Earlier this year the folks from the Family Adventure Store introduced us to Dave Cornthwaite who was looking for some help for an upcoming series of what would be best described as adventurous endeavours.
We had heard of Dave before (vaguely) from a bit of national media coverage of him going to work on his Stand Up Board and previously having undertaken a solo epic to skateboard across Australia!
We are fortunate that a lot of people admire our Palm kit and so we receive a lot of support requests. Sadly we can’t help everyone, so we have to be selective. In Dave’s case he proposed three unique water journeys under the banner of ‘The Great Big Paddle’, in each case using different forms of craft. This alone was intriguing, but nowadays we look for more than just a paddling adventure when we sponsor, so with charitable and educational side projects and a natural ability to generate interest at both local and national levels Dave got our full attention.
That was in the late spring. What has occur ed since is a magnificent journey down the length of the Murray River that is a wonderful and inspirational tale to follow whilst also forming, in our opinion, a superb template for those aspiring to undertake adventure challenge.
After the biblical downpour on the Saturday night of the Gene 17 weekend some of the masses headed towards the Upper Plym in search of something a little steeper. It’s a very unique little run with very few eddies meaning a group of four makes things a little tight.
Notorious for being awkward to catch at the right level, some sunshine is a welcome novelty! Due to the sun we nearly wrote the Plym off as being too low but following the local boys and girls turned out to be a good choice.
Keep your eyes peeled for eddies!
Dave Carroll shaking off a headache in a borrowed boat.
Craig Ayres enjoying his boof. As the guidebook says; you don’t seem to notice and appreciate the unusual scenery this sections winds through.
Mr Westgarth showing some local knowledge on the last splash of steep fun. Not long after this rapid, towards the end of the run, is a nice looking rapid with a ramp at the top… unfortunately, just before the end of the rapid most of the flow diverts through a syphon which is about the right size to jam a paddler and boat.
Simon heading down the run out of the same rapid above.
On the same afternoon, Rob Harris Pikey and myself did the distance run of the west Dart into the Upper Dart into the Dart Loop where my car was conveniently parked. We definitely got our moneys worth from the water!
Saturday night's talks had the bar jam packed - possibly for the talks, or for the free goodies given out in the interval...
This weekend marked the annual Gene17 Adventure Paddlers’ Weekend, bringing together boaters from across the UK and further afield to enjoy some of the Devon’s finest rivers. With good water levels on both days, and a huge turnout both on the rivers and in the bar, the weekend was certainly one to remember
Saturday night’s talks were as always among the weekend’s highlights, kicking off with Adam, Pete, and Spike’s Peruvian adventure, followed by Luke’s series of Vietnamese epics, and some stunning as ever footage from Big O himself Olaf Obsommer. Saturday night also saw a moving and hugely entertaining photographic tribute to Chris Wheeler, offering a brief insight into his incredible life and adventures.
Here are some photos from the weekend, thanks to everybody who came down and got involved. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, so if you haven’t yet been, we look forward to seeing you there…
The group of miscreants collectively known as Team Palm pose for a photo in their shiny new PFD's.
Ed Smith on the lip of Euthanasia Falls.
An anonymous yet noble hero reaching out to a paddler in need.
Paul 'Cheesy' Robertson showing off some silky smooth skills in the Axiom
Tom Parker did sterling work whilst everybody else was dancing, managing to move all 78 of the imaginary boxes which littered the dance floor.
Germanic paddling Legend Olaf Obsommer enjoying the Plym on Sunday.
In between fronts, here in Devon. Team Palm arrived late last night to the River Dart Country Park, with enough time to get a pint of Butcombe Blond at the Church House Inn in Holne.
A fresh morning, awaited, and we headed to the Erme in hope, and hope it was. The base level was there but with no rain in the last 48 hours, meant that there was no fun to be had. So we headed to the Upper Dart and had some fun with Tim Trew, Nick Horwood, Satu Vanska-Westgarth, Shane Cornin and Dave Carroll. Many of the grind and rock spin moves were in, so I showed our guests the fun lines, and a great morning we had.
After lunch, we set up the Palm stand, banners and all. And now wait for Cheese’s famed Thai Green Curry, hmmmm
There is rain due over night, and also Saturday night, so there is more fun in the barrel. Big Simon Hirter has arrived, Matt Tidy, Ed Smith and Rosie Cripps are in bound, Team Palm will be around all weekend, if you wish to ask any questions, or see the delights of the new EV and AV PFDs or the flash Gradient shoes…….
