Paddling

Yesterday was my day off so naturally I headed off site. First of all we headed to Perth to pick up Jemma's new Sweet Rocker kayaking helmet. The one that's red with dragons as well. Two of the four have names. We still need to name two of them. Suggestions on a Post Card. She also bought me a travel Pogo Stick. Once the quick shopping trip had come to an end we headed north to the Stanley

Is your dog getting along swimmingly this summer? For some dogs, getting around in the water is as natural as running in a field. That’s not so for other dogs. Some of them have to be taught how to do that doggie paddle. A lot of dogs are naturally great swimmers. Some breeds come by that [...]

"When police and politicians ignore real criminals, many times they compensate by turning everyday behavior into a crime. This helps keep the arrest statistics up."--RE Bierce"The law is an ass."--Mr. Brumble, in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens"I refused to pay to paddle the river – it is a matter of principle – everyone should have the right to access water free of charge."--Nigel Conway, aft

One of the luxuries of traveling alone for an extended time is your ability to do whatever you want, whenever. It is the feeling of absolute freedom I worked so hard to enjoy. So once the meditation course wrapped up, I decided to stick around Pokhara a little longer to spend time [...]

I used to love “going paddling” in the Firth of Clyde before it connects with the Irish Sea. Each summer, Evelyn and I would take our kids down to the beach to build sandcastles, look for shells, and “go paddling” in the water.Podcast version hereOnly adults went paddling – usually adult men. They went down to the shore with their children, took off their shoes and socks, rolled up their trousers to above the knees, and sometimes tied a clean handkerchief like a bandana to their heads. They paddled along the shore line, knee deep in the water, looking after their swim-suited children who were swimming, playing, and laughing in the sea. The purpose of the beach paddler was to keep their children from going too far out.I loved it and often wish each summer for those halcyon days to

Got picked up today just after nine and headed north for some more paddling frivolities. The river was one I've done before on countless occasions, but it still hasn't lost it's touch. Today I went that bit further and carried on past the usual get out to explore another part of a river which has provided, in some way, a back bone to my paddling. Guess the river from the pictures? Answers on a post card or posted as a comment. Prizes. There are none because it's quite obvious.The group sat at the get on waiting to head off downstream.The boat starting to get airbourne as it crests a wave.Looking to break out in one of the mini-gorges.OC GB Squad member on a 'real' river for once.Walking out after doing a bit more than usual.More pictures can be found here.Good lines, stay safe and s

I just got my newsletter from Paddling.net and there is a new 3 boat sweepstakes. You can enter daily at Paddling.net to increase your chance of winning. I always try for these sweepstakes but never win. I also forget to enter each day. Well, this one runs till March 14th so there are many days in which I need to make entries. I should make this part of my morning routine.

Here is a good list of best paddling schools from Washington to Vermont for you. Adventure Quest PO Box 184, Woodstock, VT 05091 802/484-3939 Whitewater and outdoor adventure instruction and programs for kids, teens, and families. Cascade Kayak School 7050 Hwy 55, RIO, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho 83629 800/292-RAFT or 208/793-2221 Four Corners Riversports PO Box 379 Durango, CO 81302 800/426-7637 Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center 10281 Hwy. 50, [...]

It was another day off for me so naturally I headed for the river after receiving a phone call saying there was some paddling to be had. I jumped at the opportunity like usual, packed my kit up and waited for 8:30 when the transport was coming round to my house to pick me up. We headed north once again, like we have done on all the previous occasions, and met up with some other paddlers at a lay-by where some were sampling the delights of the 'Bacon Butty Van'. A plan was hatched, we kitted up, and were on the road again heading for the Greta which flows out of Ingleton. Cars were deposited at strategic locations along the river until we eventually reached the put in.To get on this river boats and kit had to be lifted over a five/six foot wall before climbing over yourself. On the other side of the wall is a rather steep hill which is hard to descend whilst carrying/dragging your boat so after finding a suitable spot I got in my boat and slid off down the hill. For one worrying

Got out paddling again today. It was another step down from Friday's Wenning trip, but still it was nice to get out on the river once again. In the last five days I've been out on five different rivers, and two of those day's I didn't actually leave Penwortham with a boat. It's a nice set up I've got at the moment.Anyway the river we paddled today was the Rothay, which flows down through Grasmere and then on through Rydal Water before draining into Windermere. It's an easy river, mainly flat flowing currents around meanders and through trees with the odd rapid which may border on the top end of grade two. It was a club trip so there was plenty of people on the water, 27 at one point, so we were divided into groups and I was left with the responsibility to shadow a group of four beginners, who were experiencing their first river trip. There were four swims during the day and I had a hand in each of the rescues. Not a bad day when it came down to it. Looking to get out ag

