Sunday 25th October found Glen and Lynne Cooper holding the second charity quiz night for the teams charity pot. Glen spent hours and hours researching a whole bank of new questions ,picture rounds,music rounds and identify the thing rounds to name but a few. The event was well attended by kind supporters of the team and keen quiz going locals. The evening was great fun and I have no doubt all learnt a thing or two even if it was only “who the controller of the magic round about was”  or what Anne Robinson looks like stood behind a harrier jet on take off!

The evening raised £428.00!!!!!! So a huge thank you all who turned out on a cold October night, yet another fantastic boost to the growing pot.

Thank you Glen and Lynne

Tuesday 27th October will be forever more remembered as the “day of cakes” as Julie Finn and Donna Harris run a cake bake for the second time this year..an event that involves many kind souls baking for the cause.

 Big thank you to “Julie and Donna” for making it happen again!

…While I have your attention please to grab your diary’s…The team have one final Fund raising event left, this will be held post expedition at the Hamworthy social club..Sunday evening 13th December ……

“The Munro’s Mariners Charity Auction of pledges and promises”..invites all to attend free from any admission charge, there will be a selection of bands throughout the evening, the venue is licenced, and there will be an auction of lots, they will cater for every wallet..from beauty treatments and sports therapy sessions, hand crafted bead spreads to plane rides, diamond necklaces and many many more ..the list is impressive and you will all find something worthy of  bidding for….keep an eye on the site..soon there will be a auction page  were you will be able to peruse the lots as they are confirmed..Remember Sunday 13th December ..don’t miss it !!!!!!!

Phil

Friday 16th October saw the team travel down to Tavistock, Devon to embark on the final endurance trip. Chris Ingram one of our seasoned kayakerswas given the job of organising this final shindig and he came up with the goods without a doubt. In a previous life Chris help set up Kelly College Adventure centre near Tavistock , he worked at this centre for many years as a instructor and so the trip back was extra special for him , as he has not returned since joining the Police and starting his family.

The plan was to launch from the Barbican, Plymouth on Saturdaymorning ..No later than 0900 hrs….however the Plymouth traffic fairy had other ideas and we actually launched at 1050 hrs..and before anyone says anything the entire team where up, fed and kit loaded to go by 0640 hrs..it really was the traffic fairy!

The team was off and what a sight to see my team in formation for the first time all in klepper boats, as they kayaked towards Drake island and Devils point you could see that the expedition kit had introduced a new dinamic and the team where as finally working as a complete unit. The team turned right into the Tamar and progressed up past the docks and navel yards, passing the “refit submarines” ropedto the docks and then on past the very impressive HMS Albion. Several of the team served with the Royal marines and remember serving on the predecessor to the Albion…so trips down memory lane and unrepeatable tales were flowing thick and fast.

The team past under the mighty Brunel railway bridge and Tamar’s car bridge and on up into a different setting, leaving the industryof Plymouth behind we moved to the peaceful views of the Devon / Cornish country side …this river is without doubt the most stunning I’ve paddled to date, obviously aided by the turn of autumn and the colours in the huge forest that line the Tamar river banks in parts. We lunched at Cargreen a pretty riverside village..point to note ..it has a lovely little pub ..that doesn’t appear open at lunch time!!   ..or is it just that it doesn’t like sweaty Lycra and neoprene clad customers!!??!! (cant blame them really)

After a well deserved break the team where off again this time making good use of the rising tide and flying along at a healthy 6 knots ..the team pushed hard and reached the planned egress point in very good time. The egress point was not however the to be used until we had travelled a further 9 miles to the far weir and back !!!..the point of this cruel tactic was to push the mental strength of the team..reaching the finish point knowing they had to paddle another 9 miles before they could actually get out!!! The team reached the weir and practise rescue drills were then introduced , adding to the pressure of tired kayakers wanting the blood to desperately return to their backsides. The team finally reached the days end and left the water at around 1830 hours..26 miles was covered and a huge pat on the back to all. The pace set was relentless and hard work for all but no complaints were uttered and all smiled most of the day…(that could have been wind but i like to think the first). Now I should add at this point that for the first time we had the added company of the river safety team (or part of) Mike Darkin and Dave Ayres donned the much envied all in one full dry suits , dark glasses and woolly hats and spent all day chugging up the river watching our backs, chatting to the river police and generally taking the Micky! The lads must have been cold top the core by the time we left the river and huge thank youto them. There expertise with the rescue drills were impressive and there photography skills are not to shabby either. So the team headed back to Kelly college for the night …obviously via a pub!!!

