I am certainly not someone who claims to hate Mondays but if I were then Mondays, that fall within Cerbyd time would have to be renamed. They could be Cerbydays instead if it did not sound so unimaginative. The light streams in through the yurt and wakes us early. Breakfast is full and restorative and we head off down the road to meet the Llandysul Paddlers for some early morning kayaking.
I sit out the kayaking with Lucy – we are bad ears and pregnant respectively. Cerbyd absolutely love their figure hugging wetsuits. Queue some celebration and bonding as one by one they reveal themselves in neck to ankle rubber or more accurately neoprene. I am Graham to Lucy’s Cilla.
The group are given a health and safety briefing then play some games which first involve lunging then test their speed, agility and reactions. Cerbyd just about pass and after a long week it’s obvious why. I do a quick prayer that no one dies to David Hasselhoff and start filming the group rowing around the practice pond. Both Ben and Megan pick it up quickly and are navigating their way around but soon the whole group are ready for the rapids.
The gauntlet has been thrown down and I feel like I am filming a children’s TV show like ‘Get your own back or the why don’t you club’. Disappointingly there is no sign of Dave Benson Philips. Taking it in turns the group hit the rapids showing their competency. Only one or two roll their kayaks and it would be rude of me to reveal which! Those who roll expertly regain their prowess and finish the challenge well. The groups do a second run of rapids and again they are impressive. As the group get out and in pairs carry their kayaks up the riverbank they are obviously exhilarated by the experience.
Once back on dry land and out of their wet suits Cerbyd rush off to The Power House for an event organised by Mike and Sara. It seems the whole cast of the Archers has turned up to the event too. Cerbyd replenish on tea and biscuits before being led by Mike in regression through the events of the week that is very taxing and emotional for us all. The Cerbyds, Aldridges and Archers head back to the Old Mill for a spot of lunch and soon we are off on our way again. The good food and extreme sport cause many of the group to take forty winks on route to our final campsite at Devil’s Bridge.
