River leaders’ paddle day

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

This is happening here at Cremorne Riverside on Saturday November 17th.

The concept is this: gather a group of paddlers who normally lead groups through town or elsewhere and paddle down to ‘Tower’ and return. On the way we shall look at mobile and stationary hazards, route choices, VHF use, awareness of group behaviour and control and awareness of group effect on other river users.

Before setting off, a Port of London (PLA) Harbour Master will give a presentation about the PLA’s perspective on river users , followed by a Q & A session.

After paddling we’ll have a chat about the day so far and scan our eyes over PLA material which offers advice on safe navigation practices in the dark. Back on the water, we shall look at different lighting systems for kayaks

This will be a good chance to meet fellow kayakers from different organizations, more than sixteen clubs, centres and tour groups have expressed an interest. While the day will be fun the emphasis is on safety and good leadership through the centre of town….here’s hoping the weather plays ball.

HW prediction on the day: 16.03 – 7.32m at Tower Pier

hazards on the tideway have changed since Harry was a lad

Chelsea Kayak Club Pub quiz

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

How would you score in the Thames-themed quiz questions?
This past Friday night’s pub quiz at The Bedford in Balham, hosted by Chelsea Kayak Club, went down a treat.

If you’ve read the previous post on this blog, you’ll know that it was going to be my debut pub quiz, and if that’s what all pub quizzes are like, it certainly is a good shout towards a night out.

Thank you to Chelsea Kayak Club for putting on a great evening of entertainment, and I’m sure that everyone there (kayakers and non-kayakers alike) enjoyed themselves as much as I did.

Put your Thames knowledge to the test
Given who the hosts were, there was unsurprisingly a section on the Thames… here are the questions – how well would you do? And try not pick up your smart phone, tablet, iPad, iPhone, or any other gizmo that stops you from working it out for yourself!

1. How many bridges (foot, train and traffic) are there between the Tower Bridge and Teddington Lock? (2 points for exact 1 point for 1 either side)

2. There are approximately 16 subterranean rivers which run under London many were covered over during the growth of Metropolis London they now run down hill in culverts many entering the Thames at various points. What is the name of the river which enters the southside of the Thames at Lambeth Bridge? Clue: a street in Brixton is named after it.

3. What is the name of the tunnel through which prisoners of the Tower of London used to travel to be hanged?

4. The Thames is the longest river in England. Source to sea – what is the length of the Thames?
A. 196 miles
B. 215 miles
C. 247 miles
D. 288 miles

5. What is the name of the famous restaurant on the banks of the Thames whose prominent building was once owned by Liebig Extract of Meat Company?

6. What is the name of the football club whose grounds are on the north side of the river to the west of Putney Bridge?
7. Bonus point: What are these grounds named?

8. Big Ben is the name of the bell – What is the name of the Tower often referred to as ‘Big Ben’?

Quizzed for a good cause
All funds raised during the evening (from the quiz and raffle draw) will go to charity and organisations for public benefit – RNLI Lifeboats, Friends of Cremorne Riverside and Chelsea Kayak Club.

Can you help me win a pub quiz?

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

I have a week to learn as much as possible about what may come up in a pub quiz. Can you teach me everything I need to know?

Next Friday night I’m taking part in a pub quiz. It’s my first pub quiz. For one very good reason: my general quiz knowledge is rubbish.

(Skip to the bottom of this post if you’re in a rush.)

In primary school, we had an annual general knowledge exam. I think it’s the only test/exam I ever failed (unintentionally). I still remember one year getting a lift home with some neighboursl. They were a year younger than me (a twin), and I spent the mortifying 15-minute drive home wishing I could be anywhere else, as their mom asked them about the quiz, and how well they’d done (180% between them), and about the questions…. and of course, asked me how I did, ha hem. Oops.