Went paddling again today. This was my first trip with the canoe club I've been a member of for the past four years and it started like most club trips: disorganised chaos in some random car park. The random car park today was the car park belonging to the services at Burton-in-Kendal on the M6. There was a fair few paddlers, about 22 in total, of varying ability so the trip was split in two. One group went and ran the Crake, which flows out the bottom of Coniston Water and the other group, the group I was a part of, went to the Upper Lune. The only problem was my transport was heading to the Crake so after a bit of boat swapping I was on my way to the river with no idea how I would make my way back to Preston.I've paddled the Upper Lune a fair few times now and I think if you go back to entries I made in February there will be a bit of waffling from me about the river ant the lines that were taken and such things. Nothing really amazing happened on the river. I made eddies,

Got out paddling again today. This time it wasn't on flat water but instead on a low water Halton. This stretch of rapids are found just outside Lancaster on the River Lune. This stretch is used frequently by the people I paddle with as a place to introduce paddlers to moving and white water. It's good for that I suppose when it's low, but not good for anything else. It's much better when it is stonking down, almost bursting it's banks, where there are enormous waves, holes and eddy lines that can be frightening if your unsure of where to go. The low water made the days paddle slightly uninteresting but it was a chance to be out with my paddling mates on the river and because I took both Roger and Alistair I could swap boats to try and make it that bit more interesting.Tiger on the island in the middle of Halton.Me posing at the the top of Halton Rapids.Looking down towards the rapids.One of the small surf waves which are found at this level. Be warned just after the wave t

Got back into Preston yesterday evening after setting off from PGL Dalguise on Thursday afternoon and straight away I'm out paddling the day after. In fact I'm paddling tomorrow as well. This means I have not had a chance to sort out blog posts from my time in Scotland, but I am sure I can start making some inroads into them tonight and over the next few days. Anyway here is a short post of today's adventures.Getting on the water at Matchell's Coppice, Coniston Water.The trip I managed to find myself on this morning was the trip for a group of paddlers from my local club who were doing their 1 Star Assessment. Needless to say I didn't join in on the assessments, but instead went for a little paddle with some other members of the club. Sitting in on an assessment would have been too much like work.We paddled up the lake to Peel Island where we had dinner.Tiger in a bush on Peel Island.The blog is going to feature Tiger a lot more as I have been given it by one of the girls I w

Fun Things to do on Water in Tampa Bay's Bluest Backyards I was driving the other day from Pinellas County, heading over the Gandy Bridge and Tampa Bay to South Tampa when I was reminded of one of my favorite past times - paddling. No I'm not talking about "paddling" as in spanking, though I must say I received a few of those in my youth.  Paddling is what locals call "kayaking" around here in the Clearwater Florida area.  Pinellas County is actually surrounded on three sides by water  (the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay) which is why we are blessed with so many blue backyards and so kayaking is one of the popular ways of sightseeing or even flats fishing when you're looking for a relaxing eco-friendly day - now that's my kind of Green Living. So what jogged my memories? Seeing Dave Camp and the guys from Sweetwater Kayaks helping some loc

Another shiver ripped violently through Coco. She stood on the dock, facing a huge dilemma: whether to get into the canoe or not. Only minutes before, she had been tied to a tree as we drifted silently across the lake, away from her. Our departure provoking loud yelps of displeasure and frantic barking.We had tried to get her into the canoe, but she refused. Possibly she didn't like the noise of the water pounding up against the side of the canoe, or maybe it was just the idea of sitting there and not being allowed to move that made her fear it. Whatever fears it was that were motivating her, she was clearly in turmoil.We returned to the dock to pick her up. She seemed to get the choice: either we head off again with her or without her, it was that simple.Poor Coco, but you have to see it from my perspective. My wife and I have gone to the cottage for a week off. There is a lake close by where we can canoe. We were looking forward to cruising around the lake and it was a beautiful day

The Flint River has been one of Molloy’s favorite waterways to paddle on this trip, as well as the Chattanooga River, the Okefenokee Swamp and the Altamaha river. “That’s the cool thing about Georgia — the diversity,” Molloy said. The fruit of Molloy’s labor will be published through Falcon Press in 2008. “The book’s going to come out next spring,” Molloy said. Molloy stumbled across his profession while attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., when a college chum invited him on a camping trip.

Shaiwassee RiverReportType: Destination ReportNearest City: Linden, MIDifficulty: EasyDescription:I put in at the Mill Pond in downtown historic Linden. I paddled east against a slow current. The water is clear and you can see many Bass and Panfish.Leaving the mill pond you enter the river and can paddle about 2 miles. On this stretch of the river there is abundant fish and shore wildlife. There are very few homes at this time.Once through the river you enter into Tupper Lake. The river picks up again on the east side of Tupper Lake and in a short distance you will be in Lake Ponehma. The trip back to the landing is enjoyable going with the current. Great after-work paddle or extend all day by exploring Lake Ponehma.Accommodations:Restaurants and shops in LindenFees:NoneDirections:US23 North to Silver Lake Rd exit. West on Silver Lake Rd. to downtown Linden. On the North side of main street is the mill pond.http://www.paddling.net/places/showReport.html?1753Shaiwassee RiverReportType:

