The Canoe-Camper Spring 2016
issue no 305
NATIONAL FAMILIES MEET 2016 HEREFORD
FRIDAY 27TH MAY - FRIDAY 3RD JUNE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT TIMOTHY.WHEELER@ BLUEYONDER.CO.UK OR PHONE 01302 645427
T H E C A N O E C A M P I N G CLU B PRESIDENT: Jo Ledger
VICE PRESIDENTS: Dek Davie, Fred Hutt
SECTION COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COUNCIL ADVISORY OFFICER Dave Henderson, 71 Hill Top, Bolsover, Chesterfield, S44 6NG Email: Chairman@canoecampingclub.co.uk VICE CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE Tim Wheeler, 3 Birch Close, Sprotborough, Doncaster, DN5 7RE Tel:01302 645427 Tel: 01246 827202 Email: vice@canoecampingclub.co.uk GENERAL SECRETARY/MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY (SITES OFFICER/WEBMASTER) Fran Faulkner, 23 Somerville Road, Eton, Windsor, SL4 6PB Tel: 01753 850122 Email: Secretary@canoecampingclub.co.uk HONORARY TREASURER Brian Hamer, 16 Teal Avenue, Poynton, Stockport, Cheshire,SK12 1JT Tel: 01625 879504 Email: Treasurer@canoecampingclub.co.uk 5TH EXEC MEMBER Graham Devenish 13a Brunswick Place, Hove, BN3 1ND Tel:01273 821155 Email: exec@canoecampingclub.co.uk YOUTH LIAISON OFFICER & MAGAZINE EDITOR Josie Faulkner, Flat J Venita Manor, 317 Leigham Court Road, SW16 2RX Tel: 07939244318 Email: magazine@canoecampingclub.co.uk YOUTH LIAISON OFFICER Tommy Faulkner, 23 Somerville Road, Eton, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6PB Tel: 01753 850122 Email: youth@canoecampingclub.co.uk ACCESS OFFICER Kevin East, 7 Silesian Gardens, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8SG Tel: 01932 562111 Email: Access@canoecampingclub.co.uk
COMMITTEE MEMBERS DEE & NORTH WEST COORDINATOR Brian Hamer, 16 Teal Avenue, Poynton, Stockport, Cheshire,SK12 1JT Tel: 01625 879504 Email: DeeNW@canoecampingclub.co.uk
WEST COUNTRY COORDINATOR Paul Whitehead 17 Whitley Crescent, Bicester, OX26 4XR Tel: 07739 840828 Email: Westcountry@canoecampingclub.co.uk
HERTS & EAST ANGLIA COORDINATOR Pete Bradshaw, 53 Hillingdon Avenue, Sevenoaks, TN13 3RB Email: HertsEA@canoecampingclub.co.uk
CAMPING & CARAVANNING CLUB NATIONAL ADVISER Phil Henson
MIDLANDS COORDINATOR Simon Beeston 11 Elston Hall Lane, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, WV10 9HE Tel: 01902 653430 Email: Midlands@canoecampingclub.co.uk NORTHERN COORDINATOR Cherry Forrester, 121 Cardigan Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE6 5HS Tel: 01912 763312 Email: Northern@canoecampingclub.co.uk THAMES & SOUTH EAST COORDINATOR Robin Hickman, 32 Shepherds Way, Roffey, Horsham, W Sussex, RH12 4LS Tel: 01403 267244 Email: Thames@canoecampingclub.co.uk
ARCHIVIST Janet Hales, 9 Strode Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9PT Tel: 01784 432 517 REPRESENTATIVE TO PARLIAMENTARY WATERWAYS GROUP AND TO THE SPORT AND RECREATION ALLIANCE Rosemarie Green, 25 Waverley Road, South Norwood, London, SE25 4HT Tel: 0208 654 1835 CHERTSEY CANOE SHEDS Rosemarie Green, Address above CANOE-CAMPING CLUB LIBRARY CURRENTLY WITH THAMES & SOUTH EAST
2
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
S
We welcome input in the form of ideas and offers of help to run events. Without the support of the members, the club cannot continue to offer the events currently available. Whatever you can offer goes a long way to make the club work. I am looking forward to our families meet in Hereford this year, where I hope to meet as many of you as possible. If you have not booked yet, PLEASE do as this helps in the planning of the event. Until then, keep safe and have fun!
Dave Henderson Chairman 3
THWART
pring has finally arrived and the camping season has started abeit a little wet and windy. The rivers are flowing well and I am looking forward to a fun summer of canoeing and camping. The Canoe Camping Club aims to be an inclusive organisation, and to achieve this, we need all our members to play an active role in contributing to canoeing and camping activities.
