More Bore

Tuesday 19th April Mike H, Sten, Tom P, Chris D, Brian, Martin, Rachel and AndyL accumulated in river . slalom, play and sea kayaks for the float out into the Bay. We aimed to go ‘ further out’ but with 35 minutes to go A very wide 300m and shallow channel grounded us. The drag was declined, so we waited.

The long thin white line was seen afar, which took 15 minutes to reach us. All 10cm of it, but breaking and enough to push us forward, as the channel narrowed, the water more focussed, the wave grew, until soon 30-40cm of fun propelled us onwards. 8 assorted boats surfing on a 150m wave front, spiffing fun. Spins and backwards moves become possible. 35 minutes and almost 4km later, arms flagging, we reached the key corner. drop-off the wave, head right, then resume on a now declining wave. Some of the flow went straight on, to cover low sand, diminishing the power behind the wave, until it simply petered out.

Martin reflected- its quite a complicated thing, as he smiled at his successful ride.

Our guardian Angel a took this pic from afar

Mike H

Not boring bore-ing

Arnside Borewave – Monday 18th April.

As one of the the three first time “Borers” today it was good to see that there were a number of experienced wave riders already in the car park when we rocked up.

The newbies were Julian, Kate and Eric with ChrisD in charge along with Sten, PeteA, TomP, Annette and JohnS. Once we got out past the Point we were heading into quite a stiff breeze, fine for the sea kayaks but Kate was battling a cold (non Covid) and a cold shower every time her Burn nosed into a wave.

The wave arrived, a good one I’m told, and off we went, some happily surfing and others happy to tag along behind and enjoy the ride and the views of the Lakeland Hills in the intermittent sunshine. We were a little concerned as Pete surfed off in the direction of Carnforth at one point but recovered and re-joined the flock. Sten had a little dalliance with the sand but Tom’s bow was close at hand, well just behind his head actually and the situation was quickly recovered.

Talking of joining flocks, as we whizzed along there appeared a flock of gulls standing on the sand directly ahead – now to the uninitiated it didn’t feel right that we should be heading directly, and at some apparent velocity, towards dry land. Those that knew what they were doing; the gulls, lifted off and the other paddlers aimed left. Being the rightest, one soon found oneself where the gulls had been! “Brace on the sand” said Sten, from a safe distance – so I did. “Now move towards me” said Sten from a safe distance – dream on thought I. But soon there was enough water to “move towards me” and all was well.

— Until, a little further on we sort of ran out of water and then found that it was coming at us from all sides, including what felt like from underneath which was a very unnerving sensation when you experience it for the first time. Folks seemed to be going in all directions; face into the wave, but which one? Get ready to brace, but which side? But we were in our trusty, if wobbly craft and eventually the maelstrom subsided and we had a gentle run back into Arnside and the awaiting Bank Holiday crowds.

Just keep your – meant to do that face on, but the crowds weren’t really watching us they just wanted our parking spaces!

Back on dry land the perceived wisdom was that – “that doesn’t normally happen”

’till next time then.

10cc on Coniston.

That’s 10 canoe club members on the April 14th Coniston circumnavigation.
A rerun of the March trip, but hoping for better weather. The afternoon looked best, so we met at Brown Howe carpark at 12.00 for a 12.30 departure.
10 of us away across the lake at 10.40 towards Peel island. Too busy with day trippers to land, we carried on up the lake taking care to avoid the Gondola and the wash from the smaller ferries.
To the head of the lake in an hour and three quarters.
Calm water, intermittent sunshine, warm but not too warm and fantastic views of the hills. What more could you wish for on an afternoon lake paddle.

A break at the Blue Bird cafe for lunch, tea, coffee, a pee , and we were ready for the return leg. 1 hour 30 mins down the west shore brought us back to the car park at Brown Howe.
The only panic of the day was when Ray realised he had forgotten to buy a car park ticket. Lucky fella got away with it.
A perfect paddle with Maggie and Derek, Sten and Angela, John, Annette, Tom, Ray, MarkH and JohnS.

JohnS

Mint Weir

Thursday 7th April Mike H , John H , Brian and Duncan enjoyed 2 hours playing on mint weir 0.42 on the gauge, enough to improve skills.

Flat spins, stern dips, paddle tricks and ho paddle surf. So good for honing technique. Come along next time.

Wibble

Wed6th April The Ribble was on 0.52, medium flow after overnight rain so Mike H , Brian and Pete R sorted a short notice paddle and had a fab time.

Borewave Heaven

Saturday 2nd April

Could The borewave  experience get any better?

A beautiful calm sunny spring day
A very nicely formed  wave, perfectly perpendicular to the channel
A wide wave, providing plenty of room for everyone
A wave easy to get back on if you’d been washed off (not always easy )
A continuous wave, from far out in the bay to the right turn into New barns Bay.