Greg Barton Paddling Technique- Olympic Medalist/World Champion/Kayak Marathon ChampionOriginal Link:http://www.epickayaks.com/news/details.aspx?nid=685&id=4981&tImg=3849Most of this article applies to WING PADDLESThe Catch - At the catch, you want to have your body rotated out, which means that your knee on the side away from the stroke should be pushed down almost straight. You should be rotating from the hips, too, not just from the upper shoulders while keeping your hips straight. Your bottom arm should be nearly straight, but like the leg, not locked out. Being locked out can be a dangerous position with which to enter the water. The shock can hurt your elbows or shoulders. The push elbow should be bent, but never more than 90 degrees and usually a good deal straighter than that. This differs from stroking with the traditional paddle. With the traditional paddle, you needed to bend your lower elbow at the end of the stroke much more in order to keep the paddle close to the sid

Notice that if you strive for maximum rotation of your shoulders, your legs will move up and down to help the body rotate further.****Go here to watch a video demonstration: *****http://www.epickayaks.com/shared/docs/685/hip%20rotation.wmvYou can add even more power to your stroke by using your legs and hips.For a stroke on the right, start with your right knee slightly bent and as you pull through the water, extend/straighten this leg.- This pivots the right hip back in the seat and this hip rotation multiplies the rotation you can get with your shoulders.

Since moving down from Alaska a few years ago, I have longed for a place with the same glacier-sculpted landscape, where grizzlies lounge in pristine creeks, munching on salmon. In all the lower 48, I’ve only found one place that comes close: Glacier National Park in Montana. More: continued here

Paddling.net has started a new sweepstakes. If you are not signed up for the Paddling.net newsletter than you really should. I am a member of Paddling.net and I really enjoy the site. It has to be one of the best places for Kayak information. Paddling.net does cool sweepstakes often and the prizes are spectacular. This month they have a great prize package including an Eddyline Fathom. You can register for the sweepstakes each day up until July 12, 2007.Sign up for Paddling.net today, maybe you could be a winner.Help me Get Paid to Blog for a Year! Please Vote.If you liked this post Please Click a button.

Paddling.net is a very good resource for paddling enthusiasts. They have articles on kayaking and canoeing. There are correspondents from all over the place and they have a lot of great features. There is an extensive list of trips and outfitters, Paddling schools and dealers. Paddling.net is probably one of my favorite resources for kayaking information, product reviews and trip locations. You can sign up for the newsletter at Paddling.net.The newsletter comes to you on a weekly basis and I must admit that I don't take enough time to read all of the features. I just do not have the time and also this newsletter is jam packed with great information. Paddling.net is the resource that I would like to become at some point. So much work needs to be done on this blog to get to a level like that. Help me Get Paid to Blog for a Year! Please Vote.If you liked this post Please Click a button.

It is not very often you see something like this. I hope that the reason they are doing this is because they ad engine trouble and that this is not how they usually move the barge.Tags: paddling, barge, youtube, video, videorambler

When November comes around many of the paddlers in the north-west head for Halton Rapids at, take a guess, Halton, just east of Lancaster. This section of river has some of the strictest, and most ridiculous access agreements in the country. Paddlers can only frequent the water in the months November, December and January and during the rest of the year they are 'unpaddleable'. Now this is the stupid part to the agreement; fisherman, the people who seem to have the upper hand when it comes to agreeing access to rivers, don't fish this section until the end of March and then when they can fish the river they don't. So why can't we paddle the river then? Well, know one is sure, but the agreement states we can only paddle it in the last two months and the first month of the year. Stupid isn't it?Well, today I paddled the river for the first time this season and it was pretty similar to every other time I've been there at this particular level.It was at a medium to high level

I've just got back from a weekend away up in the north-east at the Tyne Tour. This was the first 'Tour' for me and this was the case for the majority of people who had come from my canoe club.I finished college early on Friday so my Dad and I were on the road by 4pm, this meant we had a head start on many people, who we were meeting at Hexham, where we, and everyone else on the 'Tour' were camping. I thought the early start would allow us to drive up at a leisurely speed and arrive just as the sun was going down and pitch the tent. However, we arrived at the campsite in the dark to a very full Tyne Green where we were expected to find some of our party who had already arrived. It took us half-an-hour before we eventually located them - thank god for the mobile phone and texts- and a further fifteen minutes to pitch the tent, with the aid of head torches, and unload the car.Over the course of the night the rest of our group arrived and pitched their tents, and eventually we he

Looking down on Manchester airport before flying out.Looking out on the Himalayas from the aeroplane.Stood at the foot of the mountains about to get on the river.Running one of the many drops on the Chenab.Walking out from the river after coming across a death defying rapid. Can't wait to be home.It may be pretty obvious that I have not actually just got back from a Himalayan expedition the main reason being that I posted yesterday at 2:38pm saying that I had just ordered a camera and since then I have got a plane, flown to the Himalayas, planned an expedition, implemented the expedition and flown home. There just isn't enough hours from when I posted yesterday to now, when I'm posting again. However, last night I did go to a talk by a guy that has got a plane, flown to the Himalayas, planned an expedition, implemented the expedition and flown home. This "guy" is Allan Ellard, an infamous expedition paddler. His talk entitled 'Mountains High and Rivers Deep: Living a Wild Wet