Boxing Day Paddle

Hello,
The boxing day paddle was good again thank you Des. Next year I am going to ask for less wind it makes solo paddling a Canadian very hard, I had also forgotten how sore your knees can get never mind next time I'm going to take a carry mat with me that should help. There were a few photos taken hopefully Des will put them up soon.

Have fun on New Years.

Scott.

Happy Crimbo

Hello to all,
Happy Crimbo, hope Santa brought you what you asked for (that is if you were good all year).
I will hopefully see lot's of you on boxing day headache allowing.

Scott.

Tees Barrage anyone?

Hi All,

To anyone who's done a river course before:-

I am considering doing a session on TeesB on 1 day between 28th-3oth Dec (inclusive). If you are interested please let me know 01642 701359. I have attached the link for 4 seasons, so you can see when the course is running.

http://www.4seasons.co.uk/December.htm

PS Not sure if i will be able to make the Boxing Day Paddle.


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Richard

A Warm and Dry Winter Club Event!

The Christmas Curry Night was a good event: Lots of good food and chat; no need to put on neoprene suits or silly hats, no loss of feeling in cold hands or toes, no swimming ... Interesting environmental sightings include a nest of poppadoms with pickle in restaurant, and a WW2 flyer (the non-winged variety) in pub beer garden.

Thanks to Des for organisation. Happy Xmas to all!

(Picture is of Nepal - looks like a good place for club camp!!)

Going Green - Public Transport

Looking forward to the Christmas party i thought it would be a good idea to use Public Transport to get to the pub (Ying and Yang thing - Taxi home). So went on the internet to find times from HR to Northallerton for a saurday night.

Can you believe there are no direct buses after 4pm on a Saturday...... instead i have to go the wrong way and travel into Stokesley to then catch a bus from Stokesley to NA.

What a waste of time, energy and increase of a carbon footprint..... and they wonder why we don't use public transport.... Next they will be telling me i should use public transport to go kayaking......

Some from Abbey Rapids on the Tees

Sorry, missed this one off

Pictures from Tees Barrage

Sorry they are a bit dark -it was getting late in the day

Tees Barrage mapped

Hi folks

Just got back from the Baarrage and was minded to write a brief report (Well Richard suggested that one of us Barrage newcomers put together a posting for the Blog).

Well the wetsuits hanging up on the kitchen door frame (along with other kit) dripping on the lino (Mrs Moss is being very good about it!) and my hands, though still tingling, have thawed out sufficiently to stab at the keyboard.

You should be aware that what follows is a truly factual account ofthe afternoon and I have received no "cash for honours" payments in advance of authorship...

Well the afternoon began with a walk down in the course with Richard and Scott showing barrage virgins (Ian and I) the line to take. However it was clear to Ian and I that other lines existed (Not neccassarily the right ones!) and we should have a jolly nice time exploring them contrary to the advice we were given!

So, kit on and straight in to the water for a warm up on the flat bit at the top before (hands nicely chilled despite a layer of neoprene) our first run.

From the start Ian and I wished to demonstrate that we were not into this namby pamby staying dry routine and quickly got to grips with the countours of the bottom. Ian admirably demonstrated this - especially so as he could not get to grips with his pull tab on his spray deck! This enabled a good stretch of the bottom to be mapped in one single upside down exercise. It appeared that a good 50 metres of the river bed was charted in one crazy down river glide. A not inconsidrable skill that Ian was able to repeat further down the course on a subsequent run!

As for me - well I preferred to map the bottom in more frequent but shorter sections (4 times actually!).

Richard kept telling us we were on the wrong the line but I thought what's the point of following the well trodden (paddled) path. Far better to explore - after all there might be another Marianas Trench down there somewhere (or at least a supermarket trolley).

In the end the others (Richard, Tom & Scott) seemed to get bored of doing there fancy twirly bits in the waves (so passe! - and every one else there was just doing the same!) that at least for a brief moment both Scott and Richard examined life below the surface. However both had the audacity to roll back up after only a second or two. Scotts effort was particularly dissappointing - it was so pre planned - no verve or improvisation at all! Furher more he rolled in the flat bit - I'm sure if there was a Mariannas trench it was further back up the course!

