Tag Archives: chelsea kayak club

Springing into action

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Spring has sprung, according to the western calendar. Spring itself also appears to be taking a springy step to join us this week. The anticipation of what’s to come, and the way the colours sort of sneak up on us, is what I love about the season.

As it is officially spring, there is now absolutely no excuse not to be out paddling, and I’m glad to say that it’s well worth the effort to dust those cobwebs off your outdoor mentality and get back into a boat (for those of you who haven’t stopped paddling through the winter, ignore me).

Last Tuesday a few of us from Chelsea Kayak Club took a lazy trip to Chiswick Eyot. With the setting sun, and Jupiter, Venus and Mars accompanying us along the way it was a truly magical experience. I’ve never been that far west by kayak; paddling around the Eyot at dusk  was rather fairytail-ish. Ann Gales had her camera with her and took a great photo of the sunset.

This past Saturday was St Patrick’s day, and in true Cremorne style, Harry led a ‘Paddle for Paddy’s’ to Westminster and back. With the boats decked out in green, everyone wearing Guinness hats, and a few Irish tunes belting out across the water it sure was fun. One of the clients wrote about it on their blog – read it here.

And then this morning, on a rare occasion when I don’t have to be sat at my desk at 9am on a Wednesday, I joined the Chelsea Yakkers for a lovely paddle to Westminster. And, Hello Spring! What a fantastic morning. Warm sunshine, blue skies, still waters….lovely jubbly. I may have even got a smidgen of colour.

Ah, yes, Spring is here.

Chelsea Kayak Club Pub quiz

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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.

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?

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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?

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)

Up the creek without a paddle: what we don’t want to find on the Thames

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On Kayaking London‘s Twilight paddle yesterday evening, when I turned to see one of the kayaker’s looking for something in the water the first thought I had was ‘Ooh, perhaps he’s found something interesting on the Thames for us to blog about’. But not this time.

Yes, he’d found something, but it was something he’d lost and found as opposed to just found. His paddle.

As you probably know (or can guess) being stuck in a kayak on the Thames – or anywhere, for that matter – without a paddle is not a good place to be.

Your paddle is one of your best friends. Choose one that complements you. Keep it close. Love it. Be nice to it. And try not let it go*!

Trust me – I’ve learnt the hard way. Having developed a nasty habit of letting go of my paddle while practising rescues when I first started kayaking, this year I found myself swimming unnecessarily at the Bitches in Pembrokeshire: knowing how to roll is all good and well, provided you haven’t already offered up your paddle to the water gods. And swimming (twice) in the Ramsey Sound in March in non-drysuit-type-gear is a cold way to learn that lesson. Luckily for me Nige from Seakayakguides was on hand to curtail my Irish sea swim(s). I don’t reckon I’ll let go of my paddle any time soon again.

So let’s hope we don’t find more paddle-less paddlers or paddler-less paddles on the Thames any time soon.

*Top tip for adamant paddler-throwers: learn how to hand roll.

Go canoeing!

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Yesterday was a great day at Cremorne Riverside, with many people out and about to enjoy our ‘Go Canoeing’ open day festivities. We teamed up with Chelsea Kayak Club, Kayaking London (aka Cremorne Riverside) and the BCU to give people the chance to try out kayaking, sign up for courses and clubs, and buy cakes.

Read more about it, and watch the video, in Chelsea Kayak Club’s great write up.