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Recent Posts
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Trip Reports / Re: Thames Source to Sea - Gravesend to Hole Haven - April 2009
« Last post by Bridget on May 01, 2009, 01:14:52 AM »Another great trip.
Thanks to Chris for organising this and special thanks to Chris, Dan and the Grays for doing the mega-shuttle and all the driving.
Bridget
Thanks to Chris for organising this and special thanks to Chris, Dan and the Grays for doing the mega-shuttle and all the driving.
Bridget
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Trip Reports / Re: Thames Source to Sea - Gravesend to Hole Haven - April 2009
« Last post by Chris on April 28, 2009, 10:05:33 AM »Trip report done.
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Trip Reports / Re: Thames Source to Sea - Gravesend to Hole Haven - April 2009
« Last post by Peter on April 27, 2009, 10:45:19 PM »
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Trip Reports / Re: Thames Source to Sea - Gravesend to Hole Haven - April 2009
« Last post by tg on April 27, 2009, 05:39:40 PM »Thanks to Chris and Dan for organising a great day's paddling and everybody for making me welcome.
Tim
Tim
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Trip Reports / Thames Source to Sea - Gravesend to Hole Haven - April 2009
« Last post by Chris on April 27, 2009, 02:58:54 PM »Chris, Dan Jones, Bridget, Claire, Caroline, Marc, Hilary and Tim got on the water at Gravesend Rowing Club at high water as planned. The weather was perfect – sun, blue sky with cotton wool clouds, and a pleasantly cooling breeze.
Tim was in his beautiful Tahe Greenlander.
We soon left the moored boats and barges, wharves and jetties of Gravesend’s riverside behind us as we paddled along the Kent shoreline beside the Saxon Shore Way. To our right were the low lying marshes of the Hoo Peninsula. We passed occasional buoys and jetties and Shornmead and Cliffe Forts on the Kent side and Coalhouse Fort on the Essex side.
Caroline drew blood when she caught her hand on the skeg cleat on the new Valley sea kayak. Bridget produced the first aid kit and a roll of Duck Tape to dress the injury and we were on our way again in a few minutes.
As we rounded Lower Hope Point, where the estuary turns to the East, we encountered a noticeable swell. At this point there was in fact no land between our position and Belgium and as we entered the “Sea Reach” it felt much more like being on the sea than on a river.
As we were about to cross the shipping channel to arrive at Hole Haven we had to wait for a tug to pass, which it did at speed churning up a massive wash. The delay caused us to lose some ground and a fairly energetic ferry glide was needed to overcome the tidal stream flowing out of Hole Haven Creek as well as that of the main channel.
The trip covered 9.74 land miles in about two hours.
After loading the boats we repaired to the adjacent “Lobster Smack” pub which has the reputation of providing the best beer and food in the area. Unfortunately they had no free tables in the restaurant but we were able to get something to eat in the “King Canute” at the other end of Haven Road.
Special thanks to Lorna for helping with the shuttle.
Get in: Gravesend Rowing Club TQ 653 744 postcode DA12 2BS
Get out: Holehaven Point TQ 773 823 postcode SS8 0NR
Port Control: call sign “London VTS” VHF Channel 68
telephone 01474562215
The "Lobster Smack"
telephone 01268 660021
Chris's pictures here
Hils' pictures here
Tim was in his beautiful Tahe Greenlander.
We soon left the moored boats and barges, wharves and jetties of Gravesend’s riverside behind us as we paddled along the Kent shoreline beside the Saxon Shore Way. To our right were the low lying marshes of the Hoo Peninsula. We passed occasional buoys and jetties and Shornmead and Cliffe Forts on the Kent side and Coalhouse Fort on the Essex side.
Caroline drew blood when she caught her hand on the skeg cleat on the new Valley sea kayak. Bridget produced the first aid kit and a roll of Duck Tape to dress the injury and we were on our way again in a few minutes.
As we rounded Lower Hope Point, where the estuary turns to the East, we encountered a noticeable swell. At this point there was in fact no land between our position and Belgium and as we entered the “Sea Reach” it felt much more like being on the sea than on a river.
As we were about to cross the shipping channel to arrive at Hole Haven we had to wait for a tug to pass, which it did at speed churning up a massive wash. The delay caused us to lose some ground and a fairly energetic ferry glide was needed to overcome the tidal stream flowing out of Hole Haven Creek as well as that of the main channel.
The trip covered 9.74 land miles in about two hours.