Sunday morning bright eyed and no so bushy tailed 9 paddlers now crawled out of there sleeping backs very sore and achy and headed back to the egress point of the previous day,  we were down to 9 due to work commitments of two of the team who drove all the way back the previous evening!! (the commitment of my team is one thing I have no issue with what so ever as expedition lead!! - “Thank you lads”).

The team launched into the morning mist of the Tamar at slack tide hour, paddling down a glassy still river ..for anyone not fortunate enough to have experienced the almost “celestial” experience is just a must on your “list of things to do before I die” …you silently progress down the river, almost splitting the mirror like river surface, mist rising to join the sun up in the east..birds lifting from the river banks..I swear you will not be disappointed..just have a go!

The team stopped at Cargreen for as refuel as again the pace set was relentless. The team now assisted by the flood tide shot down through into the urban sprawl of Plymouthth docks once again..now tired and very achy the “sharks teeth like rocks ” of Devils point came into view and the last mile or two was insight..the final push was as ever impressive and the entire team finished at the start back at the Barbican.

Big thank you’s to Mike and Dave for the river support dry run and also to Paul Gibbson, without whom I would not be writing on this Blog ..Paul is the expedition I.T guru and as a treat we let him out the cupboard this weekend and allowed him to fetch and carry for us all !! he even got a title and a £1.50p expenses allowance as chief vehicle man/person!  Thanks Paul , I’m sure your you could have done one of million things with your free weekend!!..genuinely very much appreciated.

NB The Barbican shopping area and marina has a take away shack called Cap’n Jacks ..this place sells hot dogs by the half yard!! (no lie) they taste great , the bread is fresh and the staff smile…go see for your self..and no im not on commission !!

Great weekend , great company and yet again the team excelled …

……Next stop……Poole harbour and Bonn voyage….Thursday 26th November 2330 hrs !!!

Phil

Saturday 10th October saw Splashdown  open its doors to the team for a second time this year. Howard Weston Smith our very own male model and general all round ”house wives favourite “ arranged for the centre to be open for the sole benefit of the charity collection pot…. His team of lifeguards dutifully looked after all the eager flume riders and as a result the team raised a staggering £1500.00..the level of gratitude to Howard for arranging this far exceeds my ability to thank him, he is a true team player and integral to the success of this expedition, as are the other paddlers, drivers , safety boat crew and admin guys. The team is gelling so well and achieved so much in this last year, we have now reached the amazing current raised funds total of £9400.00…we still have to smash past the £10,000 mark to cover the logistical expences so please please keep suppporting our fundraising events…

The recci trip finally became a reality at the end of September …a very kind friend agreed to pick me up at 0420 hrs on a wet Monday morning and drop me at the coach station in Bournemouth ,and the journey then took me to Heathrow and finally to the “genuinely” excellent Luton airport..honest to god after watching a few airport shows I was dreading this part as I had elected the airline that features most highly on the show  ..yep Easy jet!! but praise where its due they were on time , very polite and I’m still alive! (those three ticks in the box, on any short haul flight makes it a rip roaring success in my book). So Bordeaux or bust ….Al Pipe our English / French resident met me at the other end. Al was easy to spot being 6′ 7″ wearing board shorts and crocs with a “Trinity Kayak ” emblazoned t shirt …stood among the poster weilding expectant family and friends in the arrivals lounge.

Al and his family Suzie, Issac and max were the perfect hosts, and we as a team owe them a huge debt of gratitude which in all honesty will be impossible to repay. The family run the Gite business, along side Al’s bespoke kayak build company “Trinity Kayaks” on the island and Suzie fits in looking after the two young boys whilst being a Dr of some far to complex medical dicipline to even begin to explain… ”And “they found time to ferry me all around Pauillac, Verdon and Bordeaux during the week. I can genuinely reccommend the Gite on the island “Ile Patiras” run by Suzie..it is stunning , rustic and so peaceful you can here your own brain spinning as you relax and unwind. I was fed and watered all week, taken to all the points i needed to sus out and finally given the fantastic news that Al not only wanted to lend us his boat for the week and skipper into the bargain but he and Suzie wanted the entire team to staying the Gite for two nights…for free!! I was blow away by there generosity and almost bit his arm off as he finished the sentence. The assistance did not end there…Al then took me to Bordeaux (approximately 85 km from his home) and introduced me to a friend of his who owns a very recently refurbished ‘party’ barge moored on the river bank in central Bordeaux..and yes the generosity kept on flowing as his friends happily agreed to the team using it on the penultimate night prior to the final paddle stint from Bordeaux to the egress point near Blaye.  The trip was a huge success and some genuine friendships have been formed. I cant wait to get back over to the monster that is the Gironde river….the trip did consist of paddling most days (be rude not to really) and for anyone who thinks the Thames or the Mersey are big rivers …These are mere trickles in comparison, the Gironde is so vast its hard to see the far bank even on a crystal clear day,its flow is just simply an unstoppable force and little within it remains “the unmovable object”.

