The falls have another somewhat more instinctive name, but I'll let you find that out for yourself - Try it a low level!

Once the party had safely navigated Mills Falls the next couple of whitewater sections are grade two. There was plenty of opportunity to more experience of surfing on waves - something I am still uncomfortable with. While they may be grade two there is still the opportunity to get caught out by unexpected rocks as you go through the rapids. Take a look at the larger versions of the adjacent picture. You still have to pick your line carefully. It doesn't look half as rocky when your on the water above the rapid, perhaps it's just as well.

Still the party got through unscathed. Nick and Kirsten seemed to enjoy it.

The river then narrows and the force of water through the next rapid is considerable offering even more opportunity to hone skills,

[Kirsten - like an old hand]


[Nick - doing it from memory!]

that is once it has been successfully navigated. The fast flow means that breaking in and out needs good technique, and ferry gliding especially so. It was here that a bit of reverse ferry gliding practice almost embarrassed one coach - who shall remain nameless - for the usual consideration. Still the coach rolled back up. Were that me I suspect I would have frozen - in more ways than one.

[Calm before the storm?]

-- The Main Event ---

In a way it was comforting to know that even coaches can get caught out. Another lesson was learned, treat the river with respect, always be on your guard .

Paddlers for some reason love to give evil sounding names to the more challenging rapids. Names that I am convinced are purely designed to sap the confidence of the novice before they even get on the river. On this section of the Leven the case in point is called "The Grave Yard".

The graveyard is a fairly steeply dropping section of rapid covering around 100 meters. It is fast flowing and littered with boulders of every size. You either have to have a little luck or a lot of skill to navigate the right line and avoid getting pinned, broached, 'T'-boned, or simply being rolled over by rocks. With it being such a long rapid with multiple obstacles in quick succession a mistake early on tends to amplify the problems faced by the novice paddler, with often inevitable consequences.

It was Lee's first time on the Leven, indeed it was only his second time on moving water, and as he was to discover, that the Grave Yard is very unforgiving. After talking it through "apres paddle", the line was good but not quite accurate enough. The end result was broaching and lack of experience did the rest - we've all been there - some of us (self included) still are.

The grave yard is quite intimidating to the novice, though it does not seem quite as intimidating from the bank. I shall have to see if that helps me to relax into it the next time!