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Monday, December 27, 2010
116
It's now 116 days until Easter Sunday and there are NO Easter eggs in the shops! The TV has informed me I need to buy my summer 3 piece suite holiday no win no interest free credit part 1 only £1:99 last ever sale right now, but where are the Easter eggs? It's a disgrace, Nick Clegg should be ashamed- this never happened under Gordon Brown!!!!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
teamGT
teamGT's not been up to much lately, they say when it rains it pours- well this has been my monsoon season! Things are looking up though!
However, as I write this there are only 142 days until DW2011
Monday, July 19, 2010
Working on a solo project...............
Tonight I have gone solo! No Tom, no Simon, and no other occasional canoeist Becky to accompany me on my quest to prepare for DW glory next year.
Becky, as you may guess is a girl, and I work with her at a well known French electricity company in Exeter. We went out in Green Gerty last Monday, and we made pretty good time on the Exe, probably faster than Tom! However, tonight's plan went awry when Becky decided to go shopping, and having a head full of summer sales bargains, forgot about canoeing completely.
Simon also stood me up, although he has got more of my sympathy because he is having to smooth a possible problem over with the current girlfriend after a minor scare worthy of a Jeremy Kyle episode.
Tom did visit over the weekend to pick up some of his spare socks, and exchanged some of his technological gadgetry that he discovered in a box in the garage. Normally Tom would view such things as iPhones and personal computers as disposable items, but on this occasion decided that the almost new charger for his spare phone would do for now............
So, 3 canoeing partners down, I vowed to soldier on. I reported for action at Double Locks on the Exeter Canal at 1640hrs. I changed out of my normal shirt and tie and into board shorts and manky t-shirt. I then proceeded to lift the SS Green Gerty from the roof of my car, and carried her manfully on my shoulders. A few passerbys and curious swans probably thought that a very strange hermit crab was making its way out of the car park. A few patrons of the pub opposite my launching spot decided that the local ale was quite strong after all, and had to peer very carefully across the canal to see that in fact there was a human being underneath this enormous carapace.
And so I skillfully left my home port of Double Locks, and set off into a strong headwind in a 19 foot long Canadian Canoe. Usually these have 2 crew members shovelling away to move the massive vessel forwards, so as you can probably imagine, this was always going to be a difficult paddle.
After what seemed like mere minutes, I passed beneath the Countess Weir swing bridge, 1 mile from the start. Then the headwind got even stronger, and the high sided canoe decided to go whichever way the wind blew it. Add to this mix some incredibly thick weeds, and the recipe here is getting very tricky. This was turning into an epic paddle, and I still had about 7 miles to go.
(Picture above is Turf Lock) I reached Turf Locks, which has a very unique pub which you cannot reach by road. This also marks the end of the Exeter Ship Canal, and my halfway point. Having battled against strong winds and rain showers all of the way out, I expected an easy paddle back with a following wind. The weather had other ideas, and decided that it wanted to turn into a clear, windless evening. To be honest the wind dropping was almost as good as a following wind, and I made it back to Double Locks in about 1 1/4 hours.
That is making approximately 3.5 miles an hour average the whole way, even with a headwind and a stop for jelly babies and water. I am extremely pleased with my evenings work, and I don't know how I got Gerty back on the roof, but there was a reverse of the launch, but with more muttering and swearing, dropping boat, more muttering, dropping boat on car, loud swearing, and finally the boat strapped down on the roof and muted cheer and a handful of jelly babies to celebrate.
I am now a complete physical wreck, and my only salvation is a healthy salad with boiled eggs and tinned salmon. The usual after-paddle fayre that Tom goes for is more on the side of Mr Kipling and Snickers. Tom will struggle to understand why I have gone all healthy, because he says that he is not due a salad until 2012 because he ate a raw carrot last February.
Becky, as you may guess is a girl, and I work with her at a well known French electricity company in Exeter. We went out in Green Gerty last Monday, and we made pretty good time on the Exe, probably faster than Tom! However, tonight's plan went awry when Becky decided to go shopping, and having a head full of summer sales bargains, forgot about canoeing completely.
Simon also stood me up, although he has got more of my sympathy because he is having to smooth a possible problem over with the current girlfriend after a minor scare worthy of a Jeremy Kyle episode.
Tom did visit over the weekend to pick up some of his spare socks, and exchanged some of his technological gadgetry that he discovered in a box in the garage. Normally Tom would view such things as iPhones and personal computers as disposable items, but on this occasion decided that the almost new charger for his spare phone would do for now............
