For most of the nine club members, this was a first: a day trip paddling along the Thames in London. John, Kelsey, Jerry, and I started our adventure by meeting at Burnham train station, joining up with Mark at Billericay to continue our journey into the city. Upon arriving at Pimlico, we took a short walk to the Westminster Boating Base, were we met up with the rest of our group. A quick lunch out on the balcony before changing and gearing up for the paddle. With buoyancy aids, paddles, and spray skirts selected, our group was joined by two leaders, a handful of seasoned paddlers, and a few other first-timers like us. In total, there were 15 —quite a large group, with the leaders agreeing. This becoming even more evident as they had to dig deep into storage to find enough suitable boats. I say "suitable" loosely, as Kelsey and I had a slightly different opinion on what qualifies as such! Finally, we set off. Two speedboats, packed with both people and kayaks stuffed into every available crevice, ferried us out. It was a bumpy, cold ride—definitely not the glamorous scene you'd expect from a James Bond movie. Once we were dropped off on a small beach, the real fun began for Kelsey and me. Our little river boats, without skegs, made for a rather interesting experience. Cue the laughter, the frustration, and the spinning as we fought to gain control on the Thames. Eventually, we got the hang of it, but let me tell you, give us a sea kayak any day! We were blessed with perfect weather: calm, dry, and not too cold. The entire group enjoyed a leisurely paddle, taking in the iconic sights of London from a completely different perspective. It was an absolutely fantastic day, finished off nicely with a pizza and a pint. The biggest thanks goes to Mark for organising this unforgettable adventure for the club. Definitely one for the books, and one we'd love to do again! Dee Photos supplied: Kelsey, Dee, John and Mark

Sunday August 4th Walton Backwaters 10.9 miles This paddle was organised and led by Adrian. It was an early one, the plan was to leave the club by 8am. The participants were Adrian, Mark, Jerry, John, Lorraine and Clare, in four single kayaks and a double. We left the club at the allotted time in three cars and the drive to Dovercourt went smoothly with us arriving in a convoy at Dovercourt. As Adrian had predicted parking at this location is tight but we all managed to fit in for an easy beach launch. The weather was perfect with very little wind and no waves however there was a swell which was different to paddling on the crouch. Adrian remembered from the last time he had paddled, some twenty years previously, there was a small creek before the main channels that would enable us to cut into the Walton Backwaters without paddling all the way down the coast. We thought we had found this entrance shortly after leaving the beach. It looked promising but just got narrower and narrower. After a while we were paddling with paddles on the shore either side and the hulls scraping along the mud. We had to reverse a little way before we could turn the kayaks. Having back tracked we continued down the coast before attempting to enter again. The inlets into the marsh make quite a maze and it is very easy to become disoriented when you are viewing everything from a couple of feet above the water line. The second attempt eventually worked with the map on my watch suggesting a route through and we arrived at the seal spotting location. There were plenty of reddy brown seals on the bank and also in the water. Heads kept popping up quite close to the kayaks and it was hard to know who was watching who. We crossed Hamford Water and landed on a beach behind the sunken barges for lunch. The wind was now picking up and was certainly more than had been forecast. After lunch, with the tide now dropping, we paddled straight back to our starting point. It was certainly a more challenging sea state than when we left. Thank you Adrian, a very successful day in a location I have previously only ever explored by boat. John

Tonbridge to Tea Pot Island - Sunday 30 th June - Distance 10 miles Adrian kindly arranged the paddle, joined by Dan, Roger and Andy. Adrian was in his open boat; Roger took his own river boat and Dan and Andy used the club river boats. So, a nice mixture. The weather was cloudy but warm. Following the usual car shuffle between Tonbridge and Tea Point Island the team set off at 11am, it would have been a little earlier but Adrian was busy chatting up the stand-up paddle board instructor at the starting point.  