23Jun 2023 by Dave Hillier No Comments

Thames Trip, Castle Eaton to Lechlade

Event, News, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
On a wonderfully warm and sunny day, we started out from The Red Lion in Castle Eaton. Get-in was from the pub garden, not forgetting to pay a £5 launch fee for each boat. The river was running with a gentle current and well below the flood level we experienced in the winter where the fields on the other side of the bank had become shallow lakes. This section of the Thames was entertainingly twisty with thick reed growth lining the river and relatively steep banks river right. Paddling with concentration was required to avoid getting tangled in the tree branches overhanging the water. A high-water paddle would make the first third of this section tricky but, as it was, the winding nature of the river made for an interesting…
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15May 2023 by Dave Hillier No Comments

River Medway Trail Weekend

News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
On the weekend of May  13/14     Dave, Zoe, Jai, Hannah, and Conrad, met up at the pre booked Riverside camp site in Yalding Kent. The plan was to paddle the non-tidal river Medway from Tonbridge to Maidstone in 2 days. Day 1 would be a get in at Tonbridge and out at the campsite in Yalding, then day 2 would be from the campsite to Maidstone with a shuttle back to the campsite on the Sunday. We arrived on the Friday afternoon and as the tents, hotel and other structures went up the sun came out, as is usual for one of Dave’s trips, but there was a chill in the air, so once all set we lit the fire pit that had been supplied by the campsite. Just before…
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08May 2023 by Dave Hillier 1 Comment

Paddle the Thames, Videos

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Many thanks to Pierre and Sue Leon for all the efforts they have put in to this epic adventure paddling the whole (137 Miles) of the non-Tidal river Thames. From the Videos (below} to the research and way points maps etc, as well as their company. I (Dave Hillier) feel blessed to have led such a nice group of people on this journey, Many many hours of paddling in each others company are moments I will never forget, and almost everyday was not raining. :-)) Not forgetting those who have paddled some sections and kept us company, in no particular order. Andy S, Hannah S, Jai A, Ian W, Phil G, Conrad C, Nigel A, John M, Chris H, Dean, (space for anyone I may have missed :-)) Also a MASSIVE thank you to our shuttle driver,…
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05May 2023 by Dave Hillier 1 Comment

River Thames, Section 13, Chertsey to Teddington

Event, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports, Uncategorized
The final paddle of the non-tidal section of the Thames started just outside Chertsey Lock (KT16 8LF) and ended just before Teddington Lock (TW10 7YE) on a lovely sunny day. Our get-in was a convenient slide-in between the lock and Chertsey Bridge on the left bank of the river. There’s enough space alongside the road to unload and kit up before shuttling vehicles to the get-out. Shepperton Lock was the first of three to negotiate and was the only one we passed through without a portage.  The lock keeper had seen us coming and filled the lock ahead of our arrival, so we were soon in and out. During the first half of the trip there were showers of “condensation”, some very heavy. This obviously wasn’t rain according to Dave…
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23Apr 2023 by Dave Hillier No Comments

River Thames Kayak Camping Trip

Event, News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports, Uncategorized
22-23rd April 2023 Paddlers Dave H, (Organiser, Leader, Weather Expert and Report writer). Graham  S, (Leader and Bat Expert). Conrad C. (Historian and Harmonica Expert). Jai A. (Comedian, Bug out/in and anti moan Expert). Hannah S. (Nutrition, Breakfast, Snacks, Brunch, Snacks, Lunch, Dinner, More Snacks, Evening meal, Supper and more Snacks Expert). On 22nd April 2023 five Nomads with fully loaded kayaks set out on journey down the River Thames that involved an overnight camp. About 10 miles in total as the crow flies split into 2 x 5 mile sections. We wanted to pay respects at Sandford Lasher and explore Sutton Pools along the way. We initially met up at the McDonalds for a chat, breakfast and coffee. After the usual safety briefing, warm up and discussions we were ready to…
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09Apr 2023 by Dave Hillier No Comments

River Cherwell

Event, News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
“The Fellowship of the Spring” or Nomad Kayak Club’s River Cherwell 2023 Trip Report. On a fine Easter Sunday morning an intrepid band of a dozen adventurers assembled on the bank of the Thames near the Riverside centre in Oxford (OX4 4BJ). As had long been foretold the sun would shine, no rain would fall and temperatures would reach a balmy high of 15 degrees, making for very pleasant paddle conditions. After our merry band had assembled the necessary craft, equipment and provisions, our leader Dave H the Dauntless briefed us for the journey ahead. River levels were high however the anticipated dangers were only a few passages of fast-moving water and the possibly variable ability of passing amateur punt pilots. Paddling upstream on the Thames we passed “The Kidneys”…
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31Mar 2023 by Dave Hillier No Comments

River Thames: Section 12 – Windsor to Chertsey

Event, News, Recreational, Trip, Trip Reports
Distance: 13 miles downstream Date: Friday 31st March 2023 Start: Windsor Leisure Centre Slipway, Stovell Road, Windsor SL4 5BZEnd: The Kingfisher Pub, Chertsey Bridge Rd, Chertsey KT16 8LF Paddlers:Dave Hillier (organiser)Chris HarperSue LeonConrad Chambers (trip report) Non-paddlers:Pierre Leon (researcher)Graham (shuttle driver) Dave, as usual, issued a completed risk assessment in advance of the scheduled date for the paddle.Pierre, also as usual, provided an excellent map, along with a detailed breakdown of the route.This one included multiple optional get-out points in case it was decided to split the 13 mile trip into smaller sections.Despite Dave’s empty promises of good weather, we met up on a blustery and rain-soaked morning at the Windsor slipway. As we got changed under the conveniently dry arch of the A332 bridge over the river, Pierre told…
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31Dec 2022 by Dave Hillier 1 Comment

River Thames Section 1a – Cricklade to Castle Eaton – Trip Report

Event, News, Trip, Trip Reports
31st December 2022 4.1 miles/6.6 km downstream, Cricklade to Castle Eaton. The reduced daylight hours resulted in the Section 1 trip (Paddle the Thames, Mark Rainsley) being split into two and this is the first part. Paddlers: Dave Hillier (Trip Leader), Andy (Assistant), Pierre Leon, John Murray, Phillip Gent (with doggie guests Fifi and Coco), Jai, Sue Leon (Report Writer) We gathered on the last day of 2022 at a small parking area near the Cricklade slipway and the weather was set to be gloomy and wet most of the day, Cricklade is approximately 15 miles/24 km from the source of the Thames at Kemble and so it was more of a stream than a river. As we waited for the others to arrive a few dog walkers passed by on…
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24Dec 2022 by Chris Harper No Comments

River Thames Section 9b – Wargrave to Aston – Trip Report & Video

Event, News, Trip, Trip Reports
Saturday 24th December 2022 5.9 miles/9.5 km downstream, Wargrave to Aston. The reduced daylight hours resulted in the Section 9 trip, Reading to Aston (Paddle the Thames, Mark Rainsley), into two and this is the second part. Paddlers: Dave Hillier (Trip Leader), Pierre Leon, Chris Harper, John Murray, Phill Gent (with doggie guests Fifi and Coco), Jai, Sue Leon (Report Writer) We gathered at the St George and Dragon pub which has a kayak-friendly platform onto the river. Dave had previously sent out the lock status report as shown below (we were to traverse Marsh and Hambledon locks) and so we were expecting a faster flow and this was immediately obvious on looking at the river. We were travelling downstream although a few tandem kayakers seemed to be coping easily with upstream…
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