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 […]

Why do we need you? At the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust we believe that the best way for people to understand and connect to wetlands is to experience them so we bring awe-inspiring nature up close.  You will be directly involved in shaping our visitors’ unforgettable experiences through your warm welcome, your interaction with them and the information that you provide.  We need friendly, outgoing people to help with the canoe safari operation, ensuring that our visitors feel part of something amazing.  Who will be responsible for your role?           Marketing Manager Where will you be based?                                   Canoe barn How much time will it take?                    We have opportunities on all days. We will mutually agree the hours that you can contribute and it would be helpful if you could try to give us as much notice as possible on the occasions when you are not able to contribute those hours You must be 18 years or over to apply for this role.  What will you be doing? Giving health and safety briefings covering all of the aspects of canoe safety applicable to Martin Mere canoe safari Fitting buoyancy aids in a professional manner, paying particular attention to the sensitivities of older people and children Handling money taken for canoe trips Illustrating the use of canoes and paddles, including demonstrating if necessary Completing paper work relevant to canoe trips accurately, in particular on participants return Understanding the importance of prompt response to emergency calls Monitoring the canoe route and visitors’ participation in the activity Maintaining the tidiness of canoe hut and surrounding area Who are we looking for? No previous experience is required as training will be provided.  However this role will     suit you if you have a love of wildlife and the outdoors and are: Confident or experienced in […]

Club weekends and major events for the Club 2017 – for more detail check the online Club Calendar……. 10 – 12th March 2017 Scottish Sea Paddle Arisaig/Mallaig area – Coordinator Simon Howarth 10th March 2017 Improvers River Trip (Grade 2-3) – Coordinator John Allerton and Keith Steer Click to book a place… 13 – 17th March 2017 River Wye Paddle from Hereford to Hoarwithy (Grade 1 flat water) – Coordinator Carl Yung Leungsangnam Click to book a place… 1st, 8th April and 7th and 8th May 2017 Open Boat (Canadian Canoe) Introductory / Improvers Course – Coordinator Mike Alter and Ruth Edwards 3 x half day and 1 day local trip 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… 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 Septmber 2017 […]

Photo of the Month Competition – Click here to vote for your favourite Elf on a Shed – Photo by Sarah Gille LCC Ladies Canoe Polo Team  – Photo by Emma Kirk Craig and Steve on the Burrs – Photo by Dave Gentle Photo of the Month Competition – Click here to vote for your favourite

To put our skills into practice, our 3 session sea kayak improver course cumulated on Sunday with an open water trip on the Dee estuary. In the wake of storm Doris, the original plan to paddle to Hilbre was changed to a more sheltered paddle, up the estuary, from the Dee Sailing Club towards Parkgate. We met at the Dee Sailing Club bright and early, donned our thermals and dry suits, and carried our boats down to the beach to launch. Keith Steer described where we were headed and off we went, at first paddling at about 45 degrees to the north westerly to get clear of the beach. In the strong wind and great waves, we kept in a large group, 16 altogether, with Keith at the head and our coaches Gareth Jones, Alan Peachment and Mark Pawley (unfortunately John Fay had hurt his back and was unable to join us) supporting and watching out for us from all sides. This was my first trip on open water (aside from a tame potter on the Devonshire coast in the glorious sunshine of the height of summer!), but I got use to the motion of the sea quickly and using mark’s very smart paddle (thank you again!) I surprised myself by making good headway with my improved paddle stroke described by a fellow paddler as ‘steady and efficient’! Once clear of the shore, we paddled into the wind, choppy waves coming from the side, but I trusted in my sturdy club Scorpio (and my improving support strokes!) and thoroughly enjoyed either ploughing through the waves or floating over them to fall down the trough on the other side. We paddled for a couple of hours, with the little white houses of Parkgate ahead, before turning into the marshes to fuel […]

Click here for more information and to book……… See  below from last year’s newsletter to see what the weekend is all about.  Ideal location for everyone in the club – non paddlers welcome.  Something for everyone! 39  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 nearer the time.  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. 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 the West Highland Way. We would prefer it if you stayed in the hostel rather than camped.Roy McHale email: Roy.McHale AT riverside.org.uk We are in the Blackwater hostel again this year. Lab road Kinlochleven PH504SG www.blackwaterhostel.co.uk Telephone 01855831253 30/03/16 Liverpool Canoe Club -Scotland 2016  31/3/16  2 Fresh. 1 Salty and a Snowy Good Friday Fresh Water For Carole and I, the annual Scottish Easter Holiday kicked off on Friday morning with a paddle down the middle Orchy (grade 3 – 4) http://www.paddlepoints.net/PaddlePoints.aspx?PaddlePointId=749 . It was our first white water trip since the club paddle down the Dee from Carrog Bridge at the end of […]