So, 3 canoeing partners down, I vowed to soldier on. I reported for action at Double Locks on the Exeter Canal at 1640hrs. I changed out of my normal shirt and tie and into board shorts and manky t-shirt. I then proceeded to lift the SS Green Gerty from the roof of my car, and carried her manfully on my shoulders. A few passerbys and curious swans probably thought that a very strange hermit crab was making its way out of the car park. A few patrons of the pub opposite my launching spot decided that the local ale was quite strong after all, and had to peer very carefully across the canal to see that in fact there was a human being underneath this enormous carapace.
And so I skillfully left my home port of Double Locks, and set off into a strong headwind in a 19 foot long Canadian Canoe. Usually these have 2 crew members shovelling away to move the massive vessel forwards, so as you can probably imagine, this was always going to be a difficult paddle.
After what seemed like mere minutes, I passed beneath the Countess Weir swing bridge, 1 mile from the start. Then the headwind got even stronger, and the high sided canoe decided to go whichever way the wind blew it. Add to this mix some incredibly thick weeds, and the recipe here is getting very tricky. This was turning into an epic paddle, and I still had about 7 miles to go.
(Picture above is Turf Lock) I reached Turf Locks, which has a very unique pub which you cannot reach by road. This also marks the end of the Exeter Ship Canal, and my halfway point. Having battled against strong winds and rain showers all of the way out, I expected an easy paddle back with a following wind. The weather had other ideas, and decided that it wanted to turn into a clear, windless evening. To be honest the wind dropping was almost as good as a following wind, and I made it back to Double Locks in about 1 1/4 hours.
That is making approximately 3.5 miles an hour average the whole way, even with a headwind and a stop for jelly babies and water. I am extremely pleased with my evenings work, and I don't know how I got Gerty back on the roof, but there was a reverse of the launch, but with more muttering and swearing, dropping boat, more muttering, dropping boat on car, loud swearing, and finally the boat strapped down on the roof and muted cheer and a handful of jelly babies to celebrate.
I am now a complete physical wreck, and my only salvation is a healthy salad with boiled eggs and tinned salmon. The usual after-paddle fayre that Tom goes for is more on the side of Mr Kipling and Snickers. Tom will struggle to understand why I have gone all healthy, because he says that he is not due a salad until 2012 because he ate a raw carrot last February.
Friday, July 9, 2010
A canoe? Are you mad?!?
Yes, I think I am slightly mad. Many people who know me will agree with this, but I live with the knowledge that I generally inhabit my own little world. But it is OK because they know me here!
Why a Canoe for DW 2011? Basically I am having problems getting settled in a kayak, so a C2 seems more suitable. Ever since I kidnapped Tom's open canoe and renamed her Green Gerty, I have found the actual handling of a canoe much more natural. I have even done my longest ever paddles in a canoe (not kayak!) without much in the way of prep, so this is a big flag waving to me saying to TRY AN OPEN CANOE!!!!!
Luckily for me, Tom is even more accomplished at changing his mind than I am, and was well ahead of me on the 'let's try an open canoe' front.
Also, training will be so much easier for me because I have a training buddy called Simon who can crew Gerty with me whilst Tom is maiming victims on one of his operating tables up country. I have regularly paddled 10 miles with Simon in the SS Gerty Valdez, and surely as this boat is so much heavier than the much anticipated Jenson V1 Pro, I guess this would amount to 15 to 18 miles worth of racing canoe paddling.
This post also marks a monumentally selfish proposal by the junior partner in Team GT Condor: we use Devon as the training base! This actually makes some sort of sense because Tom is using my mansion house in Devon to store his copious technological widgets and spare socks.
This will be put to the Team GT Condor board sometime soon, preferably over a team bonding session at one of the local pubs. As I understand it, give Remko enough Leffe and Staropramen, and he will agree to do just about anything!
Will update you as to how much Leffe and Staropramen is required during negotiations, just in case anyone is interested. Might come in useful if you run into Remko.
Ta da for now!
Rich
Why a Canoe for DW 2011? Basically I am having problems getting settled in a kayak, so a C2 seems more suitable. Ever since I kidnapped Tom's open canoe and renamed her Green Gerty, I have found the actual handling of a canoe much more natural. I have even done my longest ever paddles in a canoe (not kayak!) without much in the way of prep, so this is a big flag waving to me saying to TRY AN OPEN CANOE!!!!!
