trips – Nomad Kayak Club

12Apr 2021 by trips No Comments

RIver Gade trip report

Five Nomads led by Matt set out from the aquadrome on Sunday the 11th April for the club's first trip of 2021 - a local jaunt up the Grand Union canal to the river Gade and round Croxley business park to rejoin the canal at Croxley Moor. The club area was pleasantly busy with members for the polo session, the recreational session and the trip all there - almost like old times, except of course that social distancing and hygiene precautions were maintained. The weather was warmer than the previous week and it became pleasantly sunny as we put in at the lock and were joined by Graham on his first paddle with the club in a couple of years. Because of our novelty value we attracted much attention and…

05Apr 2021 by trips No Comments

First 2021 Recreational Session

News, Recreational, Uncategorized

On Easter Monday eight enthusiastic Nomad members met at the Aquadrome for the club's first post second lockdown recreational paddling session. We were mostly a bit rusty and the weather, though sunny, threatened snow for later. After a quick discussion we split into two groups with four members including Mike heading for Bury lake and four others including Matt heading up the Grand Union to the river Chess. Mike's group on Bury lake reportedly did three or four laps of the lake buffeted by an arctic wind and snow flurries before retiring around 11.30, while Matt's group got to the top of the navigable Chess and returned via a play stop on the W shaped weir on the Chess, which was flowing the best we'd seen it - enough to…

13Dec 2020 by trips 1 Comment

St Patrick’s Stream trip report

News, Trip, Trip Reports

On Sunday December 13th five Nomads led by Matt travelled to Wargrave through teeming rain to get some paddling in after the November lockdown. All of us were keen just for being there in the first place with the weather forecast being continuous rain all day. When we arrived however the rain started to let up and by the time we were ready to put in was only a very light drizzle - maybe even a heavy mist. The river was a little high so Dan chose caution over valour and didn't seal launch his newly purchased Axiom, which he was finding a bit tippy compared to the bus of a club boat he used to paddle. Martyn was very ambitious bringing his Necky Vibe and indeed was to have…

12Oct 2020 by trips No Comments

Cam Trip Report

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On Sunday 11th October 6 Nomads and 2 friends led by Simon drove north to Cambridge to paddle the scenic Cam from near Grantchester through the centre of historic Cambridge and back. The weather was as good as the forecast had promised as we prepared ourselves, safety briefed and put in to an idyllic pool below the mill bridge on the outskirts of Grantchester. Due to coronavirus precautions we stayed in two separate 'pods' as we paddled through tree lined meadows toward to Cambridge and after the first quarter mile met up with Andy from Chiswick club recently moved to Cambridge, who was our local knowledge and tourist guide for the day. River traffic was light when we started out with the odd open canoe and a half dozen K1s…

13Sep 2020 by trips No Comments

Lea at Hoddesden trip report

News, Trip, Trip Reports

On Sunday 13th September eight Nomads led by Matt met by Dobb's weir on the Lea for a circular tour down the Lea to Broxbourne and back via the Lea navigation. It was a beautiful sunny day so sun hats rather than helmets were the order of the day as we put in to the rather duckweedy pool below Dobbs weir and formed into two COVID friendly (or should that be unfriendly?) pods as per BCU guidance. Martyn achieved a tiny bit of side surfing on the weir's miniscule wave, watched intently by two fishermen on whose fishing spot he was surfing. Once assembled we headed off south under the road bridge and along the edge of the campsite where we were greeted by a member of the public exclaiming…

09Aug 2020 by trips No Comments

Cherwell trip report

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On Sunday 9th of August Simon Pettifer led 6 Nomads on a scenic trip to the Thames and Cherwell at Oxford. The day was forecast to be a scorcher, but it was pleasantly cool when we arrived at meadow lane car park in time to get parking spaces, get changed and wait for David to arrive. Once we'd all arrived it was over to the Thames for a short safety and COVID procedures briefing before putting onto the water avoiding all the passing skulls. The stretch up the Thames was short and pleasant before turning into the Cherwell on the right, just before several very fancy and expensive looking rowing club boathouses without a soul using them. We made good speed up the tree lined Cherwell against a very slight…

13Jul 2020 by trips 1 Comment

Henley trip report

News, Trip Reports

On Sunday 12th July seven Nomads and a friend led by Matt and Martyn in two socially isolated 'pods' met at Aston slip on the Thames below Henley for a leisurely paddle and picnic. It was an idyllic day with glorious sunshine, barely any wind and not too much flow on the river to hamper our upstream progress. After a short safety briefing we put on to the water, forming our two pods, before starting gently upstream toward Hambleden weir, our first and only portage and possible play spot. With the low flow the weir was a trickle over most of its width, but one gate was open and three local playboaters advised us on its safety (safe as you get). Having satisfied themselves they either weren't going to come…

28Jun 2020 by trips No Comments

New Sunday sessions well subscribed!

News, Polo, Recreational, Uncategorized

Nomads practicing social distancing The second Sunday since Nomad's return to paddling was well subscribed with the first recreational session and the polo session both full and the second recreational session half full.As Chilly and the junior squad practiced on the polo pitch, the recreational groups paddled round Bury lake getting used to the feel of their boats (and themselves!) again before venturing further afield. This may not sound too exciting, but some games and high brace and skulling support practice livened it up considerably.The first opportunity for river paddling for confident paddlers will be on Sunday the 12th of July on the Thames trip at Henley.Please do renew your membership and sign up for the Sunday and Wednesday sessions and trips, which will run as much as possible depending…

24Feb 2020 by trips

Gade trip report

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On Sunday 23rd of February seven Nomads led by Matt converged on the Grand Union canal at the Grove in Watford to paddle the canal and river Gade back to the aquadrome. The scheduled trip to the Abbey Stream had been cancelled due to very high water in the Thames and all other local rivers were in flood, so the plan was to take advantage of the high water to explore the Gade through Cassiobury Park, which is usually too low to paddle. Despite a poor weather forecast, we set off in pleasant sunshine with only a moderate and slightly gusty wind portaging the first two locks past the golf course and into the park. The turn off into the river Gade was a little overgrown and Matt scouted out…

23Jan 2020 by trips

Middle Wye trip report

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On the 18th and 19th of January six Nomads led by Matt traveled to Builth Wells to brave freezing conditions and paddle the middle Wye with good water levels. Matt arrived friday afternoon to inspect the river in the light, being joined by three more at the B&B that evening and two the following morning at Builth car park. Levels were high but not spate, 2.05m on the Erwood gauge which promised good paddling but fewer features, unfortunately for Tony on his first proper river trip and needing a few eddies to practice breaking into and out of. Instead he got plenty of practice with big waves. The killer wave 100 yards down from Builth bridge was miraculously avoided by all and we enjoyed playing in and surfing the many…