Another Bore-ing Report

Tuesday 12th March 2024
High water Barrow 10.31m at 12:42pm

The highest tide of the year tempted a few club members onto the estuary at Arnside. Time and tide wait for no body, so it was handy that everybody assembled promptly. This allowed the full boring brief to be given in a relaxed way, this was particularly good because we had at least one first timer in the group. We set of on time and as planned at 09:30 a little more than 3 hours before high water Barrow. 

The water was shallow in places, but deep enough to allow us to paddle all the way.  At Blackstone point the channel headed west towards Holm Island after passing little crag we followed it South past Grange then Southwest towards Silverdale. We spotted the Bore at 10:35, by the time we met the incoming tide it was within a couple of minutes of 2 hours before HW Barrow, just as we expected.

I think everybody had different experiences on the ride back in. The channel was poorly defined allowing the incoming tide to spread out across the sands. It had its moments but for most of way back the bore was small and inconsistent. Sometimes forcing the group to split as it was interrupted by shallow sandbars emerging from the mist. It formed and dissipated and felt difficult to stay with, the two in river kayaks having to work extra to stay near the front of the wave.

Only 5 out of 10 for the year’s biggest tide. Still an inspiring and magical thing to do though.

Thanks Rachel, Brian, Conrad, Chris W, and Graeme (who suggested the trip) for joining me.

Sten

Pennine reservoirs

Wednesday 6th March 2024.

Selset and Grassholm reservoir paddle, as part of a winter series organised by Giles and Mike S.

Janice, Dave and George accompanied Giles and Mike on the paddle, initially meeting at Brough.

We launched on Selset Reservoir from what remained of a concrete ramp and proceeded to circumnavigate the reservoir. We explored a number of tributaries, some longer than others. The many birds, Curlews, Lapwings, Geese, Ducks, Seagulls and others I could not identify, not being very knowledgable about birds, the Geese and Seagulls being particularly vocal. It was heartening, and a privilege, to be in such a peacefully remote and relatively wild environment. An overcast, misty day added to the ambiance and sense of remoteness of the day. The reservoirs’ location ensured the water was pristine, especially following a wet February.

We stopped for lunch and congregated under Mike’s large bothy, as there was a chilling wind, and enjoyed lunch and a chat.

After lunch, I looked over the wall expecting to see water on the down stream side of the dam, one was greeted with an expanse of grass, fortunately down a slope! The portage was quite a drag, we dragged the kayaks over the grass, as wheels would have likely been a hindrance, to reach the water, followed by another shorter portage to actually launch onto the river feeding Grassholm.

We paddled the length of Grassholm to the dam, accompanied again by many birds. Traversing the large dam and passing comment on the overfall from the dam, which appeared to have no protection from going over the lip, given that a dinghy sailing club is based on the reservoir. We completed the paddle at the dingy sailing club with an easy egress.

Would I do it again? Maybe, the portages are certainly physically hard work and suit those fitter, dare I say younger, and with lighter kayaks. Plastic recommended, not suited to composite unless carried which may be a better option than dragging a heavy plastic boat, worth a thought, would also have to limit the kit carried. However, there are shallow rocky sections so grounding a composite may not be a good idea. See you next year?

Mike kindly invited us back for coffee and tea, and Jill’s wonderful home baked scones, with butter and local strawberry jam. What a way to round the day.

Thanks yet again to Giles for organising and Mike leading, such an asset to the club.

George W

Beginners WW – Lune

Saturday 9th March 2024

This was the third of four planned sessions for the beginners training.
It was attended by Giles W, Andrea H, Sally S, and Ray C and lead by two trainers Neil G and Mark M  

We put in at Devils Bridge.

The weather wasn’t at its best as we’d hoped for a lovely blue sky and windless conditions…..we got a cold strong wind from the east, grey overcast sky and around 6 degrees!
Water levels were fairly low, we spent a lot of time practising breaking in out, spotting eddy’s and continued consolidation of the previous sessions, but this time a full journey, planned around 10K.
There was a mixture of river conditions, from the flat wide sections to near on dried out sections where we had to get out and walk down some scrapey bits or be kindly pulled down by our intrepid leaders!

The wind was strong enough to push the river boats around and make getting a straightish line pretty difficult ….all the sea kayakers found it interesting compared to the relative ease of steering a sea boat in similar conditions.
As we progressed down the river we encountered a lot more fairly strong flows and some significant eddies in which we practised, moving down one at a time and one paddler left the eddy, the new resident arrived!

There was a swimmer (me) where I misjudged the eddy and got sucked out of it and into the flow. Thanks for the assistance in getting me to shore Neil! 
At this point we were close to the end of the day and Mark had his next river appointment on the Leven.

A very interesting day and a big thanks to Mark and Neil for giving their time, and good advice throughout the day 

Ray C