Continue reading »]]>

The Caldon canal ~ Early spring

The dark days of winter are almost behind us now, some parts of the world already having moved their clocks forward and here in the UK we are only a week away from doing the same; breathe a sigh of relief! I am not a winter person really; it never seems to do one thing or another, but whatever it chooses to do it is often miserable, not helped I think by not experiencing a proper winter. We do have the occasional bad winter, the odd heavy snow flurry bringing the country to an inevitable stand still, and we do have the odd “freeze-up”, but from a canoeing point of view we do get off lightly compared with others occupying the northern hemisphere.

Anyway, on to spring, and the canoeing year really starts for many of us! From a canoe you are in an ideal position to witness some of nature’s most stunning and memorable moments! Birdlife activity increases with the arrival of migratory species joining resident species, and all ready to start new families. On lake, river and canal courtship displays can be seen played out for you to enjoy from your unique ring-side seat.

Woodland is simply alive at this time of year and if you are on the water early, say between 6am and 7am and your route takes you past some woodland stop paddling and just let the canoe drift along for a moment and listen, you should be treated to a veritable cacophony of bird-song and noise, something I have had the pleasure of witnessing on a number of occasions on my favourite canal the Caldon in Staffordshire, and which never ceases to astound me, or indeed could I ever tire of!

On and along the banks the trees and bushes like Hawthorn are starting to show signs of green leaf and flowers, and early spring flowers such as Lesser celandine, Pink purslane and Red campion offer up their splash of colour, while the Ramsons  scent fill the air with their overpowering garlic smell. With all this new growth the colour of the landscape starts to change too and although a certain amount of beauty can be found in the winter months it is this change that heralds the start of something altogether magnificent!

Of course with onset of spring comes the delight of increased daylight hours affording us all with more canoeing time! What more reason do you need to be out there early to witness first-hand Mother Nature waking up!

Nige.

Continue reading »]]>

Kneeling

We all get enormous enjoyment and satisfaction from our canoeing exploits but I often wonder whether people on the outside looking in have any idea of the pain and suffering endured. I am of course talking about kneeling, the preferred canoe paddling position, because, let’s face it, it bloody hurts!

Kneeling, for those that are lucky enough to spend every waking moment in a canoe becomes almost second nature. Either that or they are hiding something.  But, to mere mortals kneeling for more than ten minutes at a time can only be likened to torture of Spanish inquisition proportions, reducing even the strongest to tears…well almost!

So, on a canoe trip what can we do to combat this self-induced blood-flow restriction? Stopping periodically helps enormously! If in a group the hail of “BREW STOP” usually signals the urgent need for a leg stretch, and of course this allows time for you to enjoy your surroundings more, while feeling is slowly restored!

This is where the real fun begins; getting out. Now I know that there are those that can leap from a kneeling position and land on the bank like some crazy genetically modified gymnast, but for most of us alighting from your craft requires a certain amount of preparation, thought and above all a sense of humour!

For me getting out on the left is best, seems to allow for a cleaner disembark, and of course a cleaner get out means less likely hood of wallowing around on the bank like a pregnant seal. But this only follows a few minutes, raised up on my knees trying to coax some life back into my legs beforehand. Once contact with solid ground is made though there follows the stumbling around, often punctuated by moans of “I think I left my feet at the last brew-stop”.

Worse case scenario, help may be required.

Why kneel then, why not sit? Well better contact with the canoe, better execution of paddle strokes and manoeuvres, lower centre of gravity, more stable. Kneeling in a canoe does get easier though! Obviously more time spent paddling is the big conditioner here, or try kneeling in front of the TV during a soap and sit down when you can’t bear it any more…The kneeling not the soap! Phew, that should be enough to ward off the barrage of advice comments!

I find that making a conscious effort to gaze upon my surroundings, marvel at the beauty of nature and be thankful to be in such a place, helps me see past the pain! Either that or it is time for another brew!

See you on the water!

Nige.

Continue reading »]]>

Broadland A Favourite Place

We all have one at least, that one special canoe place, be it a river, lake or canal. A place that speaks to us of peace and tranquillity, of abundant wildlife or of stunning scenery. For me in England at least it is a whole area and has to be Broadland, more commonly known as the Norfolk Broads. This relatively small area of East Anglia is comprised of 120 plus miles of navigable rivers and open water. It is these broad expanses of open water where the name broads originates from.

