We drove down on Saturday morning as to avoid the late night drive, it didn't however help us avoid the traffic. Fortunately as the traffic started to get bad we turned off to Bulwer where we were met with heavy mist and put our Saturday paddling plans to bed. Our plan was to go and paddle either the Umzumkulu waterfall section or the Umko section below Lundies. I decided to go check out the waterfall section as I hadn't ever been there. After a lot of driving we found the put in on Stoke's farm, where a new camp site is being built, which, when finished will be great for paddlers.
As there was only two of us keen and we never knew the section and the weather was getting dodge we gave paddling the full section a miss. I paddled the first drop on the section which is a nice easy 3 metre waterfall right at the putin. I ran it twice although at this low level it's a piece of cake.
3Metre on waterfall section
We headed back to the Nip Inn at Bulwer where we were staying after a few close encounters with goats in the mist. The weather was really getting horrid and we opted for staying in a bungalow instead of camping. Maybe I am getting soft in my old age but a soft dry bed was great.
Mike met us there first thing in the morning and after many sorrys we piled into my bakkie and headed for the putin. The water was... drum roll.... low. Horribly low, well maybe not horribly but about as low as you would like to run it in a croc. I headed back to the Nip Inn and sorted out the drive round. We headed off and paddled the endless flat before the first gorge. This section has a nice set of rapids after an hour or so into the trip. It starts off with a largish one and is then fairly continuous with smaller grade 3 odd rapids before an nice technical one. At this low level not too many problems where encountered except for getting the croc stuck on the odd rock.
Mike and me surfing a small wave
After the gorge the river flattens out and with nothing more than the odd wave train. Just about half way and when you are least expecting it there is a somewhat nasty drop at the bottom of an innocuous wave train. The croc gave this one a miss and Mike and I ran it. I went first, I over boofed, was pushed up against the wall and went over. Not too much off a problem as the channel is quite deep, just a little narrow. Mike's run was better although he also hit the wall.
My run down the narrow drop
My run down the narrow drop
We camped shortly after this rapid and got ready of a wet night. Mike and Bryden made an awesome fire, which with coffee, raised our spirits. Thankfully we had decided to take tents which made the night a whole lot more comfy as it rained on add off all night.
What the rain did not do was increase the level, so we headed off slowly down the river. The river goes into another smaller gorge again. There are a few nice rapids. There was one which was just too bony get the croc down, so Bryden paddle half of it and we lined it down the rest. Mike and I ran it with out too much difficulty.
After the gorge there is one small natural weir, avoid the left as the suck back is bad but at low levels you can run it pretty much dead centre. From here on the river flattens out a lot and it is a bit of a haul to the tale out. The heavens opened as we reached the first bridge, it was decided to get out there and deal with a crappy take out. Mike and I hitched a lift from a very generous truck driver. We landed up going through a road block and had to plead with the officers as to why there where 4 of us in the front of the cab. After much chatting we were let off and did the rest of the drive round.
Great trip, great river, more water would have been nice but what can you do.
Thanks okes for a killer trip, pitty more people didn't come. This is a great section for explorers trips, nice rapids, not too much flat and fairly easy logistics.
All photos by Laura Manley
What the rain did not do was increase the level, so we headed off slowly down the river. The river goes into another smaller gorge again. There are a few nice rapids. There was one which was just too bony get the croc down, so Bryden paddle half of it and we lined it down the rest. Mike and I ran it with out too much difficulty.
After the gorge there is one small natural weir, avoid the left as the suck back is bad but at low levels you can run it pretty much dead centre. From here on the river flattens out a lot and it is a bit of a haul to the tale out. The heavens opened as we reached the first bridge, it was decided to get out there and deal with a crappy take out. Mike and I hitched a lift from a very generous truck driver. We landed up going through a road block and had to plead with the officers as to why there where 4 of us in the front of the cab. After much chatting we were let off and did the rest of the drive round.
Great trip, great river, more water would have been nice but what can you do.
Thanks okes for a killer trip, pitty more people didn't come. This is a great section for explorers trips, nice rapids, not too much flat and fairly easy logistics.
All photos by Laura Manley
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