TT Paddlers - canoeing and kayaking group

Looks like the transport for getting the boat back from the UK is not working too well so may go over there myself and pick it up next weekend. Of course it seems a long way to go to pick up just one boat so may try and get another at the same time. I've seen the DVD on playboating so I'm just gonna have to get one of those to play with as well. There seem to be a lot more boats available on Ebay UK. If anyone else is considering buying a boat from there, could possibly collect as long as it's not too remote. Scotland or Cornwall would be a little difficult.

BTW, do we have a plan or a venue for Sunday yet?

[on behalf of JayGee]

Yep - I'm keen to get on the water on Sunday - lets agree a time and a place to meet.

How about 11:00 at the lake* to start with...?

PS do we also need to agree on arrangements for catering/dining? I could bring along the BBQ again.

* which lake?

I believe the one near Polar's house, in Eching ?

Okay - I thought I'd also seen mention of the lake at Eching which I'd assumed to be different from the lake by PQ's (Lohhof)

Happy with either - but let's all agree which one we mean and where to meet.

JG

JG / Lindsay

Bringing the BBQ is a top idea, forecast is for warm weather this weekend.

Is this lake easy to find in Eching?

Echingersee...(not the gravel lake) Parking by the bridge. I`ll put up a Google map link tomorrow. Say 11am?

Dave

Google Map: Location of EchingerSee

Google Map: Satelite view of EchingerSee

Looks like there is a choice of carparks - one parallel to the A9 and one in the north-west corner.

I would suggest meeting in the carpark in the north-west corner as that looks closer to the water.

@PQ is that okay or are there access issues with that carpark?

JG- Thanks for putting up the links. That car park should be empty. We have been parking by the bridge as its less distance to carry boats but not ideal. I`ll try and get there a little earlier so everyone knows where to go. Not sure about he weather, I`ll bring a big shelter tarp I have for changing, cooking etc in case its cold/wet

Jon, yes bring a steamer. There is a great little beach thats good for teaching rolling...sound like you got yourself a job! Also, the open canadian? I`m up for trying to roll that! If you could bring your slalom boat, that would be good to, then we can put beginners in the plastic boats.

Did someone mention another open canoe..?

JG-would you be able to pick up the touring boats?> not sure I can get all five on my roof! Also, do you have extra paddles, decks for those (I have extra PFD`s)

Same deal with food? I`ll bring my Harrods Hamper again...and the pic below is just to prove it does not go on all paddle trips...

Everyone else...please feel free to bring along any new prospective paddlers, even if its only with a view to boating next season...as always, the more the merrier. Questions, call me 0-151-110-45454 Dave

can i have a lift from either lohof or eching station do not care which
which ever easier for you dave/JG
james

I'll aim to pick up the tourers at ~10:30 with the aim of getting everything loaded and on the road again for 10:45.
@James this means I could pick you up from Lohhof around that time - if you're not there when I drive past the first time I'll pick you up on the drive back (after loading).

I have some additional paddles (more suited for the tourers than ww boats) but no additional decks (but I guess they're not strictly necessary for a touring boat on flat water).

Subject to the weather (and homework commitments) its quite possible that MrsG and MissG will also come along (with MissG's boat, a Junior Dancer).

We'll bring along both the BBQ's and some food to share.

I'll also let my colleague with the open boat know that we're meeting up to see if he'd be interested in joining us.

thank jay gee see you at around 10.30 on sunday at lohof
James

Some of you have e-mailed/called me about getting boats etc: I would suggest keeping an eye on Ebay.de & Ebay.co.uk & www.soulboater.com

I have the dealer prices from Robson on their Sportsters, Moosters & Roadsters. The Moonster I would recommend for beginners. The Sportster is perhaps the best all-rounder and better for the smaller "creeks" in the Alps. The Roadster would fit in the intermediate category. I also have dealer prices on the Robson gear, paddles etc. Let me know if there is anything that grabs your fancy. www.robsonpaddle.de

We also have a pro deal with Hiko www.hiko.cz on all products. Someone asked about Sea Kayaks, take a look at www.ms-composite.com as they IMO have the best quality, best priced expedition touring boats on the market (they also make all the composite race boats for Prijon) Their Svalbard boat fits just about all needs of a good sea boat. Hopefully will use these for my trips in Norway next summer.

