Total Commitment

We got to run our second river yesterday, the Tai Gong, a few hours out of Taipei and close to Baleng. during the four hour, grade IV-V run, we really started to realise some of the implications of paddling in Taiwan's mountains.

As we rode to the top in a flat-bed truck we were made acutely aware of the implications of the run. The road looped away from the river, separated at the very least by 400m of incredibly steep jungle. Climbing out would be impossible with boats and hours of gruelling bush-bashing without.

We've been amazed by the quality of the rivers out here: the Tai Gong reminded us of a New Zealand West coast run with alternating boulder and bedrock rapids and stunning scenery. It was a real pleasure to paddle with two of the Taiwanese guys, Bear and James. There was a real fusion of styles: they had the low-down on the local knowledge and the landscape while they really appreciated our tight-knit paddling style.

When we reached the take-out, the East-West culture clash hit us as we were invited into the back-room of a local bar and made to sing Karaoke with a couple of heavy-drinking construction workers! Our virtuoso performances of 'I left my heart in San Francisco' and 'Do Ray Me' left our new-found friends agog while their crooning of Taiwanese pop classics whiled away the hour long wait for our shuttle truck.

We're holed up in Taipei for a couple of days now because there's a tropical storm hitting the island this afternoon. That said, the torrential rain and howling winds are going to put paid to our paddling plans for the next couple of days. With the fast run-off we're expecting to be able to get paddling again in a couple of days.

Nan Shih River

On our first river trip yesterday we were hosted by club 222, the local paddling club from Taipei. Arriving in the stifling heat and humidity after a lengthy flight it was good to dip our paddle into our first Taiwanese river. The river feels like something out of the the NZ west coast with big boulders jumbled into the bottom of extremely steep ravines. The reception by the local paddlers has exceeded expectation and been much appreciated. The food is mental from squid on a stick in the night market to snake's penis, we are doing our level best to explore all culinary options.

Getting it Together

We're flying out tomorrow so now's the time for some frantic packing. Plenty of last minute purchases and some frantic boat padding and I'm about ready to go. My boat (a brand new yellow Medium Burn - thanks Pyranha) only arrived this week so I've been a bit rushed getting it sorted. I got it afloat last night to sort my trim out and I've crash-proofed my footrest as well - always a good idea.

Whenever I get a new creek boat I always make sure to build a sandwich footrest: two bulkheads with softer, squishier foam in the middle with plenty of air space to compress. I doubt it would save my ankles if I landed from too high onto rock, but it might mean less time on crutches.

It was seeing two of my friends total their ankles in one summer (James and Rosie) that makes me make the effort. A strongly recommended addition to any creek boat.

When you're packing for a trip, you're normally amazed at how much stuff you're taking. In this case it's the opposite - I'm looking at the pile thinking 'how can I get away with this little for three weeks?'

Part of the answer is that it's hot: I'd expect to take far more for a cold weather destination. As it is, I'm just taking a shortie cag and a pair of shorts to paddle in. There are several important bits in the mix:

1. Filter water bottle by Katadyn - really simple and really effective.
2. Split paddles - always handy.
3. Alpkit wee Airic sleeping mat. A steal at £15.
4. 1 season down sleeping bag.
5. Decent river shoes (Teva Gamma Pros) - if you're in a marble canyon it's a good idea to have some sort of traction.
6. Spectra throwline - better than a standard rope for vertical access work. Let's hope we don't need to test it.
7. 1:50 000 maps of the Eastern mountains. Handy for finding rivers.
8. Elbow pads - enough said.
9. First aid kit
10. Astral Rescue 300 buoyancy aid. I'm reviewing it for Plughole.
11. LED headtorch. Handy for walking out of rivers in the dark...

And this is it - packed! Hand luggage and a bit extra to fit in the boat. Let's hope they're not too strict about the 22kg weight limit...

EWINIAR God of Storms

Two days to go and my spanking new Dagger Mamba should arrive in any minute. Then i'm off home to pad it out, saw my toothbrush in half (Check out BA's new baggage allowance) and worry about the typhoon dubbed "god of storms" building in the Western Pacific...

Keep checking back for news on the ensuing carnage!