Any way for the record:-

• Tom - lots of fancy support strokes and "nearly" moments
• Richard and Scott - lotts of twirly bits and a brief look at the bottom
• Ian 3 lung bursting swims (Have you thought about free diving Ian?)
• Andy 4 short swims

So I declare myself the leader! (Well that the idea isn't it? - to be top of the swim chart?)

Frivolity aside... Thanks to all for making it such a great afternoon and thanks especially to the three experts in the support team for guiding us and fishing us out too.

Andy

PS there are still a few sections of the course that remain to be charted - I'm sure we'll be back to fill in the gaps in our knowledge!

Teesside White Water Course 1st December Midday

All,

I am looking at going to the WW Course this Saturday. If you have done one of the recent river paddling sessions with me you are welcome to come (However please contact me first)

If you would like to come and have not been paddling with me recently please ring me to discuss.

See you on Saturday

Cheers

Richard

For those of you who have not been before the course is running at a level of 2.4 this is an ideal level for peoples first time. At this level the drops are not too big and more dificult section at the bottom of the course is quite friendly.

Regards

Scott.

Christmas Meal

Hi All,
Des had been trying to find us a venue for this years Christmas meal but has no luck for the previously published date of the 15th December. He has however managed to provisionally book space for 20 people at the Golden Lion on Friday the 21st of December. If you are interested please contact him as soon as possible so the booking can be confirmed.

Thank you.

Tyne Tour Photos

More Tyne tour

First of all thanks must go to Richard for doing the organisation of the weekend.

It was a great weekend, the weather was fine and the paddling was a real pleasure. The North Tyne valley was looking fantastic. No one took what could really be called a swim although there was a lot of discussion over me getting water in my open canoe and Scott seeming to prefer to take a closer look at the river bed on one occassion.

The standard of paddling was grade 2/3 throughout with a couple of optional grade 4 sections for those who wanted it. Wardens gorge was dealt with without incident, although having seen some photos elsewhere on the web, I think I missed the biggest waves, don't know what line the others took as I had other things to think about at the time.

Although the campsite was noisy untill about 3 am on the friday night I still enjoyed being on the site. During the night there were groups standing around pools of light drinking and chatting and it was a nice atmosphere.

I will try and post some photos but I seem to be struggling with that at the minute. In short - a great weekend, will definitely go next year (with better ear plugs) and would reccomend it to others.

November Caption Competition

To Mutti and Vati...

Guten tag! I am on the computer in the hostel in Krakow... we went to Auchswitz today... it was sad:( nearly all the girls were crying...and a few guys...lol
Anyway... this has nothing whatsoever to do with kayaking. but I am writing to tell Mum and Dad that a new item on my christmas list is GHD hair straighteners... they are amazing and make my hair really straight in like 15 minutes! they're amazing!! So please can i have some for xmas?! lol
Anyway... byebyebyebye... c u 2moro
p.s. if u dfo get me straighteners, get me proper GHDs coz they are much bettr than ne other make... please...:):):)
p.p.s.... I won the Biggest Hair award for the trip! yay! lol
xxxx

Reading form left to right....................... Hello i look and know what i am doing, Hi i look like i know what i am doing......................I'l get my coat

Tyne Tour 2007 Report

Everygood trip requires careful planning, Have i got the beers - yes - well we can go then!!!!!

Scott and myself arrived at 2.15ish on the Friday, and the first thing we did was get some tape from the organisers to mark off the Hambleton Campsite (and Parking bay!)

We placed the caravan, in part of the parking bay, and promptly spent 20mins trying to decide how/ where to park all the cars that would be arriving. And not to blow our own trumpets too much.....I think we did an excellent job (thanks to Steve, who arrived and helped in this planning). - For those on this weekend, you will understand how important this is!

Then we set up the caravan, and opened the beer (although not in that order).

Shortly after Andy, and then Tom & Ron arrived, every got set up then we went off to look at the stalls......and get registered for the weekend (insurance and all that).

Andy, Tom & Ron, cooked at the campsite, whilst Steve, Scott and myself (along with Dave - First Aid course) went off in search of pub food. We found it in the form of Roast Hog sandwich and chips! - of which we each had 2 portions - to soak up the beer. At eating in this pub ... we then went off to Weatherspoons, meet Andy, Tom, Ron, and the late arriving James, and continued to drink until later....... going via Tescos on our return some of us then sat and drink in the caravan until throwing out time (not too late this year!)

