I cannot begin to describe how we are feeling now, having prepared as a team since July for one event is almost impossible.
The training is done, we are carefully eating our way to the start, preparing the boat, packing our kit.........
Two things more than anything keep us going and maintain the focus.
Firstly Matt and Lee agreed to do the event together as a team, we have had lots of fun times together in training and some not so great times, through illness or weather, if we were honest I suspect we would both say we would prefer it was now over and we could return to normal family life, we are both looking forward to the event enormously and could not have reached this stage without the support of our wives, Melissa and Debbie and our families, friends and employers! The race is not just about Matt and Lee but what they have all contributed ahead of and during the race as our supporters. The blog describes us as the AB Walker Canoe Team and that is what we are.
Secondly during the darkest hours of our training we have thought about our charity, with the boat sign written and wearing the Help For Heroes wristbands we cannot forget that we are raising money for men and women who have made a far greater sacrifice for this country. We are delighted that thanks to the generosity of all our sponsors to have surpassed our fundraising target of £5,000 by some way in the week before the race, thank you one and all.
For those of you that still want to know just what we are about to subject ourselves to please see parts 1 and 2 of the Devizes Westminster documentary on OUTDOORS TV. http://www.outdoorstv.tv/playdw1.html
I doubt that we will post any more before the race as we need to get into the zone or something like that!
Have a very Happy Easter, we intend to!
Thanks to you all
Best wishes
Matt and Lee
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Waterside D - Devizes to Newbury 34 miles 35 portages
After a very early alarm call (04:15 a.m.) we headed off to Caversham to meet with Matt and Mel and the boat, as we were clearing Reading they were setting up for the Reading half marathon.
The forecast was good and in no time at all we were parked near the Wharf in Devizes, as we collected our race number the girls joined the queue for bacon sandwiches (for them!) and Matt and Lee put in on the slipway.
We drifted down to the start and were away. We were pleased to see less weed than last Saturday and made good time down the first pound, we had a tussle with some fast K2s just below Pewsey and ended up tangled with the foliage, but we were soon off again, going through Pewsey too quickly to stop for the support crew.
We made steady progress but it felt noticiably harder than the run we did last weekend on the same course to Newbury, Lee had a few problems in the pitch black of the Bruce's Tunnel, Matt called time and that got Lee back into the flow of things and we cleared the tunnel without a swim.
Just below Hungerford Lock we had good cheers from Sandra and Simon Jeffs who had kindly driven from Marlow to support us and Simon's NELO boat which is being used by another team.
We met up with some good crews along the way, Owen and Dan from Reading went screaming past us with a K1 hanging on their wash.
Finally we reached a section we knew just 3 miles to Newbury, we were keeping pace with a junior K2 it transpired were from Basingstoke CC and we kept with them till the last 500 yards. We crossed the line with a time of 5 hours and 44 minutes some 16 minutes faster than out time last weekend and in 7th place in the Vets!
We were delighted with the time and another great effort from Melissa and Debbie, well done girls.
The forecast was good and in no time at all we were parked near the Wharf in Devizes, as we collected our race number the girls joined the queue for bacon sandwiches (for them!) and Matt and Lee put in on the slipway.
We drifted down to the start and were away. We were pleased to see less weed than last Saturday and made good time down the first pound, we had a tussle with some fast K2s just below Pewsey and ended up tangled with the foliage, but we were soon off again, going through Pewsey too quickly to stop for the support crew.
We made steady progress but it felt noticiably harder than the run we did last weekend on the same course to Newbury, Lee had a few problems in the pitch black of the Bruce's Tunnel, Matt called time and that got Lee back into the flow of things and we cleared the tunnel without a swim.
Just below Hungerford Lock we had good cheers from Sandra and Simon Jeffs who had kindly driven from Marlow to support us and Simon's NELO boat which is being used by another team.
We met up with some good crews along the way, Owen and Dan from Reading went screaming past us with a K1 hanging on their wash.
Finally we reached a section we knew just 3 miles to Newbury, we were keeping pace with a junior K2 it transpired were from Basingstoke CC and we kept with them till the last 500 yards. We crossed the line with a time of 5 hours and 44 minutes some 16 minutes faster than out time last weekend and in 7th place in the Vets!
We were delighted with the time and another great effort from Melissa and Debbie, well done girls.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
DW On BBC Radio Wiltshire
DW on BBC Wiltshire
18 Mar 2010 12:08 pm
Interviews with our Devizes organisers, and Devizes Canoe Club on the Matthew Smith Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Wiltshire. Fast forward to 2hrs 21 mins. (If the link doesn't work, look for Mathew Smith, BBC Wiltshire on the BBC iPlayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006xylp/Matthew_Smith_18_03_2010
18 Mar 2010 12:08 pm
Interviews with our Devizes organisers, and Devizes Canoe Club on the Matthew Smith Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Wiltshire. Fast forward to 2hrs 21 mins. (If the link doesn't work, look for Mathew Smith, BBC Wiltshire on the BBC iPlayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006xylp/Matthew_Smith_18_03_2010
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
New Livery
There is nothing more motivational than paddling the miles looking down at a large medal on the deck of the boat reminding us of our charity; Help For Heroes. the A B Walker signwriter has done a fabulous job on the boat we even have cockpit names just like the real racers! Thanks to Julian Walker, Matt's brother and member of our support crew for turning up early this week to take these photographs:
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Saturday 13th March Devizes to Reading Kennet & Avon Canal
In all of the training reference material we have read it has been re-inforced that you need not paddle for sessions of longer than three hours in training.
None the less we have constantly asked in our own minds, how will we feel after 30 miles, 40 miles etc. so we had agreed as a team to do the length of the canal as a test run, with support crew to get a reference time on which we could base our actual projected time which is so important for scheduling our DW schedule at Easter.
Plans were laid a couple of weeks ago to do the run on Saturday setting off from Devizes some time around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after a few photos of the new livery for the Condor. We put in over a floating barge (ice covered arghh!) just above the famous start bridge in Devizes and paddled off into glorious morning sunshine after saying our goodbyes to Mel and Debbie who were following in support.
We made a mid pound water stop around Honey Street for a pee too and got back in stopping next at Great Bedwyn, the girls said we were doing well on time. We knew Great Bedwyn to Newbury from Waterside C in the ice the previous weekend, boy was it good to paddle vs. run.
In no time were we at the Bruce's tunnel, we passed a canoe heading towards us, after pleasantries exchanged we cracked on. Crofton went well and after the 6 mile maarthin the previous week was tame by comparison, changing shoulders and running with the boat on opposite shoulders really helped. The girls made sure we were well fueled with an assortment of food and watered before we set off.
The next run was uneventful apart from catching our support on the phone in the car park at Kintbury not paying attention to the plight of the poor chaps in the boat. The girls did a great job stopping traffic even (aided by their flourescent jackets) as we crossed roads at some portages.
Matt was doing a great job pacing us and in no time at all we saw the tower cranes in the car parks at Newbury. We pulled alongside the Waterside centre on the opposite bank and settled down to Chilli and Rice straight from the tin, it went down really well, much to the amusement of people sitting outside the tea shop.
The stop was just over ten minutes and we set off with Lee navigating, which started with him trying to squeeze us under an impossibly low swing bridge, we agreed it would be portaged in the race, soon we were in our stride navigating a new stretch of the canal for us.
After 6 or so miles another K2 came screaming past us, Lee asked where they were from "Newbury, and you" came the reply, when we mentioned Devizes they congratulated us.
A little way down stream someone was practicing the art of jamming the entire canal getting two brages through an arched bridge with one engine one person on the tow path and two people being towed in a canoe behind. We waited on the bridge island for minutes as they passed and then cracked on down stream.
At Aldermaston we again delayed our put in while a barge manouvered every which way before decing to reverse itself out.
We were pleased with the flow assistance on what we treat as our home stretch of the canal having run this section several times in training. And in no time were we playing in the mud at the put in at Fobney, we were really stuck in the mud here and eventually eased off.
We raced past a couple of playboaters in the middle of the Oracle shopping centre in Reading and hit the Thames after 9.5 hours of paddling, we then did a cool down paddle up to the club at Caversham where Mel and Debbie were waiting with the camera.
Boy did that first shower feel good.
Both paddlers felt good after the canal and recovered well the following day with no injuries to speak of, it was a great opportunity to have done it before the DW proper and the support crew did an amazing job too, it really was a team effort.
Ten hours in a boat with your mate gives you time to catch up and chat without interuption from mobiles or other modern day perils, as to the subject matter of the banter; what goes on in the boat stays in the boat!
