News – Nomad Kayak Club

13Sep 2020 by trips No Comments

Lea at Hoddesden trip report

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

News, Trip, Trip Reports

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…

08Jun 2020 by Webmaster No Comments

Website Update

News, Website

Some good things have come from the coronavirus lockdown - the Nomad Kayak Club website has undergone a major upgrade. Changes include (but are not limited to): Lots of security improvements including HTTPS (SSL) encryption between the server and your web clientNew, faster serverBetter GDPR compliant privacy optionsNew look & feelNew online membership signup/payment systemNew domain name available for those who want to use something shorter then our current URL: nomadkayak.club (both can be used) There may well be some teathing problems in the next few weeks so please bare with us. If you see anything broken please get in touch with the webmaster. Any feedback is very welcome! Webmaster

13May 2020 by chairman No Comments

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

News

Following publication of the Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy on Monday 11th May and receipt of updated British Canoeing advice issued throughout the week, we can confirm that the NKC Club facility remains closed and that all NKC activities remain suspended for the time being. The Committee will continue to follow both Government and British Canoeing advice and hopefully there will be a return to Club paddling albeit in a socially distanced form in the not too distant future. In the meantime we will continue to plan for what a safe return to paddling may look like for NKC including addressing the following: How often and where we can meet?How and where we change?How and where we paddle?How we clean and store equipment at the end of each session? We are all going…

21Mar 2020 by chairman No Comments

IMPORTANT NOTICE – Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Nomad Kayak Club Activities

News

In light of the current Coronavirus pandemic and advice received from the Government, British Canoeing and BLYM, all club sessions and trips are suspended until further notice. It’s difficult to put a timescale to the suspension of activities, but as an indication BLYM have informed us that the site will be closed until at least 30th April. We will monitor the situation, follow the Government advice and assess how best to resume activities safely. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank for your continued support, Nomad Kayak Club Committee

24Feb 2020 by trips

Gade trip report

News, Trip, Trip Reports

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

News, Trip, Trip Reports

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…

23Dec 2019 by trips

Pre-Christmas paddle

News

Seven Nomads enjoyed a pre-Christmas recreational paddle up the Grand Union canal yesterday in preparation for the festive season. The water was very high, almost over the towpath in places and, though cold it was quite a bright day. A new fallen tree prevented us venturing very far up the Gade toward Croxley Moor, so we called it a day and turned around there. On the way back the chute down to the left of Batchworth lock was about as full as it ever gets and very enticing to the white water paddlers. Ian tried it out first, getting pushed hard into the (undercut) left wall by the force of the stopper and then got out to provide safety for Martin who followed, getting well stuck and rolling in the…