It was quite busy with many Sups’ setting off to do the Tonbridge loop, which was the opposite way to us. We set off and arrived at the first weir soon after, all negotiated the Shute with ease. Although we did notice that the brushes below the water had been replaced and was quite disconcerting as the boats moved around as they ran over them. We paddled on. There was an angry swan at one stage, protecting his young and partner of course. It went after someone in a canoe going in the other direction and left us alone. As we moved on it was clear there were a lot of fishermen on the left bank. One informed us it was a fishing completion. I don't think they were too happy that we were there. We of course passed them as considerately as possible. It was mentioned that they were all men of a certain age, we then thought they probably had the same though about us! Apart from Dan of course, who is still in the flush of youth. We arrived at the 2 nd Shute, which we remembered Martin and Amanda decided to take a little dip last year. We all got through successfully without issue. Before the 3 rd weir we had lunch, at the same spot as last year. A mixture of sandwiches, Guinness 0, Quiche and jelly babies (Dan, of course) kept the hunger away. There was a little shower of rain but that didn't dampen the spirits. After lunch we set off down the 3 rd Shute which has a concrete base rather than brushes. All was good. We paddled on, plenty of ducks, who weren't interested in us at all and the evidence of fish just below the surface. We arrived at Shute no. 4. We had forgotten about this one. Andy went first and had more than one wobble but stayed out of the water. The other three could hear the sound of fear from the top of the weir. On we went to the to the last Shute, the big one. Dan and Roger tackled it with no problem, Andy and Adrian had decided that they had stayed dry so far would portage their boats instead. The team joined up again for a paddle on the other side of the weir. We continued the short distance to Tea Pot Island where Andy was the first to arrive at the jetty unfortunately, he struggled and took some time to get out of his boat, much to the enjoyment of the three other paddlers and probably some of the drinkers at the pub opposite. The sun then came out, we all enjoyed an ice cream. We had finished earlier than expected, some of us were looking forward to relaxing and getting home in time for the England game, Hmmmm. Thank you to Adrian for arranging the day, fantastic paddle, great company, a bit of exercise, lots of laughs, exactly as it should be. Andy Coppin ..........the question remains who was playing on the kids circuit????? Photos supplied by: Dan

Day 1 Sea Kayaking Award 17th May - Pass Achieved - Alan, Andy, John, Matt, Tony, Martin & Amanda It had been in the diary since January but, as they say, time flies and there we were, May 17th and it’s time for our kayak skills course. Peter had organised training with Dorset Kayaking and as the group readied their kayaks, we wondered what the day would bring. One pleasant surprise was the weather, a sunny day was ahead of us despite the pessimistic forecast earlier in the week. The weather was a hot topic of discussion as Peter had made clear we would be getting wet! Whilst discussions centred around what would be the best kit to wear our trainer Paul walked through the gate and within minutes had introduced himself and we felt like he was part of the club. It was clear that Paul was very knowledgeable but, as important, was his relaxed style in conveying information and seeking to understand what the group wanted from the day. Training started on dry land with pre-paddle kit checks and discussion where emergency equipment was stored and where we would paddle. Time to head to the river and a paddle towards Creeksea, our chosen spot for our training. On the way Paul demonstrated multiple paddle strokes keen to understand how much we knew about each, allowing us to practice and receive his advice on how to make our strokes as effective as possible. Having refined our paddle skills, we headed back to the club for lunch. The sun was shining and we enjoyed a good chat whilst we refuelled. A few thoughts on clothing again as we all knew we would be getting wet before the day was out! Once we were back on the water, we practiced contact towing whilst discussing real life situations where this would be useful. One routine we practiced was a scenario where one kayak had a hole and needed repair. Simple! Three paddlers raft up with the fourth with the hole pulling alongside, kayaker slides onto the back of the raft, the kayak on the front of the raft for repair. With an hour of training left it was time to get wet. Paul gave us some challenges which inevitably led to us taking a dip in the river, after an initial gasp, it wasn’t so bad. Once in we had a good opportunity to practice rescues and getting back into our kayaks. As we went ashore, we all agreed what a great day we had had, how useful the training was and committed to practice the skills that we had worked on during the day. Thanks to Peter for organising and Paul from Dorset Kayaking www.seakayakdorset.co.uk for being such a great trainer. Alan Day 2 Sea Kayaking Safety and Rescue Certificate Course 18th May - Pass Achieved - Alan, John, Matt, Martin, Jerry, Roger & Mark I was helping out with the junior sailing at the club on Friday evening when one of the parents said to me “Was that you in amongst the people in kayaks off the pontoon on Saturday?” Well, it was! The parent went on to say that it looked really good fun, and there was quite a gathering of people stopped on the quay to watch our activities. He also said that our coach looked really good too. So, it wasn’t just us in the kayaks that enjoyed the