Liverpool University Canoe Club

Saturdays trip will be suitable for all as an introduction to moving water skills. We will be teaching the  basics of Eddy Hopping, Ferry Gliding and Efficient Forward Paddling. These are the foundations of white water paddling. The trip will be limited on numbers so get in fast.  (Contact me now on ocm_excaptain@lucanoe.info )  Anyone that fancies swatting up a little on the river we’ll be paddling take a look at http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/trywerynlower.htm. I’ll be taking final numbers and money on Thursday night after the pool session.  Hope to see you all there…

Martin

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Suggested Alps Kit:

OK, As promised here is my personal kit list to give our alpine freshers an idea of what they need to take. The one’s in bold are what I consider to be minimum, starred are recommended, the rest is just niceties.

Paddling
Helmet
Nose Clip
PFD/BA
Whistle
Cag
Thermal
Sprey Deck
Shorts
Trousers
Wet Suit
Socks
Shoes
*Towel
Boat
Paddle
Throw Line
*First Aid Kit
Water Bottle

Via Ferrata (If you fancy a climb on your time off from paddling)
Suitable Shoes
Via Ferrata Kit (if you know what this is great, if not, you may be able to borrow someone’s when we’re out there for the odd climb.)

Camping (Find yourself a partner, group and share)
Tent
Stove + Fuel
Pans/Implements
Plate /Bowl / Cup / Cutlery
*Washing up stuff
String
Roll Mat / Sleeping Bag / Pillow

Personal
Wash Kit
Toilet Roll
*Towel
Sunscreen
*Moisturiser
Hat
Fleece (The evening can be cool)
Hoodie
Party Shirt
T-Shirts
Trousers (Stop the moseys in the evening)
Shorts
Underwear
Shoes

Passport
Insurance Details
Money

 

Hope this helps

Martin

Hi All,

It’s come to that time where you all grumble, and watch the moths fly
from your wallets.

I need the remaining £150 from those listed in my email (also on the forum) for the Alps trip.
Please pay by BACS if possible; into the account in the email (or on your PM if your registered here?!). If not then, I’ll need a cheque or cash asap. I’m about in Liverpool right up until the trip, and will accept Cheques through Andy at the St David’s trip if that’s your next contact with us!

Watch this space for remaining details,

Cheers

Martin

By Martin 

The first weekend of December saw the start of rainy season, and a small group of LUCC paddlers took advantage of this to get some training in before the new year.

River leadership was the aim, and that is what we practised.

Friday night saw, Nev, Mary, Kim, Andy, Lloyd, Tammy and myself gather at sheds and load up our kit. We were joined by our newest member, another Andy, whose just moved back to Liverpool from uni.

We set out on our way, but before even leaving town disaster struck as Mary’s car became paralysed in the Tesco petrol station. Half an hour’s cursing and fiddling later and the car leapt back to life and they finally got on their way. Next stop, Hebden water, and a disapoiting level was found. The descision was made to carry on to our next river option, the Wharfe. We arrived late, pitched our tents and slept.

An early start Saturday, saw Nev and Myself inspecting the river, then rousing the troops for the day’s activities. We discovered Tammy had forgotten to pack a helmet, so she sat out the first run, in the warmth of the cars. The rest of us got on the river. We had a short introduction in the top eddy, including some river signalling basics and leading techniques explained by both Andy and Nev. We broke out and Nev took the lead for the first rapid, then we swapped to Mary. We each took turns at leaving the group, deciding on appropriate progression techniques, inspections and lines to follow down rapids. We kept good communications open throughout the day using the river signals agreed upon in the top eddy.

We ran the river a second time, this time i sat out to allow Tammy to paddle with my helmet. This gave me a good chance to grab some photo’s and do the shuttle. We then headed to the nearest pub for a chat and to decide on the next days activities.

After our pint, we headed over towards the Mint to find a place to eat and set up camp. We had a lovely pub meal, then Wild Camped near by. We awoke early next morning, and heading down to find the river a little low and decided the Lune was a better bet. we dropped Tammy in town, and she enjoyed a pub crawl with some locals while we headed off to paddle the Lune. We practice the skills we’d learnt the previous day and had an enjoyable paddle on the lune at the highest level I have ever seen it. We ran everything, and got some good video footage of some parts too.

Thanks for an interestin, if faff-ful trip. I believe those on the trip feel they can now contribute to leading rivers for the club, i know i have gained confidence. I look forward to seeing them leading a club trip soon, and can’t wait to run my own…

Martin

By Martin 

Date’s available NOW!!

Get that holiday booked up, and join LUCC in the best* Alpine fun yet!

Preliminarily, and hopefully definite by the end of the week!

13th - 22nd June!

It works for Young’s, It works for Olds, it works for Medics, and it sorta works for Vets (we hope), now all i need is top find a driver or two……

It just gets better every year!

Report: Martin 

The weekend got off to a good start when the hire company provided us with the wrong van, but no worries we set to stacking the speeders on the top of the mini bus, at which point the Uni health and safety officer walked passed…hmm he defiantly wasn’t too impressed. Well anyway we set off for the Washburn and arrived shortly only to have great difficulty parking  the bus and in the process burning out the clutch (dodgy bus obviously)…we decided to drink the night away instead of worrying about how on earth we were going to get the boats up to the start line or in fact how we were going to get home!

