Another canal session to try and ensure I don't disgrace myself at Ravenglass. Paddled from the club's boathouse to Higher Poynton Marina (bridge 15) and back. About 48 minutes each way.
Most notable incident was another attack from a Canada goose. This one charged right at me, flapping and hissing and stopping against the boat alongside me. As it stopped, it kicked up a wave that put quite a bit of water into the cockpit. I was paddling a K1 without a spraydeck, so I got quite wet. Could have been embarrassing. Not sure why the geese seem more aggressive this year.
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Monday, 11 May 2015
Macclesfield Canal - 10th May 2015
With Ravenglass next weekend, I thought I had better get some more miles in, so I did a paddle with a planned duration of 3 hours. In the end I was paddling for 3 hours, 10 minutes.
I switched to paddling the Epic, since I will be using this at Ravenglass. I also paddled wearing my old fell running shoes. Ravenglass involves getting out of the boat to clip orienteering checkpoints, and the bank can be very muddy. Every year I forget this, and wear wetsuit shoes with no grip at all, so hopefully the fell shoes should give me a lot more grip.
Launched from Clarke Lane, and turned around just beyond bridge 7 (90 minute point). Return paddle was a bit slower due to headwind. Didn't feel very fit - can't believe I used to do this length of paddle at around 9 kph pace... was more like 7.5 kph. I don't think I'll be troubling the prizegiving at Ravenglass this year!
I switched to paddling the Epic, since I will be using this at Ravenglass. I also paddled wearing my old fell running shoes. Ravenglass involves getting out of the boat to clip orienteering checkpoints, and the bank can be very muddy. Every year I forget this, and wear wetsuit shoes with no grip at all, so hopefully the fell shoes should give me a lot more grip.
Launched from Clarke Lane, and turned around just beyond bridge 7 (90 minute point). Return paddle was a bit slower due to headwind. Didn't feel very fit - can't believe I used to do this length of paddle at around 9 kph pace... was more like 7.5 kph. I don't think I'll be troubling the prizegiving at Ravenglass this year!
Brereton Lake - 7th May 2015
First chance to play with my new toy - a red cedar Greenland paddle from Mike Bell at Cedarboats.
Intention is to work my way through some of the Greenland competition rolls to improve my general rolling skills. It was interesting paddling around getting used to the Greenland paddle - marked difference in performance as you extend the paddle and put more of it in the water.
I could do the standard layback roll easily, and managed to "scull" myself back up too. I tried to do a "storm roll" but I find it difficult to break my instinctive rolling position and come up leaning forwards rather than laying on the back deck.
Perhaps when the lake is a bit warmer I'll get a bit more adventurous!.. like rolling on the left as well as the right.
PS - if anyone reading this doesn't know what I'm talking about, here's a video clip demonstrating Greenland rolling technique... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Se-xytOeSc
Intention is to work my way through some of the Greenland competition rolls to improve my general rolling skills. It was interesting paddling around getting used to the Greenland paddle - marked difference in performance as you extend the paddle and put more of it in the water.
I could do the standard layback roll easily, and managed to "scull" myself back up too. I tried to do a "storm roll" but I find it difficult to break my instinctive rolling position and come up leaning forwards rather than laying on the back deck.
Perhaps when the lake is a bit warmer I'll get a bit more adventurous!.. like rolling on the left as well as the right.
PS - if anyone reading this doesn't know what I'm talking about, here's a video clip demonstrating Greenland rolling technique... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Se-xytOeSc
Macclesfield Canal - 6th May 2015
Another evening paddle on the canal from the MADCC clubhouse out to bridge 18 at Adlington and back. Quite windy, so not a good indicator of fitness levels. About 70 minutes paddling.
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Macclesfield Canal - 29th April 2015
Evening paddle, MADCC clubhouse to Adlington Marina and back. 65 minutes paddling.
Monday, 27 April 2015
Macclesfield Canal - 26th April 2015
Fairly gentle paddle from the MADCC boathouse to Higher Poynton and back. Bright sunshine made it very pleasant. Took it fairly easy on the way out, then worked a bit harder on the return. Didn't time it though.
14.6km round trip.
14.6km round trip.
Brereton Lake - 23rd April 2015
Rescue, rolling practice at Brereton Lake with the Macclesfield Canoe Club.
Nice to get on the water to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. Spent the evening rolling (didn't try a left handed roll...), self-rescue (including re-entry and roll) and rescuing other boats.
Had a quick go with Alan's greenland paddle... I have one on order, so the next time I go to Brereton I should be using it and starting to go through the greenland competition rolling catalogue!
Nice to get on the water to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. Spent the evening rolling (didn't try a left handed roll...), self-rescue (including re-entry and roll) and rescuing other boats.
Had a quick go with Alan's greenland paddle... I have one on order, so the next time I go to Brereton I should be using it and starting to go through the greenland competition rolling catalogue!
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