Dave, who has been a national champion in slalom
canoeing C-1 and is considered a pioneer in the sport, is probably best known
for being involved on the British expedition which made the first descent of
the Dudh Kosi river, which runs off Mount Everest.
On Saturday, October 18 he aims to
raise over
£10,000 for muscular dystrophy by staging a paddle down the River Dee from
Glyndyfrdwy to the Horseshoe Falls and then by canal to Llangollen.
Those taking part will be
transported to the put-in by steam train along the Llangollen heritage railway
and Dave has booked the engine to do two runs of 200 paddlers up the valley.A number of other attractions are also being arranged for the day.
A band called Spikedrivers
will be playing train-inspired blues on the station platform and also doing a
gig in the Sun Inn that evening.
There will be an exhibition
of vintage canoes and kayaks on the platform, provided by Graham Mackereth of
Pyranha Mouldings, and a lecture by Phil Harwood about his full descent of the
Congo River by canoe.
Dave said: “The event is
planned for open boats but there is no reason why you can’t paddle your kayak,
sit-on-top, duckie, or stand-up-paddleboard down the river.
“This is a great weekend
for a reunion of people you did a trip with, went to university with, or worked
with in the summer.
“I’m not organising anything
for the Sunday but why not stay the night and either paddle on down the canal
over the two aqueducts through the two tunnels to England and the Poacher’s
Pocket pub for lunch, spend the day mountain biking at Llandegla Centre, take a
leisurely hike up to Dinas Bran Castle, or visit the Hamper Llangollen food
festival which is on the same weekend.”
Tickets for the event are
£60 and more details are available on Dave’s website at www.davemanby.co.uk
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