Tower Hamlets Canoe Club

Hello open boaters. Dimitris and I are planning a trip up and down the upper reaches of the River Stour in Kent on Saturday the 30th of August. If you are looking for a hard workout or adrenaline rush, this might not be for you. The plan is to start at the pub at Grove Ferry about five miles east of Canterbury and go upstream on the incomming tide as far as possible to Fordwich where we stop at another pub, wait for the tide to turn and float back to the pub where we started. This is the most picturesque stretch of the river, passing through the Stodmarsh nature reserve and Westbere marshes. Ornithologists should bring binoculars.The paddling is easy and the only hazards are the pubs and a bit of mud. We need to be at Grove Ferry at One o'clock to make best use of the tide. The return trip should take three hours if we are lazy and could be extended a bit on the ebb tide leg. I will tow the trailer which Mike has kindly agreed to lend us, so at the moment I recon we can take up to seven boats which equals fourteen boaters. If more want to come we will try to accommodate them if we can get more transport. If you are interested reply to this thread and we will take it from there. Please say if you have a car and can take some passengers.

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Jon Eeles

Jon,

I won't be joining you as I don't do "the canoe thing", but I applaud the choice of river - and don't recall anyone organising a trip there before.
Here's my account of it. Updates welcomed....

Cheers
TonyR 

TonyR:

I won't be joining you as I don't do "the canoe thing", but I applaud the choice of river 

You can always join us in a kayak if you fancy

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Dimitris

sounds like fun ... count me in.

Have a large estate with roof bars, so can carry boat and passengers

count me in too!

tony - don't fancy sharing a boat and going round in circles then?

 

liz

 

sorry, but I cannot now come on this trip

Liz:

Tony - don't fancy sharing a boat and going round in circles then?
liz

Can't make it unfortunately ! Besides, I haven't got the hat, the beard and the beer gut...:)

TonyR

Hello again open boaters. It is now 11pm on tuesday 26th August. Tomorrow we need to book the boats and paddles for the trip on Saturday, so this is the last call for this trip. At the moment I think our armada consists of me, Liz and Dimitris, Though I note that Dimitris has booked a sea kayak for this weekend. Are you still comming on this trip Dimitis? I will be using my own boat, so Liz you could come with me if you like. Any one else who would like to come please let us know through this thread and book any equipment you need tomorrow. I have room for four passengers in my van. If you have any questions you can call me on 07831886708. 

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Jon Eeles

Dimitris and I are both still on for this trip. 

Since there's not too many of us then do you think we need the basin's trailer? I think we should be able to carry a boat on our car, but if we prefer to paddle solo, then maybe the trailer is a better idea. 

I'm booking equipment for us now. 

Dimitris and I are coming back to the UK tonight, sorry we've been out of touch this past week. 

Hi Joanna. great to have you on board for saturday. I might be able to get two boats on top of my van, so with your car thats three without needing the trailer. If we get more people signing up today we will take the trailer. We should let mike from the basin know that the trailer is a possibility.

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Jon Eeles

I have booked the trailer using the on line form.

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Jon Eeles

Mike has asked me to pass on the following:

"I need to leave the site on Saturday morning by 10.30am and will not be returning until approx 8.00pm. So the boats and trailer are OK but the collection times will need to be well timed. I am going to a reception and will not be flexible about times.

Please convey this message to those who want to collect equipment."

Ros is away at the moment and the equipment is being dropped off outside of the alloted hours, hence the comment.

Enjoy the trip!

 

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Equipment Officer

I never swim!
Sometimes, however, I choose to not "wear" my kayak

Paul,

if nobody else needs access to the basin on saturday after 10.30 can we take the keys with us and drop them off on our return. We will probably be back before 8.00pm so would like to be able to drop off equipment without having to wait for Mike. 

On saturday I will share my boat with Liz and it looks like Dimitris and Joanna will be paddling solo. Could we meet at the basin at ten o'clock to collect the boats? Dimitris do you have a key to the padlock for the boats? This would be handy when we return the boats so we don't have to wait for Mike to come back.  We will be starting a bit earlier than I had intended so we might begin our trip a bit further downstream. The weather is supposed to be good on saturday but I will bring an umberella anyway. We will be able to get some lunch at one of the pubs along the way so just bring something to drink in your boats. dont forget your binoculars.

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Jon Eeles

Hi Jo,

You can ask Mike on Saturday morning but I'm not sure what he will say.

Thanks,

Paul

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Equipment Officer

I never swim!
Sometimes, however, I choose to not "wear" my kayak