November 2006 - Canoeist Magazine

Jubilee River portage facilities
From Rich Moore, Tring Water Rats.
Nice to see you back in circulation. I missed out on the January
edition mentioned in the letter pages so was not aware that Europe’s
finest was back on the screen.
On a lighter note you mentioned the poor portage facilities for
canoeists on the Jubilee River. The club paddled it a few years back,
taking direct access from the Thames just above Boulter’s. The
attached describes the obvious barriers.
My picture files say that it was taken in Sept 2004. It was more
comical than obstructive although a sense of height and climbing
experience was welcome and the barbed wire inflicted its usual
injuries. It was one of those occasions when we were determined to
paddle the river however many obstacles were put in our way. The
rest of the weirs were hardly canoeist friendly and it’s not a river that I
would rush back to. Shame really as once it matures it would be a nice
little paddle.
Just got back from taking a group down the River Orne in
Normandy and every weir has a designated canoeist route, well
marked and maintained. The only weir that was not shootable had
artificial grass matting to get out onto, picnic tables, refuse bins and a
very long slide into the river again all covered in Astro turf. This was
only accessible by canoeists and very well thought out. Eat your hearts
out, EA.
I still think your product should be out there on the news stands
but as a free publication you are way underpriced!
Even electronic freeware asks for contributions...
From Jeff Reynard.
Please accept my apologies for not having sent this
communication sooner but I must thank you for continuing to
publish the occasional copy of Canoeist magazine. If you would like
a contribution to your expenditure in producing the magazine
please let me know the address to send it to. Once again, thank
you.
Editor’s comment: Jeff’s kind donation was much appreciated.
From Chris Pease.
Wonderful news; I have missed Canoeist! The canoeing media has
been like a desert since your last issue, all flesh and no bone.
From Graham Bland, Rollestone St, Salisbury, Wilts.
An excellent read – I miss it.
From Allison Gladwin.
Good to see you’re still going.
From Peter Knowles, Rivers Publishing, Blencathra St, Keswick,
Cumbria.
Just to say that I really enjoyed this month’s Canoeist. Keep up
the good work! Will try to feed you any news.
From Peter Jones.
Again a very unexpected and welcome surprise.
I continue to be amazed at how much you are able to produce
and it’s quality when compared with, for instance, the BCU HQ
editorial team.
Underpriced
From Boyd Nicholas, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
From Doug Cobbold.
Have you started Canoeist on a monthly basis again? I very much
Thanks for a brilliant edition!
enjoyed the July 06 issue on the web.
How can we (royal we as in ‘us out here’) support the continuing Editor’s response: I’m afraid not. Nobody is funding this.
magazine on the web?
I admit I was one of the paddlers less than impressed when you
One editor to another
made it electronic only and said I would cancel my subscription but From Tony Ford.
your commitment and quality has won me over.
It has been similar to watching the World Trade Centre go... I regret
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CANOEIST November 2006