In the morning, breakfast was bacon, eggs & sausage sandwiches (although some people complained about how bacon should still be pink after cooking), we then loaded the cars, and got ready for day 1's paddle - see the picture! Wark to Barrasford.

Wark get on point is a sports club in the middle of nowhere...... the shuttles were run, and we all piled on, ourselves and probably another 100+ paddlers in a 20- 30 minute window

The water was at an ideal level, approx 2 inches higher than 2006, but not in the flood levels of 2005. Which meant that rapids were doable without either losing half your boat through scratching the bottom, or your whole boat because you have capsized and its gone!

Once we had spaced out abit, for the benefit of a few we went back through breaking in and out and some ferry gliding, partucularly useful for day2!
The river on this section is flat, short rapids, flat...for the majority of it, apart from 1 weir, which goes round a corner (and we had just seen an open canoe capsize in it whilst playing). For this, i went first, to check it, and from half way down signalled Scott to bring the group through. All made it down effortlessly.
We then carried on down to Barrasford, stopping for lunch for about an hour, looking at the wildlife and watching fish jump out of the water around you (Bird - feathered variety, fish - scaled vareity; somebody else can say what they were)
At Barrasford everyone got and went to look at the main drop there, I think, from memory, it is called "Serpents Tail" - but i know there is one on the Dee with the same name. After identifying the route and watching a few other paddle it Scott, Tom and myself went off to paddle it. The lead up to it was blind (ish) as you had to go over a small drop just before it. The water at the top of the "tail" was, from memory pushing you firstly into a rock (which you didn't want to hit), and then across to the other side into another rock, before you had to pick your point between a sharp rock, causing a fantail, and a very large rock on your left (with a gap of about 2ft between them!) - FUN
Scott went first - i think he was eager to get it over and done with! I was about 100m behind him, and as i lost sight of him, as he went over the first drop, the nxt moment i see his boat pointing skywards as he slammed a rock! - I accelerated to help him, but there was no need....he got it back under control and scraped the fantail rock as he dropped the last part.
I set off, after slowing down realising i wasn't Scott chasing, and the beginning part was a pain - because i received a face of water as i objected to my boat doing the same as Scott's had, and i promptly hit the 2ft gap!! Piece of Cake - NB last year i ran it backwards in my S6!
Tom set off, And was almost a mirror image of Scott, although i dont think his boat went quite so vertical.

That finished and off back to the campsite.......I think we were back by 3pm, where we had a bacon sandwich, and beer, after managing to park in the exact same places we had left in the morning......probably because of the use of tape, and some very bad parking when we left. ;))

That evening Scott, Steve and myself madfe our way back to the pub, this time for Scampi, or Chilli and chips £3.50 - bargin! Although due to bad timing we arrived just after a group of thirty students, and so we missed the fireworks display as we had to wait longer for food.....not to worry more time for beer!!!

We then proceded onto the Sports Centre for the Ceilidh! and managed to arrive early enough to get a table for all of us....the others trooped in about 15mins later, just after the second "dance". A good evening was had by all and afterward it was back to the caravan to try to finish off the beers that were left.

I understand it was very cold that night!!!!!

The next morning was another early ish start, and we had had breakfast, and all but packed up by 9.30...... so we were on the water by 11ish, after doing the shuttles etc. Steve, unfortunately wasn't too well, and so did not paddle on the Sunday, but did a great job of sorting out the bits left to finish back at the campsite - A big thanks.

So onto the water and throught the first set of rapids, at teh opposite side to Serpents Tail, at which point realised i had left my watch resting on the front of the boat! So if anybody sees it next year, please try to pick it up from the bottom of the river....

At this point i will leave the story and set somebody else pick it up, as they may wish to defend their pride!!!!! (Scott)....

And prehaps if somebody else would like to talk about the trip down, and the feared Wardens Gorge..................


Please feel free (as i know you will) to add, and expand on any area here in, particular your views on different parts on the trip, the evenings, and anything else

Anyway a great weekend, and organisation wise it has given me much more to think about for next year, eg. Team BBQs, T-shirts, Car stacking (thats boat stacking on cars), or taking a club trailer.

PS. Des - where were you?

Tyne Tour photos

Why can't I get my photos on the blog?

NEXT YEARS TYNE TOUR 7th-9th NOVEMBER

Hi All,

Just had a great weekend........ Please ensure that you make the 7th to 9th November free in your diary for next years Tyne Tour.

