Owner: Rockratrobinson URL:http://rockratrobinson.blogspot.com Join Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:32:34 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: The blog of a young kayaker from the North-West of England. Follow me, Iain Robinson, on my constant search for water, in the hope of discovering a truely unique paddling experience whilst trying to escape the challenges of everyday life. Site statistics:Click here
Ever wanted a... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Canoeing Logbook for your computer?With a GCSE and an AS Level in ICT I've amassed a fair bit of knowledge in Microsoft Access. So, with this knowledge I've developed a logbook for all canoeists to record their day's out on the water. If you want one click here and place a bid, or just click buy it now. If this one sells I'll be putting some more up for sale on eBay so keep checking back and search for Canoeing Logbook.Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...Iain Read more:wanted
Nostalgia 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Hia,Well with the move over to eBlogger the site is now empty of content as it's all been lost with the destruction of the old site and anyway if it hadn't been destroyed I wouldn't have put it back on the net as I couldn't be bothered to be honest.Anyway I've got some pictures together for a bit of a nostalgic treat for those that kept up with the old site. Enjoy :-)Youth Freestyle Series 06Scotland Easter 06Washburn May 06Ribble June 06Washburn August 06More pictures that appeared on freewebs.com/rockratrobinson can be seen here and I will continue to add to them as time goes on.Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...Iain
The Lune valley is going off 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Just got back from another nice day out on the water in my boat and what can I say: it was great. I'll start from the beginning so you can get a complete story. I sent an email out on Friday evening to the usual suspects and the usual suspect replied. On Saturday a couple of texts were sent in the hope that Artle Beck maybe running but it was doubtful as the Lune was so low so the plans kind of stalled there. At half-ten that night I got another text saying I'd get picked up at half-eight and we'll be off paddling.So at half-eight I got picked up and we headed to Bamber Bridge for a chat with a paddling mate whilst me waited for another paddler to arrive. Once they had arrived boats and kit were moved and we headed to the motorway. We pulled in at Lancaster Forton services to meet up with another paddler before heading even further north to Sedburgh to meet another two paddlers. From here we headed to the get-out for the Upper Lune to take a look and it was on the high side o
Real rivers don't have curbs... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Spent another day out on the water today, and this time it wasn't a local paddle either. Instead I got dropped off at the services on the M65 just outside of Darwen and then once kit was transferred to another car we headed north to Stockton-on-Tees and the Tees Barrage. Here there is a purpose built white water course, aptly named Teesside White Water Centre, which uses the tide as its main water source and therefore is not affected by the lack of rain we've been experiencing.Once at the centre we paid our fees, browsed the shop and got changed before heading down to the course. I was once again in my dry suit and was loving the fact that I could paddle two days in a row without having any wet kit next to my skin. Bliss!!! During the day I made two full descents of the course and one smaller run. On the first descent I missed the top wave, but caught the wave just after it, on the second run I missed both waves and on the last, half run I missed the top wave, but caught the wa
Another bit of Nostalgia 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've been looking through some of the older shots I have of myself in the early days of my kayaking life which can be found in my 100mb+ collection. The photo featured is that old now (November 03) that most of the kit I am wearing does not feature on any of my more recent pictures and hasn't seen water for a good few months/years. In fact two pieces of it, the paddle and helmet, aren't actually mine but on loan from the canoe club at the time the picture was taken. As for the boat, Eskimo Kendo Sport, that's sat in my backyard looking all dry and sorrowful at not seeing the water for so long. Maybe I should give it up and sell it.On another totally unrelated topic after yesterdays river trips I have now ticked off four-and-a-half rivers on 'the list' set down last November. Why four-and-a-half rivers? I only did the Lower Rawthey yesterday, where as the Rawthey I stated on 'the list' was more specific to the upper section, so I feel that constitutes only half a tick. Wh
Whittling away the summer 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Well, the summer holidays are coming to an end and the last couple of weeks have got a bit boring. So today, the afternoon looked promising and after a quick glance at the tide tables on the BBC I was off down to the tidal section of the Ribble to pass the afternoon. It was only a short walk through the terraced streets of Lower Penwortham and I was on the Ribble Way, a busy footpath which runs parallel with the river and takes you down to Walton Summit or over the river into Avenham Park and then on into Preston. Anyway I headed down the footpath for a while then heading off road, across the grass, and down through the shrubbery at the side of the river. I chucked my boat down, got in it, ratcheted the backrest up, pumped the footbag up, popper my deck over the cockpit combing and pushed off. I slid down the muddy bank, through a bush and landed in the river with a splash. A walker on the Preston side of the river turned and looking, then carried on walking with a bemused expre