We will amend this post when all the pictures come through from the digital camera.
None the less we have constantly asked in our own minds, how will we feel after 30 miles, 40 miles etc. so we had agreed as a team to do the length of the canal as a test run, with support crew to get a reference time on which we could base our actual projected time which is so important for scheduling our DW schedule at Easter.
Plans were laid a couple of weeks ago to do the run on Saturday setting off from Devizes some time around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after a few photos of the new livery for the Condor. We put in over a floating barge (ice covered arghh!) just above the famous start bridge in Devizes and paddled off into glorious morning sunshine after saying our goodbyes to Mel and Debbie who were following in support.
We made a mid pound water stop around Honey Street for a pee too and got back in stopping next at Great Bedwyn, the girls said we were doing well on time. We knew Great Bedwyn to Newbury from Waterside C in the ice the previous weekend, boy was it good to paddle vs. run.
In no time were we at the Bruce's tunnel, we passed a canoe heading towards us, after pleasantries exchanged we cracked on. Crofton went well and after the 6 mile maarthin the previous week was tame by comparison, changing shoulders and running with the boat on opposite shoulders really helped. The girls made sure we were well fueled with an assortment of food and watered before we set off.
The next run was uneventful apart from catching our support on the phone in the car park at Kintbury not paying attention to the plight of the poor chaps in the boat. The girls did a great job stopping traffic even (aided by their flourescent jackets) as we crossed roads at some portages.
Matt was doing a great job pacing us and in no time at all we saw the tower cranes in the car parks at Newbury. We pulled alongside the Waterside centre on the opposite bank and settled down to Chilli and Rice straight from the tin, it went down really well, much to the amusement of people sitting outside the tea shop.
The stop was just over ten minutes and we set off with Lee navigating, which started with him trying to squeeze us under an impossibly low swing bridge, we agreed it would be portaged in the race, soon we were in our stride navigating a new stretch of the canal for us.
After 6 or so miles another K2 came screaming past us, Lee asked where they were from "Newbury, and you" came the reply, when we mentioned Devizes they congratulated us.
A little way down stream someone was practicing the art of jamming the entire canal getting two brages through an arched bridge with one engine one person on the tow path and two people being towed in a canoe behind. We waited on the bridge island for minutes as they passed and then cracked on down stream.
At Aldermaston we again delayed our put in while a barge manouvered every which way before decing to reverse itself out.
We were pleased with the flow assistance on what we treat as our home stretch of the canal having run this section several times in training. And in no time were we playing in the mud at the put in at Fobney, we were really stuck in the mud here and eventually eased off.
We raced past a couple of playboaters in the middle of the Oracle shopping centre in Reading and hit the Thames after 9.5 hours of paddling, we then did a cool down paddle up to the club at Caversham where Mel and Debbie were waiting with the camera.
Boy did that first shower feel good.
Both paddlers felt good after the canal and recovered well the following day with no injuries to speak of, it was a great opportunity to have done it before the DW proper and the support crew did an amazing job too, it really was a team effort.
Ten hours in a boat with your mate gives you time to catch up and chat without interuption from mobiles or other modern day perils, as to the subject matter of the banter; what goes on in the boat stays in the boat!
We will amend this post when all the pictures come through from the digital camera.
Friday, 12 March 2010
The unveiling of the new liveried K2 Condor - Full Dress Rehearsal
Matt has arranged to have the boat badged with Help For Heroes decals and other material, I saw the boat at the club this week and it looks fantastic, thank you Matt and AB Walker.
In F1 style we will publish pictures after the weekend.
On Saturday we are paddling the length of the canal from Devizes to the Thames at Reading but we will deviate from the Devizes to Westminster course as we join the Thames and will turn left and head upstream back to Reading Canoe Club to give our support crew, the boat and ourselves a full test.
Knowing our full canal time will be invaluable in detremining what time we select to start from Devizes on Saturday 3rd April to hit the optimimum tide point at Teddington the following morning, high tide at Teddington is predicted at 06:59 a.m. on Easter Sunday.
Pictures to follow over the weekend.
We have pushed through the £4,000 mark with a continuing stream of donations thank you one and all for your support, it is making a huge difference to the charity, the lives of our wounded service men and women and the morale within the AB Walker Canoe Team as we move to T minus 22 days before the start. We are all most grateful to each and every one of you.
In F1 style we will publish pictures after the weekend.
On Saturday we are paddling the length of the canal from Devizes to the Thames at Reading but we will deviate from the Devizes to Westminster course as we join the Thames and will turn left and head upstream back to Reading Canoe Club to give our support crew, the boat and ourselves a full test.
Knowing our full canal time will be invaluable in detremining what time we select to start from Devizes on Saturday 3rd April to hit the optimimum tide point at Teddington the following morning, high tide at Teddington is predicted at 06:59 a.m. on Easter Sunday.
Pictures to follow over the weekend.
We have pushed through the £4,000 mark with a continuing stream of donations thank you one and all for your support, it is making a huge difference to the charity, the lives of our wounded service men and women and the morale within the AB Walker Canoe Team as we move to T minus 22 days before the start. We are all most grateful to each and every one of you.
Let's hear it for the supporters
It has been said before that to succeed in this race it really does require a team effort, whilst Matt and I continue to bang out the hours training, our wives Melissa and Debbie and organising a willing bunch of volunteers to support us on race day.
Our houses are filled with an assortment of kit now and various foodstuffs which will keep us fueled during the race.
They are doing an amazing job in ensuring that everything runs to clockwork on the day, we just have to keep the boat upright and pointing towards London!
Many thanks indeed from the boys in the boat.
Matt and Lee
Our houses are filled with an assortment of kit now and various foodstuffs which will keep us fueled during the race.
They are doing an amazing job in ensuring that everything runs to clockwork on the day, we just have to keep the boat upright and pointing towards London!
Many thanks indeed from the boys in the boat.
Matt and Lee
Sunday, 7 March 2010
I thought this was a Canoe race! Waterside C Pewsey to Newbury
After an early start from Matt and Mel's house we set off along the M4 to the start at Pewsey, the weather was very bright but extremely cold with the temperature display in the car never going above - 4 deg. C.
Upon arrival at the start the thermometer had not risen and looking down at the canal below the car park at the start confirmed that the canal at Pewsey was indeed frozen over. A narrow boat broke the ice as it navigated upstream only for the ice to reform withing minutes after it had passed.
After check-in we moved the boat down to the start line which was clear of ice and moved through the throng to the start and we were off.
After no time at all the snake of canoes ahead were all coming alongside and climbing out as the ice was too thick making navigation (at least in these boats) impossible. We joined the merry line of runners thankful that we had fixed foam pads to the deck to protect our shoulders from the deck as we ran with it upon our shoulders.
We ran and ran and then ran some more........... minutes passed and still no sign of clear water, then after two miles or so boats were getting back in so did we and it was great to be paddling again, our euphoria was short lived as after a few hundred meters paddling we were back out on the tow path running again, we ran almost to the Bruce's Tunnel and slipped back into the water for our first paddle through the tunnel some 500 meters long in the dark.
As soon as we cleared the tunnel we were back out and running AGAIN.......we ran to the Crofton Flight, some seven locks close enough to run together over the next mile, that said we paddled the first pound, just for the fun of being in the water. Along this section we saw Paul Toomey from Reading Canoe Club, he was as ever full of helpful advice and jogged beside us. At the put in we saw the welcome sight of Melissa who was doing a fabulous job supporting us solo today, sandwich squares, fruit and new bottles taken on and we were off on clear water.........we think the running period had covered appoximately seven miles!
This was the pattern with Mel supporting us now all the way to Newbury, we had a few hic-cups with the seats working loose and slipping and having to stop to re-tigten them otherwise every few miles we saw the welcome sight of Mel with more food and new water bottles if necessary.
There was lots of support on the bank with many spectators and all were cheering us on as we passed there were even cow bells being rung! no doubt just back from the winter olympics in Vancouver.
After an involuntary slip into the canal on the put in near Kintbury, Matt hauled himself back out of the canal and we were on the home straight.
At West Mills swingbridge a fast crew from Richmond were close to us, we pulled off and sprinted diagonally to the last portage, still ahead we put in just before the Kennet entry and finished with this crew beside us with a double blast from the horn at the finish line.
Our time 4:10 and we need to see how useful this is for a DW schedule as we sincerely hope not to be running so many miles with the K2 during the race.
Thanks again to Mel for an amazing job as support for this race, the food really does help to bring the energy levels back up and avoiding the slump.
Eyes down now with some gym work this week and more paddling followed by an assault on the whole length of the canal on Saturday.