This will be open to all those who attended this year or have done WW training with me and are training for their 3* award.....

For any person under 18 who wishes to go please ask your parents to discuss the weekend with me.

Thanks to all who attended. I'll post more comments later

Photos from the Tyne Tour

Just a few pictures from the Tyne Tour. I'm sure other people will post more. Everyone had a good time and we all survived.

DIY

DIY - well what's that?

I know - Do it in Yellow!!! (H3s)!

I'm suffering withdrawal too!

Anyone for a paddle this weekend?

I feel I desperately need alittle extra practice - I've just read the description of the Warden Gorge on the Tyne Tour - methinks I'm going to be leading the swimmers chart by a week on Monday!

Andy

Withdrawal

After two good weekends paddling rivers I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms. I've got DIY to do this weekend : -( . But never mind the Tyne Tour is only eight days and 5 hours away, not that I'm counting or anything.

Ron's photos from the first Tees trip look great I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of them.

New swim chart examples to try out

Simple examples of downloadable swim charts are now on www.hambletonpaddlers.co.uk/downloads.htm. No link from other pages, so copy and paste the URL into address bar.

Should be easy to save.html version then go to file/edit with Excel. Most people can do that. Please try and let me know if it works for you. (Picture will not download.)

I will create Acrobat .pdf files for downloads of constitution, rules etc that we don't want anyone to tamper with. Ian has most of the originals (except child prot, which Debs is sending me) so I can probably do that soon.

White Water Tip

Hi All,

Sure i have mentioned this before, but just incase i haven't. The reason i enjoy paddling rivers is because it like having your own right foot (car speak). The river acts as the accelerator so i have to do minimal effort, and 8 times out of 10 (you get the idea) i move at the same speed as the current.

Often you will see people "racing" through a set of rapids, as the momentum (like a bike wheel), seems to help the stability (physics thing).

Another way to improve stability is to have one end of the paddle in the water like a stabilizer. This lets you lean on it if you have to, put in a quick stoke if needed, keep your distance when in a group, and because you are not paddling quickly it gives you more time to "read" the river, and therefore make the breakouts, not the rocks!

Next time your going through some rapids give it a go :))

However, please note - sometimes you can't beat speed! Valentines on Tees B. when paddling a big boat, and not thinking about your line :((

Swimmers Chart

An important part of any canoe club is the swimmers chart! In previous years this has been dominated by 1 or 2 people, not to mention any names (See later)

Please remember this is fun, and, if anything, the only way you will get on here is if you are paddling rivers regularly, and pushing yourself (ie. one of the best ways to improve - just ask Scott - WINNER 2005/6 and 2006/7)

Therefore, Running from Summer Camp to Summer Camp i think this is where we are at this year (2007/8):-
James Pridmore - 1 swim, whilst acting as safety cover/ cameraman got flipped in the small stopper at the end of the main drop on Abbey Rapids - nice photo of the spraydeck
Andy Moss - 1 swim, pinned against a rock on Abbey Rapids - missed the break out!
Kirsty Hallet - 1 swim, on video, lost control between drops - too busy smiling for camera - therefore a perfectly acceptable swim!!!
Daniel Milward - 2 swims, both involving missing the breakouts - and then getting pinned against rocks.
Scott Flynn - can't remember, but there must be at least 10 by now!!!!!!!

Is there a way of making this a table that we can keep adding to?

PS If you happen to be on a trip when i am not - take note of the swimmers!

PPS Adults only - Rescuing swimmers makes pints!!!! That's how i funded some of my drinking through uni!!!

A Few of Ron's Pics (First Tees Trip in October)

Wish I'd Been There!

I shouldn't have chosen this weekend to be sick! The time I am, and I miss the paddle, everyone gets to go down Abbey Falls! It's not fair! :(
Hope your phone still works Dan! :)

And can all kids come to the next pool session! It's on November 25th... I think... :)

Another great day on (in?) white water

It was great to go out again so soon, made me feel much more confident. So much so that I attempted the double drop near the Abbey - which gave the team a chance to show off the safety and rescue skills we have all been practicing!! Very slick and impressive rescue - Scott's video shows Andy's throw line coming over me, and you can see that Richard has left his 'safe perch' and is right behind my capsized boat.

