17Apr 2019 by Michael Quinn

Ivel trip report

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On Sunday 14th April six Nomads led by Ian traveled up the A1 to the River Ivel put-in near Sandy in Bedfordshire. Eight had booked for the trip, but David Hack & Robert Crowley had to pull out at short notice. Though the weather was bright with not too much breeze, it was a bit nippy for mid-April, so we decided to stick with the standard trip to Tempsford where the Ivel joins the Great Ouse rather than continuing another 3km to the Anchor Inn near Great Barford. Maybe next time we'll have a supper run to the Anchor. The four vehicle shuttle all went well until Annette, having driven back to the put-in with all the others, realised she still had her and Sarah’s dry clothes for the get…
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18Mar 2019 by Michael Quinn

Grove Mill trip report

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On Sunday 17th of March five Nomads set out from Grove Mill near Hunton Bridge to explore the grand union canal and river Gade backwaters back to the aquadrome. After the hurricane the previous day we were glad to start in sunshine with only a light breeze as we set off southward on the canal towards Cassiobury park. After a pretty canal section past Whippendell woods on the right and a portage around two locks, we soon arrived above the lock in Cassiobury park where we turned off left on the river Gade. A selection of weirs presented themselves, but we took the easiest chute to the left into a pool with no obvious exit due to a fallen tree. Undeterred we forged our way through the tree branches continuing…
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03Feb 2019 by Michael Quinn

Wey trip report

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On saturday 2nd February four Nomads led by Matt overcame their meteorological pessimism due to overstated media reports of snow and met at New Haw lock in Addlestone to paddle a 12 mile circuit around the Wey Navigation and river Wey. Despite the forecast the weather started out fine and sunny as we headed south under the M25 and we all felt overdressed as we followed the beautiful tree lined navigation past attractive houses and fields against a slight current. Simon was soon locating us by golf courses as we passed a canal side pub he recognised at our only lock portage on the navigation. About a mile further through fields and woodland brought us to an ancient lock dated 1653, our lunch stop and site of the weir that…
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15Jan 2019 by Michael Quinn

Mid Wye trip report

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Ian at full sail On 12th January four Nomads met in the car park at Builth Wells to begin a 15 mile journey down the River Wye to Glasbury.  This classic touring section includes the Grade 3 Hell Hole alongside the iconic Wye Valley countryside. Having pointed out the exact spot below the bridge where two years earlier we had conducted our first rescue, we conducted our first rescue; probably caused by the very same rock.  However, the mild weather minimised the impact and we continued through successive grade 2 rapids towards the Hell Hole. On arrival, our inspection at low water made the decision clear.  We would avoid the Hell Hole and take the chicken run on river left instead.  This worked for most of the group, but for…
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10Dec 2018 by Michael Quinn

Abbey Stream trip report

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On Sunday the 9th of December 7 Nomads led by Matt, missing only one beer casualty from the night before, met at Laleham near Staines to paddle the Thames and the Abbey Stream. It was looking pretty grim at first, sitting in our cars in the pouring rain, but Fane and Charlotte generously delayed our start until the rain had stopped, the sun had come out and it was looking like really quite a nice day - thank you. For the first two miles up the Thames we fought against a moderate current and headwind, but nevertheless everyone made it without stopping up to and past Penton Hook lock to the start of the Abbey Stream, where we had a short break to get our breath back. Well done Tony!…
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12Nov 2018 by Michael Quinn

Gade trip report

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On Sunday 11th of November six Nomads, one on his first trip with the club set off from the western end of Cassiobury park in Watford to explore the backwaters of the Gade before joining the Grand Union canal to continue back to the aquadrome. After a quick risk assessment during which nearly everyone found a cut on their hand and eagerly applied sticking plasters after hearing of the risks of Weil's disease, we put in to the newly rain filled Gade by the Met line bridge and set off. The atmosphere of the trip was set quite soon by the narrow river, crowding trees, weak winter light and the many branches to be avoided, snapped or sawn - a cross between Apocalypse Now and The African Queen - but…
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29Oct 2018 by Michael Quinn

Ivel trip report

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On Sunday the 28th of October nine Nomads led by Ian Walker traveled to Sandy in Bedfordshire to paddle the Ivel. The trip had been postponed by two weeks due to torrential rain, but this weekend we were blessed by beautiful autumn sunshine, no rain and a light wind. Two of our number were on their first trip with the club and another paddling the Ivel for the first time. After a quick risk assessment by Ian we all put on and started off through pretty countryside with the occasional mound of dying reeds to push through. It wasn't long before we came to the first slidey weir, down which Ian took the main group, while three of us turned right down the mill stream to rejoin the main river…
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10Sep 2018 by Michael Quinn

Symonds Yat trip report

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On friday the 7th of September despite a forecast of rain seven nomads arrived at Symonds Yat West campsite. By saturday morning they'd found each other and Matt, the trip leader and were joined by two more before arriving at Kerne Bridge for the put in. The Wye was low but still flowing reasonably fast as we set off wondering if we'd be in for a miserable wet day, but apart from a couple of short spells of light drizzle the rain held off and we enjoyed passing through the stunning countryside with even sunshine at times. We made quick progress and soon passing last year's lunch stop we pressed on under Fane's direction to a beach he knew for a very agreeable picnic and canoeing chat. The remaining section…
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13Aug 2018 by Michael Quinn

Tryweryn trip report

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On the 11th and 12th of August a trio of Nomads took on the River Tryweryn, a classic white water river and home to the Welsh National White Water Centre. The summer holidays and other commitments denied this opportunity to many others, who would certainly have enjoyed the opportunity to develop their white water skills on Grade III/IV water. However, this allowed our coaches to test their river running skills in a small group of three, dispensing with the traditional warm up on the River Dee and moving straight to the top of the Tryweryn. The shuttle service provided by the centre was fully exploited on Saturday, as the team eddy hopped and surfed their way from the Chipper to the Café several times. No eddy, boof or surf wave…
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09Jul 2018 by Michael Quinn

Cherwell trip report

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On Sunday 8th of July Peter Scott led 10 Nomads on a trip new to the club, but not Peter, to the river Cherwell in Oxford - an excellent turn out. This beautiful day was looking to be very hot. We started off on the Thames at 10:40am right next to the Falcon Canoe Club house then paddled a short distance avoiding the rowing boats shooting along to find the River Cherwell, which narrowed considerably from the Thames. We soon came across the first of the beautiful buildings of Oxford University, Christ Church - In the past I've called this trip the Hogwarts Trip, due to much of Harry Potter having being filmed here. The day continued to hint at being extremely hot, but the beauty of the Cherwell is…
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