Meridian Canoe Club

Folks
There does appear to be a tide window on Sunday Oct 30th when it would be favourable to do a Thames trip from Greenwich to Westminster Boating Base near Pimlico, and a possible return for those feeling up to the double trip.
Before I commit to this and get all the organisation in place could I please ask for a show of interest from members (and guests)

This paddle is not suitable for beginners , you should be at least 1 Star standard , have a minimum of a couple river trips under your belt, and be a confident paddler.

If you are of the requisite standard then this is one of the most enjoyable sections of the Thames , going through the industrial areas through to Tower Bridge , the Pool of London, past the London Eye , Palace of Westminster, etc seeing London from a totally different perspective.

Depending upon the numbers of paddlers and their standard it is likely that I will need considerable help from more experienced club members on the water please.

Please post here or see me at the pool/lake sessions.

Andy

Andy,
count me IN!
By the way 30th October is the end of BST and start of GMT so forget any lie ins!
Quite happy to do a wait and return.
Hope you find this website interesting
http://thames.me.uk/
Tim

Tharlow wrote:By the way 30th October is the end of BST and start of GMT so forget any lie ins!
Quite happy to do a wait and return.

The clocks go back to GMT, so you can have an extra hour in bed. That's the good news. The bad news is it will get dark earlier. Sunset on 30th October is at 16:38 (only 30 mins after HW at Chelsea) which means there isn't time to make the return trip in daylight.

Andy will publish full details in due course, but I think this will have to be a one way trip.

Hopefully I'll be there too!

Paul

Folks
A brief update for all those wishing to go on this trip.
There will be experienced paddlers present so I am prepared to take a limited number of "newer" paddlers . Please ask myself or Paul Winslow.

As Westminster Boating Base is unlikely to be available to us (they are all out on the water from 14.00 to 16.30) we have had to find another get off.

My first choice is an eddy river left just upstream of Albert Bridge. Egress here will be under the fence for boats but paddlers my have to climb over. Parking here will be on the street (free on Sunday , but spaces very limited due to bridge construction contractors using many spaces) or in Battersea Park (£2.50 for the whole Sunday, but the machines do not give change!)

The plan B,if this proves difficult to egress on the day, is to continue upstream for another 300 metres and egress river left just above Battersea Bridge. Here there are steps down to the river and no fences to surmount BUT parking here is much more difficult, and I could not find anything within 400 metres, again it is parking in bays which are free on Sundays .

I think those who have expressed interest are:

Tony, Fiona, Paul , Theresa, Lewis, Nathan, Tim (Harlow), Lauren (but no contact for a while!) , myself. Cormac
Adam (visually impaired)

Any more for this excellent Thames venture?

Plan is to assemble at The Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich with boats and kit at 10.00
Tim H will be up in town ready to drive the shuttle drivers back to Greenwich. I will provide Tim with a "visitors voucher" for parking.
Run shuttles to Battersea and aim for drivers to be back in Greenwich ready for paddling at 12.00.
Paddle upstream using the mid part of the tide (maximum help to us)
Get of in Battersea between 14.00 and 15.00, change and return to Greenwich or Boathouse to return kit.

Please ensure that you book boats/kit out with Ada in advance.

Andy

Folks
Adam and Keith , two of our visually impaired paddlers have requested to come on this trip. In order to ensure that we have sufficient cover for them , I need as many experienced club paddlers to accompany them on the water, and also help with boat, kit and paddler transport off the water.
If you are thinking of coming please let me/Paul W know asap as we need to give them an answer soonest so that they can plan ahead.

Regards
Andy

(0) 7790 812 911

Hi Andy,

Emily and I are both interested but will need to borrow boats/equipment from Danson. We'll make sure we're around Saturday morning to arrange this

Lauren

Lauren
You are both very welcome on the trip. I will be at the lake on Saturday to help sort things out.
It might be better to book up some boats via the website as some have been taken already.
Do you have transport to/from the get on ?

Kind regards
Andy

So those going are now
Paul, Teresa , Lewis & Nathan
Tony , Tim H,
Lauren & Emily
Derek and Jack
Adam, Keith & Lorraine,
Cormac
Me

Any more takers?

Andy

Sorry I had forgotten Fiona from the above list . We are also being joined by Roman.
Regards
Andy

Some changes to the paddlers
Tony and Cormac will not be with us, but Kathleen and Roman will join us.

Would everyone please ensure that they book out a boat with Ada on the Equipment Section of this forum.

How many people need a lift?

Derek has kindly offered to take the 3 visually impaired paddlers, I know Fiona and Roman need a lift , as I suspect do others. Please let me know so that I can try to organise things in time.

Regards

Andy