Club Expedition to Alaska “Day 6” 21st August (Tuesday) – Island Halfway up Unakwik Inlet to Meares Bay and return “Return to Misery Cove” We woke up to find it was still raining. We took down our tents and loaded up our kayaks in the rain and then set off for Mears Glacier. It was a cold and wet paddle with plenty of waterfalls to be seen, including one particularly big one which a few people wanted to play in. Personally, I was so cold and wet, I was sure that any swim would be certain death! We were not disappointed by the sea otters, who were still floating around all over the place, despite the rain and the cold. As we got closer to the glacier, grey seals were also becoming more common (at least they have blubber to deal with the cold!). We also encountered our first icebergs… or were they bergy bits? When we stopped for elevenses, we were all cold, wet through and, to be honest, miserable. Keith recommended that it may not be a good idea for us to continue to the glacier today because it was only going to get colder as we got closer to the glacier. We all agreed to turn back and return to our previous night’s camp. As we came around the island back to our beach, we were greeted by a deer on the beach. As we reinforced our man-made camp platforms against the anticipated higher tide and re-pitched our wet tents in the rain, we decided to name this cove ‘Misery Cove’. Finally, around 4pm that afternoon, and after 50 hours of non-stop rain, the rain stopped, and the clouds cleared just enough for us to glimpse the surrounding snow-capped mountain tops. We went to bed that night hoping […]

Junior beginners Canoe Polo Day Sunday, 14 October, 2018   11am – 5pm Liverpool Canoe Club, Coburg Wharf, Liverpool, L3 4EB Open to all junior club members, both boys and girls teams involved. Juniors aged 8-18 Ideal for any juniors who have never played or only played a little. We will have several teams playing against each other in Dukes Dock by the big wheel. Free parking next to the compound. The session is totally free for members. Bring a change of warm clothes, lunch. Parents can watch from next to the pitch. Sign up below if interested. Click here for more information and to put your name down…….  

Agenda AGM 17th October 2018 Please book a seat if wanting to attend – helps with number of chairs to provide. – Thanks 7:30 – 8:00pm – Arrival Liverpool Marina, Spinnaker Suite. Slide-show of club photographs and activities over the year. 8:00 – 8:20pm – AGM (Election of Club Officials, Paddler of the Year, Members Motions) Welcome from the chair & review of the year 1.         Apologies for Absence. 2.         Minutes of the previous AGM – Click here Signed as a true record by the Chair Matters arising. 3.         Treasurers report  Online Year End Accounts – Click here 4.         Brief reports from each discipline (2 minutes each) 5.         Members motions – None received to date.           6.         Chair to thank all the volunteers that have coordinated and guided the club over the past year.  Welfare Officer – John Fay        Kingsway pool on Monday – Robin Emery;  SUP – Paul Harwood 7.         Election of Officers – Proposed list of those willing to stand for 2018-19 Chair – Fiona Barry; Secretary – Carole Thomas, Treasurer & Grants – Craig Ford; Membership Secretary & Volunteers – Keith Steer; Welfare Officer – Karl Tattum, Publicity – Pete Thomas; Junior / Youth Coordinator – Ian Colwyn; Notice boards – Peter Massey; Kingsway pool on Monday Dominic Fahey; Stuart Conway; Nick Coughlin; Dave Reynolds & Keith Steer; “Discipline Representatives” to advise members / act as a point of contact: Coaching Coordinator – Dave Reynolds, Technical Coaching Advisor – Ian Bell; Polo – Josh Cook, Sea – Gareth Jones; White Water – John Allerton and Stuart Toulson; Freestyle – Graham Devaney; Open Boat – Mike Alter & Ruth Edwards; Kayak Safety Cover – Dave Rider assisted by Jim Duff; Slalom – Michal Giezgala; Racing – Colin Smith; Surf – Karl Tattum, SOT – Dermot Miller   SUP – Jayne Rigby Equipment […]

Club Expedition to Alaska “Day 4” 19th August (Sunday) – Olsen Island Storm Bound With a storm due in, we were given a day off! So, some of us had a bit of a lie in and a slow start to the day. Tarp (x3) city was erected in the trees in anticipation of the rain!! Over late breakfast in the city, the group discussed the merits of equipment that had been brought on the trip and the interesting food choices of the group. Main topics included the variety of electronic devices that people had with them, camp chairs, jars/tins and fresh veg! There was even a dual language gold leaf hardback book! Whilst most were passing the time of day with food sorting, reading, or snoozing, the rain began to fall about lunch time. Nikki became the Chief Acquisition Technician for Collection of H2O (C.A.T.C.H.) This job entailed sourcing the rain water that was falling by using the tarps and strategically placed pans!! Shortly before the rain had started half of the group (Keith S, Keith P, Roger, Ian, Mark & Andy) decided to stretch their legs and headed off for a ‘short’ walk. This walk turned into a circumnavigation of the island (more details in separate report!!). 5 hours later the intrepid team returned with tales of coasteering, cliffs of no return, crossing of ravines using vine tight ropes, battling through the jungle and triffids! Each time the epic journey was recounted it became more and more extreme, oh and also a lot longer! And by bedtime the journey time was 12 hours! The only casualty in this extreme epic (other than a lot of wet clothing!!) was the sad loss of the “bear bell” which will be missed by all (especially Keith P). And finally, the statistic […]

