Hello Everyone On Sunday, 10 August 2014 my 2* river trip is going to run from Harrold Bridge to Sharnbrook weir. The paddle is open to all those who have their one star and above which means that everyone should at least be able to wet-exit if necessary. Timings: Meet up at Harrold at 11.30 am and we should be finished by around 3.30 - 4.00 pm - depending on various factors outlined later on. How to get there - Harrold is 10 miles North West of Bedford. Take the A 428 north-west from Bedford. At Turvey turn right onto Carlton Road and then at the crossroads at Chelington turn left. The launch site is at the bridge as you enter Harrold. For those with a SatNav a nearby postcode is MK43 7DS. As this is a one way trip we will need to shuttle to Sharnbrook Mill - for those with a SatNav a nearby postcode is MK44 1NP (Sharnbrook Mill Theatre). Please ensure you know where you are going and dont rely on following other people as this could result in you losing them and getting lost yourself which then causes delays. Historically this has happened. IMPORTANT If its sunny and hot then there are a few summer essentials required which I have listed below. FLUIDS - an absolute must in hot weather to keep up hydration levels. Water is preferable but whatever else floats your boat - coconut water is great for replacing electrolytes for those of you that get a sweat on! PACKED LUNCH - Please ensure this is in a dri-bag or water-proof box. Food is essential for keeping blood sugar balanced and energy levels buoyant. SUN SCREEN is really important in the summer so please bring some with you. Caribbean Blue or Green People are my personal favourites but whatever works for you is better than nothing! Im a firm believer of never putting anything on your skin that you cant put in your mouth! A HAT - I wear my safety helmet at all times but I know that when we are pootling along and not flying over weirs, some of you like to let what bit of hair youve got left, down, in which case be mindful of burning your pate - Craig Becconsall - and remember to bring a hat for extra protection. Ladies, this is a rare opportunity to make a fashion statement, regardless of a bald pate! M & S usually have some lovely floppy hats in the sale at this time of the year! SUMMER PADDLING KIT - this is the middle of August so I am expecting the weather to be reasonably warm, I hope, but this is also Britain so always expect the unexpected and check the weather forecast on the day to help determine the appropriate kit for you. Suggested Launch Site - The launch site is at the bridge as you enter Harrold and getting in at Harrold is easy. There is an off-road car park by the bridge and next to the Country Park and a short walk from here will take you to river but please, nobody get on the water until I have delivered the safety talk. General Description and Awareness of Possible Hazards - This paddle is a short but nonetheless picturesque route. For those of you interested in wildlife, along the riverbank you may see kingfishers, lots of swans, various reed warblers and if youre lucky, seals! Watch out for overly inquisitive dogs having a dip in the water at this time of the year and dont approach them as they could have you tipping out of your kayak - the same goes for cows! The water is very clear if not in flood and you may even spot some fish. It takes about an hour at an easy pace to reach Felmersham and there are no portages, which is a bonus. Beware of lunatic Swans - they do exist and can be quite aggressive if caught having an off-day. The same goes for fishermen who are out in full force at this time of the year and can also be quite aggressive if they are having a bad day. Be on the lookout for stray fishing tackle which is more prevalent at this time of the year and is difficult to see when it is tangled up in trees. Id rather no one gets garrotted please. Over hanging trees are also a problem and should be avoided wherever possible - no romantic notions of paddling underneath a Weeping Willow with a cadburys flake when there is a possibility that you could have your eye taken out or catch your paddle and end up falling in. Theres nothing worse than a soggy flake. Strainers should be avoided at the cost of life. If a hazard is encountered, please communicate to your fellow paddlers at all times. We will have a rest at Felmersham where we can ensure we are fed and watered and also have a toilet break although it might be best to pee in the river at this time of year - Ive perfected a technique for this when I miss a roll! For the historians among you, the five arched bridge was built in 1818 and can be covered during flood times. The only weir on this journey is shortly after the bridge. Sammy or Richard will check if it is safe to run so safety helmets at the ready if it is, but if you would rather not, then you will need to get out on the RIGHT and portage round the weir, which is a near vertical drop of about 5 feet. Anyone with a strong fear of death should not attempt this without carefully thinking it through. Estimated time of arrival in Sharnbrook should be between 3.30 pm - 4.00 pm but remember that we can only go as fast as the slowest paddler so please be mindful of this. Other factors to consider are if anyone decides to play hide and seek - we should all be watching out for each other so as long as we are aware of this, it shouldnt be a problem. We could also be hindered by the number of times I am forced to stop and blow my whistle because of any errant paddlers in the group. Naming and shaming lno one but you know who you are. If we have a drought and the river dries up, or alternatively we have lots of the rain and floods, then the paddle will be postponed. Boats and kit can no longer be hired from Sammy because she hasnt got any! Please let Sammy know if youre thinking of going and then she knows who to contact if plans change. This should be a fun paddle and not too taxing. Hopefully we will all have enough energy for a play at some point which is always a marvellous opportunity for some of us to perfect our paddling, or even peeing skills, such as rolling, for example. I look forward to seeing you! Denise
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:08:56 +0000
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