Nick Dennis
WCHA UK
Over the weekend of 15/16/17 October the UK Chapter held its autumn meet at The Boathouse, Lowr Shiplake, Oxfordshire.
Canoes out on the river included:-
A pair of Cedar Ribs
Stewart River Designed Pal
Peterborough 16s
Old Town Charles River
A pair of Peterborough strip built canoes
Valkeriecraft cedar/canvas
A henri Vaillancourt Birchbark
One "Plastic Fantastic"
Autumn had certainly arrived as those who camped can confirm with overnight temperatures dropping into single figures. Both nights we catered for 20+ folks, paddlers, children and non paddling members and this weekend tempted some new folks and importantly, children into the WCHA family.
We ate....well
We sat around the campfire with great banter and song.....
We paddled in great autumnal conditions........
Some of our established paddling mentors coached some young recruits........
We went to the pub.....everry day because it's the law!.........
We had a wonderful selection of canoes out on a very quiet river........
The children especially had a great time. We placed them with a non parental mentor which works, they listened, sat reasonably still, learnt and saw. Richard who was with me could tell his class on Monday morning " I paddled a wooden canoe to the pub, saw Kingfishers, a baby deer, a pike attacked the canoe, we cooked on a campfire and oh, my dad fell in the river!" A perfect result.
I am now home with everything in the wash and the smell of woodsmoke permeating the house.
Thanks all who came. Do join the WCHA.... it's a great welcoming family.
Cheers,
Nick
Canoes out on the river included:-
A pair of Cedar Ribs
Stewart River Designed Pal
Peterborough 16s
Old Town Charles River
A pair of Peterborough strip built canoes
Valkeriecraft cedar/canvas
A henri Vaillancourt Birchbark
One "Plastic Fantastic"
Autumn had certainly arrived as those who camped can confirm with overnight temperatures dropping into single figures. Both nights we catered for 20+ folks, paddlers, children and non paddling members and this weekend tempted some new folks and importantly, children into the WCHA family.
We ate....well
We sat around the campfire with great banter and song.....
We paddled in great autumnal conditions........
Some of our established paddling mentors coached some young recruits........
We went to the pub.....everry day because it's the law!.........
We had a wonderful selection of canoes out on a very quiet river........
The children especially had a great time. We placed them with a non parental mentor which works, they listened, sat reasonably still, learnt and saw. Richard who was with me could tell his class on Monday morning " I paddled a wooden canoe to the pub, saw Kingfishers, a baby deer, a pike attacked the canoe, we cooked on a campfire and oh, my dad fell in the river!" A perfect result.
I am now home with everything in the wash and the smell of woodsmoke permeating the house.
Thanks all who came. Do join the WCHA.... it's a great welcoming family.
Cheers,
Nick
