Melverley to Montford Bridge on the Severn.

Yesterday we found ourselves in Shropshire as Dani was leading a group of clients down a gentle and scenic stretch of the Severn, with myself tagging along with the dogs. The stretch paddled was a 6.5 mile(ish) meander along quiet water through mixed farmland. Conditions were quite gentle, a lack of recent rain meant that there was little flow to aid us. We put in at Melverley, opposite the Royal Oak pub and campsite, Dani and her group of 12 in 6 canoes, myself and the dogs paddling Dani's Mad River Legend. I was soon left behind by the main group, there's little hope of keeping up with doubles when paddling solo with nearly 30 kilos of dead weight on board, but I didn't mind as I could enjoy the peace and quiet which made for better wildlife spotting.

Dani's group disappearing off in the distance.

Dogs, lovable but dead weight.

Birdlife seen included a large number of buzzards, a solitary kingfisher (the Severn through Shropshire is a great place to see them), herons and swiflows (either swift or swallow, I can never tell which is which). Dragonflies and deep blue damselflies accompanied us on the water as well.

Cows. Like ramblers they hunt in packs.

In places the water got quite shallow, in fact after lunch (when we re-grouped) I ended up wading in the water helping push boats along as a couple of boats grounded after taking the right hand channel past an island rather than the more sensible left hand channel. But as they were simply following my line I can't complain.

Shallow water.

The right hand channel. Overgrown and shallow.

We reached Montford Bridge where the group were camped about 4 hours later, stopping once for an extended picnic.Dani and myself then de-camped and headed across country to Nottingham, where the tent was again set up, as Dani was taking part in the Outlaw triathlon as part of a team of 3, Dani swimming. The swimmers, about 1000 of them, set of at 6am. Dani did the 2.4 mile swim in 66.37 minutes, which I slept through being tired from the previous days driving.

Paul.

First paddle of the year.

Back to Rudyard today for a Peak Paddlers meet. Four of us met up, others cried off presumably due to the cold, it was a rather frosty morning. So Alan, Gary and myself set off down the calm lake, chatting and catching up. I had small dog with me in the boat, who whittled and kept moving around. I hope that he'll learn to settle in a canoe one day...

As we travelled down the lake the wind picked up, not by much but enough to chill my bare hands, for some reason I left my neoprene mitts at home. At about 2/3rds down my hands were far too cold so we turned back, although I did get distracted when I spotted some old coach bodies on the bank and couldn't resist getting out to explore. Back at the car park I spotted Mark's car, he obviously turned up late and was out on the water, paddling to the end of the lake to eat his lunch. Alan and Gary went out again but my hands were too cold for continued paddling so I got changed and enjoyed and brew and sausage and egg bap from the cafe. The others soon returned, and we were joined by Dani who cycled over from Buxton via Poynton and Macclesfield. With Dani changed (I took a change of clothes for her with me in the Landy), fed and the bike and canoe strapped to my vehicle we took small dog for a walk alongside the railway line before heading home.

Alan and Gary.

Old railway coach - once a holiday home?

Mark in his racing canoe.

Note to self - when winter paddling take mitts and wear fleece under dry trousers, Ronhill leggings just ain't warm enough!

Paul.

A misty paddle on Rudyard.

Out with the canoe and off to Rudyard Lake today with Peak Paddlers. I like Rudyard, especially at this time of year when the trees are showing their autumn colours. The water was still, and low (due to repairs on the dam wall, the 'lake' is actually a reservoir) and the weather cool and misty. I was hoping for sun, to make the most of the colours of the surrounding trees more than anything else.
I did pack the Kelly Kettle and planned to brew up at the end of the lake, however the cold damp air put me off the idea. Small Dog came along, I left Big Dog at home, my canoe isn't big enough for three!
We all did a lap of the lake together, chatting and catching up as we paddled, before returning to the dam end for tea and food at the cafe (sausage and egg bap, very nice). Then a few went home leaving three of us to paddle another lap.

I enjoy being on Rudyard, what it lacks in size it makes up for in charactor. There's some interesting properties along the shore, including some highly distinctive boathouses.
The weather conditions didn't make for good photography, but here's some pics anyway;

Getting ready, my boat in the foreground.

Looking down Rudyard from the dam.

Small Dog looking landward.

Chris in Swiss (hat).

On of the more impressive boathouses.

The view from the driving seat.

Small Dog modelling the latest colours...

Every boat should have one!

 Paul.