A bit of Ditching and ice breaking.
On the morning of the 11th of Jan 26 and our 1st paddle of the year 5 of us set out on a paddle just as the canal had defrosted and seemed to be paddle able.
We went upstream to the river Gade, portaging the Batchworth lock and continuing upstream.
Brendan was all about how he can get the hats he has acquired for the club! he bought a bulk load we suspect. Dave pointed out that he wasn’t the best at reading, and a tattoo would have been better. (Hayleigh food for thought next time eh).
As Phillip went to change his craft to a paddle able one and promised to catch us up, we entered the river Gade just below the lock.
upstream and encountering many obstacles we progressed to a swim hole where there was a BBQ and many swimmers socialising.
Further upstream we had another bank portage to return to the canal, and as the water was getting very shallow it was the right call for the Suppers as their fins had grounded out.
Back on the canal we were faced with lots of ice as the pond has no inflow or exit, the water just sits there and freezes.
Soon we had returned to our get in.
We have made plans for a return trip, part of our PERC, Periodic Environmental River Cleanup and CACW campaign from Paddle UK.
We never saw Phillip again until we returned, offering egg and bacon rolls!
Most of all, Today was about getting out there, and paddling, it was a great paddle with great people,
By DH
All our photos are here.