Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MarlowCanoeClub 136 21jun12
MarlowCanoeClub 136 21jun12
EDITORIAL
Well what a weird summer we are having. Will it ever stop raining? The river Thames has been in full flow and at times it has caught a few people out. Be careful out there paddlers.
6 Asmat canoe
If you want to keep receiving a copy of the newsletter through the post then you had better be prepared to grovel most humbly. A fascinating, sublimely researched, indepth analysis of the pros-and-cons of stand up paddleboard. What your committee gets up to whilst we lounge around in smoking jackets sipping single malts, all on club expenses. Look folks, two old boys are required, one salted and the other not, err, so old. Rumour has it that something is going on this summer down at Dorney Lake, but who cares, this is all you need.
16 Calendar
But for the whitewater peeps it has been just heavenly, with gates open and weirs at full gush. All good practice for those club-exclusive Nene sessions in April and June this year as shown by our centre pages. Not to be out-done by the whitewater action, we have reports on canal and river tours too. The committee has responded to accusations of being an old boys club by officially adopting the title, so there! We have decided to stop automatically posting newsletters out to members. Sorry about that but, with our growing membership and increasing postal charges, we had no option really. Paper copies will always be available in the clubhouse and should still be posted to those that specifically request it. See the article on page 12 for details.
COVER PHOTO
The cover photograph for this newsletter was supplied by Adrian Cooper and it entitled "One of the minigorges on the Tees in County Durham".
TOURING
TOURING
Ancient and modern housing
4
The next point of interest is the aqueduct over the North Circular Road. Perhaps bridge building technology was not at its peak, or maybe later road widening schemes were responsible, but the canal is divided for the duration of the crossing and sports the old Middlesex County shield at either end.
Now its wall to wall industrial premises pretty much all the way in. Occasionally a cul-desac stops just short of the towpath giving people access to a corridor of relative calm so different from the world just a few hundred metres away. At times its like a man made valley. Considering much of the architecture most of this must have been there when I did my bike trip but I didnt notice it. A recycling plant manages to lend a heavy aroma to a dull atmosphere which suits the grey waters and still naked trees. Acton Lane Power Station is now just a major substation and the cooling towers we looked up through on a junior school trip have long since gone. Before its demolition it was used as a set for a number of high profile films, the AXIS CHEMICAL works in the 1989 BATMAN movie being one.
Little Venice
There is not much change now and a determination to see it through to Little Venice sees us past the Old Oak Common freight yards and the old great Western Railway, unseen but not unheard. Kensington Gas Works sits on a little elbow of land twixt canal and railway, with the vast Kensal Green Cemetery on the opposite bank and then there is another Sainsburys. I cant remember what this one is built on! A recent development on the South Bank contrasts starkly with a tenement row on the Harrow Road. The canal is beginning to brighten a little, the new developments seeming better suited to the scenery than the older more sombre 1800s housing, one notable
TOURING
exception being the Grand Union pub, which sports more black than a miserable undertakers. There are a lot of people out, mainly taking mums out somewhere (or bringing them back), as we paddle under the Harrow Road and Westbourne Terrace into Little Venice. Maida Hill tunnel The sun comes out and once we are assured the group is safely on the bank for lunch Jason and I go for a little excursion into the Maida Hill Tunnel. We dont go in far as weve no lights and on the way out we see the sign that says we shouldnt have gone in at all. Our way back is the same as the way in, but we dont dawdle. The sky is slightly threatening and the wind against us, though it has abated a little, and the pace takes its toll on one of the CPCC members. Jason is kitted out for a sea tow and heroically tows all the way back to the start with some assistance from the towee. A short shower breaks as we disembark at Perivale. Weve done 15 miles at a moving average of just over 3.5 mph and Im glad to be back. To tell the truth Im cream crackered. Would I do it again I dont think so. Ive pedalled it and paddled it and was pleased to have revisited it but its not got the interest that took me there all those years ago probably because I know where it ends. But I might go the other way, past whatevers on the Rockwell Glass Factory these days, Glaxos, Lyons food plant, and the Taylor Woodrow offices and under Spikes Bridge where a kid could play with catapults and air rifles all day and no-one would bat an eyelid. Who knows I might come across another Sainsburys. Care to join me?
CANOEPEDIA
Headhunting by canoe
by Rodney Casbierd
California may claim to be home to the stand-up paddleboard craze, but here is evidence to suggest that its true origins may have been in the Coral Sea. The homeland of the Asmat people of south-west New Guinea consists mainly of densely forested swamps drained by numerous large and small rivers. Canoes are essential to life in the Asmat region, providing the only means of transportation for fishing and food-gathering expeditions, visiting neighbouring communities and, in the past, for embarking on headhunting raids. When paddling the canoes, the paddlers stand erect, skilfully maintaining their balance as they dip the blades in the water.
All large Asmat canoes have carved prows, and those of large communal canoes, such as the one shown above, are especially ornate, adorned with images of ancestors and headhunting symbols. Nearly fifty feet long and capable of carrying twenty people, this canoe was carved by the master woodcarver Chinasapitch of Per village, assisted by other men. The seated figure on the prow depicts his deceased sister Banditis, while the reclining figure represents a young man who had recently been killed by members of an enemy village. So how old do you think this canoe is? 100, 200, 500, maybe one thousand years old? Wrong!!! It dates from the 1960s, scarily recent methinks. So heed my advice and beware if you get a call from a headhunter offering you a new life in New Guinea.
