08Nov 2025 by Nigel Atkinson No Comments

River Tees 2025

News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
Only two Nomads ventured to county Durham near the frozen North where the White Walkers rule for three days of paddling on the River Tees. We joined ICC on the water and all enjoyed a great weekend paddling. The weather was surprisingly warm for the time of year and the river levels relatively low, which I for one is was grateful for, as in flood the Tees looks particularly scary! On the Friday we paddled from Barnard Castle down to Eggleston Abbey rapids as a warmup. This feature being easily portaged but a fun bit of grade 3. On the Saturday We paddled the stretch from Middleton-in-Teesdale to Cotherston relaxing paddle (and a bit of a scrape) on grade 2 water. All the above was a warm up for the…
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13Sep 2025 by Nigel Atkinson 1 Comment

River Wye Weekend 2025

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A Saturday and Sunday visit to Symonds Yat saw 9 Nomads enjoy a weekend of paddling in sunshine, showers and bouts of heavy rain. Saturday saw a paddle from Kerne Bridge to Symonds Yat with two Nomads on their first river trip, Stanley and Ankit. Well done to both who enjoyed the day and were smiling throughout, even when running through Nigel’s warm up routine - open the door, shut the door - with stretching actions to mimic. After some Health and Safety pointers we were off - paddling 5k lazily down the river to a lunch stop of sandwiches and fruit midway. Arriving at the rapids there was some trepidation amongst the new guys but all tackled the rapids well with some of the more experienced paddlers keeping an…
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23Mar 2025 by Nigel Atkinson No Comments

Nomad River Clean-Up Sunday 23/3/2025

News, Recreational
Thanks to the awesome six (Graham, Dan, Anton, Martin, Hannah & Rachael) who joined up with Ian to help collect loads of rubbish up today . We cleaned the Canal up to Tesco's, Upper river Colne Loop down & Hannah & Rachael scoured the Canal & river banks and filled 3 big bags full. The paddlers collected another 5 big bags bin bags full. So 8 bags in total. The plan was to paddle & clean the whole river loop, but this was shortened to just cleaning the top Colne loop for three reasons: We found lot more waste than I expected 😒 Anton had a small incident at the 2nd weir: he played in stopper went in and then did well to roll up, but then went over again…
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09Mar 2025 by Nigel Atkinson 1 Comment

River Dart Weekend 7-9th March

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Seven intrepid Nomads paddled the Dart over the weekend. We met up on Friday evening at the Dartbridge Inn to plan Saturday’s paddling and to wine and dine. We decided to paddle the Loop from New Bridge to Holne Weir and then continue down to Buckfastleigh water permitting. After all these years of paddling and with so many experienced paddlers you would not have thought it so difficult to organise the shuttles, but, with some cars without roof racks, someone’s wife taking a car, some without spare straps, wanting to leave a car half way ((Holne Weir) in case of emergencies or conditions not being conducive to paddling all the way) and a certain amount of taking the Michael the normal fun a games was had deciding who should go…
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04Jun 2024 by Michael Quinn No Comments

The Big Paddle Clean Up 2024

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Where: Rickmansworth - River Colne/Grand Union Canal & Bury Lake When: Sunday 2nd June 2024 Volunteers: 14 Bags Filled: 9 Distance cleaned: 4.9km As part of British Canoeing’s Clear Access Clear Waters, ‘Big Paddle Clean-up’ Campaign. Nomad Kayak Club members paddled the River Colne & Grand Union Canal in Rickmansworth on Sunday 2nd June 2024. The event was lead by our Clear Access Clear Water Champion Ian Walker Ian and Nigel paddled the large red canoe which acted as the refuse (and rescue) vehicle. A further 10 kayakers (Dan, Darrell, Anton, Robert, Philip, Sue, Annette) , Hannah & Rachael cleaning the River & Canal banks by foot. This main group set off from the club house along the Grand Union Canal. A sub group led by Graham Summers assisted by…
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14Apr 2024 by Nigel Atkinson 2 Comments

River Dart – Friday 12th – Sunday 14th April

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On Friday 12th April evening seven intrepid Nomads met at the Dartbridge Inn in Buckfastleigh to plan the weekend’s activity over a meal and an enjoyable glass of wine, beer or mineral water. With a driver prepared to do the shuttle run (thanks to my wife Sue) the  logistics were simple and we arranged to meet the following morning at 9:30 after breakfast in the hotel car park in kayak kit ready to depart for Newbridge, our put in for both days and then shuttle the cars and dry kit to the takeout at Strawberry Fields Farm Shop and Café in Buckfastleigh The weather was being kind and the safety briefing, warm up and launch were all done  in beautiful sunshine. The river was at an ideal hight (just touching…
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23Dec 2023 by Michael Quinn No Comments

River Lee at Hoddesdon Trip Report

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When: Saturday 23rd December 2023 Where: Dobbs Weir Car Park - River Lee to Broxbourne Mill returning along the River Lee Navigation Paddlers: Michael Quinn (Trip Leader/Organiser), Nigel Atkinson, Chris Brown, John Murray and Dan Wickham After a week of persistent rain we arrived at Dobbs Weir car park to be met with blue-ish skies and brilliant sunshine, perfect weather conditions for the Nomad pre-Christmas paddle. After an obligatory mince pie whilst getting changed we made the short walk across Dobbs Road bridge to the launch site below Dobbs Weir. The customary safety briefing and warm up ensued before we took to the water and headed south under the road bridge along the first section of the river. Whilst one of Santa's not so little helpers assisting with launching, the…
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25Nov 2023 by Michael Quinn 1 Comment

St Patrick’s Stream Trip Report

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When: Saturday 25th November Where: Reading Wokingham Water Centre (RG6 1PQ) to St George and Dragon, Wargrave (RG10 8HY), via St Patricks Stream approx. 5.5 miles Paddlers: Nigel Atkinson (Trip Leader/Organiser), Ian Walker (Organiser), Mike Quinn, Chris Brown, Britta New, Thomas Carrick, Conrad Chambers, Dan Wickham, Pierre Leon and Sue Leon (Report writer) We arrived at Wokingham Water Centre on a bright and sunny but very cold morning and unloaded just outside the locked gates (we were not going to be staying here and so it wasn’t worth paying £5 per person for entry and, in any case, the barrier height is such that those carrying kayaks on their roofs would have had to unload first). Cars were driven to the end point and Nigel acted as shuttle driver bringing…
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14Oct 2023 by Nigel Atkinson 1 Comment

River Nene White Water Centre

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When: Saturday 24TH October 2023 Where: Nene Whitewater Centre Paddlers: Tony McKenzie (Organiser), Nigel Atkinson (lead coach), Graham Summers, Chris Brown, Conrad Chambers, Ian Walker, Martin Edwards, Aled Johnson, Paul Childerhouse (coach), Lleyton Fiordelisi, and Andy Slatford. On a bright October afternoon eleven Nomads made the trek up to the Nene White Water centre in Northampton for some Grade 2 white water shenanigans. It was a mixed bunch ranging from seasoned white-water paddlers to paddlers that had never previously paddled white-water. Not an issue as in true Nomad style there was plenty of help at hand in the form of both formal and informal coaching. The group split into two groups with the less experienced paddlers starting at the lower pools and slowly working their way up the course with coaching support provided by…
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