6 regulars and 1 newbie ( Mark M ) assembled on Arnside prom for the gentle paddle out into the bay, a time for a sociable chat and enjoy the scenery. After an hour and a half paddling the bore wave approached us, filling the wide channel with what looked a modest sized wave. But as Mark will testify, it packs a punch and to the uninitiated it can have you over and drag you along making rolling difficult. Mark soon got the hang of surfing the wave and joined in with the fun. It really was a remarkably good bore, here’s to the next one.

Paddlers: Chris , Paul, Mike, Brian , John, Ian and Mark.

4 minutes late

Sunday 3rd April

HW is at 13.34 height 9.56m which mean push off from canal foot at HW -04.00, paddle out into Morecambe bay down the ebbing waters of the Leven estuary until we meet the incoming bore wave at HW -03.00, back past Canal Foot and on through the Leven viaduct to Greenodd by 12.30 HW -01.00 – Simple eh!

Low river water flow, generally leads to an unclear channel with shallow riffles. And so it proved to be. Progress and guess, a blind maze! Glassy water, Big skies,

look for flowing water along a channel or from pool to pool. Only one get out and pull, before we reached Chapel island.

Paddling with Mike

Now where? a 90 degree turn to a hidden channel proved the link to open water, where fortunately one, wide, but deep enough, channel pushed us along for many km. Whats that I hear, louder, louder still, a white line in the distance, Flocks of Eider and Oyster Catcher not bothered.

The line so slow, takes 10 minute s to reach us, a quick surf and it obliges us by melding with the outflow, Brian goes right and catches the edge as the wave reforms. Mike H , John, Annette, Ray less lucky , unable to catch the wave, just float on behind.

Soon back at Chapel island the maze to rewind. Oh no where we walked is now a sand bank. Only one alternative, a bit shallow. A few bongo along the sand, until we are able, in enough water to head back and west. 10 minutes of effort saw us regain the main flow and get zoomed 8kts to Canal foot.

Relax! Unfortunately not, more unpredictability. Go slow, wait for the sand to cover, then a long slide over ploppy clapotis, to ooh that’s rather a wide whirlpool. Go right, but no too far as the viaduct Is close. John sits in a mid river eddy, which takes him too far right. Through the main arch, and some nasty turbulence. All made it.

Oh more maze, no obvious way on, just sand. SO we stop far right and casein the viaduct for view. The channel now filling becomes more obvious. So we gently paddle , speed by the flood tide until we almost catch the tide front at Greenodd, apparently 4 minutes later than planned.

Mike H

Thanks to Angela for pic from canal foot

La’al Paddle from Ravenglass

Saturday 2nd April 2022

Not so La’al – nearly 20km, both the Irt and Mite estuaries up to the A595 bridges and 220 points if we’d have been doing the 2021 Ravenglass Seaquest.

The day started splendidly for some, with freshly baked scones at the La’al Ratty café. In glorious sunshine, the team (Rachel, Martin, Duncan and Annette) unloaded on Ravenglass’ south beach. We launched in to the water flowing down the Esk, then pushed into the Irt flow in the main lagoon. Blue sea and glorious sunshine!

As we drifted northwards we had magnificent views of the snow spattered western fells! To our left was the Drigg nature reserve, but we didn’t see any natterjacks or adders – maybe next time.

Soon we were under the main railway line bridge and in to the narrow River Irt. Spring was blossoming along the wooded banks. Our lunch spot was just after the pack horse bridge, and as always our beach soon disappeared as the tide continued to make its way up the river towards Holmrook. Duncan had the right idea, tethering his boat to a tree. We then continued up the river until we could see the A595 bridge and the water turning. Martin tried valiantly to paddle up the gravel bank by the bridge against the flow.

It was an easy descent back in to the lagoon, where we took a left to go under the main line bridge, in to The Mite estuary. Despite being against the tide, which was now disappearing fast, we managed to get in to the narrow river up as far as The Mill on the A595. In the twisty river we were almost hidden from each other by the increasingly tall banks.

On our return a La’al Ratty steam train came by. We couldn’t resist waving and of course the passengers waved back and we even got a toot and a wave from the driver. How cool is that?

Tide assisted we were soon washed under the bridge and back round to the south beach. The other LCC members, who set off same time as us, were just returning from their paddle up the Esk estuary.

For those not familiar with the the Ravenglass estuaries, you have about 4 hours of water (2 hours either side of high tide) to get up and down one or two estuaries (unless you’re a top Seaquest competitor in which you can do three estuaries, but not as far up The Irt as we went). Views and wildlife are always spectacular and provided it’s not too windy it’s a sheltered safe paddle. Anybody for The Esk next?

Annette