Entering Hickling Broad - The largest

The Broads are man-made peat diggings abandoned around the middle-ages when sea levels rose and flooded the area, once receded though broad large areas of open water were left behind and many being connected to the main river system has resulted in the holiday boating mecca that is Broadland. I have virtually grown up here, holidaying with my parents on cruisers and yachts with my own family so know the area well. But now as a canoeist the area has become even more accessible and special. More opportunities suddenly open up to the canoeist offering even more water to paddle and explore that the everyday boats cannot get to!

Reed beds can offer a little more than just reeds!

People often say to me the Broads are boring. Certainly for me it is not the case, mile upon mile of reed fringed riverbanks can seem a little samey but you have to look beyond this! At a normal canoe pace (slow) look at the reeds, in winter or early spring the colours of yellows, golds, and browns merit its own mention, especially if the sun is shining!  Often you will be paddling below the height of the reeds and if it is windy you can find yourself wonderfully sheltered, listen to the sound as the wind blows and watch the colours change with the movement, simply intoxicating!

Heron - Locally Old Frank or Harnser

Reed beds are a haven for wildlife too; look into them as you pass quietly by, you may catch sight of a Reed Warbler or the elusive Bittern. With the surrounding countryside comprising mostly of flat drained grazing marsh (we have the Dutch to thank for this) the rivers sit above the fields, so if you stop for a brew or a bite to eat, gaze out over the fields you might witness a Marsh Harrier harassing a load of Rooks, the cacophony the Rooks make will give this away. You may even spot a Barn Owl, quite happy to hunt in daylight.

The variety of flora and fauna in Broadland is just a small part; the area boasts a rich history and heritage too.

Windmills dot the landscape

Mentioned earlier, drainage of the surrounding marshland to make way for grazing was helped by Dutch engineering and signs of this are dotted all over the Broads in the shape of windmills or more correctly wind pumps. Though many have fallen into dis-repair or in some cases vanished altogether, there are many restored examples giving us a glimpse of the past. Keep a look out also for the big black sail of the traditional Norfolk wherry too; these large sailing barges, of which only two remain, were once the only means that supplies and produce could be delivered or collected from the villages, many of which were only accessible by river!

Albion and Maud - Trading wherries

Admittedly the very best times I have found to visit this area and canoe is winter, early spring and late autumn when most of the boats and holidaymakers are hibernating!

There is a lot more to the Broads than meets the eye; you just have to use them to see it!

Happy paddling peeps!

Nige.

Continue reading »]]> I thought I would start this new blog by answering the question “Why Simply Canoe?” I have answered a similar question once before on the Canoe with a View forum and frankly the answer is much the same, so for fear of repeating myself too much I will begin again!

It seems to me very few in the UK talk about simply canoeing, actually I could narrow it down a little further, in England no one seems to talk about canoeing, and what I mean about simply canoeing is the relaxed and stress-free canoeing, on flat calm lakes, on rivers with no rocks, scenic countryside canal type of canoeing. Maybe I am missing the point, maybe it is the perceived lack of water available, or maybe it is because the very nature of this area of canoeing is just simply not exciting enough. Fair do’s there are a few that report on their placid canoe trips and days out on forums and such, and very enjoyable reads they are too! But for the most part this side of canoeing, I will not use the word paddlesport because I despise it! No this side of canoeing is relatively ignored!

But do not get me wrong, any canoeing is better than no canoeing, whichever water or paddle craft you prefer, and I do enjoy watching, listing and reading of and about other areas. And this post is not an attack on those that partake in other paddling disciplines either. It is merely an observation!

Sunrise on the Norfolk Broads

I hope “Simply Canoe” will try and fill this gap. The posts will be styled around flat water paddling and any closely related activities where the canoe plays an integral part, for example; canoe camping, bushcraft, fishing etc! These will be my thoughts and observations, hopeful not too serious but some may be deep and meaningful and maybe a little controversial. But most will be humorous, fun and with probably a little daftness thrown in for good measure!

I love canoeing; I could even say that I am passionate about canoeing, but my style of canoeing! I am not into it for accolades, I do not need them! And I do not train, a necessity perceived by most if you want to be a really good paddler or to be able to paddle properly.  I can paddle my own canoe, whether I can paddle well or I am seen as a bad paddler does not concern me! The canoe goes where I want it to, as fast or as slow as I want it to, and I can make a brew on the bank as good as the next person!

Happy paddling peeps!

Nige.

“Look,look..a Kingfisher!”

