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Medway canoe trip: 15-16 May 2010

2010-05-19T15:10:43Z

Danielsomerville:

A weekend open boat trip on the Medway.

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/twicezero/sets/72157623960599495/ photos]

== The plan ==

We can hire boats locally from a company who will also transport them for us, and there are canoeist-friendly campsites along the way (a couple of them even have toilets). Rail links to possible start and end points look pretty good, so no need to sort out car shares.

We have a bunch of shiny splash-proof canoe trail leaflets, which have a basic map and information about portage, pubs etc. so some of the planning is already done. They even detail known local Morris dancing hotspots, which should help minimise one of the chief risks inherent in a foray into rural England

We can't promise Paul and Debbie will be out again, but it should be a lovely Day

[http://www.medwaycanoetrail.co.uk/ Medway Canoe Trail]

== The tale ==

We set off from Tonbridge at 9:45am on the Saturday and arrival at Town Lock was only a short time later.

It turns out that the portage at Town Lock is a real pain because it involves lifting the canoes over the boom for the upper gates, then walking across the top of the lower gates then down a steep set of stairs. Cycling the lock is probably quicker, and certainly easier. The new canoe passes around Eldridges Lock, Porters Lock and East Lock more than make up for the earlier pain, and it's possible to take the canoes out at the bottom of East Lock to go up and do it again (lots of fun!)

Oak Weir Lock has a picnic table on the island and it’s a nice place to stop for lunch (so we did). This area is probably the most remote and picturesque part of the entire trail. There were lots of scouts out on the river in canoes and kayaks. Continuing on to Yalding, where at 4pm we stopped off for tea and biscuits at “Teapot Island”, although the claims about the quantity of teapots on show are quite exaggerated (if that’s your thing).

Just across the river beyond the weir is the Marlin Canoe Club campsite, where we pitched the tents. It’s safe to leave canoes unattended here because the only way to get them in or out is via the river, and the camp ground is well out of sight of roads. If you can get a key from the Environment Agency, there are toilets and hot showers nearby. The nearest public toilets are across the bridge, on the far side of the “leisure park” which is about a 5-minute walk. We can recommend this as a good place for an overnight stay.

After some good beer, excellent food and bad double-entendres at the Walnut Tree pub in Yalding, we crashed out. The following morning it was all about the bacon butties and coffee, and once those were polished off and the camp packed up, we were on the water at 10:30. Day 2 was by far the longer and more difficult paddle due to increased river traffic, wind, and tiredness from Day 1.

Not a whole lot to report from day 2, except that we tried to use locks where possible (and when they weren’t being operated by stoned yobs). Last of all, a cheer squad of geese and goslings was waiting to greet us as we arrived at Allington Lock’s slipway at 15:45.

Henley to Marlow, open boating on the Thames: 17 April 2010

2010-04-20T11:35:38Z

Danielsomerville:

We hired open boats from ThamesCanoe and paddled from Henley to Marlow using trains to get there and back.

We were on the water by 9:50 at Henley Bridge. We paddled upstream to Hennerton Backwater, took a lazy trip up the backwater to Willow Marina then back downstream again (riding Marsh Lock in both directions). Stopped for lunch on the bank just downstream from Henley, where we were nearly extorted for £8 (£2 per canoe) for the privilege. We chose to portage around Hambleden Lock at 13:50 and it was ice creams all-round while we finished our lunch break.

We continued downstream at 14:10 and picked up the pace a bit (the canoes were due back at 16:00). We passed lots of birds, chicks, sheep and lambs along the way, including a pair of Grebs, with one carrying chicks on its back :) Upon arriving at Hurley weir, we decided to portage across the first island right next to the weir since it was only a 3 metre walk across to the other side. The weir had two gates open and there were several guys in play boats enjoying the row of 6 standing waves it was throwing up.

We portaged around Temple Lock at 15:30 which was great for practising our take-outs and put-ins, but it wasn't any quicker than if we'd used the lock (it took 15 minutes). We continued down the final reach at a moderate pace, arriving at the slipway in Marlow at 16:10. There was a nice pub only 30 yards from the slipway and we spent the next 1 1/2 hours chilling out in the afternoon sunshine.

...and kudos to Sarah and Dan for playing assistant to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Daniels Paul Daniels] for the day.

Total distance covered: ~12 miles.

Dan's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/twicezero/sets/72157623759583499/

'''From ThamesCanoe website:'''
Henley to Marlow Quick Facts

* Total distance 8.35 miles
* No of Locks 3
* Suitable for all –short rural trip taking in classic Thames towns of Henley and Marlow - much wildlife, landscape and architecture to be observed.
* Rural, green and pleasant.

