next drop needed inspecting. I was correct, as the drop was a nasty slot that dropped river right into a near vertical fall, which seemed to be undercut and had a boilly pile to the left of the slot. The slot continued down for about 10 meters before the gorge opens out again.

Mike, Nick and I decided to portage and Nick and Mike launched into the water of the ledge below the slot. I had signalled that everyone needed to inspect and everyone was exiting their boats on the rocks alongside the slot.

With little warning Steve had entered his boat and was running the drop.  He had passed his throwline to Ian and made his way through the water to the top of the slot. He dropped into the slot and there was an almighty thump as his boat came into contact with something hard. He and his boat disappeared completely.

I pulled out my throwline and prepared for him to swim out. I shouted to Mike and Nick down stream to alert them to the possibility of a swimmer.

After 15 seconds there was still no sign of him. The water was frothy white and his bright red boat was not visible at all. Ian through SteveÂ’s line into the froth as hard as he could. It washed down and through but was of little use.

I saw Barry walk towards the slot and look up and down the narrow fissure. Ian and I were doing the same and exchanged looks.

At about 20 seconds his bright yellow paddles popped out floated off down stream. I was slightly relieved as this meant that the drop was releasing something. I continued to scan the water hoping to see Steve follow. He didnÂ’t. At this point I realised I had no idea what I could do to help. I couldnÂ’t get near the slot and the water was flowing too fast to get back up stream to it. As I passed the bank I saw Mike or Nick throw SteveÂ’s paddles to the bank with a flash of yellow.

30 seconds to a minute after Steve entered the slot his boat popped up. And continued off down stream. Good Steve would now be free. I was again concerned as his boat turned over and he was not in it.

Some ten seconds later he popped up. He was very, very grey and I thought he had blood on his face. I later learnt that the blood was in fact the line of his nose clip. Ian threw the line again and it landed in front of him. Ian’s shout of “line” was clearly unnoticed.

I had not unclipped my crab from my throwline but threw the bag square in front of SteveÂ’s face as he passed me heading down the tight fissure. This time he either heard my shout or saw the line and grabbed hold. Becky had also grabbed the line as the force of the water was pulling the line from my hand and in my haste I pad pulled little rope from the bag. I was being pulled along the rock toward the river.

Barry had jumped in to aid him and we swung Steve into the eddy below.

I shouted at Steve and reached down into the water and grabbed his wrist. His weight pulled me towards the edge. Becky grabbed my BA to provide support. This put me back on balance but stopped my from reaching Steve. Steve in the water said calmly but weakly “ I’ve swallowed a lot of water, get me out”

I told Becky to let go of me and grabbed SteveÂ’s BA Strap. I pulled hard and he wriggled onto the bank. I checked Barry was safe and sat Steve down.

It was at this point I realised my throwline was missing. When shouting to Becky to let go she had let go of my line as well as me.

Ian and the others checked he was ok as I climbed out of the gorge. I continued down the bank for about 50 meters to see Mike and Nick with SteveÂ’s boat on the bank. There was good scramble down to the river, but they shouted up to me confirming that both the boat and paddles were safe.

I checked Steve was ok to paddle – explained that he could climb along to his boat and down to the water. Off he set.

Grade three water followed and Mike, Nick and I shared the leading to get down the river as quickly and smoothly as possible.

A single barbed wire strand was the next obstacle encountered. This was the remains of a fence, which I could lift from the bank with my paddle in order to let the rest of the group past.  I then climbed the fence on the bank and rejoined the group.

A further tree strainer was portaged and we continued on down stream through grade three drops.

A narrow weir was next in a u shape concrete gully. This was quickly inspected from the side and shot by all. There was a beautiful  surf wave on this weir but there was no time to play!

The Clewedog confluence followed and flatter paddling through to Llanidloes. Things picked up again and the three storey houses fronting the water at Llanidloes followed.

This was an exciting rapid, much bigger than when I had previously run it! The Severn confluence followed with friendly waves from a local and the Llanidloes surf wave. Again this was in superb form but after a quick surf it was time to get off and changed.