The river has my respect,and much care will taken of my friends as we embark on the expedition for real in just “51 days” time..The planning has been thorough and I hope all details covered..the team has it’s last endurance trip to complete next weekend ..Good luck team and enjoy the Tamar!

Phil    

September saw the team return to the water with a refreshed set of shoulders and arms as we embarked on the fourth endurance trip this year. The team loaded the boats and headed for WoodMill in Southampton, this is the h0me of the southampton kayak center and the start (more or less) of the River Itchen, the team made up the expedition boats on the green and attracted much attention from the passing trade at the kayak shop..I must thank Dave Bridgerfor his very generous donation to the teams endeavours ”Thank you  Dave” your money will be banked asap. So with boats assembled (after a little head scratching from some members) the team were off (1145 hours)…the plan was to paddle from this point down the itchen were it joins the Tess and then onto Southampton water ..along down to Calshot and finally egress at Lymington and end day 1 ….We had good weather for the first few hours and ate up the river passage in no time at all..the Grand princess arriving at the port made for a welcome halt to the proceedings as we waited for a decent gap in the water traffic so as to cross the wash without having to play chicken with thousands of tonnes of ship , and with fuel on board (bananas and jaffa cakes) we all set off paddling down along side Fawley refinery onto and then past Calshot castle. This trip saw the first logistical support team in attendance, due mainly to the unfortunate events  of a previous weeks adventures where by due to the lack of paddling some of us felt the need to leg it around the welsh mountains!!! During this mini adventure our very own Action Man aka Gary Jones tried to move  half a mountain with his little finger and basically snapped it!! so not wishing to miss out on this trip (as he had organised it along with Bill Nixon ) he volunteered to run around like a headless chicken for the team …… His first duties , to source cold drinks , warm drinks and meet us at Calshot castle…result , as we arrived he stood on the beach with his 2IC Kev Masterman holding all that we required…We applaud you Gaz, you made a mighty fine tea boy !!!!

So refreshed and suitably spoilt by the choice of ‘beverages’ off we set now on the final leg of that day …however the forces of nature decided we had not had nearly been tested enough for the day and so mother nature turned the wind machine up a few notches..the team paddled for another three hours  “allegedly “with the the tide. We passed the Beaulieu river estuary and continued on and on and on …all the time being able to see the masts of boats moored in Lymington marina , yet strangely and frustratingly never appearing to get any closer to them!! Shoulders now waining and bums aching the team dug in and without complaint or moan we eventually reached our goal at 1830 hours…Lymington IRB slip ..and yes our support team were there. Boats stowed and shipped to the campsite, the team took great deleight in finding some of the best showers on any camp site anywhere ” Hurst View Camp site”, Lower Pennington (Just outside Lymington)  is a quality site with excellent facilities, we would recommend them. Our own dare devil stunt man “Catweasle” was delivered to the site by Howards partner Kerri, they then both joined us until the next morning.

Kerri god bless her brought many many  supplies including fresh cream cakes , wine, bacon , eggs and fresh rolls , now whilst we have no idea what she sees in ‘H’ (apart from the Adonis figure and rugged good looks) ..and we say this with much affection beacuse in fairness Kerri did seemingly all the work between them whilst on site …she put up their tent and 14 hours later took down there tent!!! We have not seen anyone so well looked after by another on a camping scenario…  however we are eternally grateful she does obviously adore him to bits..as we all got breakfast into the bargain!!!…thank you for taking care of catering Kerri. Your hired !!

And so to the water once again ….The team set of at 1030 hours at Lymington on Sunday morning , the weather was clear , calm and had the potential for kindness!!! The first leg was the marina to Hurst castle, quick refuel stop and then whilst the slack water allows creep through past Hurst point avoiding the cauldron of water that has you on the menu! The team rounded the point and headed for Hengistbury head , again the team eating into the miles, and to be honest the passage is not the most interesting of sections. We beached on the westerly side of Hengistbury head and sadly had to say farewell to Lynne Cooper, who I must add put a sterling effort in through out the weekend however her left shoulder had ideas other than paddling another ten miles down the bay. So boats adjusted and the last remaining choice snacks devoured the lads set off in a final bid for glory!!…I’m sure all will agree it was two hours of pain and cursing a strong southerly wind , if it wasn’t crusted salt dropping into eyes it was screaming shoulder muscles throwing tantrums that would rival any two year old, the wind was determined to wipe out any assistance that the flowing tide could have given us, it was graft with a capital ‘G’…but true to form the boys completed the task in hand and at 1815 hours we hit Sandbanks beach, exhausted , slightly wind and sun burnt and peppered in a myriad of welts , blisters and screaming muscles we didn’t even know we had!…..  but smiling. The exact mileage has not yet been calculated but it wasn’t to far shy of 45 miles, of which most was open and in parts ‘testing’ water. Well done team and excellent demonstration of the grit and endurance that has been developed within this team over the last year.

