A fun canoe and kayaking club based at Chiswick Pier
What might have been a complicated paddle turned out to be easy. A complicated paddle only because of the time of low water and the fact it was a high water paddle (over 6.0 m). Initially it was a paddle to Hammersmith Bridge as I wanted to see what they were doing to the bridge. There was talk of abseiling off the bridge to create supports for a replacement foot bridge, whether that was true … Read more
It was a fabulous sunny day and worth getting up early to head upriver! We wanted to get above Kew Rail Bridge before the 99 rowing and sculling boats would be getting into position for The Pairs Head Race – their first, and perhaps only, race of the year, so they would be very excited! We approached Chiswick Bridge with caution as the RNLI had warned Steve there was a “hidden obstacle under arch 1”. … Read more
This is what I call a pyjama paddle, suffice it to say it was an early start for me. During the week Coach Elaine and I spoke about the necessary timings for the day. Coach Elaine put together a comprehensive map of our route and timings to reach various points on our route. Both Coach’s Elaine and Steve were concerned about clearing the head of the river rowing race before they started. This required our … Read more
(Saturday – 10 10 2020) Really cool morning session with Jules and Heather, with James, Frank and Eliza. Bracing, outside edge, edge turning, ruddering, a couple of rescues – playing, experimenting, practicing, talking and re-assessing – team work, splashing, chips and beer and a singer from Iceland (the country). A little trip against the tide, a pub visit and a gentle – tide assisted paddle back to the pier.
In rather unpleasant weather and river conditions four complete beginners attended Coach’s Steve and Elaine’s beginners paddling course. The original plan was based around a low tide occurring during the session. On the day the tidal conditions were changed by The Thames barrier being closed. This resulted in the river water level rising and falling, but the tidal flow remain in one direction, an ebb tide. These weren’t ideal conditions to teach in, nor for … Read more
We had to change our plans for the south coast and ended up attacking the Marlow-Henley stretch of the Thames instead.The weather was pretty awful, loads of rain, the autumn cold started biting and the skies were grey and low. Luckily the team was extremely enthusiastic about the scenery and our guide, the rain stopped and the sun came out – tentatively. We started appreciating the virtue of good gear (layers of paddling clothes), waterproofs, paddling … Read more
Another early start at Chiswick Pier Canoe Club, meant one group with Martin lead coach another with Sarah D as lead coach left the pontoon at some ghastly time of the morning. By the time I had arrived there were only two groups left, Coach Andy and Coach Dean took one group, leaving the last group to be coached by both Elaine & Steve. Whilst all the other groups headed towards Chiswick Bridge, we in Elaine’s group took … Read more
Chiswick Pier to Teddington Lock Fan-tas-tic UK weather – rain, a bit of sun and loads of wind: Northerly Bft 3-4 with gusts reaching Bft 6) with Jules Julie Wright & Heather Turnbull Definitely some tidal support on the way out but somebody put the low-tide barrage down in Richmond on our way back (to enhance our experience).
It’s late September and still lovely and warm for an autumnal paddle with CPCC So a typical Sunday morning with coaches arriving to take our lovely paddlers out on to the water. There were three groups Coach Leon led the first kayak group with Coach Dean in a canoe as backup. The second group of kayakers was led by Coach Michelle with back up from Liz. The third group was led by Coach Steve, the … Read more
Three coaches had volunteered to help with this Sunday’s session. Dean and I had been out of action for several weeks (me due to injury and Dean as he had been away) so we had agreed to meet before the members would arrive and learn from Leon what had been working well and how we would run the session. Although it probably feels a bit of an imposition that we ask members to let the … Read more
