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River Journey & Woodland Wild Camp 3031 July 2016
Canoe, kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard down the River Great Ouse, stay in a teepee in a private riverside woodland and learn camp cooking on the open fire.
Escape for a weekend of paddling, wild camping and adventure skills in rural Bedfordshire on one of the most beautiful rivers in Britain. Travel by canoe, kayak and/or standup paddle board (no experience is necessary). You will start your adventure with coaching from professional instructors learning different techniques before heading off downstream. Leave from Bedford's Victorian embankment and paddle out into miles of pristine river. This stretch is known for otter sightings, plenty of kingfishers, herons and other wildlife. Bring your swimming costume for some optional wild swimming and rope swings.
After several hours of paddling, practicing different skills, you will arrive at a secluded riverside woodland to enjoy a night wild camping under the stars. You will literally paddle into the site then make camp in shared teepees and tents or bring your own tent or hammock. As a group we’ll cook a freerange woodland feast over the camp fire, learning some top tips for preparing bush tucker. Then it’s time to relax around the fire and toast marshmallows.
The second day will start with a campfire breakfast and some adventure challenges in the woodland and river. Late morning you will return to your canoe or SUP and continue the journey downstream through leafy riverside villages before finishing at a riverside pub.
Starts 10am on Saturday. Finishes 3pm Sunday
TRAVEL AND LOCATIONS
We will start at the Butterfly Bridge opposite Russell Park on Bedford’s Victorian Embankment at th 10 am on Saturday 30 July. The postcode is MK40 3RH.
Getting here: Many people lift share. If you can offer or need a lift (or just want to say “hi” to fellow attendees), then you can do this on the event facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1013898865312111/
Please be aware this is a public page
Driving to Bedford: You can drive to the start point and there is parking in the area. Some of the parking around the Bedford Embankment is meter controlled, some is not so do look at signs. If you can’t find any space close to the Bridge drive to the Aspect cinema and there is free parking close by.
Arriving by train into Bedford Station: Its 1km to walk to the meeting point. Leave the station and turn right towards town at the pelican crossing. Turn left at the mini roundabout and right into Prebend Street. Cross over Prebend Street Bridge and follow the pedestrian walkway alongside the river bank. The River will be on your left hand side. You will walk past the Star Rowing Club Explorers Connect Ltd 124 Cheltenham Road Bristol United Kingdom BS6 5RW Company Number: 7598165
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and Viking Kayak Club on the opposite bank. Cross the road at the stone town bridge and keep walking along the embankment, past the Bedford Rowing Club and Park Inn Hotel and onto the central islands of the River. You will pass the suspension bridge over the River which is a pedestrian bridge and at that point will be able to see the Butterfly Bridge, the second pedestrian bridge. You will cross several wooden pedestrian bridges on your toue and pass the bandstand on the beautiful Mill Meadows. We will be on the central embankment island with our trailer and kit – look out for a Land Rover. It is about a 1520 minute walk to the start. We can pick up some people and or kit in our van at 09.30 am at the station and have seats for circa 34 people plus kit.
Getting back
We are due to be finished by 3 pm on Sunday at Eaton Socon which is about 1 hour North of London on the A1. Those travelling by train can travel on from St Neots station. Those with cars at the start point can arrange a taxi back to their cars at Bedford but we can provide some lifts too.
Postcode for the finish point is PE19 8GW which is the River Mill Tavern.
KAYAKING, CANOEING, SUP
We will have our experienced coaches available to support the trip and will provide basic through to advanced tuition as needed for participants. Paddlers can learn skills for canoeing, kayaking, or stand up paddle boarding from our coaches.
On Day 1 we will spend some time coaching skills, playing a few games, trying the different kayaks and canoes and also investigating the Bedford Embankment, lower river, away from the rowers. This will include visiting the Etienne Stott White Water Arena (wont be running unless heavy rain) but we can play with the slalom gates and practice skills. We will end the day around the campfire enjoying good food and banter. Total distance after skills and drills 56 miles.