A Mountain of Forms 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I was just about to turn the internet off, then I thought I would put something together for the site. I've just finished a mammoth form filling in session, which has run from 5pm till now. The forms have ranged from big to even bigger and there has only been three. One has been my UCAS application for University, which has required emails to several people to check on details, another was my application to PGL for my year out and the third, my application to Acorn Adventure, also for my year out. Well, the last one was just an email to Acorn with my details and they'll get back to me to fill out another form!!!Planned return to the wet stuff: Friday at the swimming pool for the second of three beginners sessions I'm organising and Saturday at the canal for the first outdoor session for the people that are attending the courses at the pool.Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...Iain Read more:Mountain
, Forms
Rothay... A right off 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I didn't go to the Rothay. It would have been a total right off; there hasn't been any where near enough water thrown down by the powers that be to bring this Lake District Grade 2/3- river into condition so instead I stayed at home and did... college work. Just like Wednesday, I started at 9am and am still doing it now. Well obviously not right at this moment, as I'm tapping on the ivories to create this post, but once I've finished I'll be back, knuckle to the bone, doing work and probably will be until 5pm. What fun I have on the day of rest, the day when all rivers should be worshiped for the pure enjoyment they bring to a small minority of people who like their water to flow downhill all frothy and white.Got to go and do some more college work then. The pens are screaming: "Iain, Iain, Iain... Why aren't you holding us in your left hand, nib to the paper, to produce lovely scrawls of prose, which teach you things about the greater good? Why? Oh why..."PS. Twenty da
Something to ponder... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Just something to sum up what's been going on recently, with four A Level subjects to study and all the coursework associated with them as well, Universities to look around and apply for and job and gap year applications to fill in everything's got a bit confusing lately and some light relief is much needed. Maybe even a picture of "a bunny with a pancake on its head!!!" I suppose the lack of paddling, which usually provides me with the light relief, has added to all the confusion.Planned return to the wet stuff: Friday at the swimming pool with the last session of the three week beginners course I've been running and organising (this isn't really proper paddling) and hopefully, Sunday if there is enough water in the Rothay to bimble on down it.Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...Iainwitha{text-decoration:none} -->
Independence 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I started out today on the long road to independence.I suppose the previous statement could be seen to work on many levels as I had my first driving lesson today, thus enforcing the fact that I am on the road and driving. With me starting to learn to drive this also means I will have a lot more independence to get myself to the top of rivers without the assistance of parents or paddling chums once I've passed. Therefore I am on the long, because I have a lot more driving lessons to come before I am ready for my test, road to independence, as I will be able to drive myself to rivers once I've passed my test.Once I can drive I'll be on the look out for the ultimate paddling wagon to get me around the country and I think many people will agree with me here when I say it has to be a VW Transporter. With the Transporter I can get myself up to Scotland, Wales or Devon for weekend paddling missions with my boat inside and a ready made place to sleep, in the back with my boat. I can then Read more:Independence
Early Morning Blues 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I'm sat at the computer, listening to my media player on 'Play Shuffled' after getting back from my papers, bored so I just started tapping out some musings for my blog to pass the time.There hasn't been much paddling recently for me. Other people have been - what with Scotland seeing some pretty nice levels this week and the Wet West Weekend two weekends ago - but I've not been getting out on the fluffy white stuff. I've been plagued with excessive work loads at college, university open days and other things which prevent paddling.I was in the pool last night as the head coach of the local canoe club's beginners session. This was the second session of three and many of the pupils seems to be coming on nicely - who knows they may be bagging some nice rivers this winter when they start heading away from the pool to some proper water. I hope to get some personal first descents in myself this year on some Lake District classics. I'm bored of running the same things, I want to Read more:Early
