| Archive for westhoughtoncanoeclub.myfreeforum.org Westhoughton Canoe Club |
| CarlS |
River Dee Sunday 13th JanuaryThis paddle was a club outing aimed at beginners/novice paddlers on the Dee at Chester. Seven of us met up at the Sandy Lane car park at 11am and paddled down to the main weir. When planning the trip we had known that the state of the tide may mean that we wouldn't be able to shoot the weir or fish-ladder and as it happened this was the case. A short video of the weir has just been uploaded on You-Tube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=ihvye1w0NS4 (This is my first attempt at uploading a video taken using my helmet camera) Consideration was given to portage the weir and paddle further downstream but given the speed of the flow it was agreed that the best policy was to simply return to Sandy Lane. The trip was enjoyed by all and provided an experience of paddling in moving water, we even had to break in to eddies, well almost!). A few of the less sensible members of the club practised their cold water rolling at the end of the trip and yes, the water was very cold, (the last time we did this trip the water was almost as warm as the pool!). |
| Steve T |
That is incredibly high - from the video the steps look to be completely underwater.
I thought our trip in the summer was high but this looks completely washed out and not a good place to be. Sounds like I didn't miss too much then. Looking forward to much more helmet-cam footage, however! (Does this mean you'll always have to go last, to film everyone else?) Steve |
| Mel Stoddart |
Thanks to Carl and Jason for organising the trip on Sunday.
'fraid I can't watch the helmet-cam footage, work filters block out almost everything fun related 
I'd be supprised if I was on any of the footage, I seemed to spend most of the trip at the back and way behind everyone else. After spending ten mins trying to get past a police boat I had to admit defeat and get out of the river carring my kayak to try and catch up with everyone else... 
Second attempt not much better and ended up first being towed , then getting out again
Good fun tho! Mel |
| Jon W |
River Dee tripDitto the thanks to Carl and Jason. Despite the conditions it was just great to get out on the water.Mel - think you need to fit a little outboard motor to your kayak next time 
Looking forward to giving the weir a go in the summer. |
| CarlS |
Mel, you did okay. The water was flowing at about 5mph and on the way back we were paddling against the flow, we also had a fair amount of wind to contend with. As Jason suggested we will organise another flat water paddle, perhaps at Sale Water Park (Trafford Watersports Centre), with a view to sorting out paddling in a straight line. This is a skill which will develop, but difficult to do so in the pool.
With regard to the helmet camera, I do have more footage but need more practise using it, I will burn a disk or two so we can circulate it. |
| Mel Stoddart |
River Dee TripThanks Carl!I'll sign up for a trip to Sale Water Park, do they open in the evenings or is it just weekends? As an aside, how about a most - towed award, or the most zig zags in the shortest amount of river...... ahem.... |
| CarlS |
There is another video on You-Tube covering this trip, if you don't want to be on it please let me know and I will remove/edit it. Please don't be concerned, it is really not a problem to do this and I will not be offended (I should have asked everyone anyway).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t71Oa3KITvk Carl |
| DaveS |
Nice one Carl, just had a peep at the second video, looks like you got a bit wet near the end.
Great idea using the "Carl Cam" adds an extra dimention to the paddle report. 
Mel, in answer to your question, Sale Water Park is open in the evenings but I don't think they let you paddle on there in the dark - even if you wanted to! But in order to paddle they need you to provide proof of insurance, BCU membership is fine and I believe we are all insured by the club BCU affiliation anyway but they will require evidence of that before they let you paddle. There is also a launch fee of a couple of quid - but nice warm showers!!!!! 
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| Steve T |
Any more upstream paddles planned?
If so I might bid on this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/petrol-mini...PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Steve |