Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

Matlock it was to be today, and Matlock it was.....

GillD (a weaver of wonders), MarkD, Pete, "The Madman", Heather, Graeme, Nige, Mini Mears and Bethbots got together for a play, and the endless photo opportunities, provided by the newly arrived MCC Mohawk range down Matlock way...

Some were early.....

Some were late....

But by 11:00 ish we were ready to get on the water...., Pete had called Iain and asked for a pickup, he fancied a go in an OCee One, and Iain, being the sadist that he is, kindly agreed to pick him up along with an additional boat.......

Now Pete is like a reflection of Firebreather in the mirror...., Pete's a playboater by choice, OCee's are a bit alien to him, give him one blade and he feels like someone's taken his comfort blanket off him.....

I figured I needed a shot of him, feeling naked without his spray deck, and dry before we got on the water, and in Pete's words, before he got "Mullah'd"......




Iain's paddling is comming along a treat, he's looking well confident in anything these days....




Pete, "The Mad Mullah"... Up for anything and a real spark.....






I wouldn't have a clue what Mark was laughing at, there was a real air of fun about the day.....




Pete provided some of it....




Others provided bits....

The main theme for the day really, really was fun....






Everyone had a great day... Pete's Canadian paddling came on a treat....




Not quite as well as his self rescue skills.....






The local Derwent Swift Water River Rescue team had heard there was plenty of practice to be had, and came down to check out the situation....




Once they'd sorted out Pete, they provided an excellent demonstration of how to take off between closeley strung wires..... , amazing skill....

Muff has been complaining recently about me getting in an 'ack, she recconed that the 'ack just didn't get her wet enough..., so Graeme and "H" very kindly brought a Pyranah Fusion 'Connect 30' with them...

Pyranah have thought about everything, even the "Muff Restrainer"....




I think she may have been appeased (certainly not turned), she had a right good time and loved getting soaked while surfing on a wave that almost didn't exist....



A fantasic boat, that will carry a huge amount of gear, AND let you play a little...., AND look after you through some serious water..., thumbs up from both me and Muff....

It was a great day, no burns (well one did turn up, but I didn't mean that type... ), lots of fun, the coolness of the water and the best part..... The company of great, great friends.....


Top day...., Nice one Guys and Gals, and a HUGE, HUGE THANK YOU to Gill for all her hard work getting funding for the new boats..., she really, REALLY does a fantastic job for MCC, and the paddling world in general... STAR....

See Y'all out on the water soon....

Cheers
Red.

Hi Red

Sounds like you have had a fun couple of days out on the water this weekend.

Must try and get myself over to Matlock sometime soon, not been there for years and never in the Legend.

Looking forward to paddling the Severn next weekend with you guys.

By the way Judy asked me if Christine was coming along?

Terry

(27-06-10 08:10 PM)TERRY Wrote: [ -> ]By the way Judy asked me if Christine was coming along?

Maybe, PM sent to explain..(one of the dog's ain't well)....

Cheers
Red.

Looks like you had great fun............... I could have done with a dunking.

Snot fair.


Cheers
Tim

(28-06-10 05:39 AM)Tim Wrote: [ -> ] Looks like you had great fun............... I could have done with a dunking.

Snot fair.

I second that Tim. Looks like you had great fun though.

Well after an early start for us providing safety and first aid cover at one of the local triathlons, Heather and I quickly packed up, loaded boats back on the car and headed to join the rest of the crew at Matlock.

To my surprise I had just got the camera out and was just in time to catch ........ shhh! dismounting his boat in a strange fashion!



Undeterred he quickly remounted his trusty steed and continued.



Mark D showing some excellent body rotation





Iain grinning like a Cheshire Cat



Gill, whistling a happy tune



Heather taking it easy





Sometimes too easy!



Muff decided to follow the example of her coach?



We entertained some of the locals







They have never had a chance to get in a SWWC before and did quite well considering.



Peter continued to entertain us ,,,,



Now I did have a boat when I started?



Muff said she was tooooo hot and asked Red to take her for a surf to cool down



She swapped sides to stay in the sun



Holding on to the deck lines



and then got very wet





Great day, great weather, great friends and a barrel of laughs

I had resisted posting a response on this thread, but feel I now must.

Great to meet up and watch the new MCC boats get a christening, in more ways than one eh Red

But this day holds a special significance for a few of us, of which I shan't dwell on. But suffice to say the usual space at the wall will not be the same again!

Nige.