C H A I R M A N ‘ S
I
t’s been a blustery winter, but I hope that now the sunshine is making more of an appearance that you’ve had a chance to get out on the water. Not long now until the national meet at Hereford, and I look forward to seeing lots of old faces and new. In this issue you’ll find the ramblings of Tim Watson who now happily satiated from his first paddle after the long winter, Tony Smith reflects back on his time as a member and Dave Balls first part in a series about his time spent paddling in Russia back in the 90s. As always, we can’t have a quarterly newsletter without your submissions, so keep them coming in. The next deadline is June 26th — however keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter page as this might change due to a new work commitment (I wish I could tell you what it is, but I can’t. The clue is that it involves camping, live music and three weeks in a muddy field). Speaking of Facebook and Twitter, if you have either of the social media sites, you can follow us on Twitter @canoecampermag or on Facebook search for The Canoe-Camper. There you will find the link to the colour copy of each issue before it gets posted out! Hopefully see some of you in May, I’ll be camped with all the youth causing havoc. Yours Truly, Josie Faulkner
R E T T E L
SPRING 2016
S ‘ R O T I D E 4
IN THIS ISSUE... 1. HEREFORD POSTER 2. CONTACTS 3. CHAIRMAN’S THWART DAVE HENDERSON 4. EDITOR’S LETTER JOSIE FAULKNER
13. NATIONAL FAMILIES MEET 2016 17. EASTER IN THE EAST FRAN FAULKNER
6. PADDLING DEFICIENCY SYNDROME TIM WATSON 7.OBITUARY — JAN-ALLE KOK 8. REFLECTIONS OF A CLUB MEMBER TONY SMITH 12. CANOE CAMPING CLUB YOUTH
19. RUNS LIST 2016 21. THE RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE PT.1 DAVE BALL 24. WOODMILL ON THE RIVER ITCHEN WILD WATER RACE SUSAN TEMPLETON 25. CLASSIFIEDS
Please send all contributions for the Summer 2016 issue no. 306 to the editor by 26th June. Email or hard copy acceptable. Please do not edit or convert photos other than by cropping and keep them separate from the text. Front Cover - Paddling on the River Lark by Fran Faulkner Visit the Canoe Camping Club Website at : www.canoecampingclub.co.uk The Canoe Camping Club is a section of the Camping and Caravanning Club (company limited by guarantee) Greenfields House, Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8JH T: 0845 130 7631 or 024 7647 5448 *** Printed by: The Printhouse, Hove, BN3 2FB
5
PADDLING DEFICIENCY SYNDROME BY TIM WATSON
SUNDAY THE 20TH MARKED THE SECOND DAY OF TREATMENT FOR MY LINGERING CONDITION P,D,S. (PADDLING - DEFICIENCY -SYNDROME) IT HAS BEEN A LONG AND HARD WINTER OF SUFFERING, BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THERE IS NOW A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. However once tormented with P,D,S, the victim will need continuous treatment for life. So my second dose of treatment follows a cold and grey stint on the Severn. All my warm kit was packed for the following day; I was not going to get cold out there! So Saturday evening all I had to do was swap Mrs Tim’s canoe for mine. This was closely followed by more treatment consisting of a hot shower and then off to a centre of personal well being (Pear and Partridge) for some solids followed by a few carefully measured pick-me-ups doses of hop based potions followed by a few of grape origin. Just to add to the mix we watched the Rugby. So the second day started off with a 1 ¾ hr drive to Darley Bridge in Derbyshire to meet up with a fellow sufferer and some carers to paddle on the Derwent. Unfortunately the second sufferer also called Tim was deemed too ill to paddle and needed to rest more. The day turned out to be warm one, warmer still for me as I donned my dry suit in readiness for the day ahead. ….”Ahh ye gods” I thought “I’m going to cook in this!” so I stashed it in the van, and off we went. There were four of us, my paddle buddy Welsh Dave his daughter/padawan Hannah and a mentor of mine from my earlier paddling
years Alan. The water was lovely and clear in this little but very pleasant river. I was soon getting into the rhythm of solo paddling again; catching the many eddies as we meandered down stream. A mention to the “water whippers” (fly fishermen) we came across; they were as pleasant as anything. With lifted spirits we paddled on. I was aware of an incident earlier on in the year involving Town Bridge and with this firmly in mind, every bridge we came across I sped up to inspect before signalling it ok to run. Catching eddies and ferry gliding at every small feature was the order of the day. All three bridges were clear of debris and good to go; with a little more water the rapids were easier. A little bounce and we were all through. A ball bounced into the river before me, so to keep the football youth / canoeist relationship intact I promptly rescued the ball and returned it to the rightful owner. Normally on this run we would finish with a play on the slalom course, however today there was a competition so we aimed to have lunch and finish at Artists Corner. But only after a play on the friendly small surf wave. So ends my day two of rehabilitation. Bring on the next session. 6
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
JAN-ALLE KOK JULY 1932 - NOVEMBER 2015
It is with some sadness that I write about the death of Jan Kok. He had been suffering from ill health for a number of years. Jan was a larger than life Dutch canoeist, and will probably only be known to some of the older C-CC members. I first met Jan in the early 1970s. We became friends and when visiting England he frequently stayed with me. He always had a soft spot for the English. Earlier, when the Nazis invaded Holland; those unwelcome visitors stripped the country of its resources. The Dutch were starving. At the age of twelve, Jan begged for tins of corned beef from British soldiers, thus helping his family survive. Among Jan’s achievements, he organised the Veluwe Marathon Canoe event. 7
The marathon attracted canoeists throughout Europe and Jan was immensely proud when he recorded one thousand participants. The Kanovierdaags at Zwartsluis was another prestigious touring event organised in an area of great natural beauty. Jan’s events were always full of unexepected and unusual treats — not your average canoe-camping weekend, but rather participation in a festival. Jan also attended C-CC camps. Whenever he brought his small caravan it would soon be bursting at the seams with friends all drinking Dutch Geneva. His reward for all his hard work was a silver medal awarded by the Queen of the Netherlands. DAVE BALL
SPRING 2016
REFLECTIONS OF A CLUB MEMBER
1. A Soggy Start In 2005 we stayed at the forest site in Beddgelert during one of the wettest Augusts on record. The non-stop rain dampened our spirits as we sat in our caravan reminiscing about the many journeys we had logged in our little boat across 5000 miles of the Inland Waterways. But the boat was now sold and we wondered whether we had been right to opt instead for a Grumman canoe and the tiny Eriba caravan which was to be our home in Snowdonia for two rain-soaked weeks. One morning during a brief respite in the weather, we looked out and saw that a car had pulled onto the opposite pitch. A Grumman canoe – just like ours — was on the roof rack and a sticker in the back window read ‘The Canoe Camping Club’. Was this an omen? 2 Tentative steps Since selling our boat, the need to get afloat persisted. With a canoe instead of a cabin cruiser it made sense that we should paddle with others and there were still parts of the Inland Waterways we had not yet visited. With a young family we had always arranged our own adventures, travelled independently and had never thought of joining a club. But the car sticker had got us thinking. We had never heard of the CanoeCamping Club though the combination of canoeing and camping struck a chord and we determined to research it.
Snowdonia
WORDS BY TONY SMITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMY CARTWRIGHT
Tony Smith reflects back on his time in the Canoe-Camping Club, and all the colourful characters he met on the way.