Public Transport options for this route
* START – Henley train station .05 mile
* Henley Taxi – 01494 574222
* FINISH – Marlow Train Station – 0.5miles
* Marlow cabs - 01628 262628

Henley to Marlow, open boating on the Thames: 17 April 2010

2010-04-20T11:32:27Z

Danielsomerville:

We hired open boats from ThamesCanoe and paddled from Henley to Marlow using trains to get there and back.

We were on the water by 9:50 at Henley Bridge. We paddled upstream to Hennerton Backwater, took a lazy trip up the backwater to Willow Marina then back downstream again (riding Marsh Lock in both directions). Stopped for lunch on the bank just downstream from Henley, where we were nearly extorted for £8 (£2 per canoe) for the privilege. We chose to portage around Hambleden Lock at 13:50 and it was ice creams all-round while we finished our lunch break.

We continued downstream at 14:10 and picked up the pace a bit (the canoes were due back at 16:00). We passed lots of birds, chicks, sheep and lambs along the way, including a pair of Grebs, with one carrying chicks on its back :) Upon arriving at Hurley weir, we decided to portage across the first island right next to the weir since it was only a 3 metre walk across to the other side. The weir had two gates open and there were several guys in play boats enjoying the row of 6 standing waves it was throwing up.

We portaged around Temple Lock at 15:30 which was great for practising our take-outs and put-ins, but it wasn't any quicker than if we'd used the lock (it took 15 minutes). We continued down the final reach at a moderate pace, arriving at the slipway in Marlow at 16:10. There was a nice pub only 30 yards from the slipway and we spent the next 1 1/2 hours chilling out in the afternoon sunshine.

...and kudos to Sarah and Dan for playing assistant to Paul Daniels for the day.

Total distance covered: ~12 miles.

Dan's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/twicezero/sets/72157623759583499/

'''From ThamesCanoe website:'''
Henley to Marlow Quick Facts

* Total distance 8.35 miles
* No of Locks 3
* Suitable for all –short rural trip taking in classic Thames towns of Henley and Marlow - much wildlife, landscape and architecture to be observed.
* Rural, green and pleasant.

Public Transport options for this route
* START – Henley train station .05 mile
* Henley Taxi – 01494 574222
* FINISH – Marlow Train Station – 0.5miles
* Marlow cabs - 01628 262628

Henley to Marlow, open boating on the Thames: 17 April 2010

2010-04-19T10:07:07Z

Danielsomerville:

We hired open boats from ThamesCanoe and paddled from Henley to Marlow using trains to get there and back.

We were on the water by 9:50 at Henley Bridge. We paddled upstream to Hennerton Backwater, took a lazy trip up the backwater to Willow Marina then back downstream again (riding Marsh Lock in both directions). Stopped for lunch on the bank just downstream from Henley, where we were nearly extorted for £8 (£2 per canoe) for the privilege. We chose to portage around Hambleden Lock at 13:50 and it was ice creams all-round while we finished our lunch break.

We continued downstream at 14:10 and picked up the pace a bit (the canoes were due back at 16:00). We passed lots of birds, chicks, sheep and lambs along the way, including a pair of cormorant-like birds with one carrying chicks on its back :) Upon arriving at Hurley weir, we decided to portage across the first island right next to the weir since it was only a 3 metre walk across to the other side. The weir had two gates open and there were several guys in play boats enjoying the row of 6 standing waves it was throwing up.

We portaged around Temple Lock at 15:30 which was great for practising our take-outs and put-ins, but it wasn't any quicker than if we'd used the lock (it took 15 minutes). We continued down the final reach at a moderate pace, arriving at the slipway in Marlow at 16:10. There was a nice pub only 30 yards from the slipway and we spent the next 1 1/2 hours chilling out in the afternoon sunshine.

Dan's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/twicezero/sets/72157623759583499/

'''From ThamesCanoe website:'''
Henley to Marlow Quick Facts

* Total distance 8.35 miles
* No of Locks 3
* Suitable for all –short rural trip taking in classic Thames towns of Henley and Marlow - much wildlife, landscape and architecture to be observed.
* Rural, green and pleasant.

Public Transport options for this route
* START – Henley train station .05 mile
* Henley Taxi – 01494 574222
* FINISH – Marlow Train Station – 0.5miles
* Marlow cabs - 01628 262628