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Archive for the ‘Paddle trips’ Category

LookWhatWeFound agree to sponsor the round Britain paddle

Posted in Challenges, Food and drink, Paddle trips on November 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Great news this week. LookWhatWeFound, the environment and local farmer friendly food company have very generously agreed to provide us with some of their fantastic ready meals for our 2,500 miles around Britain. In case you haven’t had one before, they are the tastiest long life ready meals you could ever wish for at the end of a long hard day’s paddling. Their lightweight packaging means they are also perfect for storing in the hatches of our kayaks. The only challenge now is to agree amongst the three of us which meals to go for. Their meatballs are my personal favourite!

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Old Harry still Rocks…..

Posted in Dorset, Paddle trips on October 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Some photos from a great paddle and day out along the coast in Dorset with Mike, Caroline and Geoff. 15 miles from Wareham, through Poole Harbour and along the coast past the very impressive Old Harry Rocks.

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Incident management and nylon pants….

Posted in Cornwall, Paddle trips, tagged Britain, Circumnavigation, sea kayak on October 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The round Britain team (Geoff, Mike and myself), spent last weekend at the Sea Kayaking Cornwall Symposium. Fantastic couple of days meeting up with other paddlers, learning some new skills and a spot of kit envy. If there was ever a sport designed to attract gadget obsessed men (and I believe we gadget fiends are all male) – then this is surely it.

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Date set for start of round Britain paddle

Posted in Challenges, Paddle trips, Sabbatical, tagged @Dinehard, Britain, Circumnavigation, sea kayak on September 13, 2011| 4 Comments »

On 29th April 2012, Geoff Cater, Mike Greenslade and myself will set off in our kayaks from Tatums Beach, Portscatho on the Cornish south coast. We’ll turn right at the harbour wall and with some hard paddling, some reasonable weather and a lot of luck, we’ll appear again on the horizon just beside the impressive Gull Rock that dominates the view across Gerrans Bay some 100 or so days later.

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Devizes to Westminster Preparation Underway (ahem)

Posted in Challenges, Cornwall, Paddle trips, tagged Cornwall, Devizes to Westminster, Extreme Challenge, sea kayak on August 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

So a couple of months before I started my sabbatical, I got an email from Andrew, a friend and colleague, with the simple text “Any interest?” – and a link. The longest non-stop canoe race in the world it said. Starting in Devizes and finishing just downstream of Westminster Bridge – 125 miles long and 77 portages. It went on to say that the race is a severe test of skill and stamina……

Of course I was interested, after all, how hard can it be?

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Moving water fun around Anglesey

Posted in Paddle trips, tagged Angelsey, sea kayak, Tide Race on August 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Following up our Slapton Sands exploits last month, Geoff and I headed off to Anglesey for some expert tuition from James Stevenson at Adventure Elements in how to deal with moving water, tide races and overfalls.

As I packed up the car ready to leave, Tanya did point out that I have a habit of spending more time in the car than on the water on these kayak trips. With a 400 miles journey ahead of me she had a fair point.

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Slapton Sands Slog

Posted in Paddle trips, tagged sea kayak on July 10, 2011| 2 Comments »

Had a meal and a few beers with some friends from work on Thursday night. Only one week into my sabbatical but there were a few comments about just how relaxed I looked. I did let on I was still getting up at 4.30am every day out of habit, but instead of finishing reports or proposals I was either editing my new blog or out for a run or a ride on the bike. They were horrfied! Truth is, I have always loved the mornings. There is something quite special about being up when you think noone else is. A chance to steal a march on the world, the ultimate “me time”.

“So what are you up to tomorrow morning?” they asked. Well I was planning to be up at 4am and heading off to Slapton Sands in Devon to go for a couple of days paddling with Geoff who I met on the Isles of Scilly. A nicer guy you could not wish to meet. Tanya climbed out of bed as well to help me manouver the kayak out of the front garden and onto the Landie and to see me off.

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Hayling Island Paddle

Posted in Paddle trips, tagged Sabbatical, sea kayak on July 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

What better way to spend the first day of a year-long sabbatical. Got up at 4am, but instead of climbing into a pile of emails, I climbed into the car and drove down the A3 and headed for Hayling Island with the sea kayak. (Stopped off for a pee at the Liphook services on the way – by far the cleanest and most pleasant service station toilets I have ever visited!). I launched near the fun fair mid way along the south coast. Perfect conditions for a very gentle paddle – 18 degrees, force 3/4 from NW, 10KM visibility, negligible swell. As I set off I took few minutes to watch the sail boats out in the Solent over towards Cowes. Would have been a great day for a crossing – but maybe later in July!

Tried out my new gadget on this trip too – the Garmin Etrex. Which told me that 14.1 miles and 3hrs and 38mins later I had completed the circumnavigation. Thought that was enough work to justify a cheese ham toastie before heading back into London in time to watch Andy Murray lose to Nadal. A traditional Wimbledon summer then.

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Hurst Park to Teddington Lock Paddle

Posted in Paddle trips, tagged London, sea kayak on June 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Here are a few shots of a gentle 12K paddle with some lovely friends Caroline and Mike who I met on the Isles of Scilly. We set off from Hurst Park – if you have a van beware you are unlikely to get under the barrier in the car park so will be a long carry. Great pubs and cafes on route. A very chilled day – paddle 20 mins, stop for coffee, paddle 30 mins stop for lunch …..you get the idea. A superb way land locked sea kayakers to spend a Sunday.

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London Kayakathon 17th April

Posted in Paddle trips, tagged Kayakathon, London, sea kayak on April 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »

On 17th April Tanya and I popped down to Chiswick to see the 80 or so paddlers who took part in the London Kayakthon – 26.2 miles from Westminster to Chiswick and back – on the same day as the other Marathon. Great day out and a great spirit amongst all the paddlers. Will pop next years date in my diary but as a participant this time. If you want to take part yourself check out the link.