For paddles, check out Rough Stuff Paddles www.roughstuff.ie I have several different models of these here in Munich if you want to try em. They are, again IMO, the most durable paddles out there. I`ve trashed mine in everyway possible, even running over one pair with an airplane at a put in in Alaska. We can get them fairly inexpensively here and in many different combinations of shaft & blade. My 10 cents worth would be if you have to economise, do it on the boat and get the best paddles you can afford.

Also on fleabay UK, check out Force 3-320 White Water Kayaks from Storm Kayaks. They run 255 GBP for a brand new boat, these could be a great deal for anyone wanting to get set up with a brand new boat at minimal cost. If there is more than one boat, it may be possible to have vthese picked up and brought to Munich at minimal cost. Its a good idea if you are thinking of paddling with us next summer, to look into a S/H boat now as they are hard to come by here in the spring.

Finally, there was talk about a TT Paddle Club. Perhaps we could think about that concept and talk about it on Sunday if there is interest. As a group, it might be an idea to try and get together some "communal" equipment for newbies, training etc. Thoughts?

Dave

[random thought]
Maybe it's time to contact one of the mods to get the title of this thread changed to something more general in nature than the very specific Kayaking on the Eiskanal in Augsburg
[/random thought]

PM'd 'Bob the God'. Asking how we go about it. Copied you JG and Dave on the request. Lets see what he comes back with.

e-mail one of my friend also to see about changing tread name as i know he will know how do it.
I will only get reply on monday if not sorted by then.
Can fix it
James

Something to bear in mind should you come across an offer too good to refuse on a pyranha... it might be stolen

I’m planning on turning up around 13:00 with my girlfriend’s two children (aged 2 and 5.5) and lots of vegies for the barbeque, being believe it or not a vegetarian. We’re going to the Oktoberfest first, and will then get the S-Bahn out to Eching.

Two more friends of mine are coming along, both women, one with a 3 year old child. They have a car but we won’t all fit into it so I’ll take the Sbahn. Then my girlfriend will turn up about 15:00, in my car, hopefully contrite about abandoning me with her brood for 48 hours, and be able to drive us home.

Hopefully the other 2 will be able to ferry me from the Sbahn station, otherwise I’ll give polar a call.

Time to see if I can remember which is the front and which is the back of a kayak. The front is the pointy end right?

Looks good for today at the lake, sunny

Chantily, are you coming out, do you need a pick up at the station?

See you all on te water

Dave

They came, they saw, they barbecued... oh, and some of them paddled as well!

Another great day out, both on and off the water.

Here's the Toytown Paddlers design that Mollie drew for us:


Does anyone else wish to propose a name for the "club" or submit a design?

got a reply for the problem with feed name the best way is to PM Editor Bob. Or use the report button.

@WK: It's already in hand...

@PQ: How does the arrangement with Hiko work? The reason for asking is that yesterdays time on the water has reignited the interest of the girls in kayaking and now I'm in the market for some additional kit.

JG

JG- the Hiko deal offers us approx 40% below retail on all the products. I looked at their gear at the Kanumesse we attended recently in Nurnberg and we plan to use their gear to outfit next years sea kayaking expeditions. Right now I`m planning to order one of each item we will want for expedition groups next year, mostly PFD`s, paddle jackets, pants and some rescue gear, also some of the sea kayaking specific deck bags etc. There are no minimum orders, but if we could lump together stuff then it will save on the shipping.

Let me know what items you guys are after and I`ll email you the prices.

Anyone wanting to extend the paddle season should consider the neoprene paddle mitts and we will for sure be ordering some of those.

Next weekend: Madax suggested Talkirchen as there is a flatwater site plus a playwave. I`d be up for that Saturday...aleternate would be Augburg, if they still have water in the Eiskanal (it is planned to drain for maintainace soon) Or...day trip down the Middle Isar (Wallgau to Vorderiss) that would be an easy/allcomers float...with the opportunity for the WW boaters to make a quick foray on the Rissbach if keen! I would suggest morning start, open fire & steak for lunch and dinner at the Vorderiss Gastahus...ideas folks?...

There are some fun pictures from yesterday and I`ll attempt to post in the gallery...

Fun yesterday to see so many boats and so many folk on te water!!!

We need to get a Chefs hat for JG...the pork roast was something else!!

Molls logo looks just the job...well done!!!