Luckily for me, Tom is even more accomplished at changing his mind than I am, and was well ahead of me on the 'let's try an open canoe' front.
Also, training will be so much easier for me because I have a training buddy called Simon who can crew Gerty with me whilst Tom is maiming victims on one of his operating tables up country. I have regularly paddled 10 miles with Simon in the SS Gerty Valdez, and surely as this boat is so much heavier than the much anticipated Jenson V1 Pro, I guess this would amount to 15 to 18 miles worth of racing canoe paddling.
This post also marks a monumentally selfish proposal by the junior partner in Team GT Condor: we use Devon as the training base! This actually makes some sort of sense because Tom is using my mansion house in Devon to store his copious technological widgets and spare socks.
This will be put to the Team GT Condor board sometime soon, preferably over a team bonding session at one of the local pubs. As I understand it, give Remko enough Leffe and Staropramen, and he will agree to do just about anything!
Will update you as to how much Leffe and Staropramen is required during negotiations, just in case anyone is interested. Might come in useful if you run into Remko.
Ta da for now!
Rich
Monday, July 5, 2010
Big Moves
Thought I'd best write something, just to prove I'm alive!
Big moves afoot for teamGT and myself.
I've left England and come to do missionary work in Yorkshire- I will try and educate them that rugby teams have 15 players
The other big move is we're changing boat- the Condor is going to work elsewhere and Richard and myself are going C2. I've ordered a Wenonah Jensen V1-Pro
5.64m long and 13.2kg
We have set a training target to be race ready well before the 2011 Waterside series!
Tom
Big moves afoot for teamGT and myself.
I've left England and come to do missionary work in Yorkshire- I will try and educate them that rugby teams have 15 players
The other big move is we're changing boat- the Condor is going to work elsewhere and Richard and myself are going C2. I've ordered a Wenonah Jensen V1-Pro
5.64m long and 13.2kg
We have set a training target to be race ready well before the 2011 Waterside series!
Tom
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Grand Union Canal 2
I went for a bit of a ride on my bike today, not sure how far it was but I'll measure it on Google maps somewhen.
Anyway I was looking for somewhere to put onto the canal I'd seen approaching the M1. This was the Rothersthorpe Flight. I spoke to a gentleman from British Waterways and found that this joined the Grand Union Canal
Anyway I was looking for somewhere to put onto the canal I'd seen approaching the M1. This was the Rothersthorpe Flight. I spoke to a gentleman from British Waterways and found that this joined the Grand Union Canal
The biggest find was the Blisworth Tunnel, this is considerably
longer than the Bruce Tunnel at over 2.8km
Unfortunately it isn't navigable by unpowered craft
I have plans though, I feel an outboard for the canoe coming on!
Now that I've found some water the next step is to go out and train!
After all it's only 311 days until DW 2011
After all it's only 311 days until DW 2011
Tom
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Commercialisationmas
My faith in mankind is restored.
It's the 1st of June, 323 days till DW2011, 206 days until Christmas and I'm watching a Christmas Simpsons!
Tom
It's the 1st of June, 323 days till DW2011, 206 days until Christmas and I'm watching a Christmas Simpsons!
Tom
Monday, May 31, 2010
Blog stuff
Got a new team car
Didn't race yesterday. Rich and I have a session planned in the Condor for the middle of June.
Bad news too. Hamish, one of our team pets, passed away.
We're still on course for the Liffe with an ever growing team!
Tom
Friday, May 21, 2010
What the hell is an Epsilon anyway?
Hi, been a while! Rich here! I have been secretly training for the last 2 months working hard in the gym, and moving to what I like to call the 'Light Side' by paddling a 17 foot Peace River Cruiser open canoe. I have affectionately named her Green Gerty, and she is a lovely boat. I had my first proper taste if Green Gerty on the Glasgow Edinburgh Challenge, but I have also been taking her on the Exe with a mate from my work called Simon. Last week he nearly drowned as he tried to roll the boat in a weir. He's a mountain biker who dabbles in Downhill, so no brains when it comes to forward planning or spotting potential obstacles until after you have hit them, but like me has the attitude 'if you can see where your going, it's not steep enough!' Anyway, you can't roll a canadian back up the right way, but full marks to Simon for trying!
