During the first week of the Easter holidays, nine Sixth Formers travelled to Herefordshire and Monmouthshire to embark on their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award qualifying canoeing expedition. Despite initial wind and rain while setting up camp and recapping skills at Preston- on-Wye, the team’s enthusiasm never wavered.  

The first official day of the expedition was much improved weather wise, and we eagerly began our 34.5km long journey, breathing in the glorious wildlife by the river, as well as the aesthetics of the houses. The 34.5km journey was conquered in spectacular fashion, with the 9 of us putting our rafting skills into practice so that we didn’t finish too early due to our amazing talent and speed. The biggest challenge provided that day was disembarking a mere metre away from a very angry-looking swan. 

Day 2 was similar, but with better company than a swan: the sun. Once again, we were equivalent to the pace of a cheetah, and rafted up for the afternoon, and enjoyed the atmosphere of sunny Herefordshire, with us all taking turns to relax and stretch our legs. However, once again, we were faced with a challenge: attempting not to float into trees. Unfortunately, despite our heroic efforts, this happened repeatedly. On a positive note, we were rewarded for our hard work with the campsite proving to be the most luxurious with our own field and our own facilities. We also had time to explore the park and the picturesque view of Ross-on-Wye, just on our doorstep. 

Day 3 brought a mix of adrenaline and local wildlife. The group successfully paddled through 50m of man-made rapids. While most handled it like still water, one boat took on enough water to create its own “mini swimming pool”. This year, every canoe went down facing forwards all the way – well done.  The campsite was shared with several wild boars, necessitating a tactical move of all tents to a different field 500m away. The team reached the bridge over the River Wye into Wales, an exhilarating milestone for the group.  

The final morning began with ice on the tent exteriors, but the team pushed forward with the mental image of a Colin the Caterpillar cake to keep them motivated. They finished their journey triumphant, having paddled over 100km across two countries over four days. 

A massive thank you to Mrs Tanton and Mr Sykes for accompanying the group. It was a particularly special trip as the group celebrated Mrs Tanton’s birthday on the river. Finally, thank you to Matt and Maya from Dynamic Adventures. Our assessors were incredibly supportive and even complimented the team as the best Gold DofE canoeing group they have ever assessed. Next year’s participants certainly have a high standard to meet!