Canoe Polo at Halewood Pool. (All welcome) Starts Tuesday, 2 October, 2018   8pm – 9pm Halewood Leisure Centre, Baileys Lane, Halewood, Knowsley, Merseyside, L26 0TY Click here to book a place……..   Canoe Polo Session at Halewood Pool. The first 10 minutes will be skills training and warm up followed by 6 x 7 minute games. Open to all who are interested in playing polo. Ideal for skills or general fitness. We have a number of polo boats and all equipment at the pool or you can bring your own. We access the pool via the door onto the pool side to the right of the main building (Next to the green containers and mini roundabout.) The session runs from 8:00 pm to 9:00pm but you are advised to arrive for 7:45pm.  

Despite the weather forecast and warning Neil, Wayne and Martin were brave enough to turn up for this weekend it turns out the weather was not really that bad.   We had rain on Saturday but with the high level of the river, the flow was fast to see all of us paddling From Hereford to Hoarwithy a distance of 15 miles without much effort.  Sunday morning we had some continuous heavy rain but it was clear with some sunshine myself, Neil and Wayne decided to Paddle from Hoarwithy to Ross on Wye a distance of 11 miles and a very enjoyable afternoon we finish the Weekend with a visit to Symon Yat rapid. Thanks again Carl

Club Expedition to Alaska “Day 3” (Whittier to Perry Island, Meares Glacier and Unakwik Inlet and return via Esther Island) “A Temperate Rainforest?” 18th August (Saturday) – Perry Island to Olsen Island Despite the long length of the first full day, the team was up and ready to go by the normal 9am start. After ensuring that each team had restocked with water, it was time for team brief. Under grey skies the plan was outlined, a 7km crossing to the Dutch Group of Islands for lunch and then via some abandoned oil tanks to Axel Lind island (13km) where we would scout for a campsite. But we might head on a little further if appropriate. Everyone was ok with the plan, but there were a few requests for a repeat viewing of the whale – let’s see what we could do. Heading off as a tight group it was great to hear that everyone chatting that they had recovered from the day before. Just as we were settling into paddling rhythm there was an excited cry of “Whale!”. We eagerly looked in the direction pointed, and lo and behold there was the distinctive spout, and noise, of a whale. Alas it was too far away in the wrong direction to make paddling over worthwhile, but at least it was a request met and another tick in the wildlife box. With spirits high, and the weather conducive to paddling, we headed on towards the Dutch Group. Despite the solitude of the location, at all times we could hear these barks and howls travelling across the sea. The only answer could be sea lions, and it appeared as if the noise was coming from a group of skerries just off our planned route. In my opinion a sea lion colony outweighs […]

North West and Central Canoe Polo Division 2   Saturday 22nd  was the first tournament of North West and Central Division 2 for LCC Brunswick (youth team) having won Division 3 last season and joining fellow LCC team Coburg (old people). With both teams beating Manchester Wildcats B and Red Rose A and both losing against FOA D and Viking Y during the day , before lining up against each other in their final game, with the old people winning a tight game 3-2. A big well done to both teams for a great day. PS see you  on 23 February  in Cheadle  at 19;10 for the rematch ! Norman Cook Coburg team coach (after Richie was sent off for dissent).  

Club Expedition to Alaska “Getting there and Day 1” (Whittier to Perry Island, Meares Glacier and Unakwik Inlet and return via Esther Island) “A Temperate Rainforest?” This clubs` expedition to Prince William Sound is now well established with trips in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016 and again in 2018. This time we headed out to Perry Island in search of whales and then to Unakwik Inlet to find Meares Glacier. This involved some fairly-long, open crossings; including several in the thick fog. We were stormbound for several days with strong gusty winds and heavy rain. Every day we encountered something interesting including; humpback whales, black bears, Orca, Steller Sea lions and common harbour seals, deer, sea otters, bald headed eagles and many other sea birds; they seemed to be everywhere. We also paddled up to enormous tide-water glaciers. Our friend Levi Hogan (below) shuttled us to and from Whittier along with supplying his fleet of high quality UK Sea kayaks. Keith Peek. Mark Pawley Ruth Edwards Ian Bell Mike Alter Andy Garland, Martin Aldridge Roger Morgan, Chris Preston Frankie Annan, Nikki Aldridge The flight out and getting to Whittier Levi Hogan from Turnagain Kayaks This year, not only did we find a new outfitter, Levi Hogan and Turnagain kayaks but we also found cheaper and more direct flights via Iceland. Consequently, we had a much larger group than normal with 13 of us making the journey out to Anchorage. The flights cost around £800 with short stop over (2hrs) in the new North Atlantic hub of Reykjavik. On the way-out we were all kicking ourselves as we should have booked a couple of days in Iceland instead of flying straight through. We had to endure numerous advertising videos and TV programmes teasing us with the best that Iceland had to offer. […]

Short video of Leven. (just trying new go- pro really )