If you're going to be sat on the water for 2 weeks, you couldn't really get a better stretch of weather as we've just enjoyed. The CCF central camp at Wathgil ran for 3 weeks but, being with my own Contingent down in Cornwall during week one, meant that I was only available for the last two weeks. I went with my own unit to Wathgil … Read More »
Category Archives: Paddling
Whitewater CPD at the Tees Barrage
Although we've been paddling a lot for the last 10 days, it's all been on flat water running sessions for cadets on their central camp. However, a couple of us decided to head up to the Tees barrage. I'd never been there before, but two of the others seem to have used the venue quite a bit and thought it would ring the changes. So, with … Read More »
Moor Park School at the Great Escape
One of the things I really enjoy about my line of work is the variety I get to experience, and the last two days have been a great reminder of how fortunate I am. The Great Escape offers groups a variety of experiences, from structured team building exercises, to paint balling and allowing time for exploration and building fires. Moor Park School brought about 35 of … Read More »
Canoeing with the Guilden Sutton Cubs
This job has been in the diary for a long time now. I even met with the team from the Guilden Sutton Cubs back in May to make sure that all the arrangements and details where squared away. You'd have thought that it would have been straight forward enough to run two canoe sessions but, through no one's fault, it became a bigger deal than … Read More »
Canoe Party on The Mere
The time of year has arrived when I find myself paddling on The Mere fairly regularly. Whether it be for skills courses, team building, schools groups or parties, The Mere is a great venue for a broad section of people. This morning was the second canoe party of the year. Much warmer than the last one, but still quite breezy which was always going to cause … Read More »
Canoeing with the Prince’s Trust
I've been approached by the Prince's Trust several times in the past but, due to various circumstances, this was the first time that I've actually put on a session for them. The group are spending this week in the south of Shropshire, doing various things during the course of their stay. Due to the numbers involved, they actually came to me in two groups for canoe … Read More »
Chilly Canoe Party on The Mere
Any parties I've done over the last few months have been indoors. This was the first outdoor party of the year. The middle of March was always going to be a bit of a gamble, but the weather we've had in recent weeks is far from typical for the time of year. Waking to an iced up car and struggling to get at my kit … Read More »
Level 2 Paddlesport Coach Training
This time of year is often a bit quiet in terms of work, so tends to become an opportunity for professional development. Before Christmas, I got my Four Star Canoe Leader award which enables me to lead people on moderate water (grade 1 & 2 rivers). However, what I'd really like to do is to actually coach people in this environment. To do this, I … Read More »
Family Paddle
With the busyness of Christmas behind us, and just a few days till the kids go back to school, today's fine weather came at just the right time to get a day out with the family. After a bit of deliberation, we decided to go for a gentle paddle down the canal and stop off for a pub lunch. After sorting all the logistics of kit … Read More »
4 Star Canoe Leader Assessment Success
It's been a busy weekend of long days on the water in my canoe on a four start canoe leader assessment. To be honest, I should have done this a few years ago. I initially did the training course over two and a half years ago and had every intension of doing the assessment in the following six months. However, there's always other things taking … Read More »