After my swim I had an involuntary shaky reaction and panicked a bit in the next section of rapids, but calmed down again for the last drop.

Practicing getting into tiny eddies was helpful and ferry gliding on fast currents is fantastic. I am beginning to see how you are supposed to put these skills together to find the line down a rapid. Backwards ferry gliding looks like something we should all learn. And next time I will paddle between drops so I don't end up falling sideways off a ledge.

The weather was fabulous again, hot and sunny. And we saw a beautiful Kingfisher sitting on a tree.

The only downside was the amount of water in Dan's "dry sac". Hope his phone works again!

Thanks again to everyone and hope Richard is healthy again soon.

P.S: Last night, Ian started throwing up after only one beer - not sure if he has caught Izzy and Fiona's sickness bug or if it was a reaction to the rugby score....if it is the bug, hope no-one else catches it...

Morning all

Well I'm up, packed and just have to load the boat on to the car then I'm off. I do not want to be late this week. I will update this post with today's goings on this evening, well maybe tomorrow there is rugby to watch tonight. Come On England!!!

That's it were done. Another good trip There should be a video below showing a slight mishap that happened on one of he falls in the Abbey Rapids section. I'm sure the people who came on this river last week will be slightly jealous because everyone ran the drop in the video this time.


The water levels were slightly lower this week but is will still a nice paddle I must congratulate Kirsty, Ian, Andy and Dan they once again performed excellently all pushed there comfort zone and came out very well.

Kirsty came out of the water smiling but Dan did not either time. Everyone learned something today and increased their confidence. Well Done.
All of us would like to thank Richard for once again running this trip even though he is not well and Kirsty would like to thank Andrew for his accurate throw line work.

6'4, blue eyes, strong build, gsoh, looking for a goo......... wait a minute this is the wrong blog..... oh well as im here now thanks for the invite Richard and for making it so easy Kirsty. Hopefully meet some of you sometime, maybe on the TT in November. Any way back to lonelypaddlers.com.

Steve

Saturday 20th October

Hi All.

Message for those interested in the next river trip.
This will again take place on the Tees, same as last week, and is open to all those who came last week, and any others who have already got their 2*.
Equipment list is the same as last week (see below). Please see if you can remember (Don't have to bring though) some of the extras we mentioned last week.

Ring me/ email if you have any queries
Cheers
Richard

Cross Curricular Blog Links

This is a comment I made in reply to someone else's post on a teaching blog. I will never be a great paddler but at least the experiences I am getting with the Hambleton Paddlers will make me a better teacher!! Thanks guys! LOLxx

"Taking up new hobbies has taught me a lot about how some of the kids we teach feel when faced with tasks we think are simple. Because of this, I am trying to integrate both more challenge and more scaffolding into my teaching.

Two years ago (so I could encourage my kids not to end up scaredycats like their mother) I took up kayaking - and I went on my first grade 2 white water on Sunday. I was terrified! But the coach and the more experienced paddlers broke the rapids down into small chunks by positioning themselves in eddies along the river. This meant I knew rescue was close at hand, and also meant that I didn't have to pick my own routes - so I was able to run most sections and felt a great sense of achievement (I was still nervous, but not so much that it stopped me doing anything the others did not).

As well as the obvious links between this and Assessment for Learning, there are clear links with the personal development through outdoor pursuits sections of the new KS3 curriculum, as well as commitment to lifelong learning... gosh! this little comment ticks a lot of educational pedagogy boxes!!"

Tyne Tour 2007

Those Lucky Few,

This year's Tyne Tour takes place on 2nd-4th Nov. Last year it was just Scott and myself, this year there are 7 of us! Watch out Hexham.
I wish to use this as a point of contact board, so we know what is happening on the day.
The first thing, i think, to sort out is arrival times, and camping equipment. As a guide, the main site starts getting crazy from about 5pm onwards, so earlier the better.....I have certainly got a half day off work for this one! If you think that you will be later than that please let me know and we will see what we can do about tents etc

Cheers
Richard

Screams of Fright to Whoops of Delight

Richard's river Tees trip (Barnard Castle to Abbey Rapids) Started with some screams of fright, you know who you are, and ended with Ian whooping with delight at every rapid we encountered.


We met up at Barnard Castle at 9am ish, I was un-usualy late. We had to do a quick shuttle made very easy thanks to Ron and after a quick warm up lead by Tom we were heading down to the river.


