Nathan's Canoe and Bushcraft Adventures

No canoeing at the minute, it’s blinking freezing. Boring isn’t it?

A nice and steady paddle upstream from Belper River Gardens.

Great Glen 2023. Up against it for most of the week with sideways rain and strong head winds but achieved the trip in five days as planned.

This time we went from Beeston Weir to Trent Lock, stopping at the Scout site en route, a total of almost 10 miles... and I paid for it! Using the sit on top kayak this time instead of a canadian made my guns ache all afternoon and into Monday! I wouldn't have minded but we only meant to pop out for an hour or so!

Rain threatened but we never saw it and it remained warm all day. The Trent was flowing steadily enough but it was the gusts of wind that were the killer. Not so much for Billy 2-paddles here. Andy had to push through it though.

Found a pub at the end for a pint and a portion od Saharas.

Out on the new (to me) Old Town. No kneeling thwart but nice and stable on edge for long periods. We launched on the canal in Shardlow opposite The Malt Shovel and went one way for a look then another for a wander. Probably did a couple of miles so nothing mega-far. Was a calm day but with a biting wind and when we got onto the Derwent, fast flowing waters. Found and removed a few fishy bits and called in at the pub for a walk and a pint.

We weren't a million miles up from where we shoot the weir at Trent Lock but loads to explore next time and look like access directly onto the trent.

Chilly day on the new paddleboard. Launched down stream from the weir at Darley Abbey and went as far as the tunnels into town. Too many skitty boatists paddling backwards for comfort. Went back and up, past the weir until we were shattered. Water level was high by about a good foot or two and running rather fast. Spent most of the time kneeling but got up few times and only fell in twice. Hat stayed on though, which is good. Issues paddling I a straight line. Something to work on.

So yesterday we went on a Mushroom Walk in a little patch of woodland just outside of Nottingham. Wild food is everywhere!

Great Glen. 16th to 18th August 2021. Paddling on flat and angry water and everything in between. Pretty much perfected sailing...! We slept in hammocks both nights with the best camp fires we could muster with the damp wood.

Trent lock towards Shardlow today. Faff about in the weir and dinner on the bank in the shade. 🌞

Rainy day paddle from Trent Lock. Freezing 🥶

Training day on Lake Bala with Ray Goodwin. Really informative and recommended.