| Archive for westhoughtoncanoeclub.myfreeforum.org Westhoughton Canoe Club |
| Steve T |
River Mersey, 08/03/09Our second beginner’s trip of the year yesterday was again well attended, this time a proper river journey. I think we had twelve paddlers out, running the stretch of the Mersey Canoe Trail from Northenden weir down to Jackson’s Boat. We could have gone further but weren’t sure of the get-out arrangements at the rugby club downstream. In any case given the weather and the fact that we had a couple of youngsters it was probably long enough, I know Conor was ready to finish when we reached the get-out.We were changed and shuttled reasonably quickly, ready to launch just after noon. We got in below Northenden weir, which can be shot but the stopper did look particularly grabby yesterday. I reckon that if you didn’t punch through first time you could be sat there for a while, although it certainly wasn’t strong enough to hold a swimmer. Safe enough but the potential for embarrassment meant we gave it a miss. The group paddled without any mishaps or adventures through three or four nice little grade I rapids and a couple of riffles, there was enough flow so that most rocks were covered and there wasn’t much steering or route-finding required. One rapid did have a reasonable wave in the middle of it, but unfortunately due to an unfortunate rock at the top of the eddy there was no way to get back up to surf it. We managed a lunch stop in the sunshine although we had wind (in our face, obviously!), rain, driving hail, snow, frogs and locusts for the rest of the day (I lied about the wildlife but we had everything else). We have in the past paddled the section from Jackson’s boat down to the bottom end of Sale Water Park and back up the lake as a nice Wednesday evening paddle, with another couple of similar rapids and a nice surf wave at the get-out. Unfortunately you are supposed to pay the centre a launch fee to do this and you are also supposed to decontaminate boats before transferring from river to lake (not sure how?). More unfortunately, I’m the one who got told off last time so it will be difficult to do that as an evening run, but we may well do the full stretch of the canoe trail as a day trip in summer, perhaps with a couple of open boats and making a nice day of it. The Mersey is a nice introductory paddle, a nice enjoyable day out for all levels of paddler and easy to get to. I think everyone had a good day, despite the weather, and it proved that you don’t need white water or even good weather for a great day out (although they do help). Not sure when the next novice trip will be as we will revert to white water next month, but given the popularity of this trip and the one in January we will have to do something again soon, it is great to see the club this active. There will in any case be opportunities for everyone to paddle at Burrs on Wednesdays from late-April onwards, and maybe the odd spur-of-the-moment Saturday/Sunday morning at Burrs. Steve |
||
| Steve T |
And another thing .....
Would anyone like to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and produce a brief write-up for the website? It would be good for one of our relative newcomers to let us know how they enjoyed the day. It needn't be particularly long or a great work of literature. Please? |
||
| LALA |
This is the Second time i have been on the river with the Club and again i thoroughly enjoyed it.
I love going out with the club on a weekend and im really looking forward to the next time. Thanks guys for looking after us on the river. Great turn out. |
||
| BobM |
Re: River Mersey, 08/03/09
Actually I had maybe the earliest swim in club history? 
At the beginning I launched from a sloping rock into the flow rather than into an eddy as I have usually done. Just as I was thinking about how I should really edge so that the water would not pile up on my deck and roll me over... the water piled up on my deck and rolled me over. With my paddle in one hand, my other desperately trying to right myself and the water not deep enough to fully capsize but enough to force me to drink deeply of the cold, fragrant water of the Mersey I salvaged what little dignity I had left and bailed. Carl kindly stopped me from losing my boat and I climbed back on the bank to relaunch. So far my drink of Mersey water has not resulted in any vomiting. Give it a couple of weeks and I should also be able to rule out Leptospirosis and amoebic abscesses! Other than that it was a fantastic day! Gentle rapids, occasional glimpses of sunshine sparkling on the rippling water, the cameraderie of paddling together into stinging hailstone, the puzzling logistics of sorting out the cars - I can think of few better ways of spending Sunday afternoon than with such a nice group of like minded people. Now, with hands warm enough to type, a cup of tea at my side and my spare room full of the strangely pleasant smell of drying neoprene, the fading memories of any discomfort at the time seem to make the whole day seem even more fun in retrospect. I can't wait for the next trip  !
|
||
| Steve T |
Headcam stuff on YouTube at http://uk.youtube.com/user/KeawyedsinKayaks, and here:
Unfortunately I've infringed Talking Heads' copyright, so the music I put on has been muted, also because it's a headcam it's a bit jerky and either my head or the camera is fixed at 45° to the horizontal. Never mind, you get the idea. Steve |
||
| Steve T |
Re-loaded the video on a different site with the music still on it here: http://vimeo.com/3633340
Westhoughton Canoe Club paddle the Mersey Canoe Trail, 8 March 2009 from Steve Thomas on Vimeo. |
||