Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

We the tiny Essex crew, UKB. Petey and myself think that it would be good to have a spring summer meet on the Chelmer.

What would be good is an end to end paddle of the canal, it is 13 miles, but there is also the Chelmer into Chelmsford ( river not canal) diversion at the start of the canal and an optional tidal section at Langford, or after the sealock at the end of the canal.

Me being lazy would like to start at Chelmsford on the canal, have at look at the river on the way, stop for lunch at about half way along the canal at Papermill lock, (tearooms and toilet) continue up to Hoe mill lock where camping can be arranged.

Then finish the canal, Heybridge basin, the next day. The fit guys could return up the canal to the campsite or nip round the coastal section back on to the canal at Langford.

A few questions have entered my mind...

First would any of you actually come to Essex?

OK assuming someone said yes.
We would need advice on how to organise this,
I have found a campsite about midway along the canal which is 10 mins walk from a pub. How on earth would we get all the canoes to the beginning of the paddle? And of course get the canoes back from the end of the paddle, actually some may just paddle back the round trip being about 8 mile approx. Parking in Chelmsford is not great, there is good parking at Heybridge lock at the end of the paddle.

Picks of the area linked to in my sig

Mark
I'm going have to give the spring/summer meet a miss I don't think I'll be up for a trip like this a the present time, I don't feel like I will be up for a weekend trip just yet, this last trip/meet was about as much as I could handle at the current time but I like to leave my options open for the canal stretch from Beeleigh to Heybridge basin open so I could join you all for the last part if that's ok with you

Just looked at where Chelmsford is Mileage wise for one of the annual meets like the Spring one it is doable. I like venues for these events to be far enough away from most members so we all have to travel just to make it fair. Now this is where it becomes a problem, deciding on a venue that does not favour some over all the rest. Obviously some will inevitably have further to travel than others, sods law. That is why we did the Wye for the EoSM to try and move further south . Admittedly it was still a fair distance for those of you in the south east. Still, I'm not saying we shouldn't, the venues for the Spring and the EoSM are still to be decided.

Nige.

(16-11-09 07:08 PM)ukbushman Wrote: [ -> ]but I like to leave my options open for the canal stretch from Beeleigh to Heybridge basin open so I could join you all for the last part if that's ok with you

Do which ever part of the paddle suits you, that is fine.

Hi Nige

(16-11-09 07:28 PM)Nige Wrote: [ -> ]Just looked at where Chelmsford is Mileage wise for one of the annual meets like the Spring one it is doable. I like venues for these events to be far enough away from most members so we all have to travel just to make it fair. Now this is where it becomes a problem, deciding on a venue that does not favour some over all the rest. Obviously some will inevitably have further to travel than others, sods law. That is why we did the Wye for the EoSM to try and move further south . Admittedly it was still a fair distance for those of you in the south east. Still, I'm not saying we shouldn't, the venues for the Spring and the EoSM are still to be decided.

This is just an "is it doable" idea at the moment, we saw it as an additional paddle to the "official" paddles a sort of "open invite to our river".

My worry is the logistics of car shuttling etc, as a mere novice I/we (Petey) would not want to let anyone down. Does anyone have an "organise a meet" checklist?

It was so much easier in the RAF where we just booked a mini bus, a three tonner, two drivers and a cook for a weekend training paddle.

At the EoSM the route for the paddle took us back to the campsite. So several cars were left there and the owners and boats were dived amongst the rest. On arrival back at the site we all piled into said transport for the trip back to fetch the rest of the cars. The problem you have which you have pointed out is the campsite is mid-way on your route, so this would involve some toing n froing ?

I'm sure if it does turn into a definite some of us may well make the journey.

Hi Baggy,

There isn't a checklist as such...

All you need is (safe) car parking for two vehicles either near the put in or near the get out, and (safe) car parking at the other end, whichever that is.

Let's say that most of the cars are being left at the get out.

People turn up at the put-in, unload their boats, camping equipt and anything they need for the weekend and take their cars to the get out, some +1's stay with the boats, two vehicles transport everyone back from the get-out and park up there. On Sunday one vehicle takes the two drivers of the vehicles parked at the get out back for their cars.

On something like this it's probably best to agree the camping with the landowner if you can...

That's about it really....

Cheers
Red.

P.S. Don't forget to book the weather....

(16-11-09 07:51 PM)Nige Wrote: [ -> ]At the EoSM the route for the paddle took us back to the campsite. So several cars were left there and the owners and boats were dived amongst the rest. On arrival back at the site we all piled into said transport for the trip back to fetch the rest of the cars. The problem you have which you have pointed out is the campsite is mid-way on your route, so this would involve some toing n froing ?

I guess if we treat each day as a separate paddle each day would be an out and back (to the campsite). Some thinking to do.
How far would a typical days paddle be at a meet?

(16-11-09 07:51 PM)Nige Wrote: [ -> ]I'm sure if it does turn into a definite some of us may well make the journey.

That would be great

Mark
I have just googled a bus route from maldon to chelmsford & there is a direct bus route from maldon to chelmsford by first bus which is the No 31 which runs a bus every two hours service on a Sundays & every half hour at all other times during the week, I think the nearest bus stop for this trip would be the Tesco store in maldon but I'm not sure about the bus stop at the Chelmsford end, proberly the nearest stop would be the town centre of Chelmsford. I have just printed of the time tables for this route.

(16-11-09 08:18 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ]There isn't a checklist as such...

Thanks Red, some things for us to chew over.