A quick practise of breaking in & out and ferry gliding we were off. On the first bend we encountered some fishermen who were friendly but not as friendly as the children on the bridge above us saying hello to everyone. The first challenge was a broken weir followed by a river wide ledge 1 meter tall, All but Richard, Tom and myself walked round but had this been the last drop of the day then I'm sure everyone would have run it.

After this there was a small amount of screaming and one handed paddeling as people ran into the occasional rock. During the lunch break we managed to convince Tom to go swimming so as to practice throw line rescues, thank you once again Tom.

As we progressed towards Abbey Rapids everyones confidence was buliding and there was a marked improvement from everyone. James, in between taking photos, was a great help with the setting of safety on rapids he even managed to show people how taking photos in a stopper is a bad idea. The only section we did not run as a group was the final grade III drop in the Abbey Rapids, Ron was on hand as a photographer whilst the whole of the group was involved in setting up throw lines to cover incase of a mishap.

Richard, Tom and myself ran the drop without a hitch though I think my line may have caused some slight concern if not a smile. After this it was a nice cruse through some grade I & II rapids to the get out.

The day was a great sucess. Ron took over 40 photos, no doubt there will be some on here soon, we only had two swimmers, but I'll spare their blushes we know who you are. Everyone performed realy well and all improved tremendously as their confidence builded.

Now for the thank you's:~
Richard, for running the trip and coaching through out.
James, for providing safety cover and being our on water photographer
Tom, for providing safety cover and amusement whilst practicing your stern dips. ;-)
Ron, for running the shuttle, taking photos and giving Daniel a lift home.

And not forgeting Daniel, Kirsty, Ian, Izzy and Andrew for making the trip a very enjoyable day.

Awards for All Grant

Ian's idea for grant money to cover the cost for training new coaches is a good one, I've just had a quick look at the awards for all website ( http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/index.html ) and this looks like a viable option. I will get as much information as I can on this before the next committee meeting. That should leave Ian with enough time to fit in his very busy schedule this weekend.

NEW INSTRUCTORS

Hello All,

The new BCU coaching qualifications and syllubus are intend to improve, further, the quality of coaches and paddlers. Ultimately meaning that you the paddler, or coach, are better armed to deal with the constant changes in paddling and coaching.

As mentioned before, the BCU proficiency tests have been significant reviewed and enhanced; key changes being in the 2 star award (which is now multidiscipline qualification), and 3 star award which is to take place on both flat and moving (upto gd 2) water.

The new coaching qualifications have therefore also changed, and whereas a L1 coach woul donly be trained and assessed on 1 day (from memory), this is now done over 4 days, ultimately resulting in somebody with a broader set of skills, from day 1 to draw on.

Unfortunately this means that the cost for such a course naturally goes up as well, I have just had a quote in, for this, for £280 per person, 3 times more than in previous years. Hambleton Paddlers has always seen developing coaches as important to the club, as they are helping to build its future, however cost like this start to make the total funding of a coach very difficult.

A variety of thought processes exist (i am not advocating any, but wish to develop a club debate, so that we can take an informed descission)
1. Continue to fund the full amount.....1 or 2 people benefit way more than anybody else, using up all the revenue/ cash generated over the years. We have the risk of these people leaving, and giving little back to the club in the future, we would therefore need contracts! an extra cost
2. Part fund...... they put in, and the club puts in. This means we get people who definitely which to do this, and should they leave we would have funds left over to train others
3. Full/part fund people (need 2) to go on to become assessors, this is a long term thing, is very expensive, and you still have the risk of them leaving
4. No funding....speaks for itself.

I have not included my personal views preferences specifically to prevent any bias.

I look forward to your comments, but i would like to point out that all new L1 coaches must have the new 2 star, as well as CST and firstaid, so the open canoe training also needs to take place soon!

Thanks

Richard
Head Coach (L3 kayak WW)

River Tees Sunday 14th October 2007

Hi All,

I current have the following people wishing to go on the trip on Sunday

Scott Flynn

James Pridmore

Kirsty Hallett

Izzy Hallett

Andy Moss

Daniel Milward

Tom Allan - TBC

and of course me.

Can we please meet at 9am, at the place shown, weather dependant we are paddling the Tees. This is not the carpark, as originally suggested as the car park may be a bit small for all the cars. However the carpark is just the other side of the traffic lights, but this gives us the opportunity to gauge how much room we need.