That's all folks, thank you for your support the money is still rolling in and the AB Walker Canoe Team are very grateful to you all for your support.
Upon arrival at the start the thermometer had not risen and looking down at the canal below the car park at the start confirmed that the canal at Pewsey was indeed frozen over. A narrow boat broke the ice as it navigated upstream only for the ice to reform withing minutes after it had passed.
After check-in we moved the boat down to the start line which was clear of ice and moved through the throng to the start and we were off.
After no time at all the snake of canoes ahead were all coming alongside and climbing out as the ice was too thick making navigation (at least in these boats) impossible. We joined the merry line of runners thankful that we had fixed foam pads to the deck to protect our shoulders from the deck as we ran with it upon our shoulders.
We ran and ran and then ran some more........... minutes passed and still no sign of clear water, then after two miles or so boats were getting back in so did we and it was great to be paddling again, our euphoria was short lived as after a few hundred meters paddling we were back out on the tow path running again, we ran almost to the Bruce's Tunnel and slipped back into the water for our first paddle through the tunnel some 500 meters long in the dark.
As soon as we cleared the tunnel we were back out and running AGAIN.......we ran to the Crofton Flight, some seven locks close enough to run together over the next mile, that said we paddled the first pound, just for the fun of being in the water. Along this section we saw Paul Toomey from Reading Canoe Club, he was as ever full of helpful advice and jogged beside us. At the put in we saw the welcome sight of Melissa who was doing a fabulous job supporting us solo today, sandwich squares, fruit and new bottles taken on and we were off on clear water.........we think the running period had covered appoximately seven miles!
This was the pattern with Mel supporting us now all the way to Newbury, we had a few hic-cups with the seats working loose and slipping and having to stop to re-tigten them otherwise every few miles we saw the welcome sight of Mel with more food and new water bottles if necessary.
There was lots of support on the bank with many spectators and all were cheering us on as we passed there were even cow bells being rung! no doubt just back from the winter olympics in Vancouver.
After an involuntary slip into the canal on the put in near Kintbury, Matt hauled himself back out of the canal and we were on the home straight.
At West Mills swingbridge a fast crew from Richmond were close to us, we pulled off and sprinted diagonally to the last portage, still ahead we put in just before the Kennet entry and finished with this crew beside us with a double blast from the horn at the finish line.
Our time 4:10 and we need to see how useful this is for a DW schedule as we sincerely hope not to be running so many miles with the K2 during the race.
Thanks again to Mel for an amazing job as support for this race, the food really does help to bring the energy levels back up and avoiding the slump.
Eyes down now with some gym work this week and more paddling followed by an assault on the whole length of the canal on Saturday.
That's all folks, thank you for your support the money is still rolling in and the AB Walker Canoe Team are very grateful to you all for your support.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Help For Heroes - NEWSLETTER ON LINE NOW
Please keep up to date with all the news from the Help for Heroes charity:
http://sendgold.icuk.eu/display.php?M=53216&C=7c971e59be45bbc025d41099ecff2bc3&S=186&L=3&N=108
http://sendgold.icuk.eu/display.php?M=53216&C=7c971e59be45bbc025d41099ecff2bc3&S=186&L=3&N=108
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Thameside 2 - RACE DAY
The weather had certainly closed in but as we arrived at the club there was no sign of the forecast winds.
The organisers should be congratulated on their focus on the safety of competitors which involved scoring paddlers abilities to cope with conditions and a full clothing (kit) check, support crew check and boat scrutineering. The race was to go ahead but under red boards on account of the increased river flow.
A bit of hanging around in the Rivermead car park meant frequent visits to the loo and Lee falling over in the mud!
We opted for the first start slot at 10:30 and lined up with what must have been 40 - 50 boats of all shapes and sizes. Our start was slow but safe, this unfortunately meant we had to contend with quite extreme wash put up behind the other boats.
After lots of slap strokes to keep us upright we made the first portage at Reading Lock and joined a queue of boats to portage, Matt did well with the current and soon got us onto a good line down the Dreadnought Reach and we began to overtake the fleet without other boats passing us.
We did the same in the Sonning to Shiplake pound, but got caught in a three boat queue at the put in, you join the main river at the put in and the water was screaming by, Matt's navigation was spot on and we were soon making ground on other boats.
At Marsh we encountered a late surge from a K2 on our inside who we had overtaken leading up to the lock and they blagged the portage right, however we ran past this same boat on the run over the footbridge to the put in area. It was here we saw Matt's family for a bottle change and quick mouthful of flapjack and we were back off towards Henley Bridge, welcoming shouts from other RCC spectators added to our motivation at this point.
On the Henley mile whilst windy we did not get the extreme wind forecast and we paddled up to John and Catherine and then slipped slightly ahead, John gave several technique tips all teh while saying how much they enjoyed sitting in our wash; however through better boat control they reached the Hambledon lock slightly ahead. Nick Daniel's was marshalling this lock and gave us the welcome news that there were only five boats ahead of us, whaich was great considering we had slipped almost to the back of the fleet at the start. More flapjack at the put-in then Matt navigated us through really tricky flows with a massive push from the weirpool entering to our left forcing the boat towards the bank and obstructions. The next pound to Hurley felt very odd indeed like we were paddling on boiling water with current coming directly up at the hull.
At Hurley we had to wait for a K4 to get in at the put in point and we had another top up of sweets from Lee's family.
On through Temple lock and now jus one more portage to go, no dramas through Marlow Lock keeping well over the the left away from the weir then a very tricky turn into the right hand side channel under the Marlow by-pass bridge to the finish.
We had a great welcome from our families, and Simon, Sandra and Michael Jeffs who had come down from Marlow to welcome us home.
Our time was: 2:12:49 seconds which was significantly quicker than our K1 times of the summer when we stopped above Marlow Lock in 3 hours, three factors; river flow, K2 boat speed, and I think we are getting better!! We were placed in 4th position in the veteran K2 class.
A great race, we learned several lessons, and many thanks indeed to our support crew, Mel and the kids and Debbie and Daniel for reaching Hurley in time.
Eyes down for another week of training and the Waterside 3 race on Sunday 7th March.........
The organisers should be congratulated on their focus on the safety of competitors which involved scoring paddlers abilities to cope with conditions and a full clothing (kit) check, support crew check and boat scrutineering. The race was to go ahead but under red boards on account of the increased river flow.
A bit of hanging around in the Rivermead car park meant frequent visits to the loo and Lee falling over in the mud!
We opted for the first start slot at 10:30 and lined up with what must have been 40 - 50 boats of all shapes and sizes. Our start was slow but safe, this unfortunately meant we had to contend with quite extreme wash put up behind the other boats.
After lots of slap strokes to keep us upright we made the first portage at Reading Lock and joined a queue of boats to portage, Matt did well with the current and soon got us onto a good line down the Dreadnought Reach and we began to overtake the fleet without other boats passing us.
We did the same in the Sonning to Shiplake pound, but got caught in a three boat queue at the put in, you join the main river at the put in and the water was screaming by, Matt's navigation was spot on and we were soon making ground on other boats.
At Marsh we encountered a late surge from a K2 on our inside who we had overtaken leading up to the lock and they blagged the portage right, however we ran past this same boat on the run over the footbridge to the put in area. It was here we saw Matt's family for a bottle change and quick mouthful of flapjack and we were back off towards Henley Bridge, welcoming shouts from other RCC spectators added to our motivation at this point.
On the Henley mile whilst windy we did not get the extreme wind forecast and we paddled up to John and Catherine and then slipped slightly ahead, John gave several technique tips all teh while saying how much they enjoyed sitting in our wash; however through better boat control they reached the Hambledon lock slightly ahead. Nick Daniel's was marshalling this lock and gave us the welcome news that there were only five boats ahead of us, whaich was great considering we had slipped almost to the back of the fleet at the start. More flapjack at the put-in then Matt navigated us through really tricky flows with a massive push from the weirpool entering to our left forcing the boat towards the bank and obstructions. The next pound to Hurley felt very odd indeed like we were paddling on boiling water with current coming directly up at the hull.
At Hurley we had to wait for a K4 to get in at the put in point and we had another top up of sweets from Lee's family.
On through Temple lock and now jus one more portage to go, no dramas through Marlow Lock keeping well over the the left away from the weir then a very tricky turn into the right hand side channel under the Marlow by-pass bridge to the finish.
We had a great welcome from our families, and Simon, Sandra and Michael Jeffs who had come down from Marlow to welcome us home.
