News – Nomad Kayak Club

18Oct 2021 by trips No Comments

Grand Union Canal and Gade trip report

On Sunday the 17th of October 12 nomads led by Matt and Mike met at the Club for a local trip towards Watford to explore the canal and river Gade. Despite a good forecast the weather didn't look too promising with a light drizzle as, after a safety and introductory trip briefing from Matt, we made our way to the canal to put in. The high bank was a challenge to our newer paddlers who acquitted themselves well, but we had our first swimmer of the trip as Sue attempted to get into her new boat. She may have been wet, but was undaunted, as she declared herself warm enough to continue and we headed slowly toward Batchworth lock mindful of the longer distance we'd be paddling today. A large…

19Sep 2021 by trips No Comments

Symonds Yat trip report

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On the weekend of the 11th and 12th of September 8 Nomads and a friend travelled to the river Wye at Symonds Yat in Herefordshire for a camping weekend and two days of kayaking led by Matt. About half of us arrived on the friday afternoon and pitched camp at the River Wye Caravan and Camping park in good time for the following day then retired to the nearby Old Court pub for dinner and drinks to await Martyn who arrived later. A pleasant evening was had before turning in to a sound night's sleep. Getting up was leisurely and breakfast very hearty for some (well done Darren!) and our remaining members arrived in time to allow us to depart almost on schedule to the Kern Bridge put in, where…

10Aug 2021 by trips No Comments

Cherwell trip report

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On Sunday 8th of August eight Nomads led by Matt met at Donnington bridge on the Thames west of Oxford for a scenic trip up the Cherwell through the centre of Oxford. Simon who was meant to be leading the trip unfortunately couldn't make it as he'd been pinged by his COVID app a couple of days earlier and had to miss his own trip! The weather forecast was grim - 60% chance of rain every hour for the whole day - so it was with a mixture of trepidation and resignation and plenty of waterproofs that we put into the Thames and started dodging rowing boats on our way upstream to the Cherwell. Five of the group were on their first Nomad club trip, but all paddled strongly as…

12Jul 2021 by trips No Comments

Abingdon and Swift Ditch trip report

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On Sunday 11th of July eight Nomads led by Matt met at Abingdon lock for a circular tour up the Thames and down the Swift Ditch. The weather was better than forecast and it was already brightening up considerably as we carried our boats across the weir and lock to meet up with the late Simon on the other side at the put in. After a quick safety briefing focussing heavily on trees we put in according to our own style from the highish bank or the lower steps. We seemed a bit overdressed as we set off up river against a gentle current through fields and moored boats with the noise of what sounded like motocross in the background. Not far upriver we came across a sunken houseboat in…

15Jun 2021 by trips 1 Comment

Hennerton Backwater and Henley trip report

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On Sunday 13th of June seven Nomads and a friend led by Simon paddled from Wargrave through the Hennerton backwater to Henley and on to the Aston slipway. On a day set for scorching temperatures parking was at a premium. Lots of enthusiasts were taking to the water in SUPs, canoes and inflatables and a multitude of bikes to avoid meant we had to be patient. Thank you to the tenant of the Flower Pot pub for letting some of us park in her overflow car park. After parking, shuttling back with masks and a safety briefing we started off dead on time at 10.45am to head down the Hennerton backwater, marvelling at the size of the houses and agreeing they were not for us as there would be too…

11May 2021 by trips 1 Comment

Great Ouse trip report

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On Sunday 9th of May five Nomads led by Martyn met in the car park opposite Tesco in Bedford to paddle the not very inviting sounding Great Ouse. It was warm but not very sunny as we put in to a beautiful little pond on a side branch of the river and headed down a narrow channel to the join the main river. The first half of the trip was upstream on the main channel to the centre of Bedford, but the flow was hardly noticeable as we paddled through bucolic countryside towards Cardington lock. Before the lock we took a detour up a channel on the right to the bottom of Cardington white water course, which looked dry and forlorn as we imagined what it would look like with…

12Apr 2021 by trips No Comments

RIver Gade trip report

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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

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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

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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…