Club Sunday (13th Sept 2009)

Registered Company No 2612775

Mega Mass Paddle!

We’ve just arrived back from the Club Sunday Family Paddle which all seemed to really enjoy.

Having only expected about 15 people it was a bit of a shock to be running a trip for 36!! One coach commented the gear cage was almost bare! But somehow we found enough boats for everyone and went to plan B a trip up the canal and back down the Calder. As lots of people were from the summers one and two star classes the trip was new to many people. And only one capsize! (or two if you count those playing on the white water course at the end). Unfortunately the only pictures are at the start, if anyone else has some email them to me to add here.

Many thanks to fellow coaches and experienced paddlers that assisted in running the trip. Particularly for helping to cover safety on the weirs that allowed getting everyone down the river to be a ‘precision military operation’ rather than opportunity for mayhem and swims.

For those that paddled this for the first time and enjoyed it, look out for the Burrs trip on 4th October. Another easy trip (with a bigger weir to slide down!) just over the hills in Bury.

Les Ford - but Aiden’s report is far more interesting:

On Sunday, 13th September I went down a huge drop on the big journey on the family fun day. At first we went along the canal, then we carried our boats to the drop. We got back in our boats, put on our spray decks and slid down the bank into the river. I felt very very scared but after I did it I liked it!

Then we went down some weirs. I’d never done this before. I was a bit scared before all of them but actually I liked it in the end. I was a bit tired, so Les helped me with a tow, but I have to tow him next time! We saw some men camping and lots of ducks. I got a bit cold but Mandy told me a secret way to keep warm.

Then at the end we had some lovely chilli and potato and warmed up with hot chocolate. I can’t wait till the next trip!

By Aiden Clausnitzer aged 7