Back by popular demand…..

Yes you lucky people, the members ‘fun day’ is back due to overwhelming demand. Set your diary dates for Sunday 1st September, and be sure to let Andy or Sue know if your attending so we can gauge how much food we require. Let the fun begin……………….

Members Fun Day

A members Fun Day has been organized for Sunday 26th August 11am – 4pm. Lots of fun and games at the canal basin, and it is planned to have a picnic tea. So we can get an idea of numbers for food, can you let Sue or Andy know if you are attending. Drop me an email at andrew.sadler@tesco.net. Oh, and be prepared to get wet……….very wet. ha ha.

Andy and Garry’s Charity Paddle. 50 miles in two days.

Hi Guys and Gals

We arrived at Hawkesbury junction, where the coventry and oxford canals meet, on a somewhat cool drizzley saturday morning at about 7.15am.

In front of us, a 25 mile paddle down the coventry and ashby canal to snarestone, an overnight stop at the globe inn, and return the following day.

The intrepid duo set for the off.

Leaving passed the moored boats on the coventry canal

Its about 3 miles to the ashby canal, passing charity dock on the way

passing through typically english countryside

About midway, we stopped for a bite to eat, a bit of the pasta and chilli me thinks…

passing close to market bosworth, we could hear the steam trains running on the battlefield line as they pass close to the canal, some nice properties canal side too

and then about 4.30 pm we arrived at the finish point, snarestone tunnel. You can see from the photo this tunnel has a slight bend to it.

loading the canoe up on the trolley

and pulling it up the towpath to the campsite behind the pub.

we set up camp and got some food on the go

and then made use of the bbq/firebox and it was a cold evening.

And then……well we were at a pub, and we had built up a thirst, and well it would be rude not to quench our thirst, and well the football was on, and well it was a cold night and the pub was nice and warm…………..mmmmmmm marstons pedigree………

A breakfast of bacon rolls, sausage and beans and we were ready for the return leg

more of the same really….

our starting point

an old bridge from the now disused railway

another nice stopping point

and before we knew it, the end of the ashby canal was in sight

and 3 miles later, the end was in sight

hawkesbury at last

50 miles in 2 days on the canal system, through some very typical british countryside, with a great paddling partner, over a cold weekend.

Happy paddling

Andy

Doggy Paddle 2012

Hi Guys and Gals,

Leamington canoe club run the ‘doggy paddle’ each year. This year the date is Sunday 13th May. Very pleasant trip down the avon from leamington to stratford. It’s the only time you can paddle through the grounds of warwick castle.

More details and a few pics here.

Happy paddling Andy

Avon paddle from Barford to Stratford-upon-Avon

Glorious sunny weather joined Andy and me as we set off on what was to be a wonderful paddle down the river Avon from Barford to Stratford –upon-Avon on Thursday 21st April.

We set out from Barford Bridge early in the morning and quickly noted how shallow the river was in parts which created some fast currents, especially at the put in.

As we travelled along down to the first weir, Hampton Lucy, we were met by a farmer (with a shot gun) and his two dogs. Suffice to say he was a very genial chap who commented on what a nice day it was for canoeing. We made for a speedy paddle once out of sight once we’d left him behind!

The weir at Hampton Lucy provided no difficulties for us and we easily managed to drag the canoe out and put it back in the river on the other side.

As we paddled steadily down the Avon we were accompanied by what seemed to be a myriad of swans, every time we appeared to leave one or two behind we bumped into another group.

We quickly came upon Charlecote Park, who we had emailed prior to the trip to seek permission to paddle through ‘their’ section of river but to which we had not yet received a response so we therefore carried on with the knowledge that the National Trust were positive about canoeing (or so states their guiding principles on their website) and with some careful navigating we cleared the deer booms without any problems and were then able to paddle past the stunning river side country estate that sits right on top of the river itself.

Other than the sound of water pumps draining water from the Avon to provide farmers with water for their crops we enjoyed absolute peace and quiet, and other than the farmer who we saw earlier our only onlookers were the local wildlife, sheep, swans, cows, swans, herons, swan…A quite remarkable achievement considering we were only a few miles from some major town centres.

Alveston weir provided a nice resting place where we enviously looked on at some of the country piles which back onto the river. I definitely need to play the lottery more often!

The remainder of the trip to Stratford was just as delightful as the uncharacteristic sunny weather began to heat up even more as the mid-day came upon us. Thanks to Andy for his company and the biscuits! The paddle was a good run-in for the Doggy Paddle which will soon be upon us.

PS: Charlecote Park replied to our email after our paddle to state that we could not access their section of the river due to the deer boom across the river? Ooops!