A short expedition up the River Lugg

Trip

This is a tributary of the River Wye. I parked and launched at Lucksall Camp Site and paddled up the Wye for about 1 mile. Here the river Lugg enters from the right bank. This is a much narrower river rather like the Soar where it runs around Loughborough. I canoed upstream for a 1/4 of a mile to just below Mordiford. Here the river splits in 2 with the fast flowing weir stream ahead (too fast to paddle against, I tried!). Entering from the right is the old lock cut with only a trickle of water entering through the remains of the old lock chamber. Therefore my only option to continue on was to portage my canoe up the lock cut until it deepened out just above the old weir (rapids). You can then paddle under the ancient stone Mordiford Bridge and on the left is a grassed area suitable for launching. It links to the main road B4224 via a permissive access path. There is a long lay-by on this road just west of the bridge so parking and launching from Mordiford is possible. I then returned via the weir stream which is now a long series of fast flowing rapids. Best to remove any skegs here, and keep away from many “sweepers” (low hanging branches) on the right hand bank. After the rapids its a leisurely paddle back downstream to Lucksall.

( Lucksall camping and caravan site is ideal for a club canoe trip as its very large and has all facilities)

Text and photos Robert Aspey

CANAL CLEAN UP- SATURDAY 15TH MAY

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Recently one of our members, Angie Whitmore has been appointed Young Peoples Project Coordinator at the Peter Le Marchant Trust in Loughborough.One of her first projects is to involve young volunteers to collect rubbish on the canal. This will be part of the Surfers Against Sewage, ‘Million Mile Beach Clean’.The clean up will involve volunteers from Loughborough University, Sea Cadets and Peter Le Marchant Trust amongst others. It would be good if some our younger members and families could also be involved. SBC Paddlers will supply our own boat and kit and some of our older members will offer support and organise the logistical side.Apart the obvious benefits of helping the environment, the event will provide the opportunity:

  • to meet other young people interested in the water
  • practice paddle skills
  • paddle in a different environment
  • will add something to you CVs 
  • tick off miles for Surfers Against Sewage

If you are interested please contact myself through the usual channels.PS We need to send a team considerably younger than the one in the photo!

Shane Morgan

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Summer Season 2021

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Following tonights government announcement, we can confirm club sessions will restart on the week commencing, Monday April 12th. These will be coordinated by Graeme and details will follow. As we ease back, the sessions will members only (including those who have recently applied and been accepted).British Canoeing Guidelines allow for groups greater than six paddlers. The total number of paddlers in our groups will be determined by the group organiser and what they feel safe with. So you may see groups of varying sizes going out. In any case, all sessions will have to remain Covid secure, with social distancing and each paddler responsible for cleaning their own boat and kit. So its not all rules and regulations here is a taster of some early day events to look forward to:

  • Loughborough Loop
  • Shardlow Loop via Weston on Trent
  • River Clean Up Normanton

Shane Morgan

Ullswater Trip 2020

Trip

Ullswater 2020 – We Got There!

When the fireworks had finished; 2020 and a new decade was upon us, all full of excitement for the coming paddling season, boy were we in for a shock!

The planning had been completed, the campsite booked, June the 19th was the date SBC Paddlers were off the Lake District for some open water paddling a new experience for some and possibly a tad daunting.  Then Covid struck!  After, Lockdown #1, June was still a possibility.  As the time drew nearer it was obvious this wasn’t possible.  So, phone calls, emails, text, whatsapp and drums, all used and a new date was agreed September 18th was the date.

Canoes, kayaks, paddles, and camping gear all packed and ready to go! The choice of campsite was great just a few minutes’ walk to the water’s edge. Those who arrived early took advantage and got on the water for a Friday evening paddle to watch the sunset, all socially distanced of course.

Saturday morning arrived, everyone up early packed ready to go.  Two groups of 6, all levels of experience in each group.  The sun shone, the breeze blew, even had a go at sailing!  Two stops, coffee on a little beach, then our packed lunches with lashing of ginger beer on a pebble beach all to ourselves.  What could be better.  A relaxing paddle down to Glenridding, what a fabulous day! But in life where there is Ying, there has to be Yang.  7 miles completed and 7 more to go!

So off we popped to paddle back up Ullswater; the lovely breeze we had on the way down had decided to increase to Storm Force 3 gusting 5, and on open water that means wave heights 2 – 3 feet, an exciting trip.  Sadly, we were all concentrating on paddling in a straight line into wind, counting the paddle stokes, and watching the waves to take any photos! No one capsized – Phew!

A couple of hours later we arrived back at the campsite, tired, hungry, happy, and smiley.  Under normal camping rules a campfire would have been lit, with some sort of outdoor cooking extravaganza, but with Covid we cooked our own (Paul enjoyed his Pizza and wished he’d ordered two!!).   After a fabulous warm sunny day, we had a clear and very cold evening, but being hearty folk, whilst enjoying a couple of beers/wines/whiskies we had a quiz, a chat then off to our relevant tents, campervans.

So, this is our lasting image of the Ullswater trip.

Let’s get the vaccinations done and move on and have fabulous 2021.

On a side note, over the summer in groups of 6 we had a total of just over 800 paddlers on the water, not bad under the circumstances.  Many thanks to all the organisers who gave up their time.

Graeme Young

End Of Season

Evening paddle

The summer season evening sessions have now come to a close. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons we are unable to have an end of season get together.Hopefully, we will continue to run some day sessions, both during the week and the weekend. However, these will be on a more ad hoc basis and very much dependent on the changing Covid restrictions and the availability of volunteer organisers.Despite the obvious difficulties we have all experienced this year, those of us who have been with the club a number of years, believe the club has strengthened and flourished this summer. This is no doubt due to all those involved, from The Commodore, Gary Askam for supporting our efforts to get back on the water, the volunteer organisers, who have put so much time and effort into getting people paddling safely, to all members and prospective members who have attended with such enthusiasm. Our aim for the winter season will be to continue the good work. Hopefully, we will be able to welcome back our ‘shielding’ members, who we have missed during the summer.Thank you everybody.

Shane Morgan