Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

We set off Friday night with the promise of showers, showers came and the journey to Thrupp could be described as damp, the spray on the M40 was unpleasant to say the least, however better weather was also on the cards. We arrived at the first campsite at Thrupp, not an official campsite but one wangled by our Mr Wheeler with help from the Thrupp Canal Cruising Club. A damp night ensured with a few bevies supped beneath my tarp. It was then time for bed.
our Friday campsite...


Saturday was Matthew Beestons 15th birthday and he was greeted in the morning by a Mom and Dad who attached a “happy birthday” banner on his canoe and an inflatable birthday cake outside his tent(which for the duration of the weekend doubled up as an extra air bag)


This weekend we had two nearly newbies with us, Ozzy the dog who was my bow paddler (and a rubbish one at that because he didn’t help or paddle at all) and Nancy’s friend from school Courtney.
Ozzy

Courtney


We launched the boats and then filled them up with a weekends worth of kit food and drink. Once in the river we paddled for all of about one hundred yards before we came across the first of many “obstacles” of the days paddle. Me being “tail end Charlie” or “Billy no mates” which ever moniker you chose had the benefit of a channel cut through the foliage before I reached it.



We chanced upon a few obstacles that morning some being trees some being boulders / bedrock trees with boulders/ bedrock where back ferries were needed to stay out of the trees.
After one particular “obstacle” where young Rich aka “Crash Test Dummy” attempted to seal launch his canoe, erm not quite..... a technical escape was executed. I heard a splash and had turned round to see him knee deep in the river.


After what seemed like an age I looked down at the GPS we had manage 1 ½ miles only another 13 ½ to go!!!!!
Being “Billy no mates” also has its down sides too, the front runners had chanced upon a deer swimming in the river I had missed that.
After another age we were paddling in Richard Bransons back yard, to a portage, so out came the kit and the dog,


over went the boats, us back in the boats the kit redistributed in boats, this coupled with a floating snack break took about half an hour.

Off Tim Wheeler paddled only to return seconds later to announce that the river was totally blocked by a tree............Oh dear we all said. So out came the kit then us then the boats back into Rich’s gardens water feature to another portage closer to his house.

Off we go again dodging rocks trees and bedrock, again sometimes all three together.
We were flagging now and the pub where we had planned to lunch at was a tad too far so we pulled in at a park for a well earned break at a park near Wolvercote. The weather had now turned cooler.

Another obstruction



So we donned our fleeces and waterproofs to keep warm only to remove them once we started to paddle again.
Every now and again we came across a punt moored up at the rear on of some rather nice properties.

The punts got more and more regular some were even poled. Now more punts were on the river as we paddled along some were in control some weren’t. As we entered Oxford the punts were now in plague proportions .....time to run the gauntlet....

some just took it easy

A few of us in canoes decided to play their game and pole along our boats being faster and more manoeuvrable

until the river bed got gloopy and grabbed the pole, back to the paddling.
Others compromised as they didn't have a pole
[evid]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEFcULw_B3g[/evid]
A small weir (parsons pleasure I think it is called,) gave us a bit of entertainment as we tried to run it with fully laden canoes and kayaks, none of us came to grief but most got stuck at the top.
[evid]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vga48cCtjR4[/evid]
[evid]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDRaLOKohWU[/evid]
[evid]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqi_chDbGtw[/evid]
[evid]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-_LpY1FUt8[/evid]

Off we go again this time we were being pursued by a punter who was determined to over take us he failed as we reached the Thames. A short journey downstream and we were at the Sea Scout hut, our campsite for the night (and the AGM).
tea

An evening of true Canoe Camping style was spent around a couple of Yukon fire boxes, kept well off the ground)

The following day we set off up the Thames towards Isip lock where we joined onto the Oxford canal the river part had its own challenge, dodging and generally getting out of the way of a marathon kayak/canoe race.

river lock

Whilst on the river I was once again at the back, but when we paddled the canal I was allowed back into the fold. On the canal we had a pleasant paddle past yet more desirable although less expensive properties.
Oxford canal


Once again the pub was calling and once again our bellies decided they couldn’t wait and lunch was held at a Roundham lock Kidlington.

Only one canal boat passed us here and they were dressed as Flamenco dancers......how odd.

cooling off

But once they thanked us for helping them through the lock the American accent and glasses of beer explained a lot. Back to the paddle towards our destination and indeed our starting point Thrupp, but first we had to get past the angry swan....this aggressive male had charged a few boats so in Dad mode I was ready, I got myself between said swan and my daughters boat and was ready.. he charged I slapped my paddle with a resounding “SLAP” on to the water when without warning Ozzy the dog leaped out from my boat to face the swan in the water. Now I know swans have a bit of a reputation, but Ozzy being a dog has teeth, couple that with my “tail slap” the swan, if ever one could, looked quite shocked at what had just happened to him.
Now with a soggy dog back in my boat I paddled backwards with the swan watching (at a healthy distance)
Finally we reached Thrupp and unpacked our boats and loaded the cars. Funny how you should have less after a trip, but somehow you always seem to have less room in the car.
One last thing from me as I close this tale, Nancy (our daughter) and her friend Courtney did really well keeping up with the “old’uns” on this trip



with there combined age of twenty six.... my heart at times was bursting with pride, my daughter a canoeist and a good one at that, done girls.
A big thanks to Tim Wheeler for organising one of his famous trips, it did not disappoint.


Cheers
Tim

Excellent TT Tim, looks like a real adventure and well done to all - especially the girls!!

Have you tried using Ozzy to pull the boat Dog Sled but on the water style - could be a great gadget for Heri next year!!

Graham

Sounds like an epic Tim....

Great tale..., is that the first time Nance has done a weekend in the canoe....?

Cheers
Red.

(23-06-10 07:24 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds like an epic Tim....

Great tale..., is that the first time Nance has done a weekend in the canoe....?

Cheers
Red.

Not the first time, they both paddled the Monty canal but the boat was empty and the longest stretch was 6 miles, Sat was billed at 15 miles but was more like 13, but still a toughie.

Cheers
Tim

Great TT Tim

looks like fun was had by all

Andy.

Nice TT Tim. Can't wait to get a few days away myself. Mike.

Excellent blog, looked like you had a whale of a time!!

Excellent TT once again Tim

A thoroughly enjoyable read of what looked like a great trip. Excellent photos tell their story well. Excellent TT Tim! Spot on

Nige
(catching up with posting)