So the date's for the Wet West Paddle Fest 2008 are set, Some of the guys book the time off work within minuites in antisapation of a paddletastic weekend me,

I get clearance to go with 5 hours spare, although all my kit is packed and ready to go. I finnish work at 5.30 to be picked up by Dave TRC at 6.30. 5.40 and Dave is banging on my door like a pixie on acid " come on, come on, its wet west quick quick Scotland MUST GO NOW "..

 Were off M6 north bound, a flurry of phone calls "Louis where are you" "waiting at Husky's for Junky" , Junky's hard faced boss kept him working late, the b@stard oh hang on Junkys his own boss "hurry up come on" . The miles pass and we all meet up 12.30am in a quite tranquil Glen Etive. Tents up, beds made and bush tucker Louis gets out the cooker mmmmmm bacon sausage butties 1.00 am a can of beer and off to sleep, although the noise of the mighty Etive sets some wondering what will morning bring? At this point I shall say out of our posse of seven only two have been before the rest of us only seen pics and videos, one (Ian) has been paddling and total of 6 months in a playboat and only been on the Dee and a few outings on the Tryweryn (big spuds).

Dave AKA bounce, Third step of triple falls, River Etive

Ian ruthin, Ski jump, River Etive

 Friday morn were up early bacon on the go and a walk down to Triple step, the river has dropped overnight to a medium level. Cars with boats on start to arrive, people rush to get changed and put in, we gather, coffee in hand and sit and watch the lines and carnage. Some of us think we'd enjoy just watching carnage all day. Dave TRC is changed and waiting closely followed by Louis, so man up lets get changed and go. Me and Ian decide not to run 1 & 2 steps the others jump on and ace it with a nervous Husky styling it (see pics).

Ste AKA husky, First drop of triple step, River Etive

The river fills up with loads of paddlers, were briefly joined by James and Giles a few words of wisdom and there off again, we make our way down when bang! Husky gets his paddle, arm and thumb somehow traped between rocks OUCHY. We carry on through the various drops/rapids till we get to Crack of Doom after inspecting  (Ian and me portage) me, Dave TRC and Ian set up safty our boys run it succesfully, enter Peakfreek Bren and his boys, they ease through but Bren oohh is upside down and stuck in a nasty place and he's bailed, we can't see him 10-15 seconds later he pops up , paddle thrust at him he grabs it we drag him in.The elation on his face turns sour when he see's its Dave thats pulled him out "swimmer you owe me a beer" he did not live it down all weekend. Then its on to Right Angle, lots of paddlers there, our lads are go Dave TRC "swimmer" Bren's deck pops on the run-in catches the eddie and puts it back on then drops the fall "swimmer" enter Pete,Junky and Louis all aced there lines and the drop  with Dave climbing back up to tame it. Best line goes to Louis sweet landing.

  First in the glen and last out, we head over to Kinlochleven for a night at the Icefactor. A breif stop in the chippy and tents set we're out for a beer and a good old chinwag about the days adventure joined by Brens boys and the Anthill mob (Big swims lot, very worst for wear, no pissed haha) . T-shirts and tickets purchased and were back at the tents for a nightcap and bacon butties with herbs?

 Saturday morn and it's off to Morrisons in Fort Bill for cheap breakfast and a wash before setting off to the first organised paddle at Invergarry . The Garry is a short section with a few playspots and rapids, the good thing about Wet West is the shuttles from bottom to top every 10 mins. All the guys had good solid runs down, plenty of fun was had. Pete's boat had broke on the Etive and he was demoing a jefe initialy not impressed and with a little face pull, proceed to do the usual Pete thing and jump in with 30 seconds to get the feel and he's off in the first hole and styling it, grining like a cheshire cat , king of the wave Pete ousts Dave TRC just about.

 Night time and its back to Fort Bill for a night at the Nevis Inn, same as the night before a few beers and a good chat, tall tales and mucho laughs this time joined by James and Giles and the Peakfreak boys, as it ended back to tents for a beer and yes bushtucker Louis gets out the stove, bacon butties, get-in..

 Sunday is the turn of the river Moriston another dam relese river this time it's a biggie with must make lines. The day starts with breakfast in Morrisons then drive over but as we arrive the bad vibes circulate "someone's forgot to turn on the taps"  disapointment for some slight relife for others ( I didnt want a pasting he he ) although a man that turns on taps was dew any minuite five of us decided that time was getting on and with a 8 hour drive ahead called it a day and headed home leaving Junky to run it with people he'd met before. Now Junky had a good time but some of the Anthill mob (Big swims boys) were told the wrong line and took some nasty pastings, fortunatly they all came through ok but shaken..
Quote of the weekend Bren " I just got dragged down and shat meself abit then it went calm and I thought oh sh!t my wife will kill me if I drown?? then it just relesed me and I thought whoo till I seen Dave's face"

Thanks all that went for a cracking weekend, especially the six in our group Dave TRC, Louis, Pete, Husky, Ian and Junky.
 Cheers guys
  t'other dave aka bounce..