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Another in the series of a slower paddle from Chiswick to wherever we get to!

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Another in the series of a slower paddle from Chiswick to where ever we get to! Flooding tide with high tide around the 1pm mark Coach Steve Canoe Paddlers Mick Kayak and MJ Canoe Start time circa 10:30 On the day Chiswick Pier had a couple of groups heading out, so Coach Steve’s team waited until they were clear of the pontoon area before heading down. We waited on the bridge, even then it was … Read more

Sea Kayaking Training Session

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Saturday 05th of June 2021 A trip to the White Swan followed by session working on rescues and self rescues. In terms of weather and temperatures quite a good day to have done this. A completely self motivated team (Michelle, Leon, Eliza & Frank) – I had so much fun observing and making pictures. An absolute wonderful day. (Again) Super day. Lovely team. Great skills. Time add a few waves.

Thames 2 Sea

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29th of May 2021 – CPCC to Teddington & back01st of June 2021 – Ringstead Bay to Lulworth Cove & back 2 focused 1:1 sessions with Glen The weather was with us (Yay!). We tested our strength and stamina with a long-ish paddle on the Thames 2 days before we committed to the long drive to Ringstead and the sea. With the ease of lockdown and warmer temperaturesI was able to run a handful of … Read more

Another Day another Paddle on the River Thames

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As part of coach Steve’s slower paddles there was only one sign up so an easy paddle on an extremely easy tide. As my club member hadn’t paddled for a year due to lockdown, it was a very gentle introduction to paddling, so no heroics was required. A little worrying and just as the flow was right, just in front of the pontoon we practiced a little edge control. Its funny those boat designers spend … Read more

Another lovely day on the Thames

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Super sunny warm day, no wind, gentle tide and a great group! We explored our beautiful river reaching the City Barge for a coffee in the sun with a riverside view! Then drifted home with the last of the ebbing tide. We looked at how we can make our forward paddle stroke more efficient – what a difference having good connection with the boat through our feet and using our legs together with upper body … Read more

Old Harry Rocks

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22nd of May 2021

South coast trip 2021, #01

    Finally!

    We got ourselves a weather window (still sort of gray and rainy but we had a much more agreeable sea state), a fantastically flexible, pro-active and helpful team (thank you so much).
    So – off we went.
    It is a long drive for a few hours of Neptune worship but we had a blast. 

    • Fantastically helpful team:
      (Of course Frank knew all along the kayaks would fit… I wasn’t sure…)

    I was so happy to be back. The sea. Big ocean skies. Waves and wind. Salt. And of course an ace team:
    F., Frank, Eliza, Carlos (Yay!)

    • Old Harry – splashed

    A short-ish trip to Swanage. A cave. A hole in the wall.

    • Reversing into cave
    • Cavewoman
    • Eliza
    • Hole in the wall

    Rescue training in cold but clean water. Funny… ‘ Once we went into the water – we sort of just carried on doing loads of rescues… started getting really good at them too.

    • Carlos rescuing Eliza

    Some fears were set to rest, confidence was built upon and there seems to be a hunger/thirst (salt water?) for more…

    What a day!

    • The sun came out after our rescue training
    • shortish trip: 14.6 km = 7.8 nautical miles

    Night Paddles

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    (Paddle & pint) 18th, 19th & 20th of May 2021 with Judy, Rebecca, Glen, James, Dee & Siobhan Super enthusiastic & strong participants: Distance records, first time night paddlers, first time paddling in strong winds… Nautical manoeuvres in the dark. Of course the real experience starts after sundown when darkness sets in and the birds settle down. After leaving the pub and embarking on the journey back to the pier the river is completely empty … Read more

    Boat maintenance and repairs

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    We recently had a boat maintenance and repairs day, along with a much needed clear out of the garage. Huge thanks to Julius for organising this, and to Julius, Dean, Kiki, Liz, Elaine, Sarah and Michelle for all their hard work returning the fleet to tip top condition! The lost property and spare clothing boxes were overflowing and an email will soon be going out to members with photos of items for you to claim.

    2021 05 16 A lovely gentle paddle from drizzle to sunshine!

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    A typical Sunday gentle paddle upstream! Despite threatening skies, some drizzle and a breeze in our faces, our happy trio enjoyed a relaxed morning heading upriver against the ebbing tide. Why are goslings SO cute! On reaching Kew Railway Bridge, the Bulls Head pub looked shut but wonderfully The City Barge was open! So we all enjoyed a super warming coffee sitting with a river view. Thanks Liz! … and fantastically the grey clouds were … Read more

    Five Tasters & Two Coaches teaching on two Consecutive Sunny Sundays

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    Students : Jan, Philip, Niamh, Steve & Svetlana Coaches: Coaches Elaine and Steve Weather: Sunny on both days. Tide: low tide on first session, high tide on second section. Day 1 is basic kit up day. Check everyone has sufficient clothes for the session. Ask about their paddling experiences and share Coach Elaine’s and Coach Steve’s. Choose buoyancy aids and check they are tight enough not to fall through them should they swim. Down to the pontoon on route a … Read more