Continue reading »]]>

The Fat Paddler - by Sean Smith

“My accidents have left me permanently in pain and there’s nothing that  can be done about that. Some days it reaches terrible levels and I get grumpy and difficult to be around. Other days it’s manageable. Life goes on and I can either moan and groan or get on with it and look for the positives. When I meet others with worse injuries than mine it reminds me that there is always someone worse off and we should all be thankful for what we have”….Sean Smith The Fat Paddler

A copy I have waited for for some months arrived just a few days after Christmas, a belated present! And I have not been able to put it down since, well not until finishing reading it anyway!

The Fat Paddler by Sean Smith gives account of the authors struggle back to fitness and purpose of life  after suffering an abnormal amount of trauma, be it witnessing first hand  the atrocity of the Bali terrorist attacks that saw a number of his rugby playing colleagues and civilians lose their lives, to the suffering of near fatal injuries from not one but two major motoring accidents. The most recent of which just beggars belief!

Used to fitness through rugby playing. The big Australian front rower was now smashed and battered. With long periods of hospitalisation, served up with bouts of depression and increasing obesity, time appeared to be running out!

The start of family life usually brings things quickly into perspective and the same can be said here. The realisation of wanting to see his children grow up soon had Sean seeking other ways to get fit. This came in the way of kayaking! Being one of the few things that his permanent injuries would allow him to do in some degree of comfort, this form of paddlesport would lead him down a path of fitness, discovery and well being.

A story of One man, one normal mans desire to live, A story of physical as well as emotional experiences suffered, one of personal sacrifice, of strength and fortitude, and of the joy, wonder and realisation that life is for living. The Fat Paddler will have you looking at your own life and asking yourself whether you are doing enough in yours!

Nigel Ayers

You can connect with the Fat Paddler and read more of his exploits and adventures in a variety of social media methods including:-

Fatpaddler.com

Facebook

Twitter

The Fat Paddler by Sean Smith

Published by: Finch Publishing

ISBN: 978 1921 462 313

For details of availability visit FatPaddler.com

Continue reading »]]> Too much time spent off the water? Not been paddling for way too long? Then it’s time to look toward 2012 and the C-waV season opener that is The “FROSTBITE!”

February 16th to 19th 2012

Having enjoyed so much hospitality from all the staff at the Dog Inn near Ludham bridge, we will again be gathering for a long weekend of canoeing and camp-fire socialising!

A few of us have enjoyed some great times at this the inaugural event of the year on the Norfolk Broads, and with a mixture of weather conditions. Canoeing in this area at this time of year has to be amongst the best recreational canoe areas in the country! Virtually free from holiday boat traffic , it provides a very quiet and tranquil place to paddle indeed. Plenty of route options for the adventurous, plus if the weather is kind we’ll have one or two paddle routes planned too!

Joining us in Norfolk in February is easy! You simply register on the C-waV Community Forum and add your name(s) to the 2012 “FROSTBITE” thread. I would dearly love to say just turn-up but, we do have to keep a tab on numbers attending!

There is no stipulation on canoeing experience! All abilities are welcome! And you should not feel intimidated by those with apparently more experience, things are seldom what they seem! A fair number of those that will be attending have been canoeing for a while and you will be made to feel at ease and should have plenty around to offer assistance and advice!

However, the canoe trips will be peer group paddles and everyone must be aware of their abilities and should be equipped with their own suitable clothing and bouyancy aids (to be worn when afloat).

Useful links to past “FROSTBITE” TripTales:-

The FrostBite…(or a Warm Weekend in Norfolk)…

Frostbite 2010 (or Where’s Biff Part II)

Frostbite Trip Feb 2009

Also visit the Gallery to view some great photographs from the past events too!

Hopefully see you in Norfolk!

Nige.

Continue reading »]]>  

Dark coloured T-shirt added to the clothing line in the C-waV Shop and available to order on-line. Features the C-waV Canoe with a View logo on the left breast and the “I’d rather be CANOEING!” slogan on the back. Available in a variety of dark colours (light colours available soon) pop by the shop to view the colours available.

Look cool without breaking the bank. Our durable, high-quality, pre-shrunk 100% cotton t-shirt is what to wear when you want to go comfortably casual. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.

Coming soon Dark “I’d rather be KAYAKING!” T-shirts

Continue reading »]]> For the last week or more I have with the help of Cafepress, opened an on-line shop selling all manner of Canoe with a View mechanise such as Tee-shirts, Hoodies, Polo-shirts, mugs and much more, all carrying the C-waV ~ Canoe with a View logo either printed or embroidered onto the item!