After loading the boats we repaired to the adjacent “Lobster Smack” pub which has the reputation of providing the best beer and food in the area. Unfortunately they had no free tables in the restaurant but we were able to get something to eat in the “King Canute” at the other end of Haven Road.
Special thanks to Lorna for helping with the shuttle.
Get in: Gravesend Rowing Club TQ 653 744 postcode DA12 2BS
Get out: Holehaven Point TQ 773 823 postcode SS8 0NR
Port Control: call sign “London VTS” VHF Channel 68
telephone 01474562215
The "Lobster Smack"
telephone 01268 660021
Chris's pictures here
Hils' pictures here
47
Trip Reports / Re: Thames paddle - Barnes Bridge to Isleworth Ait - 18 April 2009
« Last post by Bridget on April 22, 2009, 03:12:19 PM »48
Trip Reports / Re: Thames paddle - Barnes Bridge to Isleworth Ait - 18 April 2009
« Last post by Peter on April 22, 2009, 03:00:33 PM »Draft webpage can be found at http://www.civilservicecanoeclub.org.uk/index.php?page=BarnesBridgeIsleworthAitApril2009
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Trip Reports / Re: Thames paddle - Barnes Bridge to Isleworth Ait - 18 April 2009
« Last post by Chris on April 20, 2009, 01:23:19 PM »
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Trip Reports / Thames paddle - Barnes Bridge to Isleworth Ait - 18 April 2009
« Last post by Nick_not_Liam on April 20, 2009, 12:52:06 PM »Bridget, Chris, Kirsten, Richard and Nick had a lovely sunny paddle on the Thames on Saturday 18 April. Setting-off at about 11am, we travelled upstream against the tide but with the wind, passing Kew Gardens and just about catching a glimpse of Syon House. Along the way we saw several herons fishing from the riverbank and spotted their huge nests high up in the trees opposite Kew Gardens.
We reached Old Isleworth at about 1pm and beached the kayaks opposite Isleworth Ait, for a spot of lunch at the London Apprentice. Dating back to Tudor times this is one of London's oldest pubs and was once the favourite haunt of highwaymen like the infamous Dick Turpin.
Leaving with our valuables thankfully intact, we headed back with the tide which was much lower than for our outward paddle. This presented its own set of challenges - namely trying to avoid the large number of rowers and pleasure craft all with their own interpretation of Thames navigation rules!
On the way back, the temptation to add another river to the tally was too much for one intrepid member of the group (me!) who insisted on paddling up the River Brent, which connects the tidal Thames with the former backbone of industrial Britain: the Grand Union Canal. My progress was somewhat hampered by a lack of water, but I did manage to get within a stones throw of Thames Lock. Chalk it up!
The trip was also a chance to try out the latest addition to the CSCC flotilla - a bright yellow sea kayak. Bridget reported that it handled well and offered more legroom than the existing sea kayaks in the club. Form an orderly queue!
Thanks go to Bridget for organising the trip. Photos to follow (I hope)...
If you like the sound of our trip, don't forget that the Thames evening sessions start next week Tuesday 28 April. See here for details: http://www.civilservicecanoeclub.org.uk/page/WeeklyMeetings/
Nick
We reached Old Isleworth at about 1pm and beached the kayaks opposite Isleworth Ait, for a spot of lunch at the London Apprentice. Dating back to Tudor times this is one of London's oldest pubs and was once the favourite haunt of highwaymen like the infamous Dick Turpin.
Leaving with our valuables thankfully intact, we headed back with the tide which was much lower than for our outward paddle. This presented its own set of challenges - namely trying to avoid the large number of rowers and pleasure craft all with their own interpretation of Thames navigation rules!
On the way back, the temptation to add another river to the tally was too much for one intrepid member of the group (me!) who insisted on paddling up the River Brent, which connects the tidal Thames with the former backbone of industrial Britain: the Grand Union Canal. My progress was somewhat hampered by a lack of water, but I did manage to get within a stones throw of Thames Lock. Chalk it up!
The trip was also a chance to try out the latest addition to the CSCC flotilla - a bright yellow sea kayak. Bridget reported that it handled well and offered more legroom than the existing sea kayaks in the club. Form an orderly queue!
Thanks go to Bridget for organising the trip. Photos to follow (I hope)...
If you like the sound of our trip, don't forget that the Thames evening sessions start next week Tuesday 28 April. See here for details: http://www.civilservicecanoeclub.org.uk/page/WeeklyMeetings/
Nick