We have been going to Kepplewray in March for about six years now and each year there is always something that is memorable about the weekend!

This year it was paddling on Wastwater in the west of the Lake District.  Wastwater is the deepest lake in England and nestles at the foot of Scarfell Pike which is the highest mountain in England.  It is a wild, rugged place that is not too dissimilar to the highlands of Scotland.  When we were there, there were few walkers around as it was so early in the season, but later, during the summer, the place is packed and parking is a problem.  For once the weather was kind to us, warm and sunny at times.  The sky was blue with some light clouds and a bit of a breeze  to make things more interesting.  Wastwater is only about half an hour's drive from where we were staying and we were on the water by 10.30 which is probably a record for us.  Two of my paddling friends from Gloucester came up for the weekend to paddle with us, they can be recognised by the blue and yellow kayaks.  Ed is a level 3 kayak coach and Sue, his wife is level 2.  The other chap in the orange BA paddling the MI is a member of our club and lives in Ilkley.  That's the introductions over.
The lake is only four miles in length and we had a leisurely paddle to the north end for lunch, and then with the help of the breeze, sailed and/or paddled back to where we parked the cars.  We had a short break and then most of us paddled to the start of the River Irt at the south end which was too low to paddle so we stayed on the lake.  It was a lovely day in some majestic surroundings and a first for everyone - none of us had canoed on the lake before.

On the Sunday the plan was to paddle the Lune from Rigmaden to Devil's Bridge, but the water was only just pouring over the last rapid above the bridge, so that was a non-starter!  In the end we paddled the bottom part of the Rothay from Pelter Bridge, and that was a scrape!  Finn met us at the car park at Waterhead and Alison came up to join us.   Even the last weir was very low, but for those who hadn't paddled outside before it was a good introduction to moving water.  Once into Windermere, we turned right and explored some of the bays around the top of the lake and then stopped at Lowe Raye campsite for a short break and the use of their toilets. Finally, reluctantly, we paddled back across to Waterhead, packed our gear away, retrieved the cars left at the start and finished the weekend off with a cup of tea and sticky bun in a lakeside cafe.  Goodbyes were said to those from the south and we went our separate ways home. The proble with weekends is that they are only two days long. 
This year there were only 11 booked for the weekend which was a little disappointing.  Maybe folk had been put off by the wet, windy and cold weather we had over the last two years, but there is nothing we can do about the weather - we just have to take what comes.  This year the weather was fine and we had a great time,but  a little more water would have been perfect.

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