So after uni last Friday Tom, Derf, Alex and myself set a course for North Wales for a wet weekend of Advanced White Water Safety and Rescue training provided by Tom Parker. Arriving in the wee hours on Saturday morning, and waking all the happy campers up with our car which resembles the growl of a tractor, we set up camp in the Carrog Station campsite just outside Corwen and bedded down for the night before our early start.
On Saturday morning, after a top notch full English in Cafe and Books, Llangollen (where we found Tom P) we headed straight to the Aberglaslyn Gorge for a couple of (boney) warm up runs before taking to the bank to set up some rough, ready and rapid mechanical advantage systems.
The Gorge has some great little cliffs to practice belaying and bank based skills from. Hours later and covered in mud after a day of practicing we headed to a local cafe for a good cuppa. Saturday night saw us battle through the crowds in Llangollen (!) who had clearly enjoyed the rugby as we found a bite to eat and tired after a day on the water we headed back to camp.
The drizzle cleared in time for us to pack up the tents and re-squash the car on Sunday morning, after which we headed across to Bala for some fun on the Tryweryn. Chase boating practice ensued, with some of the boats ("My nose!" cries Alex) and people ("My nose!" cries Alby) coming off worse than others.
Plenty of swimming, throwing lining, body surfing, live baiting and hole rescuing was enjoyed after lunch, just as the sun came out to warm us up. A quick paddle over Bala Mill Falls and some pinning/injury scenario practice brought and end to a great weekend.
Tractor car, 4 boats, kit and people made the long drive back to London
on Sunday evening in one piece wishing we could have stayed for another
couple of days!
Many thanks to Tom Parker for a great weekend (www.tomparkercoaching.co.uk).
Many thanks to Tom Parker for a great weekend (www.tomparkercoaching.co.uk).
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| The next Hanson album cover...surely |
