Shuttleless Weaving

Sunday the 3rd of Feb, 2013

The plans were laid ... Ann wanted to clock up hours in a Canoe in preparation for her Lv2 transfer course later in the year, Lee needed to wet his new canoe now the seats were sorted ... and Mike tagged along to see how much mischief they could get into.

The plot thickened ... over the border in Cheshire another new canoe (and hopefully not it’s paddler) was about to be wet ... a small, coach heavy (all not wearing hats, or only sometimes) party was assembling for a gentle introduction to moving water. Some folk could only do the 10th, some the 3rd ... but the trip was still on for both days ... thanks Red

Where would we meet? ... the car park at Winsford Flash? A pre-paddle coffee, 10:00AM at McD’s Winsford was mooted ... that’s civilized :-) ... settled.

Saturday, pool session at Biddulph, Mike still had a kayak on the car and another in it on Sunday morning ... a mad sort out, kayaks away, canoe on the roof, grab the kit, hope I’ve not forgotten anything.

Just before 9:00AM a call from Lee, he’s arrived and set for off, Ann arrives, Mike grabs the last few things, Ann’s kit is stowed in Mike’s cars and off they go. Lee tags on behind ... we have a convoy.

We get to Winsford Flash with no problems, Mike has looked at Google maps and thinks he can find McD’s, we negotiate the huge roundabout and then a little one ... which we go around ... twice ... but we do make it to McD’s, park up and go in search of coffee and for some of us some food as well.

We see a car arrive with a diminutive canoe on top ... it’s a deep red colour, this must be Red ... wrong it’s Jammy, introductions are made in McD’s and Nikki arrives to briefly say hello before racing back home to discover how many canoes Dris has bought whilst she was out.

Another canoe transporter arrives, the canoe is a green NC Bob special, Lee’s green NCBS has a friend ... this is Red!

Suitably refreshed and warmed we head off to the put in at the Flash, sort out the boats, put on our clobber, at this point Ann & Mike have identical wardrobe misfunctions - splitting the latex seal on one leg of their dry trousers. The plan is to cross the Flash and head up river, as far as we like, and then head back again ... the time constraint is that Ann has to dash off to coach at Cheadle Pool afterwards.

The weather was a bit windy and drizzly for the day ... but it was good ... slightly disconcerting was that the wildlife were calling for BatMan’s assistance before we’d even got as far as the river

It turns out that Red has brought his bow paddler with him, Bannoch

Lee in his pristine Bob Special

Meanwhile Jammy’s 12ft Apache scouts ahead ....

Lee looks far more comfortable in the Special than he did on the Dee in the Burn ...

C’mon Ann ... we’re being left behind ...

Arggh!! ... Lee at ramming speed ... no ... Ann’s about to swap boats on the water ...

Bannoch ... scouting for a good lunch stop ...

Jammy awaits the group ...

Most of the tree falls have been cleared though there are still opportunities to limbo to be found ...

Lunch provides a time to compare boats, specifically Red’s & Lee’s ... both Bob Specials ... but quite different ... at least for now ... I could see Lee running a mental sliderule over the modifications to Red’s canoe. Doesn’t Jammy’s Apache look small ...

Food time ....

Bannoch explores to immediate locality returning frequently to see if anyone had remembered to pack his sandwiches.

... and on we go, eddy hopping up towards the little weir by the EA monitoring station ... Red reduced the accumulated mileage of his canoe a little by paddling backwards.

We get there ... but there is no little weir, the water level is high enough that it’s flooded out. We turn around and paddle back to allow Ann plenty of time to get to Cheadle pool. 

Ann ... where did you get that hat?

An excellent day out ... many thanks to Red for setting it up, Jammy and Ann for joining in and especially to Lee for putting up with all the teasing about his new canoe ... “Lee ... you’ve scratched it!”