Next morning we arose late feeling the effect of the night before as Andy went to organise our races whilst we trekked the boats up to the start line. A few of us had more difficulty than others with the speeders, some meeting the weir and others completing the course with grace. However the C2 race was something else altogether…Lloyd and Stu took on the challenge and despite Stu’s greatest efforts to keep them upright at the weir, Lloyd decided to bin him and carnage took place. But they quickly jumped back in and completed the race in style. The C2 however was not in the best state (ie completely broken apart down one side), so after a quick parade round the car park asking for gaffe tape donations we managed to fix the boat…well sort of anyway, and Stu and medic Dave set off, beating the weir and staying afloat to the end (kinda), proving anything can be mended with gaffe tape!!! Sat evening we partied away in the marquee and the guys decided it was pay back time for Flic (who had apparently been ripping off the guys shirts at AU night) and gaffe taped her to a chair and auctioned her off. After some energetic dancing most of the group headed off the pub leaving the hardcore ravers (Flic, Lloyd and me) to dance the night away! A little later momentary boredom lead to some havoc causing, ending in Flic falling from the marquee roof and landing on her head…ouch! Next day we got up wondering why on earth we think it’s a good idea to be camping in the middle of November and throwing ourselves into freezing cold rivers. But as the races began and the adrenaline began to flow we remembered why we were here. The C2 believe it or not was due to make another voyage…Kim and Medic Dave set off soon to be pinned against a rock and a mass rescue effort of the boat took place, a little worst for wear the boat was re-launched and Stu took it down the river encountering the weir and fending off all rescue efforts from the safety crew even whilst upside down…he was refusing to swim apparently!!! The boat now bent in the middle and ends snapped off at odd angles with a very sore bottomed Stu (to say the least) somehow still inside, picked up a Mary just before the finish line and crossed completely submerged…BUT IT DID COUNT!!! After packing the kit away having no problem at all with the C2 (folded in half) we finished the weekend in the pub warming ourselves up with a good Sunday roast before piling ourselves into any vehicle we could find that wasn’t the bus. Vanni however somehow managed to get the bus back to Liverpool, only breaking down on Edge lane momentarily. In the end it was a successful weekend with much amusement provided by the C2!!! Anything CAN be mended by gaffe tape!!! Helen The crew: Martin Andy Vanni Kim Charlotte Lloyd Jimbob Mary Anna Medic Dave Flic Ash Disco Stu Dom Laura Claire

By Martin - adapted from a report by AussieDave 

If you want an awesome trip you can write in your diary years in advance you can’t really go past the Tyne Tour. First weekend of November, Guy Fawkes day and all that.

The trip started with a early getaway from liverpool, with only the minibus and drivers being late to the sheds!! Silly Smithdown Traffic!!)

A few hours and one stop later we arrived in haxam where a fleet of ready errected tents greated us (Thanks Dom, Kim and Phil! - Who travelled up a little earlier in the van) A quick march to the local drinking spot followed, while Martin, Mary and Laura raced off to collect our last remaining straggler from newcastle!

The next morning started bright an early for some of us, as we headed off to the pub for breakfast at 8. It started a little later for a few, with Jesse the last to rise and fall onto the bus to the tyne!

Qoute from Dave’s Report:

“The river was run in an excellently organised style, big credits to Dom & Martin, we started by splitting the 25ish people we had into 2 large groups. Before breaking this down further to assign the more experienced paddlers a smaller group of muppets (oops, I mean beginners :). I was officially designated as a muppet in my C1 maiden voyage and decided to live up to it with the first (bottom assisted) roll of the day. Team Loonsey did well (although I can’t remember who exactly was in it). No swims at all!

My tip for anyone who feels the Tyne is a boring river, try it in a C1. Top of Warden’s Gorge I was actually scared. Even the wier was exciting.”

With paddling completed, we headed into town for food. Two groups formed, with the graciouse Mr Potts leading one to the local curry house for a sit down meal, and the other heading out for takeaway and fireworks! We all ate and then met at the pub for some pre Ceilidh beverages.

Ceilidhs rock, every one danced badly, at some point a human pyramid was made, beverages were consumed and Dave got to hold hands with lots of girls without being called a dirty old man.

Sunday, we headed home via the Lune, The groups remained as Saturday and a few swims later the river was tamed!

I’m already looking forward to next year!

Martin

Thanks go to Aussie Dave for inspiring me to write a quick report for the site! To see his origianl story go to http://luckyblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/tyne-tour-top-trip/

Hi Guys, West Tanfield Trip is happening on the 13th to 15th October, that’s THIS COMING WEEKEND!! I’ll be taking names on Thursday night and money on the Friday when we meet at the sheds. Don’t forget that money, ’cause otherwise you won’t be getting on the bus!

Location: West Tanfield (North Yorkshire) Date: 13-15 October Meet: Sheds Friday evening (Time TBA) Sign Up: Thursday Night at the Pub Money Due: £30 on the Night of 13th!!! Contact Martin

It’ll be a great trip, rain permitting we’ll be running two rivers, the Ure and Wharfe (for those UKRiversGuideBook lovers out there!). Both rivers are suitable for all, beginners and improvers alike! Accommodation: We’ll be camping on a “4 star” camp site this weekend, that means you need to find yourself a tent, or a friend to share with. Just throw an email on here and I’m sure someone will be able to help if needed. Food; Name of the game is “Find a friend” Try and find yourself a food group, Thursday night at the pub is a good time for this! You’ll need a stove of some sort between you (again, the email list is a good way to find a friend with the correct requirements!!) and most importantly some food to cook. We might be stopping for lunch on the river on the Saturday, so bring “Pack lunch food” for that, and a descent bag to put it in to stow in your boat! Other Stuff: Bring suitable clothing for walking and paddling, just in case the rivers all dry up!? Cost: £30, though it may go down with any luck! !WARNING! No Cash Machine near the campsite, so bring enough money to last you (i.e. Pub Money) Cheers Martin