Merchant Taylors’ School tour report

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On the evening of Tuesday 13th August, a day earlier than planned due to the weather forecast, Ian Williams, a friend of Nomads and Bursar of Merchant Taylors' school hosted four Nomads members for a tour of the school's beautiful waterways. Looks like they had a fantastic time. Thank you to Ian for generously sharing Merchant Taylors' school's excellent facilities and for offering to repeat this tour in future for other Nomads members. Watch this space. Thanks to Ian too for the photos.
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Thames at Shiplake trip report

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On the 21st of July three Nomads and a friend met at Shiplake lock to enjoy the Thames and backwaters led by Martyn. Details are sketchy at this point apart from the photos. Looks like they had a good time though, apart from the parking difficulty. Thanks to Martyn for leading this trip and the photos.
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Medway trip report

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On Sunday the 16th June 7 Nomads led by Matt traveled to Queenborough in Kent to explore the Medway estuary. The weather had been forecast as sunny spells, but was looking ominously grey as we set out from the spit in front of Queenborough yacht club onto the Swale, which separates the Isle of Sheppey from the Kent Mainland. Paddling in waves, albeit small, was a new experience for some of the group, so we took it easy across the Swale pausing at a concrete boat in the centre of the channel, before following the opposite shore in the Medway direction to find the entrance to the creek to the south of Dead Man's island (seriously). It didn't take long to find the creek, looking very muddy indeed, and as…
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St Patrick’s Stream trip report

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On Sunday 26th of May 10 Nomads travelled to picturesque Wargrave to paddle the Thames and St Patrick's stream backwater. It wasn't as sunny as promised, but was very warm and the water cool and inviting as we put on the Thames to paddle a couple of miles upstream against the relatively mild current. Marc on his first trip with the club coped admirably with an unfamiliar boat and against the current and we arrived quite quickly at the pontoon by the first and only portage. After ejecting a couple of swans from the pontoon we took our boats out to portage the lock carefully avoiding the large and fresh piles of swan excrement. After waiting for several floating gin palaces to exit the lock and one to enter we…
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North Wales trip report

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Nine Nomads returned to Bala in North Wales on Saturday 27th April aiming to run the Tryweryn.  However, breakfast in the Y Badell Aur Café was interrupted by news that the dam release was cancelled due to high rain forecast, which promised to turn river levels from rags to riches. The destination was switched to the River Dee, which was rising from 2 to 9 on the Mile End Mill gauge.  Two groups formed to match the experience and aspirations of our paddlers.  Ian Williams led an eight mile journey on the highly underestimated stretch from Glyndyfrdwy to Mile End Mill, whilst Anthony Vecchio led a white water skills day between Horseshoe Falls and Llangollen. Storm Hannah brought lower temperatures and moderate winds along with rising water levels, so full…
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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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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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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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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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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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