SEA KAYAK
WHITEWATER
Tim Ward makes playing in the main drop look soooooo easy
WHITEWATER
CLUB TOUR
10
CLUB TOUR
11
located here alongside Morrells Brewery. Its about as close as water gets to the centre of Oxford and we considered portaging the weir and paddling down to the river just upstream of Folly Bridge, but it didnt look good so we retraced our way back to the canal. Paddling up (?) the canal I noticed a lot had changed since my lunch time walks of some years ago. Through Jericho (often featured in Morse) the boat builder was now closed although the boat hire centre was still open. A little further on and Lucys foundry was flats. Smart cost a bomb flats that complemented the development on the other side of the canal, occasionally visible over the tops of moored narrow boats and through the trees which were just starting to come into green. Up past Summertown and the development was old school, with gardens running down to the canal, and much more pleasing to the eye. The weather had closed in a little, grey skies and brackish canals dont make for an inspiring view so it was a relief to take a short lunch break at the Plough. The Plough is a pub Ive not visited before and I had an excellent pint of Banks dark bitter, many others had a tipple from the Black Sheep brewery that was equally enjoyable. Some had food and it looked good I understand that the pub has a reputation for good lunches and if I do this trip again Ill not be taking any food with me! But the most unusual thing about the Plough is that it had a Library (bar). Imagine that, just popping down to the Library dear, dont wait up. A good book and a pint (or two) and I might get back into the habit of reading. Lunch over and we are on our way again. There is a lock or two and one of the many balanced drawbridges which are common on this canal to negotiate, and then its under the A34 and A40 to Dukes Lock where we turn West and head back to the River at Kings Weir, encountering a directional signpost on the way. We take the route to the river and are soon at Kings Lock, the last (or first depending on your direction of travel) manually operated lock on the river. The lock keeper sees us all through safely and following a short paddle downstream we cut back into Wolvercote Mill Stream and back to our start point. Its been a nice day out, early enough in the year not to have to bother about hire boats, providing an easy paddle in amiable company. The Clubs touring calendar can be found on the website and a selection of photos can be found on the Clubs FACEBOOK page. Take a look, see what youve missed and maybe come along on the next one.
15 July
Start : Hungerford (SU338687) Finish : Newbury (SU473673) 14 km (9 miles) Relaxed canal paddling with locks, swing bridges and pubs
19 August
Start : Swanwick (SU495093) Finish : Swanwick (SU495093) 16 km (10 miles) A tidal treat in the home of British yachting
Start : Huntingdon (TL245718)Finish : Huntingdon (TL245718) A circular trip on the Great Ouse and its tributaries
13 km (8 miles)
CLUB NEWS
12
Online
By far the simplest way to get the newsletter is just to look at the club website www.marlowcanoeclub.org.uk. Click on the newsletters area and that will take you to the SCRIBD webpages where you can view the current and all past newsletters in full colour.
Yahoo group
If you are a regular user of the club you really should join the clubs Yahoo group. Members of the Yahoo group automatically receive a full colour version of the club Newsletter by email as soon as it is published. To join the Yahoo group simply email Chris Porteous at chrisps@gmail.com.
Personal email
If you fancy receiving the newsletter by email, but do not want to join the Yahoo group, then just email the editor, Rodney Casbierd, at rbcasbierd@yahoo.co.uk. You will then be Bccd a full colour version of the club Newsletter by email as soon as it is published.
CLUB NEWS
Paper newsletter
13
Copies of the paper newsletter, usually including some printed in colour, will always be available in the club-house for collection by members. However for members that want a paper newsletter delivered by post to their home, you should contact the editor, Rodney Casbierd, preferably by email or text message (otherwise a phone call is acceptable, see contact details on page 15), to request that a copy be sent to you. Provided we have your current address in our records, we will post you paper newsletters printed in black and white for the remainder of the membership year. Note that the club reserves the right to ration postal deliveries on a first-come, first-served basis. We hope that you understand this decision and that you continue to enjoy reading the club newsletter now and in the future.
COMMITTEE
14
COMMITTEE
President
Tim Ward 01494 482959 wards@btinternet.com
15
Chairman
Adrian Cooper 01844 344580 adrianccooper@gmail.com
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership
Coaching
Equipment
Newsletter Editor
Rodney Casbierd 07960 900980 rbcasbierd@yahoo.co.uk Vacant
Women's Representative
Catherine Harris harrc014@rbwm.org
Youth Representative
Social Secretary
Whitewater
Touring
Sea
Vacant
1* Course Co-ordinator
Simon Knowles 07786 836012 simonknowles16@googlemail.com
LOCAL RETAILERS
Riverside, Oxford. 01865 248673. http://www.riversideoxford.co.uk Marsport, Reading. 01189 665912. http://www.marsport.co.uk Berkshire Canoes, Reading. 01189 425640. http://www.berkshire-canoes.co.uk WWC, Shepperton. 01932 247978. http://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk Paddlesport, Warwick. 01926 640573. http://www.paddlesport.co.uk
CALENDAR
Monday 2 July
Committee meeting 7.30 pm 9.30 pm, Marlow Donkey PH
16
Tuesday 3 July
Nene trip, 6 pm 9 pm Pool session 7.15 pm 8.15 pm
CLUB SESSIONS
Every Sunday
Doors open at 9.30 am. On the water for 10 am.
Sunday 15 July
Every Tuesday
Doors open at 6.30 pm. On the water for 7 pm.
Saturday 4 August
Pool session 7.15 pm 8.15 pm
POOL SESSION
Once per month
Saturday 7.15 - 8.15 pm, see calendar for dates
Chalfont Leisure Centre, Nicol Road, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9LR. 5 adults, 3 juniors
Only joking
A man gets home from working the night shift one morning and his wife greets him at the door, wearing nothing but a skimpy nightie and a smile. "Tie me up", she says, "and you can do whatever you want!" So he does, and half an hour later he's on the river.
Tuesday 4 September
Nene trip, 6 pm 9 pm Club tour Great Ouse 10 am 4 pm