The beauty of offering this kind of merchandise in this way is that it is “printed on demand”, you buy an item they then print it and ship it, in fact they handle all logistics including returns! So all this means that I do not have to have vast stocks of stuff that could take ages to sell. It also means that if changes need to be made at anytime this can be achieved in minutes!

The products really do look good, and reading the descriptions appear to be of excellent quality too! I’ll have more details on this once I buy something myself. Do pop by the shop and have a browse there should be something in there that may interest you!

Coming soon I’ll have some unique canoe related designs that will be printed on the back of some Tee-shirts etc, so sign up for the email newsletter to be kept informed. You can always check out the forum and the C-waV Facebook page for future updates!

You will find the shop by clicking this link Canoe with a View Shop or scroll through the items via the Shop widget on the left of this page.

Happy shopping!

Nige.

Continue reading »]]> It has been four years in the making, but this only serves to guarantee that Canoeing by Ray Goodwin is a very worthy publication indeed, and well worth the wait. Using expert knowledge gained from some 35 years of canoe coaching experience, the author explains in detail all aspects of open canoeing for the modern day canoeist, and this it delivers in bucket loads!

Each item is covered using detail full colour photographs (800 altogether) illustrating each point of the item being explained, these accompanied by text that guides the reader through the process beautifully, neither over-burdening the reader or ever appearing to teach you how to suck eggs either! You could easily take on board a number of aspects from the book and practice these on the water without having to have the book with you! Paddle strokes, canoe sailing, poling, lining, rafting, along with safety aspects, triping and planning, just some of the many subjects covered.

It is a craft of great beauty and practicality. There is a beauty in the way the canoe fits into the landscape. It connects us to water and the environment with an intimacy that can be so lacking in other aspects of our lives…Ray Goodwin

Open canoe sailing covered in the the book is a particular favourite of mine, not for any wanting or desire to sail in a canoe, but because Ray includes a descriptive piece from his own canoe experience of completing the first ever crossing of the Irish sea. I don’t know whether Ray intended to give it the air of Arthur Ransomes “We didn’t mean to go to sea”, but that is exactly what I pictured when reading it, very entertaining!

I have not taken any formal canoe coaching with anyone and have never met the author, but from reading the book it is easy to gain an idea how and the manner in which his coaching is delivered. With the desire to inspire as well as teach, this book reflects that ideal!

There are indeed numerous canoe books out there and no doubt many a canoeist has his or her favourites within their collection, many famous titles by canoe icons of the past, Canoeing by Ray Goodwin with its modern approach will undoubtedly take its place alongside these classics and establish itself as a classic in its own right. A great book, lovingly put together, and worthy of a place on any paddlers bookshelf!

Nigel Ayers

Canoeing by Ray Goodwin

Published by: Pesda Press

ISBN: 78-1906095-26-0

Available direct from Ray Goodwin.com or most top book retailers

Continue reading »]]> The Canadian Canoe Museum annual National Canoe Dayevent on June 26th with events happening all across Canada and the United states, and C-waV Canoe with a View gave it a little international flavour by running an event  here in the United Kingdom.

Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire had be chosen as venue for hosting the event some months before, and the staff gave every assistance, allowing us to display posters, setting aside a suitable place on the lake side for us to hold the event, and event loud-speaker announcements on the day to encourage the public to come and try canoeing.

Some 20 plus members turned out to give their support and enthusiasm for the event, with even a couple of members travelling some distance from the south east to attend. All willingly giving up their canoes, BAs and paddles, as well as talking with members of the public while also overseeing with helpful tips, their first time canoeing!

The sun came out and it was very hot, for a change we had an event where the weather was not wet and windy! Some say this was due to the date being arranged by someone else and not me! The weather played a big part in ensuring the Rudyard was kept busy with day-trippers, quite a number of which were very interested in trying canoeing for the first time. I think some left with the desire to have their own canoe, maybe some of these folk will be attending next years event.

An extremely successful day, far exceeding what I expected. Made all the more rewarding for having such an enthusiastic group of folk attend, both members and public alike! Thank you for helping make it a great day!

Special thanks to Rudyard Lake and its staff for allowing us to stage the event.

Will be back for more of the same in 2012..Hopefully even bigger!

Nige.

You can view all the photographs taken and submitted by members of the day by visiting the Gallery