3. Bread pudding My first club meet was on the 29th April the following year. Mary was unavailable so my plan was to paddle the Grumman solo from Cricklade to Lechlade. It was not the easiest of paddles. My J-stroke was unrefined and paddled solo - the Grumman could not compete with the speed of the other boats. For most of the trip I was the unwilling Tail-end Charlie though some-one always stayed back – to chat – to offer advice and to let me try their more sophisticated paddles. Back at the campsite as I waited for my lift home, I was invited over for a cup of tea and a generous slice of bread pudding. I had joined a club that offered more than just canoeing and camping. 8
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
9
4.Camp Paddle and Chat A common feature of all subsequent meets was the conversations on and off the water. With erstwhile strangers, it would start with a courteous introduction and comments on the weather before the discussion began to flow freely in whatever direction we wanted to take it. Sometimes the talk would turn to the latest gadget; at other times we would share paddling or camping exploits. Sometimes a story would emerge that was not remotely connected to our chosen pursuit but well worth the retelling. For those who chose to share (and most did), there was a back-story – always interesting, never boring. It transpired that my fellow paddlers were a very mixed bunch indeed. 5. Lots of People.. From the stories that people shared – a picture emerged showing the diversity of our many backgrounds: I have paddled with a lorry driver who can turn his long articulated vehicle on a sixpence. Now that is a skill that I greatly admire. I have talked with a stone mason, an electrician, a civil engineer, a plumber, a carpenter, a dentist, a gardener, nurses, musicians, researchers, medics and mechanical engineers. We have a poet, an artist and a foundry-man. We have experts in fibre-optics, poisons, air-conditioning and petrol-chemicals. We even have our own (now retired) stunt man and (I am told) someone who knows more about the workings of the human brain than the average man in the street.
Desert Island
Discs
an infrastructure and a telecommunication system with its own fibre-optic fast Broadband. We could have our own Health Service supported by cutting edge research. Our treasurer could ban all taxation and we could set up an alternative revenue stream by exporting top quality bread pudding. In our spare time we could have Canoe Club on Mondays (oversubscribed), camp craft on Tuesdays, Gardening on Wednesdays, Music on Thursdays and Stunt Club on Fridays.
7. Tales from the Waterways My conversations with fellow paddlers were fruitful on many counts. They were often informative, usually colourful and sometimes simply a story too good not to pass on. Here is a short selection:
But the great thing is that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you do or where you come from. When you are canoeing and camping there are no artificial barriers. Our chosen pursuit is one of the great levellers. 6.Desert Island Discs Listening to Desert Island Discs, it struck me that if the Canoe Camping Club was marooned on a desert island, we would survive. I don’t know about raw materials but I do know that our shared expertise would enable us to create fine buildings, machinery,
“The first time I camped at the Oxford site, I was still at the stage of being unclear about what to pack and what to leave out on a canoecamp. But my neighbours on the next pitch had a lifetime of experience and their advice was simple: I did not need to encumber myself with any washing up paraphernalia. I could do without a bowl, liquid, brush, dishcloth or tea towel. All I had to do was just lick the plate clean. I liked that suggestion not just for its simple logic but also for its lack of pretension. Clearly there was no scope for pretension in the world of canoe-camping.” “Paddling the upper Thames,
SPRING 2016
Avoid Watching Rubbish on TV
I learned of a great way to avoid watching rubbish on TV during the winter evenings. With two sheets of 8x4, I could make a decent boat out of tortured ply in the comfort of my kitchen. I remember discussing the detail of how to form a natural curve along the gunnels where the sheets join and I agreed that there is a great scope in this for a winter project.” However, I am still in negotiations with my wife Mary about whether the kitchen will be the best location for this.
“An envelope arrived in the post - addressed
to our youngest who was in America. Inside was a document that had to be signed and returned at very short notice so that she could receive back some of her own money. The deadline was very close and there was insufficient time to send the document out for her signature. So she asked if I could ‘replicate’ (I hesitate to use the F-word) her signature instead. I sprang straight into action with tracing paper and her sample signature. The very next day I explained this a to fellow paddler as we made our way down the Severn. I had no means of knowing that I was actually talking to someone who had worked as specialist illustrator designing bank notes for international currencies. She was able to tell me to ditch the tracing paper because ‘you will lose the flow of the original script’. She also added further professional tips which I took on board. I managed to get the ‘signed’ document in on time - the money was paid out, everyone was happy and no-one was harmed.” On Shakespeare’s waters, someone shared a closely guarded secret. I will tell you about this
Lick the Plate Clean
as long as you promise on your honour to keep it to yourself. The secret involves the Heating and Plumbing Trade and was disclosed by a tall man who has a short tent, a wide grin and a narrow kayak. It goes something like this: “Your tap has been leaking so you call in the plumber to fit a new washer. Before he says anything he performs a complex and bizarre ritual with a weird combination of sounds, contortions and unconventional body language. He draws in a deep breath with a strange sucking sound which blends into scary ooh sound just like Frankie Howerd. He tut tuts and moves his head from side to side in a gesture of disbelief. At this stage you are so alarmed and on the point of calling an ambulance that - with impeccable timing - he will tell you how much the job will cost. The amount is always outrageously expensive but you are so relieved that he has not expired in your kitchen that you immediately give him the go-ahead. At the same time you consider whether he might be offended if you gave him a really big tip when the work is finished. Very few manage to achieve complete mastery of this skill because it requires dedicated practice well beyond the five years of an apprenticeship to accomplish. Therefore it is the domain of just a small elite who are right at the top of their game. But for those few the financial rewards are in the stratosphere. They will be able to get their own fleet of vans – all with status plates. They might even stretch their spending to afford a tent big enough to sleep in.” 10
I arrived at the Cobnor site and chatted to the couple on the next pitch. They were new to the club and this was their first meet. We looked up as we heard someone coming over to say hello. He wore a flowing black robe, pink wellingtons, had a shaven head, lots of tattoos, piercings, metal jewellery and a waxed moustache. It was not what my neighbours expected and I sensed their unease. However, It took no more than a casual introduction before we were chatting and laughing as though we had all always known each other. Then there’s the Pasty Man. He earned his name from an incident on the Tamar when the last pasty in the shop finished up in the wrong hands and therefore the wrong mouth. Several years later he confided that his lorry driving job took him every week down to all the pasty shops in Cornwall with fresh supplies of flour AND they often gave FREE SAMPLES. So his adopted nickname was doubly justified. I am fairly certain that API (Advanced Pasty Indulgence) helps to develop a great sense of fun and a solid humour. The evidence points in that direction. It’s not only pasties because I know someone else who has a particular liking for custard – however you serve it up. Last summer I spent four days at a base camp with a small group of friends. I 11
What it S
8. Colourful Characters It is inevitable that The CanoeCamping Club should attract a wide and colourful membership – sometimes eccentric, usually colourful, never boring and always individual. Here is a small selection:
ays on th e Tin
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
have now passed my allocated ‘Three Score Years and Ten’ though one of the group was old enough to be my mum so there are no prizes for guessing who that was. We camped, paddled, chatted, shared treats and had a great time. But the golden moments for me were to hear of those epic paddles around the North-West of Scotland, competing in the DW and paddling across the channel umpteen times including both ways in one hit. You can’t do that sort of thing justice in a short paragraph. Suffice to say that it was my privilege to hear those tales first-hand from the lady who just went out and did it. 9.In it Together If you recognize yourself in the above – please take it as a tribute to the part that you play in making our club what it is. If you do not see yourself above – you have not been forgotten because the same plaudit applies. Our club is more than the sum of its parts and what makes it great is that we have all decided to join, to be ourselves and just do what we do. The CanoeCamping Club is what the label says on the tin. We are good for canoeing and we are good for camping. But we are great for a lot more besides. Please accept my thanks.