Our time was: 2:12:49 seconds which was significantly quicker than our K1 times of the summer when we stopped above Marlow Lock in 3 hours, three factors; river flow, K2 boat speed, and I think we are getting better!! We were placed in 4th position in the veteran K2 class.
A great race, we learned several lessons, and many thanks indeed to our support crew, Mel and the kids and Debbie and Daniel for reaching Hurley in time.
Eyes down for another week of training and the Waterside 3 race on Sunday 7th March.........
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Thameside 2 Weekend
The past weekend was spent preparing (Saturday) and racing (Sunday) in the Thameside 2 race organised by the Reading Canoe Club which is a race of some 18 miles downstream from Caversham Bridge to the Longridge scout base below Marlow Lock.
The Saturday preparation went well, Matt was in the front of the boat and we elected to take the boat on a downstream run to Sonning Lock and return against the flow.
The river was rising significantly although the forecast for Sunday was even more ominous, with 40 mph winds and heavy rains.
We did well downstream and return although the flow was certainly having an effect on the boat.
A quick final check of the boat and off home to be ready for race day.
The Saturday preparation went well, Matt was in the front of the boat and we elected to take the boat on a downstream run to Sonning Lock and return against the flow.
The river was rising significantly although the forecast for Sunday was even more ominous, with 40 mph winds and heavy rains.
We did well downstream and return although the flow was certainly having an effect on the boat.
A quick final check of the boat and off home to be ready for race day.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Here's mud in yer eye...
Matt and Lee pushed off from the club early today in single seat K1 kayaks to do two laps of what Reading Canoe Club refer to as the time trial club circuit, which is essentially a 5 km loop heading upstream to an island called the fisheries, then back all the way to Piper's Island beyond Caversham Bridge downstream before turning to head back upstream.
It was good to be back on the water together albeit in different boats.
We did 6 minute efforts with 1 minute rest (slow paddle) throughout the circuit.
The first loop was uneventful, but on the second lap Lee had been hogging the bank line (less current and basically cheating) and he was whacked in the eye by a very elastic low hanging branch which flicked off the paddle. After several expletives and concern from Matt we cracked on together to finish the second lap.
WeBoth agreed the efforts were hard and this session we will now do twice a week amongst other activities as we approach the race day.
No lasting damage, although for one moment Lee thought he would be completing the DW with an eye patch! And on account of the amount of spinach his wife is now feeding him would be rivaling the character below.
It was good to be back on the water together albeit in different boats.
We did 6 minute efforts with 1 minute rest (slow paddle) throughout the circuit.
The first loop was uneventful, but on the second lap Lee had been hogging the bank line (less current and basically cheating) and he was whacked in the eye by a very elastic low hanging branch which flicked off the paddle. After several expletives and concern from Matt we cracked on together to finish the second lap.
WeBoth agreed the efforts were hard and this session we will now do twice a week amongst other activities as we approach the race day.
No lasting damage, although for one moment Lee thought he would be completing the DW with an eye patch! And on account of the amount of spinach his wife is now feeding him would be rivaling the character below.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Back in the gym, the river, the road
Matt is back, and it is good to have him back, the K1 sessions over the weekend are good for balance and fitness but there is nothing quite like powering up and down the river pointing out the wildlife and asking the helm to avoid the anglers while Matt battles to keep course with the tiller.
We had a good session in the gym with other club members last night and a strong pyramid session this morning before work on the ergos in the club. Our technique must be improving because our arms no longer fatigue just our abs from rotating the trunk. This is not a picture of us (yet!)
Water sessions are planned on Thursday and Friday morning then preparing the K2 Condor on Saturday with another Thames based session ready for the Thameside 2 race from Reading to Marlow, the river is flowing very fast and we have been advised to dress for the occasion and expect a fast run on Sunday, there will be mass class starts so in the veterans (us!) we suspet there will be twenty odd boats lining up on the Thames screaming down to Reading lock for the first portage.
Should any of you be around this weekend, there are a few vantage points along the route, notably the footpath in Henley downstream towards Temple Island.
We keep mentioning this but donations are just pouring in by the day, it is absolutely marvelous, thank you one and all for your support.
We had a good session in the gym with other club members last night and a strong pyramid session this morning before work on the ergos in the club. Our technique must be improving because our arms no longer fatigue just our abs from rotating the trunk. This is not a picture of us (yet!)
Water sessions are planned on Thursday and Friday morning then preparing the K2 Condor on Saturday with another Thames based session ready for the Thameside 2 race from Reading to Marlow, the river is flowing very fast and we have been advised to dress for the occasion and expect a fast run on Sunday, there will be mass class starts so in the veterans (us!) we suspet there will be twenty odd boats lining up on the Thames screaming down to Reading lock for the first portage.
Should any of you be around this weekend, there are a few vantage points along the route, notably the footpath in Henley downstream towards Temple Island.
We keep mentioning this but donations are just pouring in by the day, it is absolutely marvelous, thank you one and all for your support.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Welcome to the blog and thank you for all the donations
Welcome to the newest followers of the blog, from the South Coast.
The donations keep pouring in and with the Gift Aid we are now well over £3,000 which is a fantastic sum thank you all very much indeed.
Lee joined the club session today in a K1 and had a good run keeping in touch with stronger club paddlers back from Mapledurham to the clubhouse.
The boat club is all DW talk at the moment with another new crew to club joining to refine their technique with just 40 days to go now to the big event.
Lots of people now are enquiring after our expected DW time, we think we will stick to 24 hours as a target as this is a mammoth event and neither of us will have experienced anything like it before.
Will write more soon.
The donations keep pouring in and with the Gift Aid we are now well over £3,000 which is a fantastic sum thank you all very much indeed.
Lee joined the club session today in a K1 and had a good run keeping in touch with stronger club paddlers back from Mapledurham to the clubhouse.
The boat club is all DW talk at the moment with another new crew to club joining to refine their technique with just 40 days to go now to the big event.
Lots of people now are enquiring after our expected DW time, we think we will stick to 24 hours as a target as this is a mammoth event and neither of us will have experienced anything like it before.
Will write more soon.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Well done Matt - Thameside 1
I picked Matt up very early, the Atkins nerves had set in early this morning and he was up at the crack of dawn sorting the boat out then rv at Matt's house, whilst we awaited Debbie's arrival.
After nearly losing the clutch in Debbie's car on the way over we arrived in good time for check in.
The course we had run a few times before and our record was 1:55.
The rolling start caused Lee to get the jitters having not been in the front seat for a month or so, none the less after losing out on the start to a neighbouring pair of K2's who we knew to be much faster we got into our stride.
Portages were ok although I think Matt has them down to a "T" we overtook some slower and then not some slower boats.
Debbie was a welcome sight at Burghfield, two squares of flapjack stuffed in our mouths and we were off again, it was pretty hard to digest but I am sure it worked.
We came up behind John and Katherine from Reading just before Fobney and squeezed past them, encouraging words from Katherine and then Lee sat back in the mud on the put-in some helpful words from John about our rudder being in the mud and we pulled away again.
Shortly after the M4 bridge a faster Reading Junior K2 were on our tail, cat and mouse for the following five or so bends and then they showed the newbies (us) how it is done giving a few paddling tips as they sailed by.
We did keep them in our sights all the way to the finish though and Matt called the last 500m brilliantly, no grunting just driving every last knot out of the boat and us.......
We have just checked the web-site to find that we are third in class and absolutely over the moon, well done Matt who is still suffering from a cold.
1st was 1:43:23 2nd was 1:45:08 and we were 32 seconds behind them!! The new kids on the block are here to stay!
It was great to see Matt's family and Debbie at the finish I am sure this is going to make a huge difference to us on the event.
The sponsorship keeps rolling in thank you all it really spurs us on.
Lee and Matt
After nearly losing the clutch in Debbie's car on the way over we arrived in good time for check in.
The course we had run a few times before and our record was 1:55.
The rolling start caused Lee to get the jitters having not been in the front seat for a month or so, none the less after losing out on the start to a neighbouring pair of K2's who we knew to be much faster we got into our stride.
Portages were ok although I think Matt has them down to a "T" we overtook some slower and then not some slower boats.
Debbie was a welcome sight at Burghfield, two squares of flapjack stuffed in our mouths and we were off again, it was pretty hard to digest but I am sure it worked.
We came up behind John and Katherine from Reading just before Fobney and squeezed past them, encouraging words from Katherine and then Lee sat back in the mud on the put-in some helpful words from John about our rudder being in the mud and we pulled away again.
Shortly after the M4 bridge a faster Reading Junior K2 were on our tail, cat and mouse for the following five or so bends and then they showed the newbies (us) how it is done giving a few paddling tips as they sailed by.
