| Archive for westhoughtoncanoeclub.myfreeforum.org Westhoughton Canoe Club |
| CarlS |
Washburn Release dates 2009 - ** APRIL CLUB TRIP **Follow this link for release dates. For those who don't know, the Washburn is a short dam released river in Yorkshire. It is not that technical, but fast flowing with several drops. If anyone wants to go to a release I am sure that there will be several club members who would want to join in.Carl http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/extras/2009washburndates.pdf |
| Steve T |
It's not the second weekend but there's a release on the 5th which could do as April's club trip.
A good run for all the paddlers who've been with for the last year or so. Steve |
| GrahamS |
Looking forward to this one - be good to see how much I've developed (or not!) since doing it last year.
Thanks Graham |
| Mel Stoddart |
Another one I'll have to miss. Will be eating Birthday cake - 21 again...... |
| Steve T |
Poor excuse, I was scaring myself on the Tryweryn on my 43rd birthday.
In any case, it was just a suggestion as interest had been expressed in the Washburn and it's only released on certain dates. If more members can make another date then we could go somewhere else. Steve |
| Jon W |
I'd be up for it that weekend...either day. |
| LALA |
Hi Steve
Im just wondering if this would be too advanced for me. Lisa |
| Steve T |
Lisa
Yes, unfortunately it will be. This is a grade II / III river and it's (VERY) fast with small breakouts. Phil had some pictures of the river on his phone (without a water release) and you can get an idea from those. If you capsize on the Washburn your boat & paddle will be off down the river faster than you can run after them, believe me I know, and while the drops aren't too technical you still need more experience than you've had yet. Remember that from late April onwards we'll be outside on Wednesdays. Keep up with those and you'll be able to run stuff like this before too long. Steve |
| Steve T |
Carl & I are both keen on this so we'll call this April's official trip.
This is not a novice trip. As I said above, this is a fast river, suitable for paddlers who are happy on grade II looking for the next step before throwing themselves down something like the Tryweryn. It's only a short river, with a path down most of the length on river left, so we usually run it in sections, carrying back up and running it again. Probably we'll do one or two runs down the whole length with a couple of quick blasts down the top half. There's no organised shuttle but we can organise that ourselves easily enough. The day is organised by a local club who cover their costs with a charge, usually £8 (£10 for non-BCU members but we might try blagging it with the club's BCU affiliation card). The path makes it suitable for spectators, but check first as the cancelled Christmas run resulted in at least one member turning up with boots and camera but none of us to laugh at. Steve |
| Steve T |
I have a problem with this as I will have to scoot early afternoon. I'll therefore drive myself there and back, and would appreciate a fairly early start to make the most of it.
The river is switched on at 9:00, although as it takes 90 minutes to get there I'm not suggesting we aim for that. I do, however, have a general impression that we could get more done by starting earlier on most of our "non-beginner" trips. As a comparison, on my 4* training we met on the motorway at 09:30 and got two rivers done with plenty of time to spare before dark (in January!), however last November it was gone 12:00 before we started paddling the Greta. Anyone want to name a time they think they'd like to leave at? Steve |
| Jon W |
I'm happy to leave the house early (8am or so)....can never lie-in at weekends anyway with 6am starts during the week! |
| GrahamS |
I'm also ok with an early start - more to do with patter of (not so) tiny feet than early work starts though!
I also agree that we should try and go for earlier starts on a more regular basis - we could do two rivers in the same day / get more paddling time. A quick blast down the Goyt could have been a possibility last week for example... |
| Jon W |
Won't be down to the pool tonight but will still be coming along on Saturday. I'll aim to be there for around 9:30 unless another time is suggested on the forum.
Looking forward to it. |
| Steve T |
I'll be leaving at 8:00 so I'll probably be there the same time as you Jon. Since I will be leaving early I'm going to be antisocial and not offer anyone a lift, but see you all there anyway.
Steve |
| Steve T |
Carl has texted to let me know that due to a family bereavement he won't be out paddling until after Easter.
There's another release on Sunday 19 April; I propose postponing the club trip until then, if that's acceptable. Carl should be back and I won't have to run off early. Steve |
| Jon W |
Sorry to hear your bad news Carl.
I'm fine with the postponement though I'm already booked up for the 19th April. |
| GrahamS |
I'm fine with the new date for this.
Hope you're ok Carl. Graham |