The Upper Dart (Feb 2005)
After a great Friday night out for Dom’s non leaving do where I had the best compliment yet ‘You are looking really good … for a lady of advanced years!’ (The guy had clearly had one too many) I decided before I advanced much more I should do the Upper Dart. That is how I ended up sitting in the car park at the docks with Rich Puttock and a guy called Pete praying that Conor and Lisa would not turn up so I would not have to paddle this river that I have always said I would never do. I am a grade 3 kind of girl and plan to stay that way, I blame several people for my being here, namely Tony and Nick for getting me on the Rhondda for some grade 4 (and enjoying it), Matt for telling me I should never do it and then changing his mind, Avis for being my role model and having done it as a beginner in a glass fibre boat and mainly myself for being so easily influenced! However, reliable as ever Conor and Lisa turn up despite Lisa not having gone to bed till 3am so not being on top form. There was to be no getting out of it except the sky looked ominously black so maybe it would rain so much the level would be too high…
We arrived at New Bridge and apparently the entire universe of paddlers were doing the loop although the water levels were disappointingly low, there was no further possibility of escape, maybe I had forgotten some kit but no it had to happen! So the 5 of us set off from Dartmeet at a ‘perfect’ level and twisted and turned our way down a reassuringly comfortable grade 3 but as the weather got increasingly colder, the rain got heavier and turned to hail, the northerly winds blew us around and heavy showers of snow came down so the river got steeper and the drops got bigger. Not only did they get bigger but you had to avoid big rocks in the way, however with a lot of swearing at myself- those familiar with the Treasure style of paddling know it involves shouting words banned in my house and hoping the sound of the water covers it, I got down each one with a little grin to myself. Then we got to the ‘pink rock drop’ also known as lucky Tor. Rich went first, disappeared out of sight, followed by Lisa who disappeared out of sight. We could then see them both in the distance at the bottom and off I went, barely got around the corner and went over, upside down all the way down eventually getting out the bottom only to find Rich had rolled, Lisa had swum and I should have waited longer! The other two portaged, Lisa had lost both boots and Rich twisted his ankle in clambering over the rocks. A little further on after some downhills- if I was on my bike I could have got off and walked- it happened again! Boat turned over and despite vague attempts to roll, I decided to bail but due to frozen hands I could not get my deck off for what seemed like several minutes, eventually popped it and appeared a little pale and shaky with everyone ready to roll me over.
So here we are only half way down, the female contingent a little cold and wet and missing 2 boots and a pogey but onwards and downwards, the good news being that we can portage Pandora’s box and Euthanasia. The bad news being that I am being too pathetic to carry my boat very well- especially when the wind kept blowing it around and Conor nobly carried it for me. Rich then ran Euthanasia; Pandora’s box was avoided by all and still the river kept going downstream with more big drops and still the hail showers kept coming! It gradually got back to a very pleasant grade 3 and finally the bridge came in sight and what a pleasant sight it was. But I did it! Tired, blood sugar levels low, cold and unfit but I had conquered the Mighty Dart. Thanks to great leading by Rich and lots of support from Conor and Lisa I had arrived at the end in one piece. With the compliment from Rich ‘I did well for a lady of advanced years’ I was made up and off we went in advanced persons style to the nearest teashop for afternoon tea!
Teresa Treasure
