Adrian Tregoning

Back of the Moon – A Satisfying Quickie

My first trip down this section of the Riviersonderend had been in a huge hurry so I was eager to idle down the short, but enjoyable section with a small group. This time I climbed on with Rowan Walpole, Braam Rademeyer and Alex Rose. Alex was the first person to have paddled this section and knows it better than anyone. It was sure to be a fun afternoon!

This time our shuttle vehicle would be left at the bottom. Alex and Rowan ran that while Braam and I chilled. At the take out the chap who had harassed us on the previous occasion now came with stories how another group had provoked him and what not. Whatever buddy! You were pissed out of your mind and I’m sure DWAF would not be pleased to hear that. In any case, we told him to leave us alone and eventually he did. But that’s another story.

Canola fields on the way there.

Rowan Walpole hard at work behind the wheel.

The spillway from the Theewaterskloof Dam - ask Rowan to pronounce it for you...

The dam still overflowing enough to provide us with some action.

A pretty flower growing in the sand.

More flowers!

This beetle had taken a big hit but was still alive and well. Tough buggers!

Braam Rademeyer getting kitted up.

Adrian Tregoning messing around by wearing Rowan's Gath on backwards.... Welcome to earth... Photo by Braam Rademeyer.

The level was a lot lower this time but we had driven all this way and were committed to the run. It still looked like it was going to be good fun. The first rapid went down without a hitch. I bombed down first and that was that. Everyone had smooth lines and we got through the pool below. There was a small rapid on a slight left bend then the start of another good rapid on a slight right bend. There is a large pyramid rock in the middle and it looks very different with so little water. While there are not any big holes it was way more technical and I actually enjoyed it more at this low level. It made the river a little harder and thus the fun factor for everyone increased somewhat.

Braam Rademeyer on the second rapid.

Another fun rapid. Run on river right, not left.

Braam Rademeyer chilling out.

Alex Rose on the first part.

Braam Rademeyer with a quick recovery on a small mistake. Thanks for the eye candy Braam! :-)

Adrian Tregoning on the same rapid. Photos by Braam Rademeyer.

Rowan Walpole the last one to come through. Photos by Braam Rademeyer.

We hit a few other rapids, filmed at one spot and then moved down to Helter Skelter. Braam decided he wasn’t going to run it so went around on the right with my camera. We scouted from the left. The scout was from far back and also high up. Most of our information was from Alex and we planned our route accordingly. I guess we all see thing very differently and when I run it again and I will definitely take a different route. But we still had fun and Braam managed some awesome photos of us from above the rapid. Thanks! I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking.

I took this line in order to avoid the hole which Alex said was in the centre. Next time I'll go straight, almost no hole there... ;-) Taking this line made life a little interesting and took me to the river right of the next part...

Ja, like I said. I won't be going river right into that evil pocket again... Middle is pretty easy and there isn't even a hole on the last drop, down the centre. Even at high levels. The top hole begins to work a bit but still quite manageable. Photos by Braam Rademeyer.

Rowan Walpole running the centre line, a much better option! Photos by Braam Rademeyer.

Alex Rose going right and almost getting his skull crushed. Close call... Photos by Braam Rademeyer.

A little video I created... Enjoy!

Theewaterskloof Dam late afternoon - no wind. Strange..

Beautiful end to a lekker afternoon.

Driving home again.

We arrived at the take out easily enough as there was one or two rapids after Helter Skelter. The other rapids are named as numbers and I don’t remember which is which. It was a great way to spend the afternoon and although the stretch is painfully short, we still had fun.

Photography by: Adrian Tregoning, unless otherwise stated. Thanks to Braam Rademeyer for holding the camera!

Words by: Adrian Tregoning.

Next article: Sunset Beach session in the Fluid Element.