We did keep them in our sights all the way to the finish though and Matt called the last 500m brilliantly, no grunting just driving every last knot out of the boat and us.......
We have just checked the web-site to find that we are third in class and absolutely over the moon, well done Matt who is still suffering from a cold.
1st was 1:43:23 2nd was 1:45:08 and we were 32 seconds behind them!! The new kids on the block are here to stay!
It was great to see Matt's family and Debbie at the finish I am sure this is going to make a huge difference to us on the event.
The sponsorship keeps rolling in thank you all it really spurs us on.
Lee and Matt
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Thameside 1 Aldermaston to Reading Canoe Club
Matt was under the weather for the last two days so my activity was limited to running.
We spent the afternoon in the boat shed with Matthew helping to clean the hull and sand down the nicks in the rudder, we have also lined the area beneath the footplates with aluminium high speed tape to stop our heels wearing through the hull.
A quick call on Matt and he is up for the race tomorrow.
Our record for the course is 1:55 in the club condor, we have not yet run the course in our boat.
Debbie is supporting us tomorrow, and Lee will be skipper so bow down!!
Thank you everybody for your support with the sponsorship rolling in sometimes by the hour, it is fantastic, thank you each and every one of you.
Will post results tomorrow.
We spent the afternoon in the boat shed with Matthew helping to clean the hull and sand down the nicks in the rudder, we have also lined the area beneath the footplates with aluminium high speed tape to stop our heels wearing through the hull.
A quick call on Matt and he is up for the race tomorrow.
Our record for the course is 1:55 in the club condor, we have not yet run the course in our boat.
Debbie is supporting us tomorrow, and Lee will be skipper so bow down!!
Thank you everybody for your support with the sponsorship rolling in sometimes by the hour, it is fantastic, thank you each and every one of you.
Will post results tomorrow.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
The ice man cometh - Never paddle alone!
After a good session in the club gym to shake off the aches and pains from Waterside 1 on Monday night we set off for a K1 single kayak session with other club members at 07:00 this morning.
Dan led the group and sent Matt and Lee off ahead on 6 minute on 2 minute off sprint pieces upstream towards Mapledurham. Lee was behind Matt but keeping close all the way up (known as wash hanging) apart from the last stint before Mapledurham island which Lee led.
However on turning too close to the upstream point of the island (NEVER DO THIS AGAIN LEE) he capsized in very fast flow and found the K1 pinned to the island and pushed under the water, the rest of the squad assembled afloat nearby to ensure Lee was OK. Thanks to Amo who shouted not to let go of the paddle which was quite a task as Lee was treading water while trying to prevent the canoe being swept downstream beside the island.
After a few minutes Lee scrambled onto the island, having emptied the canoe of water and was able to put back in on the opposite downstream bank below the overhanging trees, grateful to have been part of a group. Amo helpfully remarked as he was paddling away to "never do that again"
Matt and Lee pushed on back to the club, the cold set in however and Lee was shaking despite being dressed for the conditions, Matt kindly put the boats away while Lee got back to temperature after 10 minutes under the club showers.
Having thanked the squad when the y were back in the changing room for waiting, it seemed a mandatory happening; "think nothing of it", "letting you die would have been a nightmare on account of all the paperwork" like climbing incidents there are some situations your team mates do not walk away from, for his part Lee was glad for the support and level headed advice from more experienced paddlers.
The result one broken rear light, but back to paddle another day.
Dan led the group and sent Matt and Lee off ahead on 6 minute on 2 minute off sprint pieces upstream towards Mapledurham. Lee was behind Matt but keeping close all the way up (known as wash hanging) apart from the last stint before Mapledurham island which Lee led.
However on turning too close to the upstream point of the island (NEVER DO THIS AGAIN LEE) he capsized in very fast flow and found the K1 pinned to the island and pushed under the water, the rest of the squad assembled afloat nearby to ensure Lee was OK. Thanks to Amo who shouted not to let go of the paddle which was quite a task as Lee was treading water while trying to prevent the canoe being swept downstream beside the island.
After a few minutes Lee scrambled onto the island, having emptied the canoe of water and was able to put back in on the opposite downstream bank below the overhanging trees, grateful to have been part of a group. Amo helpfully remarked as he was paddling away to "never do that again"
Matt and Lee pushed on back to the club, the cold set in however and Lee was shaking despite being dressed for the conditions, Matt kindly put the boats away while Lee got back to temperature after 10 minutes under the club showers.
Having thanked the squad when the y were back in the changing room for waiting, it seemed a mandatory happening; "think nothing of it", "letting you die would have been a nightmare on account of all the paperwork" like climbing incidents there are some situations your team mates do not walk away from, for his part Lee was glad for the support and level headed advice from more experienced paddlers.
The result one broken rear light, but back to paddle another day.
Friends like these
You work your socks off on Sunday, to give your helm the glory of crossing the line in a creditable position and ask for photos for the blog.......
Then you get an e-mail asking for 6 differences between the two pictures below! Answers in the "post a reply box below please, the best one will win a prize from the Help for Heroes website........
Then you get an e-mail asking for 6 differences between the two pictures below! Answers in the "post a reply box below please, the best one will win a prize from the Help for Heroes website........
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Waterside A - Race day is here
After a good bowl of porridge Lee drove over to Matt's to load up the Condor, Matt's wife Mel was kindly supporting us today, along with Tilly their labrador.
Great Bedwyn was absolutely mobbed with cars, boats etc. Lee checked in and the nerves kicked in, the start seemed quite sedate, just paddle up to the starter and they would release you after noting your number, we were boat No 192.
After wishing other Reading crews well, the time was upon us to push on, we were held on the line for 20 seconds then GO..................
We were using the new winged paddles and they were noticably heavier and seemed to offer more resistance (perhaps power) than our usual blades, we were soon catching a solitary K1 whose support crew proceeded to feed him at the only place to put back in! once we were underway we caught and passed him at the next portage, and that was the pattern set for most of the race, we think just 5 or so boats passed us and we passed many more than that.
We had a tussle with 3 junior K2's who leap frogged us at one portage, us doing the same to them the next then back again and finally we pulled away on account of Matt's charging efforts at the portage, the girl's crew were kind enough to compliment us on the our nice wake pattern!
Good camaraderie ensued however the portages were where it was won or lost and we soon upped our game in this department, exiting quickly and running smoothly leap frogging crews at most portages, I could tell we were both maxing out as the banter stops and the breathing became laboured.
We met a meandering K1 who would not keep to a line as Matt tried both sides to overtake, eventually an unfortunate collision directed him towards a fallen tree across the canal which he paddled into and had to back up and we managed to paddle on relatively unscathed after some backing up.
Melissa at Kintbury was a welcome sight, although no time to stop and chat...we rushed on through this
portage.
Finally a Canadian Double shouted "it's a mile to go", we upped our pace and raced into Newbury, the final portage was fun with a more experienced crew trying to trick us into clearing the put in area, Matt was having none of it although they did get ahead, the river flows in through a quite narrow area in the centre of Newbury which was very turbulent, still there were hundreds of faces at the end and the horn a welcome end to what was a very hard first race.
We had finished in 2:08:55 and were delighted with this result, which was 12th place in the Veteran group and would have been 6th in the Senior (younger) group! not bad considering we have not yet reached our first paddling anniversary, having firset set foot in a boat at Reading Canoe Club in July last year.
Eyes down for next weekend the Thameside 1 race in our back yard......let's hope the forecast cold weather does not bring any more ice.
That's all folks I am off to bed!
Great Bedwyn was absolutely mobbed with cars, boats etc. Lee checked in and the nerves kicked in, the start seemed quite sedate, just paddle up to the starter and they would release you after noting your number, we were boat No 192.
After wishing other Reading crews well, the time was upon us to push on, we were held on the line for 20 seconds then GO..................
We were using the new winged paddles and they were noticably heavier and seemed to offer more resistance (perhaps power) than our usual blades, we were soon catching a solitary K1 whose support crew proceeded to feed him at the only place to put back in! once we were underway we caught and passed him at the next portage, and that was the pattern set for most of the race, we think just 5 or so boats passed us and we passed many more than that.
We had a tussle with 3 junior K2's who leap frogged us at one portage, us doing the same to them the next then back again and finally we pulled away on account of Matt's charging efforts at the portage, the girl's crew were kind enough to compliment us on the our nice wake pattern!
Good camaraderie ensued however the portages were where it was won or lost and we soon upped our game in this department, exiting quickly and running smoothly leap frogging crews at most portages, I could tell we were both maxing out as the banter stops and the breathing became laboured.