SPRING 2016
Canoe-Camping CLub Youth YOUR YOUTH SECTION
NEEDS YOU!
PHOTO COURTESY OF STUART MACLAREN
We are always on the look-out for volunteers to help run the youth section of The CanoeCamping Club, but more importantly, we are on the look for more youth members! We have plenty of space for anyone aged 11-16 to join us. At the national families meet in Hereford this year, we will have the youth camping area set out for anyone under the age of 16 to put up their tents for the week if you don’t wish to camp with your parents, and we will arrange some ad hoc youth activities too, including a youth run and wet games on the river. The POD will be up with cards and games inside for rainy days, and will also be a quiet space for anyone wishing to do homework/revision between the hours of 5pm and 7pm.
We will host a cards night – those who have been before will know of the game speed/racing demons, so those wishing to play will need to bring a deck of cards EACH. Of course, if it’s glorious sunshine we shall try and figure out some other fun things to do too. As always, we need volunteers to help run the CCY, so if you have any ideas for activities or wish to get involved, please let us know. If you would like any more information about CCY, how to become a youth member or any other queries, please feel free to contact Josie or Tommy at magazine@canoecampingclub.co.uk. 12
THE CANOE CAMPING CLUB INVITES YOU TO THE NATIONAL FAMILIES HOLIDAY MEET HEREFORD ROWING CLUB 37 GREYFRIARS AVENUE, HEREFORD HR4 0BE WWW.HEREFORDRC.CO.UK FRIDAY 27TH MAY TO FRIDAY 3RD JUNE 2016
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR 2016 Day Paddles, Long & Short / Canoe Camp the Wye (if leader forthcoming) / Training: Canoe, kayak, safety Bring & try various boat and equipment types / Marquee for social use (barbeque and other activities) Campsite games, canoe sports, Bilge sale etc *Communal Barbeque Sunday 29th 7pm Further details will be announced in update newsletters The types of activities vary depending on the weather, river conditions being suitable and the availability of volunteers. The Meet relies on those with skills contributing – please let the organisers know if you are able to assist in training / run leading / organising “après-canoe” etc. Those that have been before will be expected to assist with stewarding etc, if not otherwise contributing to running of the event. Offers of help by newcomers will be very welcome. Please note there are no Electric Hook ups on this site. Water, Dishwashing & CDP are available at the club house. Toilets and showers are available at the club house and Sea Cadets building RETURN COMPLETED FORMS with payment to Tim Wheeler 3 Birch Close Sprotbrough Doncaster DN5 7JY •Book only ONE pitch per form. Duplicate the form for extra pitches. •Complete the form and questionnaire fully. •Please do not send cash •Site opens 12pm. Friday 27th May, closes 6pm Friday 3rd June 2016 •Refunds can only be provided after the event and will be at the discretion of the organising committee. For Inquiries regarding the meet, or offers of help, contact Tim Wheeler - e-mail: timothy.wheeler@ blueyonder.co.uk or phone 01302 645427 13
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
PHOTOS BY TIM WATSON & CLIVE DS
2016
will be the 25th time this event has run, some of us have been attending every year from the early days and our children are now adults and some are now returning with their children. In 2015 it was great to have many newcomers to the meet, including some new families with very young children join us for their first time. The meet is very child friendly, but it is not compulsory to bring children, though ‘the child within’ certainly helps! The meet is suitable for all ages and levels of experience. For Beginners, or more experienced paddlers trying paddling with young children the meet is ideal, providing opportunities to develop new skills under the watchful eye of highly experiences members. Helping newcomers develop the skills to safely enjoy the sport is central to the event. Unlike activity centres, all coaching and leadership is provided free by suitably experienced members attending the meet. The result is a very low cost holiday, though due to being reliant upon voluntary leaders, we cannot guarantee particular activities will happen, but it is rare anyone leaves disappointed. Again for 2016 we have use of the Sea Cadets facilities which provide good facilities for families and young persons including Disabled/Parent & Child shower room. In addition, we have been assured that the, long overdue, improvements to the female facilities at the rowing club will have been completed. Having resumed responsibility for organising the event, after a break, 2015 was a time for review and we came away with lots of ideas for how to improve the event, in particular to revive the wet and dry games. Reverting to the Bring Your Own BBQ, using the Sea Cadets BBQ worked well and we will run with that option again this year. This year (hopefully a one off) the meet will Finish Friday Evening, instead of Sunday morning, due to The Rowing Club’s Regatta being at the weekend. It is usually a week later. This means we will have to condense the programme a little, but will have the weekend to recover! We look forward to seeing you at Hereford, all welcome, first timers regulars, all ages. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept under control, to avoid scaring children or conflict with other dogs. Any questions/queries, my contacts are in the front cove of the magazine. Tim Wheeler SPRING 2016
14
CANOE-CAMPING CLUB – HEREFORD 2016 BOOKING FORM Family Name:
C&CC Number:
Please tick if new to the meet Address: Post Code:
Phone Number (optional):
E-mail (to receive meet information updates and queries) We Intend to: Arrive on: C&C Club Unit
time:
Depart on:
or: Solo Lightweight Camper Tick one box
C&CC Unit consists of up to 2 Adults + children (5 -18). <18 CCY Members are only accepted if accompanied by a responsible adult. Unit Type - please tick Caravan Motorhome
Trailer tent
Tent
Note: 1. You must be registered with the C&CC to book a unit. 2. Non-members may only camp with a member and must use the same unit as the full member. They must register and pay as temporary members if >18 and will also be charged as an additional person. 3. Non-family <18yrs will usually be charged the additional child rate. 4. Small Pup tents must be pitched with the main unit and must not be used for cooking.