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Take a look-see 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I was checking my emails today when this dropped into my Inbox. It is a video of me running "a strong hole" on the Clough on Sunday. Why "a strong hole"? That is how Stuart Miller in his excellent guidebook White Water Lake District describes it.I was impressed with how I ran this particular drop as when I got out of my boat to scout it I could see two possible lines. One was on the right and would be a bit tight, maybe even requiring me to get the hull of the boat to scrape down the rocks on the lip of the drop and the other was on the left. This required me to get the boat on top of a boil and paddle away. As can be seen in the video this is the line I went for and after watching the video again and again for the last five minutes I can see that I near enough hit the line spot on, which is what impressed me the most. I looked at a feature, assessed the lines available, evaluated the possibilities and then implemented the line I decided was the best for my skills.Good lines, st
Buy Me!!! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...Iain
Picture Perfect 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I did something today that I have not done in a very long time; I went for a paddle in the Lake District on what the area is famous for. That is right, I wet my paddle in the fine waters of Coniston Water. The reason for this unusual behaviour, where my boat didn't have to rely on the gravitational potential energy of the water for propulsion, was because I was helping out on a 1* assessment for my local canoe club. Not a lot can be said about this trip, however I feel it warrants a post just because of the landscapes I managed to capture on my mum's non-sophisticated point-and-shoot Olympus C-460 Zoom digital camera.Looking south from Beck Leven Foot, where we launched.The southern flanks of Coniston Old Man, with Dow Crag in the background.The boats piled up on the natural slipway, Peel Island.Looking north from Peel Island towards the hills behind Coniston Village.Looking south into the sun from Peel Island.In the foreground: the rock arms of Peel Island, in the middle ground: Read more:Picture
, Perfect
, Picture Perfect
Personal First D. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today was to be the day, the day to end all days of paddling, the day that would go down in history as a monumental day for kayaking, the day I would actually get to paddle the Leven. The Leven, a grade 2/3 bumble in the southern Lakes, flowing out of the bottom of Windermere, is not really the most astounding river that can go down as a monumental day for kayaking, but for me it was a big thing. I had made attempts before to paddle the river, but various things had cropped up, like; being ill, the car being broken, the person driving the car being ill, too little water, too much water, too much celery in the salad crisper meaning that the balance was just totally out of line for the rest of the week kind of things which make it hard to get on the river.So today was the day. I got dropped off at Fulwood Leisure Centre and caught a lift up to the Lakes where I met up with the rest of the group. The first thing that greeted me was a lovely sign reading "No unauthorised canoeing," may Read more:Personal
, First
It's been Hectic 1970-01-01 00:59:59 For those astute fellows out there who check on the blog on a fairly regular basis you may have noticed that there has been a distinct lack of pre/post paddling updates. Yes, sure there has been the standard post after a day's paddling, however, there hasn't been the banter in between these events. This is down to a number of reason, and all of these come down to one simple thing. The past three weeks has consisted of a series of events, which do not always occur in my life, meaning that it has felt like I have been constantly rushed and out of control.I'll start three weeks back and hopefully by putting down, in this post, what's been going on I may be able to clear my mind somewhat, basically the essence of what blogging is all about.Week Beginning 14th JanuaryMonday morning the car broke down on my dad whilst he was on his way to work. This, when you don't look to deeply into it is not such a big deal. It is, however, if the car is less than half-a-decade old and is stuck i Read more:Hectic
A bit of a Joe Simpson moment 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Earlier in the week I mentioned that I was taking a Water Bailiff's son down the Ribble in the Eskimo Topolino Duo. Well it never happened, mainly because there wasn't enough water in the river to make the trip fun[!] and also we didn't want to show the Fishermen that we are totally irresponsible, with no consideration for the environment, by scraping along a river bed and floating now and again. The response we got from the Water Bailiff was quite interesting, but I think I'll hold that to a future post.So today, instead of getting out on the water and going for the usual low water alternative I decided to get out on my bike. It is a new bike so I might as well break it in a bit even though I've already done 11.98 miles (4.37 on Friday, 5.25 on Saturday and 2.36 this morning) on it. My route would take me from my house in Preston to Halton, where the low water alternative was, and hopefully meet up with the paddlers that decided to take the only available padding option. Thi Read more:Simpson
A glimpse of hope 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Me on the tidal reaches of the Ribble, not the section in contention, but just a nice picture to illustrate the post.As I promised yesterday, here is the response we received from the Water Bailiff, who's son would have been in the Eskimo Topolino Duo with me, after we had to call the Ribble trip off. "... a small number of boats can move quickly through a swim without disturbing anyone. The people who get up my nose are the ones who intentionally try to queer your fishing (but I know some anglers who do just the same!) - but its best to say nothing and let them get on with it.I have an interesting story involving a couple of lads (with all the gear) in kayaks - I was fishing under the aqueduct below Edisford (just above the weir) when a couple of kayaks came through on a decent flow of water. The two lads tried to avoid me by passing under the far arch but the tail kayak missed and ended up wedged sideways on the concrete pillar. In struggling to free himself he turned Read more:glimpse
