13Nov 2022 by Michael Quinn No Comments

Basingstoke Canal Trip Report & Video

Event, News, Trip, Trip Reports
Basingstoke Canal 13-11-22This was a round trip, 7km each way, starting at the Mytchett Canal Centre and turning around at Ash Lock. Paddlers Dave Hillier (Leader), Pierre and Sue Leon, Nathan, Jai, John Murray, Phill Gent and Coco and Fifi. This stretch of the Basingstoke Canal is more like a river than a canal; as it morphs into lakes and slowly meanders its way through the Surrey and Hampshire countryside. It was a most picturesque paddle especially with the autumnal colours, as leaves of yellow, red, brown and black fell from the trees onto the water like rain. The put in point was the Mytchett Canal Centre where Dave did his safety talk and we all limbered up by mimicking chickens; fortunately, we were more or less alone. The weather…
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28Oct 2022 by Michael Quinn No Comments

River Thames Section 8 – Pangbourne to Reading

Event, News, Trip, Trip Reports
Participants were myself (Dave Hiller), Sue and Pierre Leon, Conrad Chambers, Chris Harper, Phillip Gent, Hannah Smith and John Murray. It’s often said ‘It’s not all about the water you're paddling on, but who you’re paddling with’, well today was just that. This write up is from me, as I saw it (and with the lack of a volunteer to do it, it has landed on my lap). So here goes (sorry to bore you). Section 8, of the River Thames, Pangbourne to Reading, the shortest section yet but the hardest so far to sort out. At this point I must say a massive thank you to Pierre who went above and beyond and sorted our parking from a building he was once shackled to. Eight of us on the…
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23Oct 2022 by Michael Quinn 1 Comment

River Dart Trip Report

Event, News, Trip, Trip Reports
Trip report by Nigel Atkinson. On Friday 21 October evening we met at the Dartbridge Inn in Buckfastleigh to plan the weekend's activity with a hefty meal. With more non paddlers than paddlers (5 kayakers, 2 cameramen, and 4 support personnel (wives)) logistics were simple and we arranged to meet the following morning at 9:30 (after a hefty breakfast) in the hotel car park in kayak kit ready to depart for Newbridge our put in for both days. After a quick safety briefing and a warmup enjoyed by all bar the oldest and grumpiest in the group we launched onto this beautiful river Dart with the water at a perfect height (just touching the slab at Newbridge). Considering the time of year, the forecast and the possible water levels the…
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30Sep 2022 by Michael Quinn No Comments

River Thames Trip – Section 7 – Wallingford to Pangbourne

News, Trip, Trip Reports
On Friday 30th September 2022, seven Nomads (Pierre, Dave, Sue, Philip (Coco and Fifi), John, Hannah & Jai) continued paddling the River Thames as part of “The Thames Quest”. Hannah and Jai were joining us for the first time; they both booked the day off work to attend. This section was just over 10 miles downstream, heading south as usual. The weather forecast was awful so we had to be careful - forecast for heavy rain and strong winds from 2pm and we were planning to be on the water at 10.30am and hoping to be off by 4pm-ish; therefore the later part was still something to be mindful of. (There was an evacuation plan if it was too bad to continue past Goring lock with our shuttle driver Graham,…
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26Aug 2022 by Michael Quinn No Comments

Private Paddle Report – River Thames: Culham Lock to Wallingford

News, Non-Club Activity, Uncategorized
River Thames: Section 6 - Culham Lock to Wallingford On Friday 26th August, 5 Nomads - Dave, Phillip, John, Chris, Sue, and not forgetting Coco and Fifi,  continued Paddling the Thames. This leg of our adventure took us to Culham and we would be paddling 11 miles downstream on the river to Wallingford. The weather was in the low to mid 20’s, and although the water levels were down about a foot, all the gauges for our section reported no problems. Our get in was just above Culham lock, and our plan was to wait for a boat to use the lock and we would share, as getting in below would have been difficult  for some due to the pontoon being quite high. Our plan was to be on the…
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22Aug 2022 by Michael Quinn 1 Comment

