A Boating Pee-Souper…

A snatched 10km round haircut island on Loch Lomond yesterday, boat moving well and dirty d even taking on some of the washes – voluntarily!! The loch was looking beyond scenic, and it’s hard to believe it’s November tomorrow…    Today’s paddle is planned as K1 on the canal. Whilst not looking any less scenic […]

Everything or Nothing…

Our training for the 2016 campaign is going well, and exactly as we would hope at this time of year – even the weather has mostly played the game and the early training paddles have been really pleasant… Our training and preparation in 2014 also went well, and I think we would both agree that […]

A Little Damp…

   This was the view as I waited for Beaujolais yesterday – it was horrible, grey, wet and windy, but at least it wasn’t cold! (Yet) Paddling on a back shift week usually feels a little sluggish, most likely due to pressures on the body clock so i am pleased to hear we were moving […]

Rain and Leaf Soup

Our first real autumnal outing took place yesterday at Auchenstarry on the Forth and Clyde Canal. Due to “work” commitments it was limited to an 18km and 6 portage outing. Again motivation to train not helped by rain, the associated dark skies and wind. The wind is now, finally, taking the leaves of the trees. […]

Mis En Place – Dirty D Needs a Wife…

New for this DW campaign – midweek K2 on dirty d’s back shift week…. There is after all no substitute for time in the boat. Whilst she’s loving the paddling and enthused by the opportunity to sneak another session into the rolling two week shift based schedule it’s very much a case of preparation, preparation, […]

Helensburgh Canoe Club

What a splendid bunch. A paddling session in a pool! Never thought it would be 1) So informative and 2) So much fun.  Learnt high and low braces with the beginners group. Plus had a super game of water polo. Which our team win with no casualties- the other team took a few capsizes-  Beaujolais […]

Enter the Darkness…..

Since Saturday’s 3 hours and 33 minutes of paddling down the “”Silvery Tay”! I have felt disinclined to train. Instead the inner Beaujolais has prevailed and drink and far too much food have been the order of the days. Why this lapse? I think it is a combination of the following: 1. The clocks going […]

Team Super….

   Dirty D as 50% of Team Super – shunning the usual superhero mega- transport vehicle and opting for a frankly more practical tractor! A great weekend with presents and an awesome Minions birthday cake counjured up by the Father of the D (DW1990 finisher) – even the yummy mummy’s were impressed with one even […]

Tay Deliverence

“deliver us from evil”     Thank God that’s another Tay Descent out the way. Beaujolais does not like waves, strong flow, rocks and drops.  However Beaujolais does like; wine, beer and spirits, plus of course a plentiful supply of food. All of which were abundant in the 18 hours prior to the race. With a […]

Flow or no Flow

Flow- what most of us are looking for for DW. In 2010 in the K1 Beaujolais averaged 4mins 30 seconds every km on one section of the Thames, at the end of a hard days paddling and including portages. Whereas on a flat/ deep Loch Lomond with no portages his Personal Best pace over 7km […]