Trialling a roof tent on the adventure bus. @JonnyC: Having agreed first refusal, decided to trial the roof tent on the adventure bus. Calendar being full, and an unescapable commitment the Saturday day time pushed us toward a brief overnight camp in the rain. Arriving at dusk, pitching was relatively quick amongst two other vans. The mud and rain made us change our mind on testing the awning. A pleasant evening was had, despite all local wood being too damp to burn (lesson learned, carry a li ...

Another brief paddle after work, cooler conditions but dry and still @JonnyC: On arrival at Tithe Barn, I was greeted by a Kayak trailer which turned out to be a Corsham cub troop intending to go for a paddle when their ticket holder escaped the motorway traffic. We were set up and in the water fairly swiftly, this time heading into the town. Going wasn't as easy due to the shallow waters and volume of reeds, but we managed to navigate. It wasn't long before we were upon the weir, and starting ...

Playtime and technique improvement on the Avon from Tithe Barn, SUP & Canoe @JonnyC: Given the relative proximity of Bradford on Avon to my workplace, a plan was hatched to RV there after work. We launched the SUP and the Canoe and pootled around avoiding the club rowers. Danka and Noemi shared the SUP and took it in turns to be at the helm. Before long they were headed down river and I had to pull fairly hard to catch them. We enjoyed the evening sun as we paddled down to Avoncliff weir, sto ...

Short local SUP in the unusually high tempertures on the Avon from Tithe Barn @JonnyC: With usual Monday plans cancelled due to *extreme temperatures*, and a missed opportunity to paddle with the AL crew the night before, a little convincing and Danka was aboard the adventure bus destined for Saltford shallows with her shiny new SUP aboard. Navigating the roads of Saltford was off-putting enough, let alone seeing the near concert level crowds lining the banks, so, with some difficulty we just drove ...

Fab day with mixed weather and gusty winds on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal

A sunny afternoon practicing paddling in the Pelican before the majority paddled the Canal to the pub

Day 2 of Danka experiencing the K1 on the Thames in mild cloudy weather @JonnyC: Enthused by her positive experience the previous day, there was no waiting for crowds to clear (not that the crowds gathered particularly on the BH Monday), but our compressed timelines for the day limited our water time slightly. We agreed to head upstream to focus on honing some skills, DK practicing her paddling techniques, and JC challenging himself to leave the skeg up and refine his craft handling. Arrival at St ...

Danka's first try in a K1, on the Thames near Lechlede, in mild cloudy weather. @JonnyC: With trepidation about her first k1 experience, DK favoured waiting until the crowds subsided at our wild camp spot / launch spot, which took a while given how busy it was on a Bank Holiday Sunday (the Wharf was stacked full of vehicles the whole time). JC selfishly abandoned the new entrant bankside, so he could stretch his (kayaking) legs. Eventually the crowds subsided and DK took to the water, heading upst ...

Exploring the wonderful Savernake forest, around 15km walked

Older kiddies trip to experience the drainpipe @JonnyC: Leaving the two youngest ones behind to ensure we could move through the cave a little quicker to get the older ones down to the drainpipe. We had a fun and swift trip in, but the drainpipe left energy reserves a little low to go and play in the maze. In through the main, bloody tight, coffin lid, drainpipe, returning via the terrace and out through an unassisted tradesmans. Great trip.