Our thanks go to Gary and Kev for all their tireless hard work over the weekend, a top job well done.

 Also big thankyou to Hurst View Campsite who donated our campsite fee to the charity pot “Thank you very much”.  

The final training run is now in the hands of Chris Ingram on 17th and 18th of October ..bring it on Chris !!

Phil

Did any of you see us on Meridian TV last Sunday ??? yes we were there  …many thanks to Meridian for there support again.

…Twelve weeks or 92 days from now the team will on route to the expedition start point just inside the estaury mouth of the Mighty Gironde river in France.

The logistics of the trip are entering the final phase of planning …and with a little “luck” and a whole lot of generosity the months and months of planning and preparation will become a reality in no time at all. …our own Catweasle continues to recover slowly but surely and the team has secured  its reserve padddle member ..Welcome to Mark Williams an operational officer currently a supervisor on the road policing unit, a man with similar grit and determination to that of the existing team members . Mark will undoubtably have a positive impact upon the team if his skills are needed should injury or illness smite one of the existing team during the actual trip. Mark will be training with the team from September, already being at a similar skill level to many he will mould in to the groupwithout to many hick ups.  His fitness level is one which would put any men half his age to shame and possible even some of us!!

I must take this oppurtunity to remind all of you friends and supporters of Munros Mariners that we have our Expedition finale on Sunday December 13th , this will take the form of a Auction of promises , to be held at the Hamworthy Social club (the hall has been donated free of charge!!!!) . We still need pledges that can be sold to eager bidders ..Can you help or do you know any one who may be able to help? Please contact us via the contact details noted on the website.

Thank you

Phil

Did any of you see us on Meridian TV last Sunday ??? yes we were their …many thanks to Meridian for there support and pushing our expedition

It’s with great relief and matching smile that I can report our own ‘Cat weasle’ is now out of hospital and being nursed back to health at home by the best option of all his “mum“.

Marks recovery will undoubtedly be slow and frustrating for him , his natural state is to juggle as many balls as possible , so the fact he cant do to much will be a huge shock to his system….  Not as much as the novel experience that is the  television though!!! …yes our Mark is one a few people I know who refuses to entertain the notion of owning and indeed  ”watching television” (although he does own a PS3 and frankly I rate that far higher in the “melt your brain cells top ten”, but that is just my humble opinion). Yes mark can now enjoy the delights of day time TV…Mr Kyle and his band of mindless morons, or maybe loose woman..obviously the most balanced, objective,interesting and non gender specific topical debate program anyone could ever watch!!!  We hope this influence doesn’t scar Marks metal state to the point that the Dr struggle to tell if his recovery is actually complete..only time will tell….Glad to have you back mate !

Phil

The team has had a very tense week waiting to hear if very own “Catweazle” AKA Mark Bardsley would start to recover after being involved in a serious road traffic accident last week.  Mark was cycling to a Chiropractic clinic session locally (which is bad enough!!) when he was involved in a collision with a moving car. Mark sustained head injurys and a broken collar bone. He is now out of the High dependency Unit, but remains on a Neurological ward at Southampton General….. “Our thoughts are with you mate”.

Mark is recovering slowly and we hope he will be transfered back to Poole General later this week. I will update the blog with any further news of his recovery anon.

Phil

Greetings to all who are keeping tabs on our progress, apologies for no updates over the last month….Well summer is well and truely here and I can say that with absolute authority because the team spent most of last weekend paddling through the predictable summer down pours around the Solent !!!

The team embarked on the third endurance training trip of the expedition last weekend. The original plan was to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight , however last minute weather reports dictated plan ‘B’ was very much going to be the route of choice…. our friends at the Met office predicted sea states good for fulmars and fish and not much else !!!!

