This year's AGM is taking place on Saturday 28th January at 7.30 (just after the pool session). Taking place at The Lawns Inn, BS37 5BG. For more info see the website.
It was a damp misty morning as a mix of Open Canadians and kayaks met up at Bradford on Avon with a view to a gentle paddle down to Dundas and back up the canal. We followed the guide and parked at the far end of the car park. There was a nice simple bank to get in under the railway bridge and a gentle flow to carry us along.
When I originally planned this trip it was mild, however on the day it was minus 8 when we met down by the lockkeepers inn in Keynsham. As a result of a week of very cold weather it was no surprise to see that the Avon was frozen. A change of plan was needed, upstream was solid with no viable access to the river. When you pushed the paddle down to the ice it just didn't move. Downstream of the lock it was slightly thinner and we were able to find a spot to get in.
The two canoes, two sea kayaks and three kayaks set off downstream. it was an art to try and negotiate the icefloes, but in places the ice went the whole width of the river. If you have ever paddled through ice it is quite a disturbing sound that it makes as the boat breaks through.
It was a pleasant trip down enjoying the sunshine, albeit the water and air was very cold. it was not long before our clothing, boats and paddle shafts were all covered with ice. On arrival at Hanham lock there was a canal boat trying to break through to get to the lock. He moved forward in little spurts as pieces of ice a couple of inch's thick gave way. Eventually he gave up. So for us it was out with the brandy chocolates and coffee before the return trip.
Once back and changed it was into the Lockkeepers for a merry drink. Thanks to all the other 6 that came and joined me.
Like several others Amanda and I took a trip through the Great Glen by canoe this summer. And... like the others I have yet to find time to write a decent article. But I have select a few pictures of the trip that you might be interested in.
Like many others from NACC this summer, I ran this fantastic 90km solo in sea kayak, rough camping over 2.5 days in early September. I had fantastic weather - 24 slides to summarise are here:
But you really must do this trip sometime - just get the SCA guide (Google took me straight there), it has all the info you need (and almost nothing else to bore you!). SCA knock the pants off Canoe England!
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