Tower Hamlets Canoe Club

Hi Ailien,

I see you're taking the intro sk group on the river tonight

Please shout if you need another 3* to buddy, always keen to get on the river and it'd be nice to help out

Justin

Hi guys,

Thanks to everybody for a very good paddle last Tuesday.

To prepare for the next time, I have a couple of questions for you:

1) What time will it be high tide on the day of our next paddle on 23 June 2008? 
2) What direction will the current flow between 7 and 9 pm on that day?
3) Following that: What direction should we paddle? To Greenwich or to Tower Bridge?
4) Do you think we will be able to get in on the beach, or will it be a "wet" entree from the stairs like last time?
5) Why do you think we should always cross the river 90 degrees?
6) What does the term "ferry gliding" mean?
7) How do we decide where to cross the river? Can you name 3 things we should look out for?
8) When doing a rescue we should look out for the following: The safety of the rescuee, the safety of the group, your own safety. Can you put these three items in the right order? Can you explain?
9) What are the most important things to look out for during a rescue? If necessary, what can we do to prevent further accidents?
10)  On a normal Tuesday night (not a Sea kayak trip) what should we normally take with us?
I am curious to see what you guys think. Don't worry, it is not an assessment, but it will give me a better feeling of what you guys have learned and what I should maybe explain a bit better! Please send the answers to me on AilienR@talktalk.net before the next time (23 June 2008)?  

The idea for next time is that you guys organize and "lead" the trip. The first questions above can help you with your planning.
Assume it is a sea trip and make sure we have everything we should take with us on a trip. You can borrow things from the club and let me know if there is anything you think I have that you would want me to take with me for the trip.

I will make sure we have enough buddies with us.

By the way, I will put it in a separate post as well, but if you want to practice your rolls: I will go to the pool next Tuesday and will be happy to help.

Have a good weekend!

Ailien

Hi everyone,

First of all, I'm really sorry I couldn't make it to the curry night on Friday. Work has been very busy this week - I ended up staggering out of the office at 10.20. Believe me, I would have much rather spent the night with all of you! I hope you had a good time and that I can make it to the next one! Tuesday's trip was the highlight of a pretty crazy week.

Just to round it off, I broke my right collarbone yesterday. That'll teach me for getting involved in other sports besides kayaking, hey?! Normally these things heal very well, but in my case I've got a bit of bone that needs flipping around and screwing back in place in order for it to heal properly, so I'm going under the knife tomorrow. If you think I should have my nose shortened, chin tucked or ears pinned then now would be a good time to mention it ;)

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all of this is that of course this means I won't be able to come kayaking for quite some time. I don't know exactly how long it'll take to heal, but I'd guess around two months before I'm back paddling again. I hope you have lots of fun while I'm gone, and if anyone feels like a curry, a few beers and a catchup in the meantime then that'd be great!

See you all soon for more paddling fun :)

Hi Gareth,

What on earth did you do? Whatever it was I agree, stick to kayaking, much, much better!

A shame you could not make it to Brick Lane on Friday. In the end only half of the gang turned up, but it was still good fun and the food was good.

Good luck tomorrow, and when you are reconstructed we will certainly try to get you out of the office once more. And you know, you can always join us in the pub on Tuesdays. Seeing your normal office hours, that should just be do-able!

Ailien

Hey Ailien!

Yep I was really disappointed about Friday. My hours aren't usually that bad!!

As for the injury, mountain biking is to blame. After a morning of playing on some jumps and drops, I decided to have "just one more go"... I hit a jump badly, went way too high, landed on the front wheel, went over the bars and came down on my shoulder. Not good!

Anyway, the surgery went very well and I'm back at home now - I'm glad it's been so quick! I'll definitely come and join you guys at the pub once I've done a bit of healing. I'm going to have some more xrays done in two weeks so I'll know more then!

Enjoy the paddling - see you soon! :)

oh well done, if you're gonna do it, do it in style!

I had a month of very painful ribs while training for DW from same manouver. Provided great entertainment for a number of people.

4 to sticky, 5 to firm, 6 to fixed, so hope to see you in a boat early Aug?

Get some physio after bone fixed, brain will switch off muscles to avoid bone pain, need to reprogram asap to switch em all on again, it doesn't happen naturally.

when you next feel like rattling your bones, let me know!

Ouch Gareth, that sounds horrible - didn't I tell you it was time to grow up and get a road bike?

Hope it recovers quickly and that we'll see you in the pub if not on the water for a bit. 

Haha, so Luke, now you know the kind of damage I can do to myself in a nice quiet local wood with soft ground, you want to add traffic and tarmac into the equation?!

Seriously though, thanks for the responses, and sorry for being so late to reply. Everything seems to be healing well so far,  and I'm getting stuck in to a (so far) very limited set of physio exercises (yep, completely agree with you sea4me - btw do I know you from the club?). Anyway, all being well I'll come down to the pub on Tuesday to see you all :)