Age
Names
BCU Number
If <18
Please include all persons attending
If you have one
Coaching Qualifications/ Canoeing Standard
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
EASTER IN THE
E AST BY FRAN FAULKNER
17
SPRING 2016
W
ith the unforeseen cancellation of this year’s Easter Meet, Bob and I decided to accept the Open Canoe Association’s invitation to join them on the Norfolk Broads. We were not alone – Cherry and Geoff plus John and Margaret, had also chosen this alternative. Barton Turf Adventure Centre was to be our base for the weekend, with paddles planned on the nearby Barton Broad as well as further afield. Sadly storm Katie put paid to us venturing out onto open water and trips were organised on the more benevolent rivers. Friday saw Bob and me head off after, arriving and pitching our tent, for a brief journey from Barton Turf Staithe up the River Ant towards Sutton Staithe as the sun set. Saturday Bob decided that he would explore the area on foot, and I joined a group paddling up the Dilham Canal. We lunched near a bridge, and turned to head for home as the head wind strengthened. Sunday was our final Norfolk paddle – we headed over to Wroxham with the group and explored the River Bure up towards Coltishall. At Belaugh, Bob and I decided we had gone far enough and stopped in the company of two friends from Song of the Paddle for our lunch at the Staithe. As we got back onto the water the heavens opened and a huge squall flung us back to the river bank. We sat hunkered down in our waterproofs as the horizontal rain stung our faces, waiting for it to abate. 5 minutes later the sun came out and we paddled back to the cars under blue skies, wondering whether we had dreamt the deluge! Monday saw us battening down the hatches and sitting out the storm – we were glad to have the classroom of the centre to take refuge in – then we parted company on Tuesday morning – Bob to Northamptonshire where he would visit relatives, whilst I headed south to the second half of my East Anglian adventure. I was to join a choir singing in St Edmundsbury Cathedral on the Friday, so made my way to a campsite at Isleham Fen, adjacent to the River Lark. Wikipedia has this to say about the Lark:
“The River Lark is a river in England that crosses the border between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. It is a tributary of the River Great Ouse, and was extended when that river was re-routed as part of drainage improvements. It is thought to have been used for navigation since Roman times, and improvements were made in 1638 and in the early 18th century, when locks and staunches were built. The upper terminus was on the northern edge of Bury St Edmunds, but a new dock was opened near the railway station after the Eastern Union Railway opened its line in 1846. The navigation was officially abandoned in 1888, but despite this, commercial use of the river continued until 1928. Following acquisition by the Great Ouse Catchment Board, locks at Barton Mills and Icklingham were rebuilt in the 1960s, but were isolated when the A11 road bridge was lowered soon afterwards. It now has one operational lock at Isleham, and can be navigated to Jude’s Ferry.” So that was my next three days mapped out – I would be Larking about! Wednesday saw me heading upstream – I put in at Isleham Marina and headed for Isleham Lock – only to be thwarted in my intention to lock through by my lack of an EA key to get into the control cabinet. Having portaged I had a pleasant and uneventful paddle to the head of the navigation at Jude’s Ferry, then carried on to head further upstream. The current became stronger as I approached a disused lock. Just downstream of it lurked a white dragon and his mate – he was determined to drive me off his patch, hissing and thrusting at me. At one point he took off towards my boat with much loud flapping. Unperturbed I eddied out and broke open my antidote for angry swan – packed lunch. Breaking bread with the swans turned them from aggressive to friendly, and I was able to change into my dry trousers ready to wade up the staunch, dragging my boat behind me with no further threat. Not much later I came across another small weir – made of shuttering – and again climbed out of my boat to line it up. All too soon I reached my turning point – Mildenhall – and stopped for the rest of my lunch in the shade of the Mill building. The return trip with the not inconsiderable flow was achieved In half the time. Not far from Isleham I came across a riverside stone denoting the place where a famous preacher was baptised. I avoided the lock portage by paddling down the natural river until I came to the weir barrage. 18
RU N S LI ST 2 016
THE CANOE-CAMPING CLUB - The club for canoeists who camp and campers who canoe We are an active Section of The Camping and Caravanning Club, Greenfields House, Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8JH FOR MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT THE SECRETARY Fran Faulkner secretary@canoecampingclub.co.uk The Canoe-Camping Club organises local day trips and weekend meets throughout the year, as well as longer holiday meets. You’ll find outline details of the events for the year here. Some events such as the Easter Meet and the annual Families’ Holiday Meet are attended by members from all over the country. Members are welcomed on all meets. (Some of the more advanced trips may be restricted to experienced paddlers). This programme is an outline of proposed events for the calendar year 2016. Further details will be made available when events have been finalised in the quarterly magazine, the Canoe-Camper, distributed to members, via the website www. canoecampingclub.co.uk and via the ‘Pitch and Paddle’ Facebook group. Camping and Caravanning Club membership cards must be shown at all meets. Canoe-camping Club members should keep the Secretary informed whether they are current members of British Canoeing, Canoe Wales, The Scottish Canoe Association or the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland.
