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Beginner Training Trip, Sunday 1 December **UPDATE**
Provided we have the right river conditions, I will run a moving water river trip for beginners on Sunday 1 December at a location to be decided during the week before when we have an idea of the conditions we can expect.
This will be in a similar location to the last 2 trips and will cover a similar distance but we will spend time learning and practicing white water skills so the trip will take longer than the others have.
Some of you have learned how cold the water can be at this time of year so please all make sure you have enough clothing to keep you warm! I don't plan to make you swim but practicing skills does increase the chance of an unscheduled swim!
While drysuits with warm clothing underneath are ideal, they are expensive so we do understand that many of you don't (yet) have them. Long john wetsuits with fleeces covered by wind and waterproof tops AND trousers are perfectly good. While purpose made cags are good, cheap or old walking waterproof tops and trousers will do the job adequately. Expect to get wet but once you warm up the water that gets in it will help to keep you warm.
Having said I don't plan to make you swim, if conditions allow there might be an opportunity to swim in moving water for those who want to.
Places will be limited, I will take 5 people and we will need another car capable of transporting 3 people and their boats.
If other coaches and leaders are available, there will be more places available.
Please indicate interest and availability here and look out for updates.
Thanks Nigel, your help now means we will have 10 places available so the following are in:
Owen S
Kwinten
Jim T
Adrian E
Maggie W
PWO
Stuart O
Tom S
Owen M
Toby S
Debbie
Now full, no more please!
Comments
I would like to join if place still available
I will help out
Please count me in if you have spaces. Happy for real beginners to take priority.
I'd also be keen for this if any space appears!
The forecast makes it look like there will be plenty of water on Sunday so I'm proposing to paddle on the Dart from Holne to Salmonpool or, if the water is too high for that, Buckfastleigh to Staverton. Either way, I expect to be able to have tea and cakes when we finish!
There is room for everyone who has said they are coming up to this point so, Toby and Debbie, you are in!
All, please confirm you are still coming
Transport:
Nigel, Adrian, Owen and I each have cars capable of taking 3 kayaks and their occupants. Are all these drivers still coming and happy to drive? Other participants might also have cars capable of doing this so we might have some flexibility but I do want to keep cars going to a minimum! Carbon footprint and parking issues.
Meet:
0830 at the boat shed
We will be off the water by dusk, possibly earlier depending upon conditions and how we get on. Bring lunch and a hot drink, we will stop riverside. It's also worth bringing additional clothing to put on at lunch time when we are out of the kayaks and moving around less.
If anyone has any specific wants in the coaching department, let me know and I'll try to incorporate them. Otherwise the plan is to use as many of the features we come across as we can to develop those strokes and combinations of strokes you learned on flat water and thought, "What do I need to be able to do that for?" In particular, we will practice getting into the flowing water, out of it and crossing it. We will operate in 2 distinct groups, Nigel will lead one and I will lead the other.
Lots to do!
See you Sunday....
Fantastic. Thanks for this Brian! See you all Sunday
Still planning on coming
I afraid that I am feeling ill, so can't come tomorrow. Thanks Paul Hookway for standing in at short notice. Have a good day all
Yes thanks Brian and Paul. Had a great day out and learned loads. Look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Brian and Paul , really useful and good fun