We met a meandering K1 who would not keep to a line as Matt tried both sides to overtake, eventually an unfortunate collision directed him towards a fallen tree across the canal which he paddled into and had to back up and we managed to paddle on relatively unscathed after some backing up.
Melissa at Kintbury was a welcome sight, although no time to stop and chat...we rushed on through this
portage.
Finally a Canadian Double shouted "it's a mile to go", we upped our pace and raced into Newbury, the final portage was fun with a more experienced crew trying to trick us into clearing the put in area, Matt was having none of it although they did get ahead, the river flows in through a quite narrow area in the centre of Newbury which was very turbulent, still there were hundreds of faces at the end and the horn a welcome end to what was a very hard first race.
We had finished in 2:08:55 and were delighted with this result, which was 12th place in the Veteran group and would have been 6th in the Senior (younger) group! not bad considering we have not yet reached our first paddling anniversary, having firset set foot in a boat at Reading Canoe Club in July last year.
Eyes down for next weekend the Thameside 1 race in our back yard......let's hope the forecast cold weather does not bring any more ice.
That's all folks I am off to bed!
Saturday, 6 February 2010
She's back......
Matt picked up the condor from Marsport on Friday, with the footplates re-bonded to the hull, we decided on account of all the rowers to head downstream to Sonning lock cut and return back to the club.
The boat ran well and the flow was noticably slower than recent outings, none the less the turn came up in no time and we started the long hard slog back up against the current.
We pulled in just as the main club group were leaving for their session in a time of 1:00:00 dead, not bad for us and more importantly the footplate held, so no worries there.
Matt and I proceeded upstream with several practice starts to give us some practice ahead of tomorrows Waterside A race.
On the way home Matt called with the news that out paddles had water inside them and Lee's blades were twisting (DISASTER)! I scooted back to Matt's then on to Marsport who kindly set up a new set of carbon wings for us and loaned Lee the two part epoxy glue which in their words was so much better than the hot melt sh*t which had failed on us.
Lee repaired our two Elio Competition IV wings and left them to dry overnight, early to bed to prepare for the first races (sorry training run) tomorrow.
The boat ran well and the flow was noticably slower than recent outings, none the less the turn came up in no time and we started the long hard slog back up against the current.
We pulled in just as the main club group were leaving for their session in a time of 1:00:00 dead, not bad for us and more importantly the footplate held, so no worries there.
Matt and I proceeded upstream with several practice starts to give us some practice ahead of tomorrows Waterside A race.
On the way home Matt called with the news that out paddles had water inside them and Lee's blades were twisting (DISASTER)! I scooted back to Matt's then on to Marsport who kindly set up a new set of carbon wings for us and loaned Lee the two part epoxy glue which in their words was so much better than the hot melt sh*t which had failed on us.
Lee repaired our two Elio Competition IV wings and left them to dry overnight, early to bed to prepare for the first races (sorry training run) tomorrow.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
On the right track, road, footpath..........
Lots of participants in the race have said that the paddlers have the easy bit, i.e. it is much more straightforward in the boat, than supporting from the bank.
Our support crew spent yesterday driving the length of the canal from Devizes to Reading checking all the portage points and getting familiar with the road route. We are being supported by our long suffering wives; Melissa and Debbie and an able willing bunch of supporters, who will, feed, water, re-clothe, encourage, motivate, berate, admonish us for missbehaviour or slow paddling! It is a mammoth operation as we are two hungry boys that love a drink!
With much regret the Shiraz is now isotonic carbohydrate sports drink and the Chateaubriand replaced with bite sized flapjacks and other high carbohydrate morsels........oh what joy, still the weight is still falling off and the colateral benefits are worth it ;-)
Our attention in the boat turns to the weekend and the first Waterside race from Great Bedwyn to Newbury.
We have had some good news from Marsport in that our ultra light Condor is repaired and will be back with us on Friday, in time for a set up outing / training session on Saturday and race day Sunday.
More news to follow.
Our support crew spent yesterday driving the length of the canal from Devizes to Reading checking all the portage points and getting familiar with the road route. We are being supported by our long suffering wives; Melissa and Debbie and an able willing bunch of supporters, who will, feed, water, re-clothe, encourage, motivate, berate, admonish us for missbehaviour or slow paddling! It is a mammoth operation as we are two hungry boys that love a drink!
With much regret the Shiraz is now isotonic carbohydrate sports drink and the Chateaubriand replaced with bite sized flapjacks and other high carbohydrate morsels........oh what joy, still the weight is still falling off and the colateral benefits are worth it ;-)
Our attention in the boat turns to the weekend and the first Waterside race from Great Bedwyn to Newbury.
We have had some good news from Marsport in that our ultra light Condor is repaired and will be back with us on Friday, in time for a set up outing / training session on Saturday and race day Sunday.
More news to follow.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
I'll take mine on the rocks
After several sessions in the gym this week and running our attention turned back to the river this weekend.
Marsport had loaned us a new Condor K2 in bright red! the construction was heavier than ours but we felt that would add to the training effect.....
Saturday we took the red arrow up river to Mapledurham and back doing a couple of loops of the islands below Caversham Bridge, we had a pretty good run and were pleased with the session.
Sunday morning we had elected to do a section of the canal from Colthorpe to the Thames and heading back up to the club. As we approached Colthorpe Matt's car indicated we were still at -5 C and after finding the canal access through an industrial estate found the canal frozen over, the water bailiff arrived and suggested we head downstream at least a mile or so to leave the ice behind.
We eventually reached our usual launch site at Aldermaston and launched there, barely had we passed the first lock the fun started with teh ice which was almost blocking the canal, with care we broke our way around the edge and made the next lock, beneath this lock however we found ourselves stuck fast, we left the boat by scrambling over a frozen reed bed and eventually hauled the boat ashore and we jogged downstream until the next lock. This pattern carried on for a couple of locks.
As our wake reached the bank in places you could hear the ice cracking alongside the banks of the canal.
Eventually after the M4 bridge we hit a larger section of ice having just passed some DW lookalikes heading upstream, we were cutting the corner as the rounded the bend but Matt soon had the boat back on our side of the road!
We finished what was a very difficult haul upstream section on the Thames in just over 2hours and 10 minutes, which we did not consider too bad as we had been hauling ourselves along the bank through the ice.
One week today as I type we will have finished our first proper race the Waterside 1 race, report to follow.
Simon Jeffs has come up trumps again with the loan of more kit for the race some twenty odd drinking bottles and other must have gadgets. Debbie was with me this afternoon and we now have a full set of OS maps for the course length.
Our devoted support crew are off on Tuesday to drive the length of the canal to see it for themselves for the first time.
We are hoping that our boat is back in time repaired for the weekend.
Marsport had loaned us a new Condor K2 in bright red! the construction was heavier than ours but we felt that would add to the training effect.....
Saturday we took the red arrow up river to Mapledurham and back doing a couple of loops of the islands below Caversham Bridge, we had a pretty good run and were pleased with the session.
Sunday morning we had elected to do a section of the canal from Colthorpe to the Thames and heading back up to the club. As we approached Colthorpe Matt's car indicated we were still at -5 C and after finding the canal access through an industrial estate found the canal frozen over, the water bailiff arrived and suggested we head downstream at least a mile or so to leave the ice behind.
We eventually reached our usual launch site at Aldermaston and launched there, barely had we passed the first lock the fun started with teh ice which was almost blocking the canal, with care we broke our way around the edge and made the next lock, beneath this lock however we found ourselves stuck fast, we left the boat by scrambling over a frozen reed bed and eventually hauled the boat ashore and we jogged downstream until the next lock. This pattern carried on for a couple of locks.
As our wake reached the bank in places you could hear the ice cracking alongside the banks of the canal.
Eventually after the M4 bridge we hit a larger section of ice having just passed some DW lookalikes heading upstream, we were cutting the corner as the rounded the bend but Matt soon had the boat back on our side of the road!
We finished what was a very difficult haul upstream section on the Thames in just over 2hours and 10 minutes, which we did not consider too bad as we had been hauling ourselves along the bank through the ice.
One week today as I type we will have finished our first proper race the Waterside 1 race, report to follow.
Simon Jeffs has come up trumps again with the loan of more kit for the race some twenty odd drinking bottles and other must have gadgets. Debbie was with me this afternoon and we now have a full set of OS maps for the course length.
Our devoted support crew are off on Tuesday to drive the length of the canal to see it for themselves for the first time.
We are hoping that our boat is back in time repaired for the weekend.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Breaking plates
First run out since the repair this week, Matt and I were planning a run down to Sonning Lock and then return to the club.
