Planning for River Medway 2 star paddle - 26 November 2011

Location

River Medway in Kent. Take a look at the website for more details: www.medwaycanoetrail.co.uk. And this PDF for more detail of the trail itself including a MAP http://www.visitrivermedway.co.uk/uploads/MVCPCanoe-A4download-drf01-3.pdf

The Plan

There are two parts to the plan (recommend viewing the above pdf for more detail):

Plan A Start at the beginning which is Point 1 (near “Tonbridge Slipway”) and paddle to point 4 ( “Hartbreak Bridge”). Depending on how we are getting on (first time on the river, dealing with moving water, the temperature, progress) we will either take it slow and easy to this point and do various on river skills, maybe head down to point 5 (“East Lock”) and then head back upstream to Point 4 and get out (we will shuttle a car here in advance). If progress is good and everyone’s happy… then we will make a decision to execute Plan B….

Plan B Having got to Point 4 (estimated at 7.8k, 2-2.5 hours) we take a break (eating snacks bar type things we’ve brought with us) and carry on to Point 8 (near “Twyford Bridge”). This is estimated at around 8.4k and another approx 2-2.5 hours (depending on speed). Exit at this point will not make use of pre-deposited shuttle cars (to reduce faff at the start point), but a taxi company who has a dedicated service (£25 for 4 people) for boaters. Either egress at Point 4 or 8 will get boaters back to Point 1 where we sort ourselves out and move on (pub for proper food, then home).

Weather Assessment for the day

Unless there is very bad weather the trip is on! Aim to get to the basin at the allotted time (see “On The Day”). A final Go/No Go decision will be made at that point by the Leader (Myles) and the Coaches.

Who's going?

3 Cars of 4 people each = 12 ppl + 12 boats Myles – car carrying 4 boats Matt – car carrying 4 boats Lisa – car carrying 4 boats Shep, Aniko, Lucy, Tom, SarahW, Mark, RachelS, Gill (Bubblefish), RachelIrl No additional cars or boaters can join this trip at this stage (sorry!)

License for the Medway (before we go!)

The Medway website suggests that a payment is required to paddle. Two options are offered:

1) Existing BCU membership. Its approx £33 for the year and needs to be in place in advance, but would cover you for other waterways if you plan to do lots of trips.. or

2) Medway license for the week - £4.87. At the table, everyone decided to either purchase their own BCU membership which they would be responsible for arranging…. Or if anyone wanted to do the Medway license, Shep would co-ordinate buying it. I suggest rounding it to a fiver (only 12p difference!) give me the cash on a Tuesday and I would organise it before we go.

Personal Kit (everyone)

Apart from the obvious boat, BA, paddle, everyone will need to ensure they have suitable clothing along the lines of the below list. If you don’t have any of these things, please highlight SOONER rather than later.

• thermal top
• wetsuit
• footwear (e.g. “booties”, possibly with thermal socks…)
• cag (cannot take from basin so need to get your own, or borrow from someone else)
• helmet
• gloves (if required)
• recommended for this trip ts a headtourch
• snacks (e.g. Tracker bars, Curly Wurly (reqeusted special mention honored here!), energy bars, etc.)
• bottle of water (can be secured inside boat, between legs)
• Towel (to assist getting changed modestly at the roadside!)

Group kit (provided by some for the benefit of all)

- dry bag (Aniko, Tom, Matt)

- water proof camera (Aniko)

- first aid kit (Aniko, Myles , Matt)

- water proof bag/box for 3 sets of car keys, mobile phone, cash for taxi (Matt)

- roll of bin liners (to stop car seats getting wet during post paddle shuttling) (Shep)

Navigation

- splashproof versions of the above pdf, as published by Medway (Myles & Shep)

- additional ordnance survey maps of the star and 2 exit points (laminated! Lucy)

Car 3 Roof Rack (donations)

Lisa is going to buy a roof-rack to transport the boats and aims to get that done this weekend. I suggested and the 2 stars at the meeting in the pub (8 Nov) agreed (on a voluntary basis) to donate £10 each to Lisa. No-one is committed to do this and will not be tracked! However, Lisa would be able to help us out in the future being another boat capable car....and I'm sure she'll remember who contributed!

Medical Conditions

If anyone has any medical conditions that need to be divulged, then this should be advised. If you need it to be kept confidential, then please contact the Leader (Myles). You are responsible for bringing your own medication if you need it!!!!

Planning Documents

• RachelS's Google s/sheet for managing kit: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Agr0boOpU19HdFl5T01TeHhjcTRJRGJuQnBMa3J5WlE#gid
• THCC Boat list for ID numbers

On The Day (there may be some slight adjustments to the timings)

08:45 Arrive at the basin. Gather and check kit (boats, airbags, helmets, BAs, paddles etc). Load cars. Toilet!!

09:15 Final Go/No Go decision. Hit the road!

10:30 Arrive Tonbridge. Offload, shuttle car to Point 4. Kit up.

11:00 Pre-water brief (Myles + Coaches). Enter water, do skills en route. Head to Point 4.

13:30 Break at Point 4. Assess group progress, mood, weather and make decision if execute Plan B.

13:45 Either 1) Head down to Point 5 and do more skills, then back up to Point 4 and get out shuttle back with pre-depositied car OR or 2) continue down river to Point 8, get out and use Medway Taxi (see above) back to Point 1 or 4 to get the cars.

16:30 Kit off, stack cars, Eat (Tom's researching places).

17:45 Head back to London

18:45 Offload kit back at basin.