No Salt Today 13/01/2010

With everything coming to a standstill again due to the snow I decided to make the most of my day off work and go for a paddle. There would be no salt water though and judging by the state of the roads there was no salt on them either!

I set off to the River Taff which is usually only a 10 minute drive but today it took slightly longer due to the snow.

Launching from just above Radyr Weir I paddled upstream passing under the M4 motorway bridge by junction 32 towards Castell Coch.

I continue paddling upstream until I reach the railway bridge by Real Radio where I stop as there is a small stretch of faster flowing water and I didn't fancy a portage.

I stop for a bit before paddling back downstream and take some photos of Castell Coch set back amongst the trees. Castell Coch is a Victorian folly built for the 3rd Marquis of Bute in the 1870s on the ruins of a medieval castle.

Paddling back downstream I was surprised how warm it was so on reaching the Landrover I made a phone call home to see if Bobby wanted to go for a paddle, he didn't need to be asked twice.

Within the hour we were back on the water with Bobby well wrapped up but raring to go.

We again paddled upstream and Bobby had great delight paddling through the dripping water caused by the now thawing snow as we paddled under the motorway bridge.

We carried on paddling and Bobby was very pleased with himself as he managed to make it further up the river today than he has done before and seems very determined to get further taking note of every detail on the bank to use it as a marker next time.

Bobby found the paddle back a lot easier and both of us had enjoyed our day off due to the snow and maybe next time he will make it up to Castell Coch.

Freshwater Weekend 29/03/2009

Yesterday at the crack of dawn my son and I left for Nottingham for the Paddlefest. We were a bit disappointed on arrival as we thought it would have been a bit bigger and more similar to the Canoe Expo that we attended last year.

After having a good look around we walked over to the whitewater course where there was plenty to entertain us. We spent a good couple of hours watching all that was going on with Bobby thoroughly enjoying numerous kayak acrobatics and capsizes, and coming away with some very big ideas for an 8 year old!

Today, with Bobby still full of enthusiasm, we ventured on a much more sedate River Taff, under the watchful eyes of my wife, the father in law and my youngest son Harry.

Messing about on the River 15/02/2009

An easier day than yesterday taking my eldest son Bobby for his first paddle on the River Taff. He has been out on the sea before but this was his first excursion on fresh water.

He enjoyed it but preferred the paddle back down the river rather than the paddle up against the flow!

Where's the Wind Then?! 25/01/09

After watching the forecasts all week I had resigned to another weekend of no paddling due to the predicted high winds, so I was rather surprised to wake up yesterday to very light winds.

Checking the internet force 8 was forecast with possible 10 later, so we took a trip to Up and Under's new shop on Penarth Road which is dedicated mostly to paddling. Quite impressive with plenty of space to view all the goodies.

The wind eventually picked up late afternoon with high winds forecast all day for Sunday. So again, much to my surprise, I woke up this morning to hardly any wind. Checking the internet again, this was not forecast, so thinking that the wind would increase at any time I decided to go for a short paddle on the River Taff.

With the recent rain the river was a lot higher than usual and flowing quite fast. Paddling about a mile and a half upstream certainly got the old ticker and arms pumping, good practice for paddling against tide streams!

The return trip back down the river was a lot faster but I prolonged the paddle by constantly ferry gliding back and forth across the river, again more practice for crossing tide streams.

I didn't attempt to go down the weir today, far too gnarly!

The wind again didn't pick up until late afternoon so I don't know what was going on with the forecasts but they don't usually get it wrong. I think I made the right decision not to venture out to sea especially this time of year.

What No Salt!!! 23/11/2008

With no paddling on the last two weekends due to the windy conditions, and this one being the same, I was going a bit stir crazy and decided to go for a paddle on the River Taff, my local river.

Launching just above Radyr Weir I paddled upstream passing under the M4 with Castell Coch dominating the hillside above the river.

Castell Coch, translated from Welsh is the Red Castle, was built on the remains of a 14th century castle in the 1870's and completed in 1891 for the Third Marquis of Bute.

Paddling up a little further to a small stretch of white water where, when there is more water in the river, there is a small wave to play on.

I turn around and have a leisurely paddle back down the river to Radyr Weir which, again, could have done with having a bit more water going over it, but even still was good fun and I got a good soaking at the bottom.

