What had been intended as a Club #GoPaddling event turned into a solo trip by Club Chair Steve Rayner, who set out on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at 7.15am on Sat 25 May to see how far he could get in a day, while collecting litter on route. Here’s what he achieved:
Beginning in Brecon…
![Brecon Canal Basin 7:15am](https://i0.wp.com/breconcanoeclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/0715-Brecon-Canal-Basin.jpg?resize=825%2C464&ssl=1)
First tub of trash deposited in the bins at Brynich – mostly collected from the bank of the canal alongside the road in Brecon…
![Trash tub 1 at Brynich Lock 8:20am](https://i0.wp.com/breconcanoeclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/0820-Trash-tub-1-at-Brynich-Lock.jpg?resize=825%2C464&ssl=1)
Swift progress to Talybont-on-Usk: some trash was too large to pick-up…
![Unusual Trash near Talybont 9:30am](https://i0.wp.com/breconcanoeclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/0930-Unusual-Trash-near-Talybont.jpg?resize=825%2C464&ssl=1)
Time for a tea-break at Talybont, then on through Ashford Tunnel…
![Light at the end of Ashford Tunnel 10:30am](https://i0.wp.com/breconcanoeclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1030-Light-at-the-end-of-Ashford-Tunnel.jpg?resize=825%2C464&ssl=1)
Brief wheeled portages around Llangynidr’s five locks…
![Portage at Llangynidr Locks 11:15am](https://i0.wp.com/breconcanoeclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1115-Portage-at-Llangynidr-Locks.jpg?resize=825%2C464&ssl=1)
A late lunch at Llangattock, arriving at Gilwern Bridge 104 after a total 30km…
![Get-out at Gilwern 3:00pm](https://i0.wp.com/breconcanoeclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1500-Gilwern-Bridge-104.jpg?resize=825%2C464&ssl=1)
Where my second tub of trash was deposited – great to see so little litter all the way from Brecon to Gilwern but very satisfying to play even a small part on the fight against plastic…
![](https://i0.wp.com/breconcanoeclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1500-Trash-Tub-2-at-Gilwern.jpg?resize=825%2C464&ssl=1)
I used a Scoolr 32” folding litter-picking tool, purchased from Amazon, which worked quite well (the jaws opened wide and gripped firmly, but could have done with a longer reach), my paddling ‘trug’ with a black-bag insert for collecting trash and my trusty Wenonah Prospector 16 (not the fastest on flat water, but easy to manoeuvre and plenty of space for litter-picking duty).