16 -17 Apr 16 - 17 Apr 17 Apr 30 Apr - 2 May 30 Apr -2 May 6 - 8 May 7 - 8 May 8 May 22 May 27 - 30 May 28 May - 3 Jun 11 - 12 Jun 18 - 19 Jun 24 - 26 Jun 25 Jun 1 - 3 Jul 2 - 3 Jul 1 - 3 Jul 2 - 3 Jul 8 - 10 Jul 9 - 10 Jul 10 Jul
ROYAL MILITARY CANAL & ROTHER Thames & SE RIVER DEE Midlands UPPER GREAT OUSE Herts & EA LAKE BALA Midlands + Dee & NW 3 DEVON & SOMERSET CANALS West Country SOLENT PADDLES West Country THAMES CAMP Thames & SE GREAT OUSE Herts & EA RIVER MOLE Thames & SE POOLE HARBOUR/JURASSIC COAST West Country RIVER WYE National Families’ Meet National MONMOUTH/BRECON CANAL West Country RIVER THAMES, OXFORD and Annual General Meeting National NORTH NORFOLK Herts & EA BRISTOL FLOATING HARBOUR West Country RIVER NENE Herts & EA RIVERS ARUN AND ADUR Thames & SE NOTTINGHAM National Youth Rally Youth GLOUCS/SHARPNESS CANAL West Country RIVER NENE Midlands ULLSWATER Dee & NW THAMES TIDEWAY Thames & SE
16 - 17 Jul 24 Jul 14 Aug 20 - 21 Aug 27 - 30 Aug 27 - 30 Aug 28 Aug 4 Sep 10 - 11 Sep 11 Sep 17 - 18 Sep 17 - 18 Sep 24 - 25 Sep 2 Oct 8 - 9 Oct 6 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 27 Nov 11 Dec 11 Dec 11 Dec 26 Dec
KENNET & AVON CANAL ST PATRICK’S STREAM THAMES RIVER WYE DEVON COAST SOUTH WALES RIVER WEY THAMES RIVER AVON RIVER DEE CHICHESTER HARBOUR RIVER SEVERN POOLE HARBOUR/JURASSIC COAST THAMES NORFOLK BROADS JUBILEE RIVER RIVER IVEL RIVER DOUGLAS BASINGSTOKE CANAL RIVER WEY RIVER CHERWELL BRIDGWATER CANAL RIVER DERWENT – Matlock Raft Race
West Country Thames & SE Thames & SE West Country West Country Midlands Thames & SE Thames & SE West Country Dee & NW Thames & SE Midlands West Country Thames & SE Herts & EA Thames & SE Herts & EA Dee & NW Thames & SE Thames & SE West Country Dee & NW Midlands
For information please contact: Dee & North West Brian Hamer, 7 Glastonbury Drive, Poynton, Stockport SK12 1EN DeeNW@canoecampingclub.co.uk Herts & East Anglia Pete Bradshaw, 4 Thirlmere Court, Felixstowe, IP11 9SN Herstea@canoecampingclub.co.uk Midlands Simon Beeston, 11 Elston Hall Lane, Wolverhampton, WV10 9HE Midlands@canoecampingclub.co.uk Northern Cherry Forrester, 121 Cardigan Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE6 5HS Northern@canoecampingclub.co.uk Thames & South East Robin Hickman, 32 Shepherds Way, Roffey, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 4LS Thames@canoecampingclub.co.uk West Country Paul Whitehead, 17 Whitley Crescent, Bicester, OX26 4XR Westcountry@canoecampingclub.co.uk Canoe-camping Club Youth Josie Faulkner, Flat J, Venita Manor, 317 Leigham Court Road, London, SW16 2RX Tommy Faulkner, 23 Somerville Rd, Eton, Windsor, SL4 6PB Youth@canoecampingclub.co.uk The Canoe-Camping Club is a national club for touring canoeists (and kayakers) and for those who like to combine canoeing/kayaking and camping. The Club caters for everyone, with a variety of meets round the country. Some are ideal for beginners whilst others challenge the more experienced paddler. Members are always glad to offer help and friendly advice to newcomers. All ages are welcome, and in particular the Club likes to encourage families Unless otherwise stated, inland trips are planned on relatively easy water. Conditions on coastal trips are less predictable. Distances depend on conditions and participants: organisers will advise, and also reserve the right to decide whether individuals may participate. It is often possible to organise shorter and easier trips for the less experienced.
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
THE RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE PART 1 BY DAVE BALL
HI THERE MEMBERS! A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD PEN A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE C-CC OF EARLIER TIMES. IN DEFERENCE TO SENSIBILITIES, I SHALL NOT REVEAL WHO THAT WAS. HOWEVER, IF YOU EXPECT TO READ TALES OF DERRING DO I’M AFRAID THAT YOU ARE DOOMED TO DISAPPOINTMENT.
