Liverpool Canoe Club Photo Competition Winners Congratulations to Dave Gentle for his winning photo: “Craig and Steve at the Burrs” Runner up Keith Steer:  “Richard Reeves on the Tees Weekend” Runner up Emma Kirk: “LCC Ladies Canoe Polo Team”  Not found your photograph? – see all the entries for this month……….. Criteria for the photo of the month competition…. 2 5 % Quality and sharpness of the photograph, 25% Quirkiness and framing of the subject, 25% Diversity of the subject material (ie not all one discipline), 25% has LCC logo or clothing in the shot. Please send in your entries for next month now – website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk

Kari-Tek Easy Load Roof Rack System To fit VW Transporter T5, possibly other makes of van with modification. This is the newer roof rail system which bolts down to van roof. Complete with one set of J cradles and straps and tie down eyes if you need to get anything like sheet materials from B&Q etc. List price  £772 new with J cradles. A bargain at £450. PM or call Andy 07786026091. If you come and get it, (Im in Doncaster by Robin Hood Airport) I will fit it for you, VW T5 only. If you need more photos, speak now, it is coming off the van tomorrow afternoon.

I was keen to try out a new sea boat, luckily several paddlers were happy to accompany me on the trip.   To be honest, I hadn’t really looked at the details for the trip other than watching the BBC forecast that said there was a big high pressure over the Irish sea (light winds) and seeing that the tides worked for this trip in such a way that there would not be much of a carry at either start or finish. So i sold the trip as sunny and light winds. The trip worked to launch 1hr before high tide, paddle easily (use backeddy) against the tide for that hour before taking the tidal conveyor all the way around the Ormes.  As it was, the wind was slightly choppier than expected, so we launched into the protected harbour at Rhos, and enjoyed getting used to the lumpy stuff. The Aries I was trying was really enjoying the conditons and didn’t appear too slow (my worry). Little Orme was as awe inspiring as ususal, but with the added bonus of a decent little chop. Entering Llandudno bay we picked up our fourth compadre and said hello to the very generous shuttle bunny. After that it was off round the main event – Great Orme. The conditions were perfect, a following sea so the trip was not boringly flat, but equally not super scary.  Just enough to allow us to get close in to the cliffs whilst still having to actually think about paddling. Unfortunately we didnt see too many seals, but we saw loads of puffins and other sea birds. This was added too by some cheekly little surfs as well – fantastic. Rounding the Orme it was paddle hard into the strengthening wind back to West Shore, where we only had a […]

Our new signs have arrived at the compound at the docks.  They look great and have attracted a lot of attention from all the passersby.

A leisurely start to Saturday saw us heading down to North wales for a little pootle in the the sea. Since we failed to tempt any more out for the trip on Saturday it was just the 3 of us which is just about right since we needed to shuttle the cars to West shore for the get out and on the water for 11. This was a little later than I would have liked however no issues as we had plenty of tide. As we rounded Little Orme the seals where in a playful mood and came out so splash our kayaks and have a good old nosy. Lunch was then had at the far end of Llandunno bay, east end before continuing on past the pier and on to Gt Orme, it was a little choppier than expected but it all added to the fun. I’d never done the Ormes on this tide and was amazed to see how different the cliffs were on a lower level, some of the caves were also more accessible. I also couldn’t believe how clear the water was here to, never seen it so clear. As we approached west shore we were on the bottom of the tide and there appeared to be an awful lot of sand between us and the car!! Good job we brought our trolleys. After lugging them up the beach for half an hour I turned to look back how far we had walked only to see that there was a channel running parallel to the big pipe that we could have paddled up! DOH! Ah well I’ll know for next time. Karl, Chris, Roy.