Originally published as Sarah goes sea kayaking: The Marshlands, by boat.  After 3 morning training sessions in the docks the course tackles the strong South Westerly winds with a trip from Dee Sailing Club south towards Parkgate and Neston. In which brave Sarah goes out into the more than choppy waters of the Dee Estuary and the boundaries of her comfort zone are well and truly pushed. * December 2016. The Shining Shore, Dee sailing club slipway visible in the distance. One of my favourite places in the whole world is ‘The Shining Shore’ – the shining waters and mudflats of the Dee Estuary. Me and Ronnie have walked all along this shore, from Parkgate to West Kirby, and have a default walk which starts at Thurstaston, goes inland  through lanes and woodland, and emerges on the beach and the cliffs at Thurstaston for the last stretch. We’ve done it so many times in the last six years I feel I could probably do it blindfold. We also walk further up the shore, further inland where the marsh is gradually encroaching, and we call that part ‘The Marshlands’. And yet each time we walk here there is always something to see – wildflowers, the change in the light, the birds in the estuary…. Here’s a selection of photographs of this part of the world from the last five years. Over the years we’ve observed the cliffs erode, the marsh becoming larger. And the tidal flow in and out of the cut through the marsh. During our years of walking I didn’t imagine that I would enter the marsh through this cut. But this weekend I did. My latest kayaking adventure starts at the Dee sailing club slipway, nearing high tide on Sunday 26 February 2017. My Romany kayak. Ready to launch as high tide approaches, […]

Please open it by clicking this link February 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 prob

With the upcoming sea kayak course, here are some thoughts about packing for those longer trips – but remember it’s not the only way! Time to start dreaming and planning. Single overnighter to multi week trip, its all good.

Sea Kayak Demo Day by Sea Kayak Oban www.seakayakoban.com Sunday 12th March 2016 – Killington Lake 10 am -2 pm hosted by Killington Sailing Association, supported by Sedbergh & District Canoe Club, supervised by “Cumbria Canoeists” – Mike Sunderland & RDT To Book / Request a Kayak please E-Mail info@seakayakoban.com, or Call Stuart or Cathy for a chat on 01631-565-310. Before buying a sea kayak it is really worthwhile trying as many as you can and Sea Kayak Oban’s demo days are the perfect opportunity. We will have at least 4 different brands – Valley, Northshore, P&H, Epic, Perception – of sea kayaks and lots of different sizes and styles. NEW VALLEY SIRONA LV & MV SIZES and plastic Sirona LV & MV and the EPIC V5 & V6. Also paddles by Werner, Adventure Technology, Epic Wings & Ainsworth & you can also size drysuits by Kokatat and PeakUk. Bring regular paddling gear and try as many kayaks you want on Killington Lake – Sea kayak Oban team Stuart and Cathy – on hand to advise and discuss kayak designs, handling qualities, suitability & prices. Grateful thanks to “Killington Sailing Association” (KSA) for hosting the event – all sailing members VERY welcome. Please Book and  IT is  all  FREE

River Dee Improvers Trip 5th February 2017 What a fantastic paddle it turned out to be on Sunday! We all met at Ponsonby arms, in Llangollen, the car park after town falls where paddlers usually get off when they have paddled from Horse shoe falls down to town. Everyone started to arrive at 9:30 am. It was a beginners and improvers trip, we were there to paddle the lower Dee. We had a great flow of water which was nice and manageable for all levels of paddlers. There was a good turn out for this nice relaxing paddle on the chilly Sunday morning. Once everyone had got changed into their nice and toasty thermals and paddling kit, the people in cars made their way down to where we were due to get off the river. As everyone arrived back to where the rest of us were stood freezing whilst starting to get to know each other, it was then time to get on the water. Before we did that, the top dog Keith put us all into our groups, it was my first trip with Liverpool Canoe Club and I was there to help out doing some river leading to help me towards my 4*. I’m very grateful that Keith and my group leader Mark (who I accidentally kept calling Steve) Garrod let me tag along. When we were all ready to start our journey, not to name any names here (simply because I don’t know any), but someone had left their helmet in their car, which just had to be at the get off point….. Luckily my Mum and Dad took this lovely gentleman back down to his car to collect his helmet. Whilst the bloke’s group waited patiently behind, the other groups made their way onto the water. […]

The Kayak Roll – 3 part Video   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ZJeTkxOGU    

Dear All A reminder that we have the Irwell 2, Wild Water Race Northern Counties Series Regional Race coming up on Sunday 19th March. All welcome – it’s a great venue and always good racing whatever the level! I if you are planning to come please let me know thanks: Peter Schofield. 07790 494110 email chairman@wildwater.org.uk The course runs through the Burrs Activity Centre Site from just below the weir on the River Irwell at the top through down to below the road bridge to the get-out at the bottom of the site, river left (i.e. on the left hand side of the river looking down-stream). One of the major advantages of the Burrs is a mill stream running alongside and above the River Irwell that allows race participants to paddle back up to the start and to get as many runs in as possible. ACCESS River Irwell, Burrs Activity Centre, Woodhill Road, Bury, BL8 1DA The course is available from 0930. Competitors are advised to arrive early and walk the course before getting on to practice. It is also advisable to change after practicing and staying warm between the race briefing and getting on for the start of the race. PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE 0930 – 1100 Free practice on river. 0930 – 1030 Late entries in the car park 1030 Race brief in the car park 1130 First sprint run 1 minute intervals 1230 Second Sprint Run 1 minute intervals Directly after the second sprint run at approx. 1340 there will be the Club Team Race & open Canadian class all starting at two minute intervals. (We can have a break after the Kayak Team Race for clubs to get back to the start if needed) 1600 (approx.) Prize giving Best regards Peter Peter Schofield Chairman, Wild Water Racing Committee, […]