Update from the Nile
So the other day we paddled the day 2 section in search of a wave that people say is the best one on the river. We got to Hair of the Dog early in the day to catch Mutt's Nutts at its best level.
All the hype that we had heard about this wave was true, it is awesome. A symmetrical breaking green wave with a sweet pile, what more would you want. The only problem with the wave is that it's a little hard to get to without paddling the whole day 2 section, so today we went on a Boda boda recon mission to see if we could find an easy way to get there by road. After a bit of bush wacking on cow paths, and zooming through many small villages we were greeted with success!
JB
A weekend at River Cottage HQ
This weekend Andy and I went off to River Cottage HQ for Burns Night. We had 6 hours of food, talks, canapés and dinner. Ray (head Butcher) and top fish man Nick fisher gave two fantastic talk/demonstrations on Haggis making and fish smoking. Really was a lovely night. Everyone should go!.
(Met by Bagpipes)
(Andy in the Yurt + whisky mac = HAPPY MAN)
(Andy takes over!)
(Ray the legend dispatches a leg of lamb for the Haggis)
(Ray and Andy talk meat over dinner)
(The two of us with Nick Fisher "Screaming Reels")
A graet night courtesy of Tan and Amanda our Legendary girl friends!!!!!!!!!!!
Woodsy "special ops"
George finally made it into work this morning after some serious snowman building with his young daughter Poppy. After a quick cup of tea & a snow ball fight! he was off delivering boats to a local center.
(Go Woodsy Go)
SNOW BOATING. (what else could we call it)
We awoke this morning to find a fresh blanket of snow, so we grabbed our boats and wheel spun our way down to the weir. Upon arrival we were surprised not to find the GB freestyle team training, as this year the world champs are being held in the frozen waste lands of eastern Canada. Surely these would have been the optimum training conditions?
(cold river morning)
(Slalom poles in the snow)
(mike braves the wave)
DON'T GO TO SUNBURY.
23/1/07, FROM THE ENIRONMENT AGENCY!
PLEASE DO NOT PADDLE SUNBURY!. THERE IS A LARGE BOAT STUCK ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WEIR, BIG SECTIONS ARE BREAKING OFF AND FLOATING THROUGH THE GATES. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. STAY AWAY, GO TO SHEPPERTON.
Down in the wild west.
With all the rain on Friday and due for the weekend Dartmoor beckoned!. Saturday was spent down at Exeter Uni, but Sunday I had the chance to meet up with my old friend Roger down at AS for a morning chat and cup a tea, and then up the road for a trip down the upper with West country legend Mr Ugg, the Dart was flowing well (Bit over the ledge) and all the tricky lines were well covered. I even managed Euthanasia upright!. When ever you paddle with Steve "speed descents" are two words that always spring to mind, this trip down the river by the time we made it to the take out we had overtaken 10 groups (A pb for me). The picture below bares no relation to the weekends paddling, but looks nice. I'm not really sure where it has come from!.
(Ed Smith cleans a BIG waterfall... Thank you for the picture)
JB's Post Card From Africa.
For all you people that din't realize Jon Boy has left again. Africa, big waves, Warm weather and a certain lady have tempted him away. (for a few weeks anyway) Now he seams to be having lots of fun, and has just sent this. Nile Update So back in Uganda where the sun is shining and the water is pumping. At the moment the river is low but some new waves have appeared because of this and they are proving to be a big hit. Nile Special is still going of in the evening and in the morning a wave called Club wave appears, it’s not as steep or as green as Nile Special but it’s a very good wave for practising new moves.
The whole group is loving the warm water and sunny days and our boating is improving with every paddle.
JB
(not as good as Chertsey ;) )
Keep on raining....
Over night the river has shot back up quite a lot!. Shepperton and Sunbury are both working nicely and eaven Chertsey is making a nice littel wave to play on. With all the rain of the last few day some rare spots are up and working at the moment, Marsh weir (Henley) is going, as well as some big gates on a back chanel some where?. Should be a good weekend for padaling anoraks to go and tick off the rare weirs...
(Windy day at the shop!. Mind the trees)
Here we go!
A day late I know!. See Sarah he did go in.
(After a sleepless night, and journey up with Paul explaining his fear of drowning, Rich discovers that Shepperton really isn't that bad!)
Sorry Pascal.....
On Sunday Pascal (Rich) & Air miles (Paul) popped up from Worthing for a little paddle on shepperton. Now I promised to put up some pictures off the boy's, But sorry I've left the camera on the sofa at home!. Thank fully Rich e-mailed me this. I wish I had the guts to put the last picture up :) Keep watching there be up soon, Good to see you both.
(cheeze Rich watches on!)
Crowd Dodging....
It's been a busy weekend on the golden mile both in the shop and on the river. Paddlers from as far a field as Scotland were popping down for some big weir action, And the UK freestyle team were all here perfecting their wave moves for the fast approaching Worlds in Canada. Saturday night the rain continued to fall and over 9 hours the Thames rose 5 inches making Sunbury at little flushy. Shepperton still remains the Bad boy of the river. Sunday dawned mild and damp to a roaring 8 gates, the ever Jolly James Farquharson and Tim Trew were down taking photo's (JF) and throwing the phatest loops (TT) I have possibly ever seen in a 8.5 Mamba. The rain is still falling, the river still rising, really need to run a river!!!!!!!!!
(Photos courtesy of James Farquharson)
The Big lebowskie's
The Thames in the winter has always been a top playboating destination.
This year we have seen exceptionally high water levels with the river running at 1,253 million gallons a day we have blessed us with some of the best playboating we have ever had. The 3 main play spots consist of the classic Hurley weir, Shepperton weir and the all new and improved Sunbury. These spots can provide a huge variety of play features, from world class holes to epic waves. Some of the best wave action we have seen has been at Sunbury weir, 7 gates spanning across 30+ metres, when these gates are open the weir forms one of the best waves going, but with the different combination of gates open comes a different feature, the variety is endless. This place has only really been discover after it was completely re renovated in 06, you don’t find many people paddling at Sunbury as it is so new, it truly is a gem.
Shepperton weir has been many peoples favourite play spot for a long time the only problem has been the low water levels over the past few years. Recently we have seen the weir at its best. When all 10 gates are open the weir forms an awesome wave with a very retentive pile, all wave moves in the book can be done, it’s fast, powerful and never fails to excite.
Palm's new thermal range
Sorry I could not think of a pun for this one, so here are Palm's spanky new thermal range. Belephi Thermals
I want one now!!!!
Back to Work!
The Holidays are over it's back to work!. Luckily however the rain that made us damp in Swanage & popsitively drowned us at last nights Fat boy gig on Brighton sea front (Beach Boutique 3) has made the river rise. Shepperton is back on a big 10 and who cares about the rest. Happy Boat'in and Happy new year!
(pete in the mix @ shep this morning)
