<strong>WWTCC News</strong>: February 2009

More Schweizer

To continue our love of German kayaking, Romer helmets, Schlegel Tec 3's & tight speedos. Another great paddling gem for Tuesday lunch time!

How cool!

Honky Tonk Tuesday

After a very snowy drive down to the south west, we were met by good levels on the Upper Dart and then the East Lynn. Below are a few pictures of the East Lynn a small river that flows into the sea at Lynton. We quickly and quietly jumped in at the small village of Brendon. The river flows through an excellent small gorge, thick of trees! Unfortunately a fair few of the tree’s had found there way into the river that made a couple of the rapids rather exciting. Half way down the Lynn a second river joins in the Hoaroak. The volume goes up and the rapids below are great fun. Really good boulder garden stuff. A quick taxi back to the start and we were on the way home. Not bad for a quiet wintery Tuesday.

(Adam dropping in on the Upper East Lynn)

(Ali going into the gorge)

(The last few dropps on the Hoaroak.)

(where the river meets the sea, really good point brake here too!)

Family Mad, Part 3!

How whitewater paddling should be.

Brilliant!

Something is stuck in our weir!

Why is the water so cold! Shepperton is still on a big chunky 10, there seams to be a lot of “stuff” court up in the stanchions making the hole a bit flat. Still great fun though, just a bit on the cold side. Sunbury has 3 gates open then 1 shut then 1 open. Didn’t have a look, probably a hole rather than a wave I should think still.

No river running pictures yet! keep watching.....

Loads of water!

Well.... I predicted correct!

Ali came in last Monday afternoon and made me go paddling! we hit the Upper Dart first thing Tuesday morning and had a cracking level. and then shoot north to catch the Lyn, not super high but great fun! there are a real lot of trees in the river! if your going that way, might want to watch for that! Good fun tho. Are get some pictures up soon........ Maybe.

and now with most of the UK seeing pretty low water at the moment, here in London we have the complete opposite. The Thames is Supper high with most the normal plays spots flat! Luckily Sunbury came good on Sunday and started to produce a small breaking wave, not the classic it can be! But in these circumstances, not to bad.

I also heard from Chris at the weekend, Young Mr Evans has finally passed his level 5coach! Chris is currently working hard up at Plas y Brenin, (North Wales) and the hard work has paid off. Well Done mate, Congratulations for us all.

I Predict…

Busy few days here it’s been. All the snow we had brought the river up a bit it also brought the temperature down! Not so good. I can report the new Yak Legend cag is amazing though, I paddled for 4 hours on Friday and I didn’t get cold at all. Really god cut and amazing material. The Devises to Westminster (125 mile) canoe race is fast approaching and we are hard a work pimping paddlers rides so the miles at least go by comfortably, as I write this Mike and George are currently taking the latest craft for sea tests!

(Sea trials a hoy)

I’ve also just looked at the weather for the next few hours! I think we will have some paddling very soon, the river is already at a good little level and the rain coming should do something good! Fingers crossed….
Also I forgot welcome to the new look wwtcc main web site. We’ve been working away over the last few weeks and hopefully you all like the changes, it’s not totally done still a couple of pages to re do but be patient. Any complaints do tell me! I’m not doing any more for a while now……. Hope you like it though. The weir page should be working again soon too.

(The rain is coming!)
See you on the river soon.

Snow we go...

Well it official we have some proper snow in London! The North Downs seam to have collected the majority of the last nights snow, The drive home last night in the snow was (sorry to be all American) awesome. It continued to snow all night and the official reading in the Whitewater compound a 09:30 this morning was 234 mm, 23.4 cm. I had the most exciting commute to work ever! The ride threw Wimbledon common was great and although it did take me nearly 2 hours to get here! Good times…. The next job, Free the shop! Armed with a couple of canoe paddles George and I soon had the shop open for snowball fighting, I mean business….. And the snow is still falling thick and fast! Should be good when it melts!