LUUCC

Exams are over yippee! So what does the self respecting/abusing paddler do with the free weekend they have before the new term starts? Go to the lakes with the canoe club! Advantages include sheep, air so clean its like scrubbing out your lungs with a bristle brush and um…..the chance to spoon with the entire club!! (see photo gallery)

The “love bus” left the chapel on Friday, when some poor slaving students had just finished their last exam, and made its way to Spark Bridge in Ulverston, Cumbria. There were about sixty of us all sleeping in one scout bunkhouse so things were quite cozy, more for some than others, ;o)

The weekend centres around a very cozy pub, more than happy to accommodate us. Previous years have seen an amicable relationship between the pub owner and one of our female members resulting in extended hospitality for the whole club, the kissing of every OAP in the place following a game of “21”, and a poor stuffed fox also falling victim to amorous paddler lips.

Saturday morning. The hardcore paddlers, lead by Laurent, supposedly left with minimum “faff” to do the Kent, Lune and Leaven, I was asleep, but I believe them because they were all wet when they got back. Traditionally the soft core paddlers go for a country walk, which is really refreshing and a good chance to get to know people who have joined late in the year.

After lunch, cheese sandwiches and world famous brownies kindly made by mummy Bina, I paddled the Crake. Less experienced paddlers are always put into groups with grade-6-fuck-yeah-could-do-it-with-my-eyes-shut-strap-on* paddlers, and I was feeling strangely calm under the guidance of Adam and Kev.

There were a series of gentle drops, some paddling though really nice wooded areas, and between scenic cliffs (one good thing about paddling is the way you see things from a new perspective, a bit like a hobbit in a boat or a duck). The final drop was big by my softie standards, but I followed the line of the person in front of me without any problems, so it was exciting rather than scary.

Best of all, the “get out” was right by our hut, so I could relax in the knowledge that I would soon be back in the pub, playing darts, and drinking old man ale, and later on, trying to avoid naked whipping. The lakes has rivers for all levels of paddlers, a shower so you can wash your hair, and is sort of like being on a brownie camp, except everyone is a grown up and they don’t have to listen to brown owl….…anyway …the lakes weekend, you cant beat it!!

*Paddling language is something mysterious, that develops and ferments over time. You could write a phd on its origins, probably, and people in the future on geekarama challenge will be answering questions on how the term “strap on” first came into usage when the renowned paddler monsieur Laurent unwitting told his fellow paddlers to “put a strap on” before a rapid. So don’t worry if it seems just a little bit confusing.

By Jennifer Coles

At the beginning of November each year, the club heads off to Hexham, Northumberland for the Tyne Tour Weekend. One of the largest tours still running in the UK, it attracts loads of boaters from all over the country (not just students!), most of whom come to run the classic Grade 2/3 North Tyne from Chollerford to Hexham. For us, it’s a fantastic first weekend trip to get all of our new members fully integrated into the club.

The weekend has several highlights. Minibuses up on the Friday night get everyone to the campsite in time for the time-honoured tradition of beers in possibly the busiest Weatherspoons you will ever see. After getting a few drinks in (quite a few in some cases!) its off to Donitos, Hexham’s one and only nightclub. Drunken dancing and sillyness ensues, often watched by confused and curious punters who wonder where all of these people have come from, with the occasional whispered “This is a local club for local people…”

An early morning start is softened by the appearance of bacon butties (veggie alternatives available), and a quick change into paddling gear and a short minibus ride takes us to the get-in for the river. For many of our new members, this is one of the first experiences of Grade 3 water, with the excitement of Chicken Chute and Warden’s Gorge the highlights. Senior club members are out in force to get everyone down the river safely and comfortably, with plenty of coaching along the way. It is a perfect trip to introduce beginners to the basics of whitewater, with enough to keep more advanced members interested and involved.

Saturday night is the ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee for anyone without a degree in Gaelic). For the uninitiated, this is basically a huge barn-dance with a live band and instructions on how to do all the dances. While it does not sound like everyone’s cup of tea, by the end of the evening everyone is up and dancing, as even the shyest dancers can’t help but be gripped by the superb atmosphere. Fun is had by all, and the night often continues till dawn, with spontaneous fire-poi and fire-juggling demonstrations, and much alcohol-fuelled banter back at the campsite.

Sunday morning is another chance to get on the river, especially those who were unable to get on on Saturday. For others, Sunday is (as God intended) a day of rest and recovery, and many members can be found in the local café enjoying a fried breakfast. Others choose to walk the local countryside, or walk into Hexham to chill out in pubs or café’s. Minibuses return everyone to Leeds on Sunday evening, and its not surprising to see everyone having a snooze in the bus on the way home having enjoyed a superb (if tiring!) weekend of partying and great paddling. Many friends are made at the Tyne Tour, and it holds its place as the first proper paddling weekend to kick-start the year. Miss it at your peril!

By Owen Jackson