course!!! Although my dad bought my brother and I a kayak each when we were about eleven and twelve, it wasn’t until I went to college in west Wales, aged 18, that I really got into kayaking. There we used the pool every Wednesday evening, spent weekends on white water trips or slaloms, and trained up to be inland instructors. Aged 21, I moved back to Essex, missed the white-water rivers and so sold my kayak! Fast forward four and a half decades, and there I was on the Crouch with our coach Paul from Dorset Kayaking. I was actually feeling very apprehensive about the afternoon sessions when we would be getting wet! The thought of capsizing and getting back in the kayak filled me with concern. When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I was never the most agile of people, and remember struggling to clamber over paddles of rafted up kayaks to get back in after a capsize. I only ever did this in the pool, and always somehow managed to roll back up when out on rivers. So now, approaching my mid-sixties I was thinking ‘how the hell am I going to get back in the kayak?’ Well, Paul put us all at ease, and demonstrated techniques that didn’t exist when I learnt. It was all about keeping your centre of gravity low, and climbing on face down too. When I learnt, you used to have to have your own empty kayak rafted up between two other kayaks, with their paddlers holding everything steady. Now, with just one kayaker holding my kayak, I could hook myself in so much more easily than I had expected. What a joy! Confidence started to grow, as we tried the next activity, where we capsized and pretended to have injured an arm. Here the technique involved half filling the unmanned kayak, then another paddler holding it on its side, and then the one in the water ‘floating’ in before pulling us up. Unbelievable, didn’t think that this would be so easy! Next up, a self-rescue; so capsize, and get yourself back in your kayak unassisted. Paul demonstrated, and made it look soooo easy! I thought, I’m never going to be able to do that, couldn’t even do it in a pool when I was 20! I hung back and let others do it first. It did look a struggle. Paul said, rather than climbing up on your kayak, try to swim over it and pull it under you. Alan had a go (we were working as a pair), but struggled to get up on the kayak. Watching him, I thought, if you go closer to the stern (back end) of the kayak, it is less buoyant (narrower), so it might be easier to get on. Suggested this to Alan, he tried it, and it worked. He was soon back in his kayak. My turn….. Shall I try a roll first? Yes, go for it, the ultimate self-rescue!! Not tried it in my sea kayak, and probably only rolled twice in the last 4 decades! Well, almost made up on the first attempt, but failed, so went back under, repositioned, and tried again, but didn’t get up so far, so back under and bail out. Paul had showed us how to lift and flip the kayak upright spilling any water in it at the same time. Tried this, and it worked first go. So far so good! Now to get back in. Swim over the back end. Yes, that worked first go. Slide on my chest up the back deck keeping my legs in the water for balance. Got my head to the cockpit and needed to catch my breath, so hung my head inside to keep the centre of gravity low. Alan watching me, thought that the head hanging was because of exhaustion! Head up, carry on sliding forward until my waist was on the foredeck. Now pivot upright and bum lands in the seat. Unbelievable, it works, I was overjoyed! Final activity of the day was to rescue someone unconscious upside down in the water. Our brave coach Paul was the volunteer. 7 times he capsized, hung upside down and waited for each of us to paddle up to him and pull him up. The sense of responsibility we all felt to get him up quickly….! He did assure us that if we took too long, he would just roll up, but…! At the end of the day, we all passed, and felt that we had learnt so much. Paul was amazing and gave us plenty of skills to practise in our next pool sessions at Woodham! Thank you, Peter, for organising and we now have 7 more club members equipped to come and rescue you if ever needed!!! Roger  Photos supplied by: John, Paul & Dee

Earlier in the year Crouch Kayak Club (CKC) applied for funding through the Essex Community Fund (ECF) for additional equipment. We particular felt that purchasing river boats would lengthen our season and would help introduce more people to our sport. We subsequently found out that we had been successful with the ECF securing funding from the Turncole Windmill Farm Benefit Fund. Our Paddle UK - Quality Club status achieved for the third consecutive year undoubtedly strengthened the success of our application. Unusually of late the weather was perfect, sunny, light cloud and little wind, so it seemed like a great day for the river boats maiden voyage. We arrived at Bures, completed the car shuffle followed by the pre paddle chat which was led by Jerry with Adrian giving advice and encouragement. The group of Jerry, Adrian, Dee, Alan, Clare, Newton, John, Andy and Dan were a mixture of first timers and old hands paddling river boats. A couple of us decided not to