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Tim and Mike |
Canoe on The Tamar Friday 6th January 2017
Conscious of the fact we have not had a sleepover in the truck for some months now, we, or rather Jackie decided we would venture out this weekend. Great said I "We'll load the rations on Thursday night, get the truck prepped and off Friday first thing." "Can't do that" says Jackie "I have my Xmas nails to take off and holiday nails to put on then I'm out to lunch with the girls at Pierre Bistro Friday. We can go Saturday!" "In that case I'm off with Tim and Les in the canoe Friday”. Which I duly did.
Collecting Tim at Ivybridge we soon arrived at Saltash public slip to find Les sat on the side with a flask of coffee waiting his turn to launch. There were at least seven grey haired old men with Kayaks and Canadian canoes at the water’s edge, all attempting to launch. “Strewth! Is this what's waiting for me in retirement?” I ask no one in particular, “Waiting behind grey haired old farts who have nothing better to do than mess around in boats?” "Don't sweat it," says Les "another few months and you'll be there causing the queue!" Grinning I set about prepping the canoes. Before long we had launched and were making our way up the Tamar towards Kingsmill Lake using Landulph Church as our way point. The day was overcast but no wind yet. Rain had been forecast later but we might well be off the water before it arrives.
Conscious of the fact we have not had a sleepover in the truck for some months now, we, or rather Jackie decided we would venture out this weekend. Great said I "We'll load the rations on Thursday night, get the truck prepped and off Friday first thing." "Can't do that" says Jackie "I have my Xmas nails to take off and holiday nails to put on then I'm out to lunch with the girls at Pierre Bistro Friday. We can go Saturday!" "In that case I'm off with Tim and Les in the canoe Friday”. Which I duly did.
Collecting Tim at Ivybridge we soon arrived at Saltash public slip to find Les sat on the side with a flask of coffee waiting his turn to launch. There were at least seven grey haired old men with Kayaks and Canadian canoes at the water’s edge, all attempting to launch. “Strewth! Is this what's waiting for me in retirement?” I ask no one in particular, “Waiting behind grey haired old farts who have nothing better to do than mess around in boats?” "Don't sweat it," says Les "another few months and you'll be there causing the queue!" Grinning I set about prepping the canoes. Before long we had launched and were making our way up the Tamar towards Kingsmill Lake using Landulph Church as our way point. The day was overcast but no wind yet. Rain had been forecast later but we might well be off the water before it arrives.
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Moditonham Quay |
Following
Les's lead we were up and down various creeks. Off to our left we could see
golfers on the course at China Fleet. The creek was narrowing and ahead could be seen a couple of old boats.
Wrecked! Now whether these had broken their moorings and drifted here with the
winds and tides, been stolen and abandoned or lured ashore by Cornish Wreckers
we knew not. Of one thing we were certain their time at sea was over or should
that be the sea was all over them?
We arrived at the old Jetty known as Moditonham
Quay were Les
had suggested we could have a brew and cook our bacon for the sarnies. Wary of
landing on jetties recommended by Les I anticipated some over-zealous attendant
demanding a tenner. The Jetty was built of granite stone with an earth infill
with a lovely grass covering. There was even a seat on the end and a pretty
good view both up and down the creek.
We three set about our various tasks. Tim had his Jetboil http://www.jetboil.com/ out and a brew on the go for him and Mike, Les pulled out his gas burner, a beast of a machine than was only slightly smaller than an Aga cooker but was capable of cooking the bacon in Mike's frying pan or indeed a whole hog much faster than using Mike’s Microrocket stove. http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/stoves/rapid-cooking/microrocket/product.
We three set about our various tasks. Tim had his Jetboil http://www.jetboil.com/ out and a brew on the go for him and Mike, Les pulled out his gas burner, a beast of a machine than was only slightly smaller than an Aga cooker but was capable of cooking the bacon in Mike's frying pan or indeed a whole hog much faster than using Mike’s Microrocket stove. http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/stoves/rapid-cooking/microrocket/product.
A
discussion ensued reference the merits of various heating options. We all
agreed if you needed to cook a three course meal Les's "Aga" was the
unit of choice. Provided you had a support vehicle to carry it. Need to boil a
litre of water in moments using little fuel? Tim's Jetboil wins hands down.
Trouble is the capital outlay. Can we mere mortals justify the cost. Tim is
trekking through some mountain range or other in Europe on a regular basis so
yes it makes sense. The only trouble is that type of screw canister is pretty scarce
in Europe. There have been occasions when he's carried it for a week or more
and never used it due to lack of fuel! Mike's MSR MicroRocket burner is smaller
than a knat’s knacker. It’s good to boil a mug of water and can handle
rudimentary cooking. It’s size and weight is its biggest selling point. Horses
for courses!
There
would have been fresh eggs to cook but Mike, despite wrapping them in kitchen
towel and placing them carefully in an old butter tub container, had forgotten
to bring em! Whilst Mike ran around cursing his failure to bring the eggs Les
poured a coffee from his flask and made conciliatory noises. Tim with a glint
in his eye said "We all forget things occasionally!" Was he obliquely
referring to last Mondays tab at Glazebrook when be forgot his boots?"
Anyway he had a brew ready and I passed him my mug and said nothing. The bacon
was well on its way. There were two whole- meal baps, ready buttered per person
with plenty of thick crispy bacon. No eggs!
Brunch over we soon stowed our kit on board and Les and I watched Tim hop from one foot to the other in an attempt to get back onto the canoe without getting his feet wet! Feeling sorry for him I suggested he jump on and I would push him off the beach. I waded out, the water was freezing even through my neoprene boots. Note to self, must investigate new boots.
On the return journey Les spotted some granite steps leading up from the high water mark to a scrub covered area. Mike decided to investigate and was soon alongside and up the steps. The area had not been visited in a long time. Tall stemmed weeds grew everywhere. Carefully choosing a path through Mike spotted hidden in the rear right hand side an archway leading out of this level area. This space provided enough area for a couple or three ponchos. Through the archway a passage way, roofless, also provided good cover from wind and with an overhead poncho, rain. This would need further investigating another time!
Brunch over we soon stowed our kit on board and Les and I watched Tim hop from one foot to the other in an attempt to get back onto the canoe without getting his feet wet! Feeling sorry for him I suggested he jump on and I would push him off the beach. I waded out, the water was freezing even through my neoprene boots. Note to self, must investigate new boots.
On the return journey Les spotted some granite steps leading up from the high water mark to a scrub covered area. Mike decided to investigate and was soon alongside and up the steps. The area had not been visited in a long time. Tall stemmed weeds grew everywhere. Carefully choosing a path through Mike spotted hidden in the rear right hand side an archway leading out of this level area. This space provided enough area for a couple or three ponchos. Through the archway a passage way, roofless, also provided good cover from wind and with an overhead poncho, rain. This would need further investigating another time!
Before
long we were all back at the put in and blow me if our arrival didn’t coincide with
the grey haired flotilla. Again, we stood off, a nautical term, whilst they
landed.
Les's offer of a coffee was greatly appreciated and whilst he doubled ahead uphill with his sit on strapped to his trolley, Mike and Tim lashed the other two sit-ons to the roof rack and were soon sat in Les's lounge drinking coffee. All agreed that it had been a useful few hours on the water.
Les's offer of a coffee was greatly appreciated and whilst he doubled ahead uphill with his sit on strapped to his trolley, Mike and Tim lashed the other two sit-ons to the roof rack and were soon sat in Les's lounge drinking coffee. All agreed that it had been a useful few hours on the water.