Signed this? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Have you signed this? If not perhaps you should click yourself over there right now and get it signed. We need a constant flow of signatures to get this petition noticed and then maybe something may be done to improve access to the rivers of this fine country.Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...Iain Read more:Signed
I must be stupid!!! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today I got a lift down to North Wales and the home of Canolfan Tryweryn to paddle the... wait for it... Tryweryn. Fancy that! Now I must be really stupid to go and paddle the Tryweryn, a place where you have to pay to get on the water, when there has been so much water put down recently. However, when reading the Internet regarding river levels all the grade 3/4 gems which I want to get out on seem to be running empty. So maybe the Tryweryn was the only option where you were guaranteed water with out having to drive around for two hours like last week.Once we had arrived at the centre and paid our fees we got changed and sorted out the days plans. Some of the people that we had met up with had decided to stick to the top section and play on the features which have been developed here and the four remaining, me included, would blitz down the top section and then continue on downriver to do the lower section as well.Getting on the river above the Chipper.Looking up the Graveyard.Th
Responding to the Brighton Report 1970-01-01 00:59:59 You may remember that a couple of months ago I posted on how the English access situation sucks. Well today Tamsin Phipps, of the River Access Campaign sent out a template to all canoeists, through the UK Rivers Guidebook, to help them lobby their local MP's. So get writing to your local MP by using the template below and with a bit (more like lots and lots) of luck all things access may start to improve. Dear MP (MP NAME), RE: River Access in England and Wales for Non Powered Craft Did you know.. One of the biggest issues that face British Canoeists is the lack of access to the rivers of England and Wales. Canoeing, for the fifth year running, has been recognised as the fastest growing watersport (RYA Survey 2005). The sport is socially inclusive, ecologically sound and a fun, healthy activity for people of all ages and abilities. Canoeing also plays an important role in local economy. The latest situation The Environment Agency (EA) commissioned the University of B Read more:Brighton
Looking for water... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 As the title of the post suggests today was a day where no real plans were made in the hope that with a bit of flexibility we'd get on a river that was in condition. Well with all this rain you would actually expect something to be at a good level, but that wasn't the case for the group I was with today. I'll start at the beginning now.I got picked up just after eight-forty-five and we headed north to the M6, stopping once to meet another two paddlers on some road off Junction 33. It was agreed here that we would head up to Burneside to take a look at some of the upper reaches of the Kent, seen as none of us had done any other stretches of the Kent apart from the classic and rather popular lower section (posts here and here about paddling that particular section). When we got to Burneside we were undecided about whether it would actually go, so seen as we were so close to the get-out for the Sprint we headed over there to have a look. Again, we were undecided that it would go Read more:water
Response from my MP regarding the Brighton Report 1970-01-01 00:59:59 You may remember that a couple of weeks ago I posted up a template of a letter which could be sent to your Member of Parliament in response to the Brighton
Report well today I got my reply from David Borrow MP for South Ribble. His actual reply was quite short, but it did say that he had raised my concerns with Margaret Beckett and with his letter was a copy of a letter he had received from a junior minister at DEFRA, Margaret Beckett's department, in reply to the concerns I had raised. It said:"... I am a firm believer in the benefits of outdoor recreation whether on land or water. People make over a billion visits to the countryside each year, enjoying a wide range of recreational activities. Visitors are good for the local economy and people who exercise regularly are healthier than those who do not. So I am keen both to promote recreational activities, including canoeing, as widely as I can and to ensure the provision of increased opportunity to participate in such activities Read more:Response
Heading out into the Gales 1970-01-01 00:59:59 No, the above picture is nothing to actually do with me; it was just taken off the BBC Lancashire website's photo section as I thought it illustrated this post rather well. I have, however, experienced some disruption because of the fierce winds which struck the region on Thursday. A tree blew over at college and landed on the cancer shed (aka the shelter for all the students who smoke), totally crushing it and putting it out of action for a while as it has to be raised to the ground and rebuilt. So I suppose in some ways the demise of the tree could lead to some people thinking about their health more and quit smoking - it might not be the actual smoking that kills them, but the objects which might fall whilst they're doing the smoking. How does this cause me some disruption? you way ask as I don't smoke. Well because of where the tree has fallen has meant that one of the ways I walk to most of my Business Studies lessons, and some Geography lessons for that matter, has had to Read more:Heading