use spray decks as the river was calm. As we started off it was clear who the first timers were, river boats take a different kind of concentration to our usual sea kayaks and a couple of us spent the first few minutes graceful spinning around 360 degrees. We soon all got the hang of it. The first porterage was not long after we started but working as a team we soon were back on the river, which was stunning, plenty of wildlife, no road noise, perfect conditions. We carried on and passed Smallbridge Hall which is an impressive Elizabethan house. Shortly after we arrived at another weir, so we walked the boats to the other side. On getting back on the river some of the team inspected the fast-running water from the weir and unfortunately one of those people who didn't have a spray deck went a bit too close and took on a little too much water. Of course, it is very much a case of following the no name, no pack drill and what happens on tour stays on tour! As soon as I had finished pumping the water out of my boat we continued along the Stour. We encountered kingfishers, ducks, geese, a young swan and many other birds. We then reached the next porterage where we had lunch, it was a very peaceful place with just the noise from the weir as a back drop. Dee kindly handed out Jaffa Cake bars which helped spur us on for the final stretch to Nayland. As you approach Nayland there are some lovely properties on the river bank and after you navigate under the road bridge someone has thoughtfully put a pub there. So of course, we enjoyed a quick, refreshing well-earned drink. Many thanks for all that organised the paddle, Jerry for leading it, Adrian for the instruction and encouragement and for everyone who took part and enjoyed the day. " We extend our gratitude to the Essex Community Fund and the Turncole Windmill Farm Benefit Fund for their invaluable assistance in acquiring the new equipment." Andy Coppin Photos supplied by: Dee, Dan, John & Newt0n

The paddle continues, shortly we find another tree that has decided to have a rest across the river. Mark calls from the back of the boat “Ramming Speed?” I call back, “Yep lets go.” My self and Mark line up the boat while slightly confused Adrian and David watch on. We go for it. The boat again flies over the tree, victory number 2 for the Ramming Speed technique. After that there were a few more tree related puzzles, but the group solved them together and with the river widening and calming we make it to the next camp site. Now I will explain the first line of this blog. As I set up my tent and unpacked for the evening a very quiet, Adrian appears and makes some quiet comments on how much stuff I have in my bag and it must be magic to fit it all in. Then a slightly less quiet comment, “ITS MARY POPPINS!” From nowhere David appears and we end up with the pair of them jumping around shouting “old bamboo, old bamboo!” A hilarious sight to behold that then happened every time they saw me for the rest of the trip. I hope I get the same treatment the next time I see them. The evening rolls in and we progress to the pub and a fish and chip supper. Day 3, starts again with a tea from Mark and a cereal bar. Once again packed up we set off down the river to our last stop, which promised Sunday lunch! The paddle was a lot calmer than the previous days, until we found a rather aggressive swan that did not want to give up his corner of the river. All 7 boats attempted to huddle together by the bank, while we sent Andy to try and shoo the swan away. No Luck, we ping ponged from bank to bank trying to get the swan to give way. No luck. Then Andy and Peter put their boats end to end and funnelled the Swan to the opposite bank, while we all passed on the other side. Success! We continue the paddle with very little further intervention from nature. Only a more relaxed swan here and there and the reflection of upstanding trees in the river. We then get to the marina, start to pull the boats out….. and the heavens opened. Once changed and boats packed onto cars and trailers we headed for the pub, for our well-deserved Sunday roast. Content but shattered, we all dispersed back to Essex and Norfolk and a few places in-between. Thanks to Adrian for organising, Mark for steering better than I could and showing me that tea is needed in these situations, and a big thank you to the rest of the group for making it a hilarious and brilliant trip. Looking forward to the next one! Kelsey Eaton Bennett

Great news everyone! We're thrilled to announce that for the third consecutive year, Crouch Kayak Club has been granted Paddle UK Quality Club Status! 🎉 This national award recognises clubs that excel in providing paddle sport activities. Quality assessment questionnaire, which evaluates key aspects such as Affiliation, Governance, Safety, Safeguarding, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, highlighted our club's outstanding performance. We scored an impressive 95% in three of these categories! At the heart of our achievements lies our excellent governance, the foundation upon which we continue to thrive and grow as a club. Moving forward, Crouch Kayak Club remains committed to maintaining an inclusive environment, that engages our members and aligns with our club's mission. With ongoing assessment, staying true to our core values, encourage open communication, and regularly revising our practices to ensure we're always improving. Here's to many more years of success and adventure on the water together! 🚣‍♂️💙 Dee x