You will need to bring with you:-

Kayak (white water spec, including full plate footrest and airbags)

Spraydeck

Bouyancy Aid

Cag

Helmet

Wetsuit

Paddle

Wet suit boots (old trainers)

Lunch

Hot drink

Change of clothes.

Drybag.

You may also wish to think about bringing other pieces of kit:-

Lets have some ideas on this - post the correct answers next Monday (after the trip)

Please see attached the map of where we are meeting, and a picture of one of the drops in abbey rapids!

Summer Holidays

This year i managed to convince the family that a holiday in the French Alps was a good idea!

We booked our main campsite, next to the Alp d'Heuz 21 hairpin Tour de France Climb. (Went up in the car - not crazy enough to cycle up!12 miles of constant up hill stuff)

The weather was good, hot during the day and cool at night, and then the alcohol was cheap. Perfect.

Then the rivers!

Fast moving, wide, powerful and "silty" (The milky colour is due to the deposits it picks up on the way down). I had just forgotten how cold they are......5degrees C or less.

We were not in the main French Alps paddling area, and neither was it the main paddling seasion out there (Mid May- 1st week in July), so it wasn't full of English tourists.......

The main river paddled was the Venon.....pictures attached - this is Alpine gd2 / 3. As i was on my own (Lance didn't paddle out there) , I teamed up with with some local instructors.

I was hoping to finish off the holiday with a grade 4/5 but unfortunately the section (below a hydro-dam) was unrunable until the day before we left, and on that day one of the instructors was celebrating his birthday.

If you wish to go out there let me know - they also do rafting, canyoning, climbing.....etc

Also out there did lots of walking, including 2 walks going from 700m (above sea level) to 1800m......very tiring, but great views!

On the way back it was demeed essential that we had a stop over in the Champagne region, were we did 2 cave tours on one day.....unfortunately i was driving (So debs had most of my champagne as well!)

Ruswarp to Whitby

That paddle looked realy nice, unfortunately I was at the airport picking up Emma and James. :-(

Caption Competition Entry

We have had our first entry for the surf kayaking pics caption competition! Great wit..?! Tomward has added it as a comment to the pictures. It might be worth knowing that comments are often missed - if you want to be sure that people notice your comments, it is sometimes better to add a whole new post.

Hope the people who have seen it so far have enjoyed the blog - and will add some posts of their own.

Kayaking

These are the dates for the next few paddles! Please can some other kids come, because it is boring when everyone else who goes is an adult or my little sister!!!

7th October, Pool Session at Thirsk
14th October, River Trip (2* and above)
20th October, River Trip (2* and above)

Ruswarp to Whitby

Good day out today: a paddle from Ruswarp up to Sleights and then down to Whitby. Ian H, Kirsty and Izzy all showing off their new kayaks, James in a Kayak, and Fiona H and Catherine in an open canoe.
We all rode the weir and, for once, izzy didn't get herself too wet.
Thanks to James who organised the trip and ensured we had warm, dry weather!
Ian

Even more of Sue's photos

More of Sue's photos from surf kayak day

Surf Kayak Course in May - caption competition?

Richard booked a 5* Surf Kayak coach to work with club members for the day. Despite disappointing waves, we had a great day out at Redcar - both on and off the sea!

Sue took a whole discful of these photos, I have only put a flavour of the day on here; if anyone who was there on the day wants copies just let me know!

There is lots of scope to come up with funny captions for some of these pics...

First Aid Course in June

As you will see, the photos raise more questions than answers... Just what is James doing to Ian? Why does Izzy want to work out my bra size? And what did Steen do to his leg?

There are also images of the junior members who took part, but I won't put them on the blog unless you put up a post to say that is okay with you.

We have been given a whole disc of photos by Dave, the First Aid trainer who coached us on the 8 hour session so some more of us could become Appointed Persons. If anyone who did the course would like copies of them all just let me know.

Bow, bow, bow your boat...

A few days after Mum and Izzy got their kayaks, they started play a violin duet in them. It sounded all right so I took a few pictures of them!
When we went to Go 2 H 2 O to buy the kayaks, all I got was a pair of swimming goggles and a groooovy hat but it doesn't matter as I don't like kayaking... Oh well!