So then to plan ‘B’ …..All trips have to have a plan ‘B’…..its an essential must that you soon learn when depending on mother nature for a green light on any long passage…I can liken it to trying to predict what will happen when your sure your loved one will adore that present you have bought for valentines day !!!! instinct and hard learnt lesson’s eventually teach us never to “presume anything”..however, one given is it will be  a 50 /50  call if your going to get the weather you want in and across our fair land (or sea’s) so we always try and source an alternative trip that is far less weather reliant…So the team graciously accepted the disappointment of not being able to crack the Island 360, and promptly travelled to Gosport on Friday evening ,descending on the Mum of one of the teams resident experts Chris Ingram. We were all greeted with tea and legendary Chocolate cake..no word of lie it is without doubt the cake equivalent of ambrosia the  food of the gods..sleeping arrangements were simple , first to arrive grabbed the biggest floor space !

Saturday morning saw the newly adopted team Mum make no less than 20 bacon rolls and endless cups of tea for the team, final kit checks and water collection were completed and then off to the start point. The inshore rescue slip at Alverstoke was our insertion point , and the first view of Southampton water’s for some..I can say for any readers thinking of tripping around the Solent it is a busy piece of water.. Passenger Ferry’s , containers , fleets of sailing academy craft and a myriad of other boats and vessels greeted the team. The Kleppers were constructed in good time and then loaded with the pairs kit..and we were off.

 First we headed to Ryde across the water and then the team headed west around the north of the Island past Cowes and over the Medina river entrance..on to Egypt point and tracking west until we reached the last protective headland before Yarmouth…and yes it rained ..and rained ..oh and rained. Camp for Saturday night was a cracking shingle headland backed by woodland over looking the mainland almost directly half way between the Lymington river mouth and the Beaulieu river mouth..beautiful views were glimpsed for the 30 minute rain rest bite we received as put out tents up..we were thankful for small mercy’s as almost on cue the last tent peg went into the ground and the heavens opened …. He who decides the weather then continued dropping what seemed like a years quota onto the team until early Sunday morning!!! Not much socialising was done due to the weather but all team members had a much needed early night!!! If you have ever slept in a small one man tent during a sustained rain storm you will know exactly what I mean when I say its like being in someones mouth that is full of popping candy!!!! ………NOISEY AS HELL…….thankfully many hours of hard paddling aided the ear muffs that is sleep.

Sunday saw the team on the water by 0720 hours (a little later than planned), but still early by most peoples standards on a sunny breezy Sunday morning..a few adjustments to one of the Kleppers on the previous rain drenched evening meant all paddlers were smiling, and for most of the return passage that was so…however for a good hour or more the following sea played havoc with a couple of the team…some boats now moving with both wind and tidal assistance were ”weather cocking ” like mad..and genuine grit was shown by Dave “the machine”Campbell during this period who ended up having to tow a trainer to keep his boat straight..now a trainer may not sound like much to some of you, but trust me its as bad as the tires Ben Foggle and James Cracknell were dragging around on thin ice a few weeks ago (BBC 2 Documentary)  for a kayak and its paddler.

The plus to the wind and tide with us meant we were flying back to the egress point…it seemed for us lucky ones who had boast behaving no sooner had we set off but the familiar sight of the rescue slip was almost in view…another  40 plus miles grafted and ..no injuries save yet more blisters and numb butts..!! However much learning  done by all. The trips teach the team far more than how numb your arse really can get before you start talking to your self or how many times you can try and flick stinging salt water from your eyes without stopping paddling !!! We learn how each other copes when things don’t go as planned, We are learning were our weaknesses are as a team and individuals, what we may need to practise etc..the tempo is steady , yet progressive and is ultimately going to aid the successful completion of the expedition in December.

On behalf of all the lads…A massive thank you must go to Chris’s mum….you are officially adopted as the Team Mum..you now have 10 extra sons…expensive in cake ingrediants but cheap for gardening and decorating help!!

Phil

A truely massive thank you must go to Stephen Harvey of JTP sign makers who at the last minute stepped into the breach this week and has very kindly designed , created and donated  an 8′ by 2′ weather proof banner for use by the team at this weekends Poole Afloat event. The team owe him a big big thank you as not only has he done all the above he has done this in 48 hours flat!!!!!!!! if that wasn’t enough the circumstances of the request was as follows….we met for a total of four minutes , during that limited time I spent half of it on the phone and then promptly left after genuinely being stunned by the perfect design of a banner only I had in my head. The man is a true Gent and we are genuinely very grateful for your generosity.

…let us not forget the conduit to JTP sign makers in the first instance, Nicky Lloyd a volunteer affiliated to DorSAR the Dorset search and rescue team provided the last minute contact . Thank you Nicky your a life saver!!! (no pun intended)

Phil