All the photos of Scottish Easter Holiday at Blackwater Hostel in Kinlochleven  click here……. River Etive  

Was raining the water was low the setting not spectacular but still a fun day out. Its just what you make of it at times.

In February and March this year I was one of a group on a club run course for ‘sea kayak improvers’. This was led by Gareth Jones, with Alan Peachment and John Fay. I am a novice sea kayaker, having only started kayaking last spring. Having achieved my one star with the club (and can I thank my coaches for ‘wet week’), I’ve continued my learning by doing several beginner and intromediate courses on Anglesey, and some one to one coaching. I know from talking to other novice kayakers that it can feel frustrating that you don’t feel confident enough to join in club trips, for fear that you will be the least able or will hold the group back – so having a course that was aimed at improvers was a great opportunity, and everyone got a lot out of it. We spent three mornings in the dock looking at technique and then had a trip out to the River Dee on 26 February 2017. A report and photos of that trip by me are here http://liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk/news/?p=355 and also by Hannah Bellamy here http://liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk/news/?p=360 Gareth and the LCC leaders and coaches organised another trip aimed at us improvers, this time to Anglesey. This was offered first to the improvers who’d done the course, and then to the whole club. It was very well attended – there were 15 ‘improvers’ and 9 ‘helpers’ on the final list. We all arrived at our start point for the day – Bull Bay in north Anglesey – around 9.30am on the Sunday morning. Some of us had stayed or camped the night before, others had met up at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll train station car park having driven over that morning. It was a sunny morning, and there was a reluctance to don our cags and drysuits too […]

After picking up a flyer in NWK back in December seven members of LCC decided to book a paddling trip to Lanzarote. We were picked up from our hotel by Juan Valencia and headed off to catch the ferry from Orzola to the island of La Graciosa. The plan was to paddle from the port to Playa Montana Amarilla. However, the windy conditions and big swell prevented us from paddling around the headland and so we landed at Playa La Francesca. After chilling out on the beach for a while and watching some surfers on a huge wave we paddled back to the port in some fairly challenging conditions. Day 2 was a more serene affair. Staying closer to our base in Playa Blanca we paddled the area around Papagayo, stopping for lunch and some snorkelling. Juan was a fantastic guide and a pleasure to paddle with. All the equipment was excellent (NDK and P&H kayaks, Celtic paddles etc), as was lunch prepared by Juan! We would recommend other LCC members check out Sea Kayaking Lanzarote. Paddlers: Elle Jackson, Steve Bond, Ann Hopper, Don Brooks, Gerard, Mike & Rosie Jackson.       

Just wanted to say thanks for yesterday. Even though my nerves and anxiety got the best of me, I enjoyed the day.  Hopefully we can make this a regular occurrence.  Quick question though, how can you check the water levels for the weir? The weir is tidal, so it comes and goes with the tide.  High tide at Chester,  when there is no weir, is approximately 1hr 5 min after high tide in Liverpool.  So if you get there at high tide there is little or nothing to play on.   Additionally, we are requested not to go there a few hours either side of high tide due to migrating fish. That’s fair enough.   As the tide falls then the steps and weir main face become more and more visible. The more it falls the more steps to play on.  Similarly as the tide begins to rise the weir and steps disappear. Obviously the flow coming down the river will have an affect as well, but the info above is best to work out if there is going to be anything to play on. Here are 28 days tide tables. Updated daily. Change the last word in the link to get different tide tables. http://www.ntslf.org/tides/tidepred?port=Liverpool http://www.ntslf.org/tides/tidepred?port=Holyhead

A very detailed analysis of kayaking (canoeing) technique by Ivan Lawler, seven times world champion. The masterclass was held at Richmond Canoe Club in January 2017.

Liverpool Canoe Club Newsletter Published Please open it by clicking this link March Newsletter…… or via the website   More Archived Newsletters….. To check your membership details go to Login button on website or click here….      If you have forgotten your password click here….. to have a new one emailed to you. (Please note that some ISP`s may block our automated system so please contact membership@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk if you have problems)

Club weekends and major events for the Club 2017 – for more detail check the online Club Calendar……. 9th  April 2017 Improvers Sea Kayak Trip coordinator Gareth Jones Click to book a place… 13 – 17th April 2017 Scottish Easter Paddling Holiday based at Kinlochleven – coordinator Roy McHale. Click to book a place… 22nd April 2017 Introductory Course for new members / Novice Paddlers 1 x six hour session Click to book a place… 30th April 2017 Club Open Day at the Compound at the Docks.  Try different  disciplines, junior session, come and try it session for non-members, Sunday tour of the docks. Bring and buy sale for any canoe or kayaking gear. 12 – 14th May 2017 Anglesey Weekend #1  Click for more and to book a place – based at Tyn Rhos Trearddur Bay  – coordinator Peter Massey. 26 – 29th May 2017 Pembroke Bank Holiday Weekend Click for more and to book a place – based at Whitesands Camping coordinator Jenny Brown. 9 – 11th June 2017 Anglesey Junior Club Weekend #2 Click for more and to book a place – based at Pen-y-Bont Farm, 4 Mile Bridge  coordinator Keith Steer. 25th June 2017 Hilbre Island Race – Club event for all  More information…….. 7 – 9th July 2017 Anglesey Weekend #3 Click for more and to book a place – based at Bodfan Farm, Rhosneigr  – coordinator Jenny Brown. 21st July  – 6th Aug 2017 Alpine Holiday Alpine Rivers Holiday – Briancon France  Coordinator Keith Steer 22 – 24th September 2017 Anglesey Weekend #4 Click for more and to book a place – based at Outdoor Alternative Rhoscolyn  – coordinator Peter Massey. 11th October 2017 Club AGM and paddler of the year Awards (Talk from the Alps trip) 8th November 2017 Real Paddling Film Festival […]