In high school, we had an annual inter-house general knowledge quiz. In my final year, I was asked to be part of the team. For some reason unknown to me, I said yes. I then spent a mortifying hour sitting on a stage in front of 500 pupils. Not knowing the answers. Urgh.

Two years ago, my boss invited me to be part of the company’s team in an annual charity general knowledge quiz. I said yes (you’re picking up on a theme perhaps?). This time, however, I was clever. I chose to be scribe. So I kept myself busy writing down our answers, so as to not show I knew none of them. It was still a pretty mortifying three hours. The food was good though.

And here I find myself once again in a similar situation. Teams of four, and I’ve tried to warn my teammates of my inability to know anything useful for a quiz. But why, oh why, am I doing this to myself*?!

It’s too late to back out (and even if it wasn’t, I probably wouldn’t, who am I trying to kid), so all I can do is hope like heck my general knowledge will miraculously improve over the next week… oh wait! Perhaps it can? If you think you can help (and don’t suggest I start reading back issues of newspapers online, please) by providing useful facts and figures and names please, please do so. Now.

Send me an email, facebook me, tweet, send me an inmail via LinkedIn or leave a comment on this blog. Or, heavens alive – drop me a text, phone me or pop by for a cup of coffee.

This is a desperate plea for help.

*It’s for charitable purposes – the RNLI Lifeboats, the FoCRs (yes, us) and Chelsea Kayak Club (the organisers). So it’s for good reasons, and with lovely people. You should come!

The Grand October Pub Quiz in aid of the RNLI (the lifeboat service which saves many lives each year), Friends of Cremorne Riverside (which supports young people to go paddling many from disadvantaged backgrounds), and Chelsea Kayak Club!
GET YOUR TEAM TOGETHER NOW!
When: Friday 21 October 8pm start
Where: The Ballroom, The Bedford, Balham – drinks from 6.30pm
Who: Teams of 4 – £10 per person/£40 a team (includes a glass of wine and entry to the club afterwards)

What a lovely lot of kit I got

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

If Cremorne Riverside had a kit shop on site, I’d be a pauper.

I’m not a big fan of shopping. Not because I don’t like having/buying new stuff; I just don’t like spending my free time crammed indoors artificially lit shopping centres with thousands of people, or jostling up and down a high street trying to pass the ‘crawlers’ as I move from shop to shop.

It’s a bit of a different story though when a renowned canoe retailer sets up shop on my kayaking doorstep. Add to that two knowledagable (and nice!) sales guys, and a whole bunch of demo kit to try out at one’s leisure… now that’s my sort of shopping experience.

From 9am till 2.30pm yesterday, Danny and Barry of Desperate Measures grooved their shop moves on Cremorne’s deck, while Kim, Katy and Ian whipped up a culinary bbq fest, and Harry, Blair and Alfie jumped on and off the water with newbie and regular paddlers alike trying out kayaking and kit.

And me? I shopped. And ate. And shopped some more. And ate a bit more.

After a few sumptuous burgers, hot dogs, vegetable kebabs and cupcakes, Barry took to the water for a bit of a coaching session with Antony, Muna, John (three of our favourite young kayakers) and Blair, learning to bust some moves in the Wavesport, Dagger and Jackson playboats.

It was great to see everyone who popped in during the day, thanks to all from Chelsea Kayak Club, Putney Bridge Canoe Club and Tower hamlets for coming by (and any other clubs that came down that I haven’t mentioned please let us know!).

And a big congrats to all of you who tried kayaking for the first time – we’ll hopefully see more of you soon. And you don’t need to wait until next summer to come back; Kayaking London paddles throughout the year.

And just in case you haven’t seen enough photos, click here to see a couple more on the Chelsea Kayak Club blog.

Another good reason to go kayaking

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

An interesting article on exercise and creativity. Nothing ground-breaking, but the information is put across with a focus on activity fueling creative processes.

Just another reason why we should all get out and kayak this weekend. Not that we needed one, given the weather forecast!