River Tryweryn Trip Report

Event, News, Trip, Trip Reports
On Friday 19th August, 5 Nomad paddlers (Conrad, Ian, Martin, Nick and Nigel) set off for Wales to paddle the Tryweryn over the next couple of days. For those who left early on the Friday there was the opportunity for a quick warm up at Mill End Falls on the river Dee which also also gave Nigel a chance to try his new kayak. In the evening we all met up to eat and plan Saturday’s paddle on the Tryweryn. The Tryweryn is split into 2 sections, the Upper River and the Lower River. The Upper River is roughly 2km of grade 3 rapids and runs alongside the National White Water Centre. The Lower section begins below the centre alongside Tyn Cornel campsite and continues with grade 2-3 rapids for…
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14Aug 2022 by Michael Quinn No Comments

Cow Roast to Wendover via the Grand Union Canal Trip Report

Event, News, Trip, Trip Reports
On Sunday 14th August, 11 Nomads ably led by Dave set off on a sunny Sunday paddle from Berkhamsted to Wendover, covering roughly 8 miles. Temperatures were once again in the high 20's and everyone was well armed with hydration and a tasty packed lunch (apart from Jai who barely had a morsel). The majority of the group rocking the new Ainsworth paddles and loving them!! We set off a behind schedule, all thanks to Amie arriving nearly 30 minutes late and delaying the start of the safety briefing and warm up. We eventually hit the water just after 10.30am and set off with the Wendover arm as our stopping point. The trip saw John hit the water in his snazzy new kayak and new Nomad's Hannah and Alexa paddle…
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17Jul 2022 by Michael Quinn 2 Comments

River Medway Trip Report

Event, News, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
Well he promised us a good trip and he delivered. Well done Dave Hillier! On Sunday 17th July, nine Club members (and two associate dogs) set set off early from Rickmansworth to head to Teapot Island on the River Medway for an eight-mile round trip along a non-tidal section.  Planned to start at 10:00, some had logistical and site location issues which coupled with equipment preparations, delayed the set off for the whole team.  Suitably prepared by Dave’s briefing presentation we set off from a purpose built get-in at 10:50. The stretch of water was beautiful with several scenic views including an oast house, a variety of bridges, some locks, a thrown together ‘diving’ platform and a few pill boxes to count!  The water was quite busy with other craft…
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12Jun 2022 by Michael Quinn 1 Comment

The Big Paddle Clean Up on the River Colne

Event, News
Co-ordinated by Ian Walker, regular NKC trip leader & Colne Valley River Ranger, during the Big Paddle Clean Up Week, twelve Nomads gathered at 1000hrs on Sunday 12th June to carry out a clean up of the River Colne.   Armed with gloves, sacks, litter pickers provided by the British Canoeing ‘Clear Access Clear Waters' campaign. Nine kayaks accompanied by two large Open canoes set off from the NKC Clubhouse in Rickmansworth Aquadrome and paddled along the Grand Union Canal joining the Colne near Tesco’s store at Frogmore wharf. The Open Canoes, crewed by Ian and Nigel in one with Rafael in the other, were used to store the accumulated rubbish collected by the Kayaks, which could flit in and out of overhanging trees in shallower water. It was an…
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05Jun 2022 by Michael Quinn No Comments

Hertford Lea Loop Trip Report

News, Trip, Trip Reports, Uncategorized
On Sunday 5th June, eight Nomad paddlers met in a Hertford at 10am to paddle the Hertford Lea loop. All were prepared for wet weather but fortunately we escaped the rain. Prior to launching, Ian and Chris spoke to some paddlers at the nearby Herts Canoe Club to try and gain some local knowledge from local paddlers who were also just about to paddle the same route. We then launched right outside Herts Canoe Club, all except Tony & Rafael who decided to paddle the lead in and launched a bit further upstream. After launching, we headed downstream on the River Lea towards the River Beane and played in Hartham Weir along the way, the first and easiest two step weir of the day. Although, whilst arsing about Rafael did…
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