We made incredible speed down stream although the boat was quite unstable at times as the river was flowing as fast as we have seen it, we were speeding past joggers on the bank. At times the boat was grabbed by eddies and currents slewing it around in the stream.
We made a long slow turn just above Sonning Lock, then headed back upstream the stream was now dead against us and making any sort of progress was difficult, there were sections in the Dreadnought Reach where Matt moved the boat into the stream and we momentarily stopped paddling to keep our balance which resulted in us being pushed immediately downstream!
Then came the sickening feeling that the rear foot plate had come adrift!
We had a long portage at Reading lock and then hauled ourselves along the Caversham reach to the club, once the boat was in the rack it was clear that whilst the new repair was ok the sliding footplate mechanism had broken away from the fiberglass support brackets. We were both extremely dissappointed to say the least.
Lee took the boat back to Marsport who are doing their best to get the boat repaired and back to us by the weekend.
We had 9.2 mph averages downstream max speed 10.8 mph upstream thes speeds were halved.
Saturday night was spent planning the support for he upcoming support races and the DW itself.
Sunday morning Matt and Lee in the absence of a working boat did a 1.5 hour pyramid session on the ergo.
So whilst the fitness is improving we both miss time on the water.
We made incredible speed down stream although the boat was quite unstable at times as the river was flowing as fast as we have seen it, we were speeding past joggers on the bank. At times the boat was grabbed by eddies and currents slewing it around in the stream.
We made a long slow turn just above Sonning Lock, then headed back upstream the stream was now dead against us and making any sort of progress was difficult, there were sections in the Dreadnought Reach where Matt moved the boat into the stream and we momentarily stopped paddling to keep our balance which resulted in us being pushed immediately downstream!
Then came the sickening feeling that the rear foot plate had come adrift!
We had a long portage at Reading lock and then hauled ourselves along the Caversham reach to the club, once the boat was in the rack it was clear that whilst the new repair was ok the sliding footplate mechanism had broken away from the fiberglass support brackets. We were both extremely dissappointed to say the least.
Lee took the boat back to Marsport who are doing their best to get the boat repaired and back to us by the weekend.
We had 9.2 mph averages downstream max speed 10.8 mph upstream thes speeds were halved.
Saturday night was spent planning the support for he upcoming support races and the DW itself.
Sunday morning Matt and Lee in the absence of a working boat did a 1.5 hour pyramid session on the ergo.
So whilst the fitness is improving we both miss time on the water.
Friday, 22 January 2010
She's back in the rack
Thanks to Matt's endeavours this week, the broken footplate mounts have been repaired at a local boat yard and the front plate mounts beefed up too. The boat is now back in the rack at the club ready for the weekend.
Opportunities to spot TWO MEN IN A BOAT this coming weekend:
Saturday a.m. 08:00 Reading Canoe Club to Sonning Lock return
Saturday evening Support crew meeting in Caversham, setting the plan
Sunday a.m. 08:00 RCC to Marlow on way (down!)
Probably a stop in at Marsport too to pick up some more kit and discuss the spares kit which we will need for the race.
Opportunities to spot TWO MEN IN A BOAT this coming weekend:
Saturday a.m. 08:00 Reading Canoe Club to Sonning Lock return
Saturday evening Support crew meeting in Caversham, setting the plan
Sunday a.m. 08:00 RCC to Marlow on way (down!)
Probably a stop in at Marsport too to pick up some more kit and discuss the spares kit which we will need for the race.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Circuits & Pyramids
Monday night was circuit night at the Club, led by Brian, following a routine on sequential pieces of apparatus / stations of 40 seconds on 20 seconds off/change for half an hour, then 30 on 30 off for 20 minutes then 30 change 30 for 10 minutes then weights up for some of the same. Matt was doing really well on the pull ups, like the original ape man swinging on the bars, he is now up to 10 or so pull ups, I cannot do one yet or my excuse is that my personal trainer advises against them.
We used all the weights in the gym and there were four core exercise stations (swiss ball, medicine ball, large free weight (10kg) for twists etc. and lunges)
Tuesday morning early we were back on the ergos for a pyramid session of over 1 hour, sweating profusely by the end but at least now the heart rate drops faster than previously which a good sign unless it hits zero.........
Note to Lee remember to pack a full work outfit for post exercise, as temporarily he joined 42 Commando today!!!
Beating the streets tomorrow, back to running, snow permitting.
Matt has taken the boat off to a specialist repairers / boatyard to get the footplate brackets bonded back into the hull so hopefully we will be waterborne again by the weekend.
Our support crews are showing signs of life too as they wake from their winter hibernation......
We used all the weights in the gym and there were four core exercise stations (swiss ball, medicine ball, large free weight (10kg) for twists etc. and lunges)
Tuesday morning early we were back on the ergos for a pyramid session of over 1 hour, sweating profusely by the end but at least now the heart rate drops faster than previously which a good sign unless it hits zero.........
Note to Lee remember to pack a full work outfit for post exercise, as temporarily he joined 42 Commando today!!!
Beating the streets tomorrow, back to running, snow permitting.
Matt has taken the boat off to a specialist repairers / boatyard to get the footplate brackets bonded back into the hull so hopefully we will be waterborne again by the weekend.
Our support crews are showing signs of life too as they wake from their winter hibernation......
Monday, 18 January 2010
CREW Number 302
This is our allocated crew number for the race, a quick check on google does not spring up any superstitious hocus pocus!
However there are a few coincidences:
Crew 302 in 2009 DW race were called Matthew and Daniel, one of whom was a Royal Marine, Lee's Dad served in the Royal Marines and Lee's sons are called Matthew and Daniel, of course not forgetting this years boat crew 302 will also have a Matthew paddling it!
However there are a few coincidences:
Crew 302 in 2009 DW race were called Matthew and Daniel, one of whom was a Royal Marine, Lee's Dad served in the Royal Marines and Lee's sons are called Matthew and Daniel, of course not forgetting this years boat crew 302 will also have a Matthew paddling it!
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Help For Heroes - Newsletter
In case we needed reminding why we are pushing ourselves as I was applying savlon to my bleeding hands and other areas not mentionable on a public domain. An e-mail came in from our chosen charity Help For Heroes, you can read it here:
http://sendgold.icuk.eu/display.php?M=53216&C=7c971e59be45bbc025d41099ecff2bc3&S=164&L=3&N=99
http://sendgold.icuk.eu/display.php?M=53216&C=7c971e59be45bbc025d41099ecff2bc3&S=164&L=3&N=99
Downhill all the way Wallingford to Reading Canoe Club
We were kindly offered a lift up to Wallingford for the start of a downstream descent to Reading Canoe Club, we put in just above the medieval arched bridge at Wallingford to be warned by Paul and Tamsin, "make sure you get through the bridge arch and we'll see you on the other side", we made it through and waited for the other three crews to paddle down to us.
Tamsin and Paul thought we would be faster than the rest of the group but the junior crews looked good and as they caught up with us they edged ahead, I stretched the stroke rate a bit and we caught and passed the leading boat and then it was us and the rowers alone all the way to Cleve Lock.
No issues downstream apart from some turbulent stretches, then as we were approaching the portage at Goring Lock I left the boat a meter or so out from the bank and we rolled out of the boat as we tried to move the boat in to the bank. We recovered and had some difficulty emptying the water. There were a few parents who were following the group down and one or two cameras, we will have to see what emerges!!
The river was very fast below Goring Lock, half way down past Beale Park I sensed the boat was less stable although the river was very smooth and wide at this point. At the end of the Whitchurch Lock portage Matt announced that his rear footplate had come off completely, this breakage would be a disaster in the DW and probably race over. We carried on down to Mapledurham and after a very long run through the fields to avoid a difficult put in below the lock pushed on towards the club and home.
The section below Mapledurham around the islands is very fast flowing and the GPS trace showed we hit 11.1 mph on this stretch a boat record! despite no footplate in the back. An uneventful run followed apart from massive waves put up by a motor boat near the fisheries, this sort of practice is what we need for the Tideway in any case.
We finished the 16 miles in 2:02:31 at an average speed of 7.8 mph, compared to earlier traces my average heart rate was up at 147 throughout indicating we were putting in a bit of effort today.
The damage to the boat is concening not least because we do not want to be without it for training and the first Waterside race three weeks today, over to MARSPORT.............
That's all folks, Monday is a weight training session at the club and Tuesday a technique session with Nick Daniels on the Ergo machines, no peace for the wicked!