Today is a new day for me, as I will be trying out an Epsilon. This is a K1, so this means I am going to swim. Not a problem as it is about 20 degrees today as opposed to the minus 20 it was over the winter at times. Tom and I will also paddle the condor for the first time since Waterside B in February, so although I haven't mentioned this I intend to do at least 10 miles in it. I mean, come on! I did 12 in a slow open canoe last week!! A racing kayak should do that easily!
I think Tom will have a hangover because we went out for his Christmas present. I got him a ticket to see Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at Wembley Arena last night. Awesome night! I only hope I can play my guitars like that when I am 62!
Must go and wake Tom now, as I want to get paddling! The first job is to prevent Tom going for the full 'Sportsmans Breakfast'. You know the one, Bacon, Eggs, Sausage, black pudding, white pudding, hash brown, beans, fried bread.........................
Ta for now!
Rich
Today is a new day for me, as I will be trying out an Epsilon. This is a K1, so this means I am going to swim. Not a problem as it is about 20 degrees today as opposed to the minus 20 it was over the winter at times. Tom and I will also paddle the condor for the first time since Waterside B in February, so although I haven't mentioned this I intend to do at least 10 miles in it. I mean, come on! I did 12 in a slow open canoe last week!! A racing kayak should do that easily!
I think Tom will have a hangover because we went out for his Christmas present. I got him a ticket to see Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at Wembley Arena last night. Awesome night! I only hope I can play my guitars like that when I am 62!
Must go and wake Tom now, as I want to get paddling! The first job is to prevent Tom going for the full 'Sportsmans Breakfast'. You know the one, Bacon, Eggs, Sausage, black pudding, white pudding, hash brown, beans, fried bread.........................
Ta for now!
Rich
Monday, April 26, 2010
Glasgow to Edinburgh Canal Challenge
This didn't quite go a planned- for us it became the Glasgow to Falkirk Wheel Challenge as I hurt my arm. The upside of not paddling today was that we're still not paddling, we go away on time and we had the pleasure of helping Michael ad Graeme who did very well- Well done to the C & B Buckaneers!
I'll be having a few weeks off from paddling.
Tom
Friday, April 23, 2010
tonight...
...teamGT is off to Scotland for our first race outside of England and our first race in a canoe
Note to self: remember camera; remember camcorder
Tom
(Got camera & spare battery, charging camcorder and have burnt 2 extra CDs for the journey)
Note to self: remember camera; remember camcorder
Tom
(Got camera & spare battery, charging camcorder and have burnt 2 extra CDs for the journey)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
365/ 3
365 days until Senior DW 2011 but only 3 days until the Glasgow to Edinburgh canal challenge! teamGT's first race in a canoe!
Tom
Tom
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
teamGT's been busy
We've been busy-
At the end of this month we're racing in the Glasgow to Edinburgh Canal Challenge. We have a new boat for this- the Peace River Cruiser ours isn't a Venture but they've bought the design. Ours is old and battered as it has been down the Liffey Descent twice and that's where we intend to take it again this September. I will remember to do some pictures of it.
At the end of this month we're racing in the Glasgow to Edinburgh Canal Challenge. We have a new boat for this- the Peace River Cruiser ours isn't a Venture but they've bought the design. Ours is old and battered as it has been down the Liffey Descent twice and that's where we intend to take it again this September. I will remember to do some pictures of it.
GTDW2011 has a bit of a new look for the blog
We've added a direct e-mail bar at the top and our gmail page is in a terminal template until someone changes it as it's too harsh on the eyes
My own training has stepped up a gear- I'm doing some!
Tom
Thursday, April 8, 2010
teamGT DW2011
What was I thinking? We can create as many blogs on this account as the United Nations will tolerate!
I have actually been out on the Thames tonight training, of a fashion (note to self,"Don't use paddles that are way too short, you know it's not a winner!")
Well as it only 378 days to go Rich and I are putting the Condor on the Grand Western Canal in Tiverton on Saturday in preparation for the Glasgow to Edinburgh Canal CHallenge when we hope to become an international racing team!
I'll sort out the rest of the blog soon but I'm going to bed now
Tom
I have actually been out on the Thames tonight training, of a fashion (note to self,"Don't use paddles that are way too short, you know it's not a winner!")
Well as it only 378 days to go Rich and I are putting the Condor on the Grand Western Canal in Tiverton on Saturday in preparation for the Glasgow to Edinburgh Canal CHallenge when we hope to become an international racing team!
I'll sort out the rest of the blog soon but I'm going to bed now
Tom
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