Day 2 will involve some bushcraft skills and outdoor skills in the wood enjoying the woodland with a free range breakfast. Then we paddle down to Willington. Some people may chose to shoot the weir at Willington or Great Barford Locks. Then it is about 78 miles of meandering river with Kingfishers and Herons down to St Neots.
CAMPING
We are staying in a private woodland. This is truly wild camping, so there are wild facilities (Solar showers, Long Drop toilets etc). You will literally paddle into the site and portage your canoe, or kayak on the bank to make camp.
Accommodation is in shared teepees and tents, bring your own tent or hammock if you prefer. If you haven't done 'communal living' for a while it is lots of fun but you might want to bring earplugs just in case!
Explorers Connect Ltd 124 Cheltenham Road Bristol United Kingdom BS6 5RW Company Number: 7598165
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FOOD
Dinner is provided on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday (all food is free range and locally sourced). Please let us know ASAP if you have any dietary requirements such as allergies or vegetarian requirements. Please bring a packed lunch for Saturday
FOR THOSE WISHING TO ARRIVE ON FRIDAY NIGHT There is a Camping and Caravan Club campsite in St Neots: St Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Hardwick Road, Eynesbury, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 2PR 01480 474404
WHAT TO BRING
● Outdoor Trousers (not jeans) ● T Shirt ● Fleece/jumper ● Waterproof Jacket & Trousers (some cags are kit are available from canoe trail) ● Suncream ● Swimming Costume ● Old trainers or wet shoes for inside the kayak/canoe ● A complete change of clothes ● Wet wipes for cleaning ● Camera ● Towel + Washkit ● Any medicines you normally take ● Sleeping bag/mat ● Torch and spare batteries (head torches are good) ● Water bottle ● Snacks such as chocolate and drinks ● Packed lunch for Saturday
Please note:
● If you do not have the right kit you may not be able to participate. We do have some equipment to lend out so contact us well in advance if you need anything. ● On arrival you will be asked to sign a medical declaration form and provide us with next of kin/emergency contact details. If you have a medical condition or injury that we should be aware of please let us know in advance. Please contact us asap if there is anything you think may affect your participation.
Explorers Connect Ltd 124 Cheltenham Road Bristol United Kingdom BS6 5RW Company Number: 7598165
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PAYMENT
Price includes: ● Two days of kayaking / canoeing / standuppaddleboard (SUP) and other adventures (eg camp cooking, campcraft etc) ● Coaching from experienced and qualified instructors ● 1 night in a teepee in a private woodland campsite ● 1x free range breakfast ● 1 x free range lunch ● 1 x free range dinner ● All specialist watersports equipment ● EC Host ● Pick up/Drop off service
You will need to bring a pack lunch on the first day and sleeping bag and roll mat You do not need to be able to swim (you will be wearing a lifejacket) but you need to be confident on the water.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Thank you for paying a £75 deposit for this trip.
Unless otherwise arranged the remaining balance for this trip is due on Friday 1st July.
Please see below for the details of how much to pay. If you are unsure of how much you owe please email [email protected]
● Remaining Earlybird BALANCE (if you booked on/before 30th May) is £71 for EC CLUB Members/£83 for nonEC CLUB Members ● Remaining Standard BALANCE (if you booked after 30th May) is £76 for EC CLUB Members/£88 for nonEC CLUB Members
Please pay online using the link below (you may need to copy and paste into your address bar): http://www.explorersconnect.com/balancepayments/riverjourneywildcamp3031julybalanc epaymentandjoininginstructions
Explorers Connect Ltd 124 Cheltenham Road Bristol United Kingdom BS6 5RW Company Number: 7598165
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Please note if we have had neither payment nor contact from you regarding payment by the 1st July then we will assume you are not coming in which case you will lose your place and your deposit.
Explorers Connect Ltd 124 Cheltenham Road Bristol United Kingdom BS6 5RW Company Number: 7598165