Only a short paddle but good to get back on the water even though it wasn't salty!

Change of plan - 16/03/08

After checking the internet on Saturday night I had my doubts for the morning, then looking out of the window on Sunday, had confirmation by the swaying trees that my planned trip on the sea would be put off for yet another weekend. Due to a fair bit of heavy rain Saturday at least the river would be a bit higher so opted for a 'leisurely paddle' up stream.

On arrival at my usual launch site I was not disappointed as the water level was a fair bit higher than the previous fortnight. Turned and paddled upstream and realised immediately that this was going to be far from leisurely!

As well as fighting against the current I also had to dodge the odd obstacle coming towards me i.e trees, tyres etc....

After about 45 minutes of hard slog I managed to reach the railway bridge by Real Radio. I had paddled one and quarter miles and reached an average speed of about 1.3 mph. Knowing I couldn't go much further I had a well deserved breather and took some photos.

My return journey should be a lot easier with the flow. Managed to get back to my launch point in ten minutes reaching a maximum speed of 10.5 mph.

Due to the volume of water in the River the sluice gates were actually serving their purpose in preventing too much water entering the feeder.

These sluice gates feed the Melingriffith Feeder which then makes its way to the old Glamorganshire Canal, where they run in parallel down to the old Tin Works and out the other side at Melingriffith Lock. Built in 1749, the Melingriffith Tinplate Works sat on or near the site of an old corn mill that had existed as far back as the twelfth century. It was once the largest tin works in the UK, until the construction of the Treforrest Tin Works. The works closed in 1957, and today the only obvious traces that the works ever existed at all are the Melingriffith Feeder that runs down from the River Taff. The works themselves appear to have been completely cleared, and the site today is a modern housing estate.

After doing the obligatory risk assessment, which is a compulsory must these days, it was deemed stupid to attempt the weir today without the necessary rescue team on hand!

On the Taff - 02/03/08

Decided on a different type of water this weekend as I thought that the wind was a bit too strong for going any decent distance on the sea, therefore opted for a paddle on my local river, the Taff. I launched just above Radyr Weir and paddled up river. Even though it wasn't very high the flow was surprisingly strong and I averaged only about 2.2mph!

Just as I got to the motorway bridge I made my customary detour to the opposite side of the river so as not to disturb the 'ever so friendly' fishermen, should leave them a bag for their rubbish!!

As I pass under the bridge I get my first glimpse of Castell Coch, meaning Red Castle, nestled in the trees.

This fairytale creation of the Victorian age was designed by William Burges for the 3rd Marquis of Bute. The Castle was rebuilt from the ruins of a medieval castle and, with a few exceptions, is a fairly authentic reconstruction, at least externally.

The original castle was probably built at the end of the 11th century or early in the 12th century, and it was possibly at this time that the stone castle comprising a small oval courtyard with three circular towers was built by the Normans at Castell Coch.

Abandoned early in the 14th century, work commenced in 1875 on the complete restoration of the castle which was made into a comfortable home despite intentions to only use it occasionally in the summer. Burges died in 1881 and the castle was not completed until ten years later, however he left detailed drawings of the interiors which were completed by his team of craftsmen.

Next up 'playtime'.

This section of the River is the first bit of rough water, not much but enough to have a bit of fun with. You can often catch a small wave here, nothing like the scale of The Bitches but a good practice all the same. Paddled on for a short while, up as far as the footbridge by Taff's Well railway station, which is now receiving a well needed face lift, then turned back down river.

After a short play about in the rougher water again I carried on down river to The Weir. Radyr Weir was first constructed during 1774-1775 to provide water along a feeder to power the Mellingriffith tin-plate works. This weir is the third obstruction to migratory fish and kayakers on the river Taff, the others being Llandaff Weir and Blackweir, all of these have fish passes.

Weir could have done with a bit more water in it for a better ride down, but still got a fair soaking!

Since the early 1980s the salmon and sea trout stocks in the Taff have been recovering from nearly 200 years of industrial pollution and exploitation. During 1993 the National Rivers Authority monitored over 500 salmon and 700 sea trout returning to the river to spawn. Therefore warranting a need for these fish passes at the weirs, although not quite sure how they get up them!