As we approach the start of another season, we reflect on the achievements of the club throughout 2023. Despite the bad weather at the start we managed to pack a lot in with training and trips away, Adrian has been busy plotting and planning for this year with a few dates already on the club calendar and more to follow. Before I talk further about the coming new season I wanted to thank and welcome new members onto the committee. Our amazing secretary Amanda, has decided to step down this year from her role. We remain enormously grateful to Amanda who has given her time over the years, keeping everything running and ship shape, we thank you. Warm welcome to Andy Coppin, who will be taking on the role of Equipment Officer, Dan Rodwell, Social Media Officer, Alan Organ as our new Welfare Officer, Lorraine Holliday as Minutes Secretary, and Newton Ford as our Health and Safety Officer. Congratulations and well done to all! To our previous committee members and the dedicated volunteers who form the backbone of our club, we extend our gratitude. Your contributions are invaluable, we are eager for both existing and new members to continue supporting the club. Even the smallest contribution can make a difference. So, on to 2024 our focus will be on enhancing training opportunities, offering qualifications, hosting taster sessions, and, of course, enjoying numerous paddling adventures! Lastly, it's important to acknowledge the impact the club has had over the years in providing countless others with the opportunity to participate in paddling the river, Crouch. The club opens its doors to all, offering the necessary tools, resources, and guidance for personal growth and development. At its core, the club has always been committed to maintaining a sense of community, providing a safe and welcoming environment for all. This commitment remains unwavering. Moving forward, CKC will continue its efforts to refine and promote the paddling experience for the benefit of everyone involved. Our achievements are a source of immense pride for both the committee and its members. Do enjoy a selection of photos from some of our best moments in 2023! Jerry Thornton, Chairman Photos: Louise, Dan, Martin & Dee

Well, how lucky were we to slip into a little bit of sunshine after such a horrendous wet week! An early start meant meeting at the little village of Grantchester, on the river Cam, which cuts through the heart of Cambridge City. Good to see all 6 of the club’s canoes out on the water, for the first time this year. With the recent heavy rains, the flow was pretty impressive and with effortless paddle stokes we commenced our journey past the Grantchester meadows admiring the picturesque beauty of the Cambridgeshire countryside. As we started our navigation to Cambridge, any concerns about flooded fields and staying on the correct path was not a problem although the river was very swollen, we comfortably meandered our way in between fallen trees and overhanging branches. Well most of Us! We pass Coe Fen inhabited by cattle grazing by the side of the water’s edge and in no time at all we are approaching Scudamore’s Mill, we are no longer alone, the area is populated with tourists and of course, the ever-popular punts, offering guided river tours, I use the term “guided” lightly as this is more of a doge the dodgems exercise. With Punts coming in all directions, this is always one of the most challenging parts on this river. The additional pull of water meant we had to stay extra vigilant, but with the promise of lunch we continued our steady path towards Jesus Green we are now in the area known as the “The Backs” passing immaculate lawns of Trinity College we reach the Bridge of Sighs a stone covered bridge at St John's College, built-in 1831. Queen Victoria is said to have loved it more than any other spot in Cambridge and I have to agree. It only takes us an hour to arrive at our destination. With the sun still shining we settle ourselves for lunch, well some certainly know how to lunch in style as cake, wine, and cheese start to flow! Alas, the time comes to head back with an evident awareness of the challenge ahead. Yes, it was going to be a slog, and yes, we were going to have to dig in but hey we are the Crouch Kayak Club bring it on...........1hr 55mins later we are tied, exhausted and hurting more than any of us would wish but we are back. And my favourite part of paddling with this group is that we are still smiling, joking and supporting each other as boats are heaved up the river bank and walked back to the trailer. Loved spending my Sunday with you all, great paddle. Thanks, Adrian, for towing the trailer, and a special warm wish to Mags, Louise and Lewis who don’t normally paddle with the group, well done to you we all, we hope to paddle with you again soon . Dee Photos Supplied: Mags, Lewis, Dan, Dee & Louise