I
n 1993, the Canoe-Camping Club celebrated its sixtieth anniversary by organising an international canoe-camping tour on the River Thames, starting at Lechlade and finishing at the Thames barrier. Although probably now long forgotten, the tour was awarded a silver cup by the International Canoe Federation for the best organised tour in the world. Today, I wonder what became of that cup? I am probably correct in stating that we are the only club in the British Canoe union to achieve this distinction. So what’s this got to do with Russia you may be thinking? Well, camping during the tour was on sites situated along the Thames. The tour attracted interest from overseas canoeists; surprisingly including a group of Russians. Due to technical problems, they missed the event. When the tour was over, feet up and relaxing in my armchair — just as I thought the dust had settled — my phone rang. A voice
21
said, “I am Oleg Zolatarev. We missed the tour.” My reply, “Yes, I know you did.” Oleg asked, “Can we visit England?” Me, “Sure you can, come in October. Bring friends if you like.” Local member of the Herts and East Anglia Section offered hospitality. Our national committee made a modest financial grant to defray the visitors sightseeing expenses. Eventually, five Russians arrived and we showed them the sights of London. The organisation of the original tour took a year and a half’s worth of my spare time. I discovered that my recent retirement could be hard work. There were endless negotiations with land owners: the ICF demanded certain protocols be met, talks with the police on security issues, and arrangements for visitors cars to be parked on secure army air bases at Abingdon. You must understand there is a lot of complex work when
organising for 200 people. The real plus was the generous assistance given by other club members. After the new friends returned, I continued to correspond with Oleg. He insisted that I visit Russia, and promised that he would organise camping and sightseeing. I have to confess that in my sixty two years of camping in various parts of Europe, Russia would never have featured high on my list. In a moment of weakness, I decided to accept the invitation.So it was in 1995 that I flew into Moscow’s Domodedova airport. Oleg and his friends were there to greet me. They said as a special visitor, the occasion warranted a traditional welcoming ceremony. This consisted of white buttered rolls (incidentally the only white bread and butter I saw in Russia). The food was naturally accompanied by obligatory glasses of vodka — all celebrations are accompanied by vodka. Our destination
SPRING 2016
was Tula, and after a considerable discussion, complex and a nursery where young children there seemed to be a consensus on the best road took part in social activities. The colour used to take. I then learned that when Russians are to decorate was predominantly red. All these trying to make a decision, it’s accompanied amenities were on a grand scale, far in excess by lots of discussion and advice, which can be of what you would find in a traditional English extremely time consuming. village. Tula lies to the south of Moscow, I asked if there was a supermarket. and soon I discovered that the car was devoid Oleg pointed to a building but said there was of any functioning suspension — a condition nothing to be seen inside. It seemed prudent shared by all the Russian cars I encountered and best not to pursue the matter. Russia thereafter. On the motorway, our driver steered at the time was adjusting to the collapse of a continuous, violent and erratic course to communism and the introduction of a free avoid the numerous huge pot holes. During my market economy. stay, I was told that Gogol (a famous Russian The residential area comprised author) is reputed to have said “Russia has two of blocks of flats, the standard construction problems…fools and bad roads.” The man also abysmal, the designs totally without had a capacity for understatement: I can add a imagination. The maintenance virtually nonfew to that list. We were fortunate to be driven existent. The majority of stairs I encountered by a skilled and brave driver. had steps missing and banisters floating, and on Another surprise was there were no footpaths unprotected metre deep holed. This petrol stations. It was sold was going to be an adventure, from roadside tankers and and at times you needed you measured from large metal your wits about you! In “IN A MOMENT OF have jugs via a funnel. Because every house the furnishings were WEAKNESS, I DECIDED of similar design, and seemed of the complete absence of parking places, lorries were that there was very little choice. TO ACCEPT THE parked in groups wild west If the state factories decided fashion by the road. This was INVITATION. SO IT WAS to manufacture a particular a safety precaution as isolated product, that’s what you bought. IN 1995 THAT I FLEW A few days later, I was vehicles were frequently the prey of criminal gangs. to Irena, a student INTO MOSCOW...” introduced We were also who was studying English who stopped by heavily armed had been co-opted to help on police, passports and papers had to be shown. the holiday. I asked if we could go on another Russia was having a few problems with tour of Leninsky. I wanted to get answers to my Chechnya, or was it the other way around? questions, so my strategy was keep asking until I stayed with Oleg and his family, the truth emerged. After my arrival, the village this being a totally new cultural experience. was buzzing with the news about a strange Breakfast consisted of chewy gritty porridge Englishman continually looking at things and made from buckwheat, which Oleg explained asking questions. made men strong! God knows what it did to the “Could I look inside the supermarket please,” women? The gruel was paired with black bread I asked. and homemade jam, no margarine. I thought the We did. The shelves were half empty, with no consistency of the bread made it unnecessary imagination to the display. The labels on the to clean my teeth. Tea was dispensed from a food were all of a similar design, and in the traditional Samovar, no milk, and I couldn’t butchery section was heaps of frozen meat help but wonder what affect this diet would in unrecognizable shapes and sizes. Now I have on my diabetes. During the holiday I lost understood everything! half a stone in weight. We also visited a store owned by two I enquired about the possibility of young men selling TVs and household goods. a shower, but was informed that that their When they discovered I was from England they unique gas heating system was dangerously wanted to compare prices and represented a temperamental and likely to explode. It seemed new generation sailing on unchartered waters. better not to antagonize the technology. It Irena kept apologising for the condition of her dawned on me that that for people living in home village, and I think she was embarrassed. Russia, life could pose a lot of problems. She also quietly confessed that she was in the My host took me to see the sights, midst of a plan to move to America, where she that was, sights that could be classified as a had heard it was possible to enjoy a better life — credit to the system. Leninsky (our village) had what a brave girl. an excellent large theatre, an elaborate sports Most small villages in Russia have 22
THE CANOE CAMPER #305
“SO FAR, NOT MUCH ABOUT CANOE-CAMPING, BUT RUSSIA WAS A COMPLETE EXPERIENCE AND PROBABLY SOMETHING WHICH THE AVERAGE TOURIST NEVER SEES.”
an impressive war memorial, complete with a perpetual flame dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. Leninsky’s was exceptionally large, containing the names of hundreds of local men who died when Hitler invaded Russia. Standing there was a moving experience and a time of extreme sadness. Next to the memorial was a new Othodox Church which had been lavished in the finest artwork and carvings, a stark contrast to the construction of the rest of the village. So far, not much about canoecamping, but Russia was a complete experience and probably something which the average tourist never sees. Friends took me to visit Yasnaya Polyana, Count Leo Tolstoy’s estate, where he wrote one of his greatest books War and Peace. It was an impressive museum with all of the Count’s effects carefully preserved. The guide explained that he did not get on with his wife, but they had thirteen children. Even for the Russian women in the area, enough was enough. We the walked through the woods to his grave, which was a simple grass covered mound of earth without any memorial; just a bunch of red flowers deposited by someone unknown. It seemed incongruous that this was the final resting place of a world famous man. Tula is the centre for arms production, mining and where most Russian Samovars are made. IT’s Kremlin is well preserved and is popular with visitors, and has an arms museum dedicated to all manner of guns. The first Kalashnikov is on display, with comments from the inventor who it’s reputed that when he learned how it was being used, wished he had invented the lawn mower. Later in the week, I met with another English speaker, who would take me to see the regional art gallery had it not been closed. The entrance was an incredible sight though, with it’s front steps still intact. So we went back to her flat for tea, where I was introduced to her 23
husband who was a Colonel in the army. One of his functions was to train the army Judo team, and explained that at the teams inception, there was no information about this activity in the country, so they had to import text booked from America. He also asked “What did the English do in the Great Patriotic War?” Obviously the communist propaganda of the time had totally air brushed Britains contribution, so with the wife’s linguistic assistance, he had a history lesson on the conflict in which both our countries shared. The Great Patriotic War on 1995 was still a major event people lives. Russia lost 28 million people, the majority of whom starved to death. And we thought we had it hard!
