White water rafting... in the Avon?!

White water rafting... in the Avon?!

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splodge s4

Original Poster:

1,519 posts

243 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
quotequote all
Not having raced down hill on my mountain bike for a few months we are in need of an adrenalin rush. Living next to the river gave me an idea, as you all probably know its flowing pretty quick at the moment & bursting its banks, the weirs at Keynsham & Hanham are completely flat & flowing nicely, there’s a raging torrent of water rushing from Saltford, right past our house & out.

On the weekend were thinking of getting our 4 birth rib, plonking it in the river at Keynsham, donning the life jackets & riding the currents all the way back home. Living next to the rowing club makes life easier as when we come to it we can just aim for the slip way, switch the engine on & run a ground!

I've rafted in Canada & Germany but never the Avon. Apart from the obvious danger of drowning, anyone think of a better way to spend a wet weekend?

Edit to say: Anyone else got a small rib & fancy coming along? Be a right laugh if there was a few of us?! biggrin

Edited by splodge s4 on Thursday 17th January 14:05

mcspreader

328 posts

267 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
quotequote all
'kin nutter.

Xenocide

4,286 posts

214 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
quotequote all
It's so high round here atm that going under the arches on bridges would be the most challenging bit. How would you stop?

Be careful!

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

216 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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Xenocide said:
How would you stop?
using the brickwork?

splodge s4

Original Poster:

1,519 posts

243 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
Xenocide said:
It's so high round here atm that going under the arches on bridges would be the most challenging bit. How would you stop?

Be careful!
Well from Keynsham to the rowing club, theres no bridges, theres the weir at Hanhan (by the chequers pub) but the water is level so you can just flow over it. To stop you just need to move out the current, i've studied the flow & its only fast in the middle, theres no currents to the sides.

Hitting submerged 'danger deep water' signs is a risk though. biggrin

The river this morning looks like its near normal levels but with all the rain forecast we'll have to see if its possible.

Fidgits

17,202 posts

235 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
rofl

it would be funny certainly..

agent006

12,058 posts

270 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
Leave it a couple of days and you can come and use Tewkesbury High Street.

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

216 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
splodge s4 said:
Xenocide said:
It's so high round here atm that going under the arches on bridges would be the most challenging bit. How would you stop?

Be careful!
Hitting submerged 'danger deep water' signs is a risk though. biggrin
reminds me of when trigger was talking about walking into a mind your head sign because at the time he couldn't read

carrotchomper

17,958 posts

210 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
Bristol's awash with water- All of the rivers, canals and even floating harbour seem rather high.. Rather thee than me, fast-flowing water scares the cr@p out of me!

Still, sounds a marginally more sensible idea than the gaggle of rowers I saw going up the Feeder canal in the pouring rain at 0730 last Sunday as I was en route to work... Engine power is way forward.

bint

4,664 posts

230 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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Other half used to paddle a fair bit, i've done some in my time too - sounds like a laugh - wonder if he'd be tempted....

Sixpackpert

4,663 posts

220 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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I'll be hovercrafting on the Severn tomorrow, and probably up a few high streets as well!!

Edited by Sixpackpert on Friday 18th January 21:39

Obiwonkeyblokey

5,400 posts

246 months

Monday 21st January 2008
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now that looks more like it!

splodge s4

Original Poster:

1,519 posts

243 months

Monday 21st January 2008
quotequote all
Sixpackpert said:
I'll be hovercrafting on the Severn tomorrow
How was it? We didn't do the Avon in the end, at Conham the river was pretty near normal levels so no fun, at Hanham & Keynsham it was pretty high, infact over the lock gates.

Maybe next week... do a rain dance, now i've never asked that before! biggrin


Sixpackpert

4,663 posts

220 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2008
quotequote all
splodge s4 said:
Sixpackpert said:
I'll be hovercrafting on the Severn tomorrow
How was it? We didn't do the Avon in the end, at Conham the river was pretty near normal levels so no fun, at Hanham & Keynsham it was pretty high, infact over the lock gates.

Maybe next week... do a rain dance, now i've never asked that before! biggrin
Smooth as ice. We were expecting some nice waves as the tide changed for a bit of fun but nothing, hardly even a ripple!

Good day out though, no rain and a few pubs en route thumbup