The regular adult fitness and young people drop-in sessions are on at the usual times, plus there’s the last of the summer Pizza Paddle trips happening on Saturday afternoon. Visit the Kayaking London website to sign up.

Help save our playgrounds

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

The Blue Mile : 4 September : Cremorne to the London Aquarium : Oceanic outfits

Our rivers, oceans, lakes and wetlands are remarkable places. Without them, there would be no life. They provide us with water to drink and food to eat. They’re home to an astounding array of fish, animal and plant life. They are our kayaking playgrounds.

But our water habitats are under severe threat from dangers like climate change and pollution. Through The Blue Mile, WWF is raising money to protect these amazing environments. The Blue Mile London extravaganza takes place on 4 September, and all you need to do to show your support is dedicate 1 mile to some form of water activity, kayaking for example.

In order for us to show our support on our home turf, Cremorne Riverside and Kayaking London are coordinating a Thames Blue Mile event:
“We’re getting immersed in the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Blue Mile Campaign to help raise funds to protect our rivers and oceans. This event is open to all ages and abilities, even if you haven’t paddled with us before. A fun and worthwhile activity for the summer, we will be kayaking from our base in Chelsea to the London Aquarium and back in ocean-inspired fancy dress! No experience is required, so get your pals together and help us raise some funds for a great cause.“

Sunday 4 September, 12:30 – 2:30pm

Contact cremorne.riverside@rbkc.gov.uk to register your place. And show your support/share your enthusiasm via our Facebook event

£40 minimum donation or sponsorship per attendee – all proceeds go to WWF. To donate, visit our JustGiving page

Restrictions: Participants must be over 9 with signed parental consent.

From protecting the habitats of endangered species like whales and turtles to making clean drinking water accessible to everyone on the planet, all money raised will go towards WWF’s work to protect the world’s water.

Swimming in the Thames

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

Tim Mansel, part of team CKC and the winners of the ‘fastest boat to sink’ , provides an entertaining perspective of our cardboard canoe competition – read the blog post here.

cardboard maths

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Friends of Cremorne Riverside

120 tasty burgers.
80 smiling faces.
65 scrumptious cupcakes.
50 square feet of recycled cardboard.
13 cardboard canoes.
5hrs of good weather.
4km of tape.
1 fantastic cardboard canoe challenge.

Friends of Cremorne Riverside

paddle, paddle, paddle – youth, environment, community

Category Archives: Events

River leaders’ paddle day

What a lovely lot of kit I got

Another good reason to go kayaking

cardboard maths

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How would you score in the Thames-themed quiz questions? This past Friday night’s pub quiz at The Bedford in Balham, hosted by Chelsea Kayak Club, went down a treat.

If you’ve read the previous post on this blog, you’ll know that it was going to be my debut pub quiz, and if that’s what all pub quizzes are like, it certainly is a good shout towards a night out.

Put your Thames knowledge to the test Given who the hosts were, there was unsurprisingly a section on the Thames… here are the questions – how well would you do? And try not pick up your smart phone, tablet, iPad, iPhone, or any other gizmo that stops you from working it out for yourself!

1. How many bridges (foot, train and traffic) are there between the Tower Bridge and Teddington Lock? (2 points for exact 1 point for 1 either side)

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I have a week to learn as much as possible about what may come up in a pub quiz. Can you teach me everything I need to know?

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The Blue Mile : 4 September : Cremorne to the London Aquarium : Oceanic outfits

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Follow “Friends of Cremorne Riverside”

How would you score in the Thames-themed quiz questions?
This past Friday night’s pub quiz at The Bedford in Balham, hosted by Chelsea Kayak Club, went down a treat.

Put your Thames knowledge to the test
Given who the hosts were, there was unsurprisingly a section on the Thames… here are the questions – how well would you do? And try not pick up your smart phone, tablet, iPad, iPhone, or any other gizmo that stops you from working it out for yourself!