Dear reader, Perhaps you may have shocked when reading this account. Please remember that it’s in the year 1995: most people in Russia had free gas, a free flat, there was little expenditure on the town infrastructure, and threw most of their rubbish in the forest…you know about the roads. Average wages were £5 a month and the Rouble was 48 to the £1. Undoubtedly the plus side of my visit was the people. Friendly, generous and incredibly hospitable: prepared to help the unknown stranger. A secretive people, and sadly fatalistic in their belief that their situation can never be changed. In the following years when I visited my Russian friends, I recognized signs of improvement. Bosch and AEG washing machines were to be found in their shops and some of the wooden log houses started to abandon the earth toilets at the bottom of the garden. I like to think that on occasions when Russian friends would visit me, it opened up their horizons, and vice versa.
SPRING 2016
WOODMILL ON THE RIVER ITCHEN WILD WATER RACE BY SUSAN TEMPLETON
The race was based at Woodmill Activity Centre by kind permission of Neil Adcock the Operations Manager. A number of the paddlers that had never been to the centre before variously said “It is like H.G. Wells lost world but with canoes and other exciting kit rather than dinosaurs!” whilst others compared it to “A mini paradise”. It was great to see so many activities, e.g. kayaking and canoeing on the lake, river sluice pool and River Itchen and on the grounds, climbing, jenga but with crates and a person trying to stay on top (with a harness on) wild life talks etc., going on for people of all ages and abilities alongside the WWR race and everyone having fun. The Wild Water race started from just above
Mansbridge and raced down to Woodmill Bridge on the River Itchen and provided a good spectacle for the many members of the public walking along the path alongside the River. The race was held over two runs of 0.5miles. Hamble Sea Scout leader John Dyke gasped after he finished his second run “It is a long way to sprint!” 20 paddlers with an age range of 9 to 77 raced, a tribute to the sport where all ages can participate. Dr Selwyn Richards took the Men’s WWR class, with Richard Davis aged 77, 14 seconds behind in second place; Susan Templeton taking the honours in the Ladies WWR class. In the Open class raced by K1’s (with rudders to
steer) Richard Johns won the Men’s and daughter Poppy aged 11 the Ladies. Hamble Sea Scouts raced in force and produced some good results in both classes. There are a number of WWR and open races as part of a series taking place in the South with the next one being at Manor Farm Country park on 8 May 2016, followed by a WWR race run with the Winchester ranking Division 4 slalom on 15 May 2016 and then the Hamble River Raid http://www.hambleriverraid. com/ (including a ranking WWR race) on 21 May 2016, see http://www.wildwater.org.uk for details. For K1 racing see www.southamptoncc.co.uk/ based from Woodmill Activity Centre http://www.woodmill. co.uk/ 24
THE CANOE CAMPER #304
Interested in the history of your craft?
Paddles Past ENDLESS RIVER MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS Tel. 01905 640003 Please contact us for your free colour brochure. All the accessories you need for canoes, kayaks and yourself P.O. Box 699, Worcester, WR2 6ZL E-mail dave@endlessriver.co.uk www.endlessriver.co.uk
is the quarterly journal of the
Historic Canoe and Kayak Association. Go to:
hcka.org.uk details.
for
The Canoe Camping CLub agm 18 - 19 Jun RIVER THAMES, OXFORD
Hi, I’m Corvette, a general purpose lightweight kayak used to the sea, rivers, lakes and occasional canals. I’ve had an exciting life having paddled all over the place, but especially the coasts and islands of the Southwest, South and Scotland. Sadly, I’m now looking for an enthusiastic paddler with whom to end my days (which will be a long time yet!) as my friend Rona has rusty knees and hips that won’t fit into my cockpit. Please come and collect me . . . I’m FREE!! Hope to see you on the water. Corvette” The statistics for the Corvette 1974 are as follows: •Overall length 13’ 11” •Internal cockpit width 15” •Internal cockpit length 28” •Orange fibreglass deck •Hull of diolen for light weight and strength •2 rudders (one never used or needed) with foot pedals •Adjustable foot rests •Buoyancy blocks fore and aft with inflatable buoyancy bags •Deck lines •Reed spraydeck •Cockpit cover •Handles well on rivers and sea •Stored under cover. Rona Cave, 13 Guest Road, Upton, Poole, Dorset BH16 5LQ ph. 01202 624 123
You can now follow us on twitter to keep up to date with all things Canoe Camping Club! Just type in @canoecampermag and click follow! 25
SPRING 2016
I am writing with regards to my late grandfather Percy Blandford. He wrote his Autobiography when he was 95 but never got around to publishing it as, in his own words “Who would want to read it”.! I promised I would get his life story published and I’m excited to say that his memoirs A Life Full of Hobbies is now available. Only 500 copies have been printed and I have sold many worldwide. The book can be purchased directly from me via my email address, The book is £12.95 + First class uk P&P £4.95. If you would like any more information please don’t hesitate to contact me at diane.naested@gmail.com
Seen a thing? Been on a trip? Have you got any access information, safety tips, extra runs, something for sale, information about the club, photographs, or even any tidbits? Send them to magazine@canoecampingclub.co.uk by 26th June. We can’t have a newsletter without your contributions! Did you know that Canoe-Camper is now online? The magazing is exclusively on issuu.com and is downloadable on android and apple products. Join us now on Facebook for an exclusive digital colour copy.
www.facebook.com/groups/162317170629300/ 26
TRUST US TO
KEEP YOU AFLOAT
SMALL CRAFT INSURANCE WITH CLUB CARE WITH 8/10 MEMBERS CHOOSING TO RENEW THEIR POLICIES,
ISN’T IT TIME YOU GAVE US A TRY? 0800 975 1646
CLUBCAREINSURANCE.COM
Club Care Insurance Services is a trading name licensed to Vantage Insurance Services Limited (“VISL”) by The Camping and Caravanning Club. VISL is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No 311541).