No issues downstream apart from some turbulent stretches, then as we were approaching the portage at Goring Lock I left the boat a meter or so out from the bank and we rolled out of the boat as we tried to move the boat in to the bank. We recovered and had some difficulty emptying the water. There were a few parents who were following the group down and one or two cameras, we will have to see what emerges!!
The section below Mapledurham around the islands is very fast flowing and the GPS trace showed we hit 11.1 mph on this stretch a boat record! despite no footplate in the back. An uneventful run followed apart from massive waves put up by a motor boat near the fisheries, this sort of practice is what we need for the Tideway in any case.
We finished the 16 miles in 2:02:31 at an average speed of 7.8 mph, compared to earlier traces my average heart rate was up at 147 throughout indicating we were putting in a bit of effort today.
The damage to the boat is concening not least because we do not want to be without it for training and the first Waterside race three weeks today, over to MARSPORT.............
That's all folks, Monday is a weight training session at the club and Tuesday a technique session with Nick Daniels on the Ergo machines, no peace for the wicked!
Saturday, 16 January 2010
He lost his bottle - Mapledurham Circuit
After much adjustment with the tape measure out in the boat bay we set the Condor up for Lee in the front. The first few hundred meters we were very unstable indeed then after the fisheries island upstream Matt slapped the water and said that he was losing his bottle! Thankfully it was just his drinking bottle and we carried on upstream following an two rowing fours just ahead of us.
We finally got into a steady rhythm and pulled on against the current, there were large waves in places where the wind was whipping up the wake from the rowers coaching boats. We had a good turn at the island below Mapledurham, by good we mean a nice tight arc and kept away from the far bank keeping the K2 mid stream and we banged away back to the club.
Once we had finished the piece and stopped the clock at the club we carried on downstream and practised a few portages, running the boat along the tow path, the only hazard being the ice on the tow paths and the piles of dog doos left by the melting snow.
The temperature was well up from last week anyway and we are going to have a good think about boat positions for the DW over the coming weeks, with Matt just under 12 stone and Lee some 2 1/2 stone heavier.
All set now for a longer downstream run in the morning.
We finally got into a steady rhythm and pulled on against the current, there were large waves in places where the wind was whipping up the wake from the rowers coaching boats. We had a good turn at the island below Mapledurham, by good we mean a nice tight arc and kept away from the far bank keeping the K2 mid stream and we banged away back to the club.
Once we had finished the piece and stopped the clock at the club we carried on downstream and practised a few portages, running the boat along the tow path, the only hazard being the ice on the tow paths and the piles of dog doos left by the melting snow.
The temperature was well up from last week anyway and we are going to have a good think about boat positions for the DW over the coming weeks, with Matt just under 12 stone and Lee some 2 1/2 stone heavier.
All set now for a longer downstream run in the morning.
Friday, 15 January 2010
Get behind the boys - Outlook for the weekend
We are working on some ideas to publicise our endeavour as we would like to exceed our target for the Help For heores charity, any followers feel free to let us know what you would like to see here also any ideas for fund raising greatfully received.
I saw a guy in the paper is getting almost 30,000 followers to his blog which is a transcript of his sleep talking meanderings, some quite raunchy, well here goes from last night at 01:30:
"paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle, that's it Matt were catching them................"
Weekend options to view the Two Men in a Boat Duo:
07:45 Saturday Reading Canoe Club - Mapledurham circuits
07:00 Saturday possibly Wallington upriver to RCC or RCC down to Marlow 16 or 18 miles
If you feel like coming out to support that would be great.
I saw a guy in the paper is getting almost 30,000 followers to his blog which is a transcript of his sleep talking meanderings, some quite raunchy, well here goes from last night at 01:30:
"paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle, that's it Matt were catching them................"
Weekend options to view the Two Men in a Boat Duo:
07:45 Saturday Reading Canoe Club - Mapledurham circuits
07:00 Saturday possibly Wallington upriver to RCC or RCC down to Marlow 16 or 18 miles
If you feel like coming out to support that would be great.
Hello to a new follower!
Great to see someone else has joined the blog to keep big Gavin from Suffolk company!
Sunday, 10 January 2010
It's snow fun anymore
After a quick dash over to Matt's in the snow we got launched, well Matt prepared the boat whilst Lee faffed around with his kit before climbing into the rear cockpit.
We set off to reach Pangbourne, and return. The temperature was a few degrees warmer than yesterday and there was no ice forming on the boat or us! Lee was using poggies vs. gloves which are wind proof nylon bags which fit onto the paddle into which you place your bare hands and therefore still retain the feel of the paddle.
We elected to do the long portage at Mapledurham lock as the lock cut was iced over and the weir pool was still turbulent below the lock.
The 300 odd metre run in the snow was amusing, after running the lock we put back in toward the end of the pontoon as the upstream lock cut was heavily iced over too. Lee got in first taking a mass of snow into the cockpit as he slid off the side into the boat.
Upstream the Pangbourne pound was quite high, holding more water than we had experinced before, we made short work of the run to the bridge and were quickly turning for the return leg.
After Mapledurham lock downstream we met with the club paddlers who were looping the island, although they were in front of us we kept pace with the good club paddlers in K2s which was pleasing although they turned back upstream so we did not have chance to race back so raced on ourselves instead.
We were pleased with the time of 01:48:43 at an average speed of 6.3 mph which is a whole 0.1 mph faster than our previous best, our max speed was 9.2 mph on the return leg and we burnt almost 1,000 calories. We were pleased with the time as we felt that we were not pushing too hard and the freezing conditions were against us.
Lee is off to sunnier climes for a few days with work leaving Matt to his own devices at the club.
We are now focussed on our first Waterside Race, Waterside A on Sunday 7th February so just three weekends to practise.....
We set off to reach Pangbourne, and return. The temperature was a few degrees warmer than yesterday and there was no ice forming on the boat or us! Lee was using poggies vs. gloves which are wind proof nylon bags which fit onto the paddle into which you place your bare hands and therefore still retain the feel of the paddle.
We elected to do the long portage at Mapledurham lock as the lock cut was iced over and the weir pool was still turbulent below the lock.
The 300 odd metre run in the snow was amusing, after running the lock we put back in toward the end of the pontoon as the upstream lock cut was heavily iced over too. Lee got in first taking a mass of snow into the cockpit as he slid off the side into the boat.
Upstream the Pangbourne pound was quite high, holding more water than we had experinced before, we made short work of the run to the bridge and were quickly turning for the return leg.
After Mapledurham lock downstream we met with the club paddlers who were looping the island, although they were in front of us we kept pace with the good club paddlers in K2s which was pleasing although they turned back upstream so we did not have chance to race back so raced on ourselves instead.
We were pleased with the time of 01:48:43 at an average speed of 6.3 mph which is a whole 0.1 mph faster than our previous best, our max speed was 9.2 mph on the return leg and we burnt almost 1,000 calories. We were pleased with the time as we felt that we were not pushing too hard and the freezing conditions were against us.
Lee is off to sunnier climes for a few days with work leaving Matt to his own devices at the club.
We are now focussed on our first Waterside Race, Waterside A on Sunday 7th February so just three weekends to practise.....
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Icebergs and Ducks
Should have been the only things in the river today.
An adventurous first outing in the snow following our return from holiday. We elected to do the Mapledurham circuit this morning on account of the freezing temperatures. After pushing off within minutes ice was forming on the paddle shafts and top side of the Condor deck, Matt's lifejacket back was a block of ice, my hands were like ice despite the neoprene gloves.
We pushed on up to Mapledurham and back to the club, the strap on my Garmin broke so no data on the run.
Back at the club the main Saturday group were preparing to go out, in the boat bay we spent time chipping the ice off the boat, racked it up and headed back up to Matt's for a coffee.
We need to keep practicing despite the conditions, in 2008 the Easter weekend was notable because of snow, so we need to expect all weathers............
It's good to be back! Despite the frost bite (my fingers are still tingling from yesterday typing Sunday p.m.)
An adventurous first outing in the snow following our return from holiday. We elected to do the Mapledurham circuit this morning on account of the freezing temperatures. After pushing off within minutes ice was forming on the paddle shafts and top side of the Condor deck, Matt's lifejacket back was a block of ice, my hands were like ice despite the neoprene gloves.
We pushed on up to Mapledurham and back to the club, the strap on my Garmin broke so no data on the run.
Back at the club the main Saturday group were preparing to go out, in the boat bay we spent time chipping the ice off the boat, racked it up and headed back up to Matt's for a coffee.
We need to keep practicing despite the conditions, in 2008 the Easter weekend was notable because of snow, so we need to expect all weathers............
It's good to be back! Despite the frost bite (my fingers are still tingling from yesterday typing Sunday p.m.)
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