Please find attached the results from last night including the overall league results. Congratulations to Liverpool Ladies coming in 1st place and congratulations to Penrith Ladies who are the runners up! I think both teams will be getting trophies and I will arrange how we get these out to you. I hope all teams enjoyed it and if you have any feedback in general feel free to let me know and I can pass on to th e BCU Polo committee.  As I said to you last night I am so pleased and impressed how much everyone has improve d since last season and I hope everyone enjoyed it! I certainly did!   Thank you to all teams for your hard work reffing and running the table, and I hope you will be back to play again next season 🙂 Best wishes and thank you! Rachel  

Why not come and do a spot of paddling with the club.  We have sole use again this year including the large kitchen / dining room / drying rooms etc. Scotland’s only inside ice climbing wall is just across the road, Ben Nevis is just up the road.  Great open boat, sea kayaking, sheltered lochs and beautiful rivers.  Lots to do for non-paddlers. We still have a few places left in the hostel but will soon be sending out the car share rooming options so please hurry if you still want to reserve you place. Click here for more information and to book…… Thursday, 13 Apr 2017 For 4 days Scottish Easter Paddling Holiday based at Kinlochleven – coordinator Roy McHale.  40 is the maximum number on this trip to ensure there is enough cover for all the trips. . We will contact you with more details – list of who is going so you can share transport. Contact Roy McHale for more information…. The area is ideal for Sea Kayaking, loch paddling, grade 2 rivers, grade 3-4 rivers, Open Boat trips, walking, Skiing and mountain Biking. There is something for everyone. Cost is £17.50 per night but you need to pay for all 4 nights. We have booked the whole hostel for all of the Easter so that is £70 for a place on the trip. 1 x 2, 3 x 3, 5 x 4 and 1 x 8 bedded rooms available and will be allocated by Roy once you have booked. Roy McHale email: Roy.McHale AT riverside.org.uk There is a camping / Camping van option which is the same cost as the hostel (£70) and must be pre-booked using the bookwhen form below as it is a very busy Easter and most of the tent spaces have been reserved for walkers on […]

Twenty-seven brave souls participated on the journey into the subterranean world of the Queensway (old) Mersey Tunnel wondering beneath Liverpool’s city streets. As I approached the George’s Dock Building entrance I was greeted by the site of an jolly crowd of Liverpool Canoe Club members with some bright spark shouting “Did you bring the biscuits and sausage rolls?”  What cheek! After sorting out bright yellow hard hats/high visibility vests we assembled by the two tour guides who gave us a brief history of the construction, safety issues etc. and then the tour began. Young Aleksander between the 2 Craigs! The entrance hall Meeting Room Now we could have taken the lift but we all decided, some unwisely, to ascend the 4 flights of stairs to the original tunnel control room where Irene took centre stage, displaying what to do in an emergency should there be flooding! After all the laughter and the banter between LCC and the 2 Scouse Tunnel Guide comics the atmosphere changed as they told us about the ghost and tried to frighten young Aleksander (and us).  Aleksander was not at all bothered unlike some of us who shuddered at the eerie stories!! After fiddling with all the dials, controls etc it was time to descend into the depths.  Back down the stairs we went to the ground floor and then down more stairs to 4 floors below street level. We arrived at one of the huge ventilation chambers and waited while the fan started up.  Although rather dusty walking down when the fan got going the air was remarkably clean and fresh and quite gusty!      Another ventilation fan   We walked through what seemed a labyrinth of twists and turns until we got to the emergency escape refuges, where seven of us at a time were let loose […]

The great thing about Scotland in March is a) the lack of people and b) the lack of midges! It can be a bit chilly in March so we planned a route to take in a couple of overnight stays in mountain bothies so that we could relax in front of a real fire each evening. As per usual, we decided to drive through the night alternating between sleeping and driving, a strategy that seems to work well and makes for a stress-free journey. The trip plan was to paddle out of Mallaig and head up Loch Nevis staying the first night at Sourlies Bothy, returning the next day part way along Loch Nevis before deploying our kayak trollies to climb the pass to Loch Morar and heading to Oban Bothy at the head of the Loch. The final day was to be a gentle paddle along Loch Morar and a gentle run back to Mallaig to grab the car. We loaded our car with luggage and boats the previous evening before heading to bed for a couple of hours sleep. At 1.15am, we tumbled in to the car and set off. With clear roads, the journey was a breeze and we were in Mallaig by 7.30 am, in time to shop for an onion and cough sweets at the local Cooperative. The mission café in Mallaig opens at 8am in winter and does a reasonable full Scottish breakfast. By 9.15am we’re on the slipway wondering how we’re going to get all the gear we have brought in to our kayaks; wine, Guinness and other essentials! After much faffing and repacking we were off by 10.30 with a local skipper warning us of the windy conditions out in the loch. Initially, we could hug the shore for protection but eventually our […]