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Thames Sections 10b and 11 Trip Report – Friday 3rd March, 2023 13 miles/21 km downstream, Marlow to Windsor. Lighter days meant we could finish off Section 10 and complete Section 11 (Paddle the Thames, Mark Rainsley), Paddlers: Dave Hillier (Trip Leader), Pierre Leon, Sue Leon, Phill Gent (with doggie guests Fifi and CoCo We assembled and unloaded at Marlow slipway in St Peter’s Street in good time for a long day’s paddling. We had become used to short ½ section Friday trips whilst daylight hours were reduced and were now set to do 1½ sections – a long day ahead. The weather was cold and overcast and stayed that way all day but at least there was no rain.  As usual Dave’s friend Graham came along to help with shuttling…

Sunday 12th Februrary This Trip is no 16 In the “Pub Paddles book – The best Short Canoe Trips in the South of England” by Peter Knowles. We had to change the start. Fortunately, Dave had done his normal excellent checks the previous day and discovered that there was no available parking at the proposed Sawbridgeworth start. Therefore, the round-trip journey had to be started at the other end, Harlow Station. This was in a large pub car park, adjacent to the river, so at least it provided good free parking and a location for a finishing debrief over a beer. This trip was a bit like an Agatha Christie novel as the six expected paddlers reduced steadily down to three in the last few days. But no murders, just…

Mixed Craft Paddle of the Thames, St Patricks Stream, the Loddon and Hennerton Backwater. Paddlers:  Dave Hillier, Ana Tumbler, Jai, Anna, Vicky, Cathy, Julian, Claire, Sue, and Dee. 2 x Kayakers and 8 x Paddleboarders. This trip was a joint event between Nomad Kayak Club and Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Ana.On Sunday the 5th February 2023 we made our way to the George and Dragon pub in Wargrave that had kindly let us use the car park for this figure of eight trip. Jai and myself arrived early to find Julian warming up in stages manually pumping up his paddleboard. Looking out at the water the Thames had a flow on it but nothing like it was a few weeks earlier. The sun was making an appearance and the…

Friday 27th January 2023  6 Paddlers: Dave (Trip leader), Nigel (Safety), Sue, Pierre, Conrad, Phillip and two chihuahuas (CoCo and FiFi) paddled downstream on the River Thames from Aston (Henley on Thames) passing Magpie Island and the famous Hurley weir onto Marlow.  This stretch of the river is described as “quintessentially Thames with attractive landscapes, appealing history and culture”.   It is also mentioned in “Three Men in a Boat” by Jerome K. Jerome as “wiggling its way through lovely countryside with constant interest along its banks”.  Believe me, it does live up to this fabulous reputation.  Winter kayaking is different from paddling in the Summer; it is just as enjoyable and just as thrilling and magnificent, but you really need to be dressed for the part.   Appropriate clothing…

15th January 2023 A local lake, canal and mainly the River Colne, downstream to The Coy Carp pub, near Harefield. 7 Paddlers: Ian Walker (Trip Leader), Dave Hillier (Safety), Martin Edwards, Andy Slatford, Dan Wickham, Nathan Ashford & Jai Auguste. Ian led this local intermediate white-water trip, mainly on the Rickmansworth River Colne loop. After many days of rain it was a more interesting trip than planned. This was an intermediate Nomad Kayak Club trip with Dave Hillier thankfully providing good rescue cover. It was good timing while the river levels up and just before the next cold snap. Fun was had by all & only 1 person had a couple of dunkings, However it was a good to get some rescue practice in. The main hazards were tree branches/logs…

2nd January 2023 6.8 miles downstream paddle, starting where trip 1a ended (Castle Eaton Red Lion Pub) to Lechlade. Paddlers: Dave Hillier (Trip Leader), Phillip Gent (without doggies), Ian Walker (Safety and Report Writer) Just 3 of us set off sliding into the flooded Thames after Graham (shuttle) helping with us with car shuttle leaving both Dave’s van and Phil’s car at the Lechlade carpark end point.  Weather for a recent change was sunny all day, felt bit chilly at 7 degrees Celsius on average for trip, but when in the sun quite nice with only a slight wind.   Dave gave our trip briefing, main warning being to watch out for hidden obstacles in the faster and much higher than usual flowing upper River Thames. The river is normally…