Relief at last..........

I finished work at 4am on Sunday morning, got home and went straight to bed, I was up at 945am to get ready to head out the door. At the back of my mind was the thought of the up and coming night shift I was going to have to do later in the day. It was all worth the agony though as for the first time in two months we had some water in the rivers.

Frankie picked me up and we decided to head to North Wales for a limb loosener after our two month forced exile from boating. I've got to admit that I was skeptical of the water reports as we made the journey to Wales, everything looked dry but Frankie showed faith and optimism as we drove to our destination - the Aberglaslyn Gorge. We had decided to bang out a few laps on this classic run to get us back into the swing of things. We had a great day, I just hope we don't have to wait two months again for more of the same.........


The famous Breaker - montage style


A view of the gorge from the take out bridge - a nice medium level


Getting ready to put on the river


Approaching the Breaker, not the most steep section, but probably the chunkiest....


Middle line on the Breaker - just point and shoot


Through the hole and into the eddy at the bottom of the breaker


Eddying out into a rare pool in the gorge


Working through a nice section of boulder garden


Frankie lines up a drop towards the end of the gorge


Frankie up to his armpits

Thanks to Frankie for all the photos. Already looking forward to next time

Some stuff from the archives........Portugal 2006

In November 2006, Frankie, The Beast, Grandad, Miguel, Dom, and I took a bit of a fact finding / exploratory trip to Northern Portugal. We found a real hidden treasure. An incredible variety of rivers, amazing scenery, cheap food and drink, and really friendly people. An amazing trip.......


Dom surfs the get on wave - Minho river high water


I go for an ender - Minho River


Miguel hits a nice line on the Mouro


The Beca put in - note our lack of organisation


Running a drop on the Beca


Boof time!


Some Portuguese wildlife


More wildlife


Even the cows look fierce


The Beast gets lost on the way to the Tua put in


The Beast finds a nice Tua surf wave



Grandad having one of his famous front surfs on the Tua


The start of festival night in Chaves


The Beast - our protector


Miguel and I after a little too much Chaves party spirit


Frankie in the Paiva Gorge


Me, getting a boof in the Paiva Gorge


Playwave on the Lower Paiva


Beast throws some ends on the Lower Paiva

Some video of our trip can be found here - http://www.youtube.com/user/smythe82

Some stuff from the archives........USA 2006

Here's a few photos from our trip to the South Eastern States in May 2006. We did 3000 miles in 3 weeks, paddled some great rivers, and hung out with some good friends.....awesome.

Donna, Grandad, Frankie, and I made the trip, and we were well looked after by Snowy, Eli, Lord Lyle, and many others on our trip......


Running Seven Foot Falls on the famous Chattooga


Hell hole back surf


Snowboy straps up for a day on the river


The circus comes to Erwin TN


The Team - Donna, Frankie, Grandad, and I looking over the New River Gorge


I take on the Sinks on the Little River.....superb day out


Missing my boof on Baby Falls - Tellico Ledges


Grandad does it with more style


Dinner is served at Lord Lyles Chateau


Chattooga - a river of legends.....


Grandad runs Seven Foot Falls Chattooga section IV


Eric, Eli, and me - unwinding


Eli gears up for another day at work


Frankie in the midst of Jawbone section IV Chattooga


I run the same rapid


Raft boofing Soc 'em Dog - Donna is in there somewhere


A diificult choice for the team after a day on the Cheoah River