Adrian Tregoning

Ok, so I admit, I paddled this last year, but time has gotten the better of me and what else was I supposed to post during the dry times?! So here we go, yet another Witte River article. This season I’ll try different angles and rapids, as even I’m getting bored of the same positions – no doubt you are :-) Or maybe I should take a cup of concrete and go and run it when it’s really high. Either way I suspect I’ll be getting some fresh stuff onto my site this season from another country if all goes well so bear with me here.

What can I say about the day? To be honest it’s a bit of a blur. It was a great day out with a good man called Leon Pieters. I was in the Big Bang, him in the medium Solo. The water was low but the sun was peeking out from time to time and the afternoon just glorious! We both had really good lines that day and it felt good to be out on the river – as it always does.

Myself through a narrow spot. Photos by Leon Pieters.

Leon Pieters, same gap.

Leon Pieters running Pilkington Falls. I went first to get the photo, was late in the afternoon, and a bit lazy to walk up for another run.

Leon eyeing out the siphon. Yep, horrible piece of work.

Video still from 22 October 2010. The siphon was fully blocked…

Leon Pieters through the drop next to that siphon. Myself through the same one. You try to avoid the rock on the left, and avoid the hole on the right. Photos by Leon Pieters.

Myself through Double Drop. No problem with the Big Bang :) Photos by Leon Pieters.

The famous log has moved. If you paddle the Witte and enter Double Drop from river left beware. I hiked the river a month ago (dry) and the log is still there. Leon Pieters also making Double Drop cleanly.

Leon got a lift up quite easily with some holiday makers and up he went. Once he left, I was alone for almost half an hour and only 1 or 2 cars went past, both in the other direction…

We checked out the siphon where Andrew Kellett had gone through and made certain to avoid it like the plague at other levels. Interestingly, I got some video footage of me running a line next to it from 22 October 2010 and the siphon was fully plugged. Have a look at the screenshot. This just shows how a river can change and you should always keep your eyes open. An old siphon could reopen in a place you never even knew about. Scary stuff. Thank goodness all ended well!

And finally, some bonus photos at the end of my new years, and some of the windsurfing I did at home during my week and a half holiday. Have fun, paddle safe, and all the best for 2012. I think it’s going to be a most excellent year!

Photography by: Adrian Tregoning. Unless otherwise stated.
Words by: Adrian Tregoning.

Myself a little underpowered on a 5.0 at Yzerfontein. Photos by Laurent Orlandini.

Myself at Sunset Beach. Photo by Trevor Tregoning.

Happy 2012 everyone :-) Myself at Sunset Beach. Photos by Trevor Tregoning.

My dad’s 60th birthday! He’s at the head, at the far end :) With my mom to the right. Good times!

The beach from my new front door :-) Oh yeah. 

Marius and Michelle. New years party!

From left: Myself, Marius, Johnny, Brendan. Photo by Michelle. New years!

Johnny Heatlie (left) and Marius. My second new years at Johnny’s farm. They are awesome there! What a place!!! Good times, great company!

2012. Do you see it? Photo by Michelle. 1 January 2012 I went fishing on the Hex River. Was fun, even though I didn’t catch anything.