, Gales
It's a white Christmas... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Well it would have been if Christmas
was held back a month and a fortnight so it was today instead of the 25th December. As it happens though I actually had a digital camera with me when it started snowing in college during my ICT lesson so I managed to get a couple of snaps of the white blanket, which covered the floor for what must have been a couple of hours before it disappeared. It has just snowed lightly again, but with the wet ground from the previously melted batch of snow it hasn't stuck.What will this have done for the already low river levels? Your guess is as good as mine, but I am leading a trip down the River Kent on Sunday and if it doesn't rain biblical proportions or snow so heavily that snow melt will bring the river up from a sorrowful state to a state of hysteria I'll have to call it off.One last thing. My blog, this very collection of posts written by my very hands, was featured as 'Blog of the Day' on Fuel my Blogs today. A very special moment indeed.Goo
Low water, broken paddles and assessment galore 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today was the day the teddy bears had their picnic... no actually it was the day that I lead my very first, official club trip. It had been put on the calendar, on the back of the bi-monthly newsletter, and it was to be held on the Kent. Great, a river I knew well and was comfortable on. The only problem being that there wasn't any water
in the river; there was probably more in my bath at home. Perhaps I should have taken the hint when on Rainchasers, over the previous days, it has said the Kent was dry! However, I think youthful optimism got the better of me and I made plans for a group of four to paddle the river. As we hit the M6 at Broughton I got a phone call from some paddling chums who had decided to go to HPP; it was closed so they were now hot footing it back up the M6 to meet us at the Kent - that added an extra four to the group.When we got to the take out for the Kent, the above two pictures is what greeted us. A nice low level that was lower than the height restric
It's gone 1970-01-01 00:59:59 You may remember that a while back I was advertising that my Eskimo Kendo was for sale. Well today I eventually managed to shift it. After putting it under the hammer twice on eBay with out much success I turned to the members of the local club. Luckily a beginner's course had just finished and one of the participants was looking for a boat. Que my sales pitch and hey presto, a couple of days later, I had parted company with my trusty Eskimo Kendo, but increased my bank balance considerably.The Kendo on the car ready to be taken to its new home.The Kendo has served me well. It has got me from being a lowly beginner with little experience to a competent paddler that can tackle a nice grade 3/4 river whilst keeping an eye on other members of the group. However, what should I do with the money, I have three options:Leave it in the bank to gather interest.Buy another boat. The Jackson Rocker has taken my fancy.Buy my own digital camera so I don't have to borrow my mum's every time. T
Follow up to 'It's gone' 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Yesterday, when I said there were three options available to me in regard to the money I made on the sale of my boat I was wrong. There is in fact four options:Leave it in the bank to gather interest.Buy another boat...Buy my own digital camera...Buy another boat (Jackson Rocker) and a digital camera (Olympus MJU 725 SW).Today after many hmmms and arrrs, and after a bit of financial analysis - if I spend x amount of pounds, as well as y amount of pounds and then another z pounds, I'm still in the black - I have decided to take the fourth option. So today the order was placed on bestcameras.co.uk where currently there is a tasty offer on the Olympus camera and then this was followed up with some XD memory shopping on mx2.com. Hopefully in a couple of days I'll have both items and be snapping some rather lovely shots. The order for the Jackson Rocker will be going in soon, maybe Saturday, if we head to Lancaster and the friendly people of UK Canoes.Good lines, stay safe and see you
Himalayan Paddling 1970-01-01 00:59:59 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 Read more:Paddling
Have you noticed... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 That the last couple of posts to the blog have featured a little banner at the bottom saying 'Get Paid to Review my Post'. This banner is provided by Pay Per Post in the hope that I can generate extra traffic to my blog, thus increasing my readership, whilst making a bit of money on the side to fund all the kayaking gear I want/need. Today, Pay Per Post just released a new segmentation system which will award bloggers that have high traffic with more money. Basically this means that if you want to make money blogging and have high viewing stats you can earn more than others.Unlike other sites Pay Per Post only charges a 35% service fee meaning more of the money earnt through your blog goes in to your pocket. This means Pay Per Post makes sense for both high traffic and lower traffic bloggers alike. If this scheme sounds rather nice perhaps sign up to it (this can be done by clicking the 'Pay Per Post Affiliate' button on the right) however it must be remembered that disclosure
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