Dave

Hi
one question i could do with some new shoe but need to try some on first is there anywhere i can try this stuff and then get it off you for the price you are talking about.
James

@WK: you could try the dive shop in town for things like water shoes - we got some for Mols on the weekend for ~14EUR

I just found out that the Olympic facility at Augsburg is drained for mantainance until the 21st so I guess thats out for this weekend.

I suggest we have a meet at Talkirchen on Saturday as it seems to have a little for everyone and a decent playwave. I just have to check there is enough bbq space . The rivers on this side of the Alps are super low, so those options are on hold until it rains or snows again up high.

Dave

To expand on this a little...
I mean the SportScheck dive shop which is just around the corner from their main store on Sendlingerstr, looking on the map I think this store is on Faerbergraben and is just a couple of minutes walk from Marienplatz. If you're looking for generic kit for water sports and not paddle sport specific it's well worth a look.

I'm up for saturday, although I've got a really sore throat atm!

Dave, got the cash for you, guy collected TV last night.

Just put a few pics from Sunday on the gallery. MadAx..I have some more of the kids I`ll e-mail you.

Kirth, thanks for the ride for the TV...now we can buy food for Saturdays grill session...I mean paddle session...

Dave

Jon...its time you got a new boat...

Hi
here a link to shop the jaygee is talking about on Toytown
http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/SportScheck

Theres also this place...

http://www.kanusport-dreisbusch.de/index.html?cond.htm

If a picture paints a thousand words I think this gallery tells a story.
Here's the breakdown (13 pictures in total)
* 4 pictures of people on the water featuring 4 kayaks and 1 canoe
* 4 pictures of people eating/drinking and generally socializing around the two barbeques and giant hamper
* 2 pictures of food being cooked on the barbecues (I'd count the sausages but...)
* 2 pictures of messing around with paddles (off the water)
* 1 picture of one of the dogs

In summary I think this is a really good way of getting people on the water - we'll lure them in with the promise of food, drink and good company; and then, before they know what's hit them, they'll find themselves sitting in a little plastic boat trying to figure out which way is up and what's just over the next boil...

I'll check with the boss to see if I can have a Saturday off to play...

My memory's a bit hazy but I think its here

Can't get the address exactly correct, but follow Zentralländstr (the bit I've marked) until the end, and where the road ends there's a bridge with a chute and wave under it. And below that a resonable bit of flatwater. This is also where the log rafts end up after those drinking trips down the Isar.

There are some moderately interesting rapids for about 1 km above that, and the good thing is you can paddle up the canal beside it to the top. That's why all the kayak clubs are located there, its really good for evening training in the winter. It does sometimes get shutdown for maintanance, so it would really suck if that hapenned this weekend, anybody in the area feel up to scouting it out?

And I guess I better plan to get a longjohn wetsuit and a kag really fast. Where in munich should I go for such things? I remember the sport shop at Münchner Freiheit used to be popular.

Aaaaaahhhhh! Now I get it! I hadn't realised before that there is a third water channel - up until now I'd only been aware of the canal and the main river channel on which I'd never seen a single boat (okay I saw an inflatable once). Now I can see the other channel to the left of the canal and I can see where it leaves/joins the canal and I can see a whole pile of kayaks along the way too...

I just drove up to this place near Moosberg http://www.kanusport-dreisbusch.de/index.html?prospektmaterial.htm The owners name is Mike & he speaks some English. Its for sure the best paddle shop I`ve come across yet, he has a nice shop with wetsuits, paddle jackets, decks and just about everything else one would need, both for whitewater & touring. He also has a large warehouse with boats, kayaks, canoes, touring/sea, inflatables & rafts. He also has lots of guidebooks, maps and other boating stuff. Most of the soft goods are Hiko..which we can get at near cost, but if you need something right away, then he has it.

If we decide to do Thalkirchen at the weekend, I can arrange some demo boats (Zelezny`s & Robson`s) I thought I`d get some larger volume boats for the bigger paddlers and a couple of out and out play boats to try. I may need some help in transportation. I can go up on Friday and bring back 4-5 boats & gear, but would need help to haul them from Eching (here) to the river on Saturday ( I can return them Sunday) I think this would be a fun opportunity to try a variety of kayaks & other gear.

Dave

Thalkirchen http://tinyurl.com/3bpu6m

hi
the bit above the bridge to the zoo is very good for barbeques wide and flat you can see it on either hybrid maps we did that when we first moved out here in july at thet spot

I think the new TT Paddle Club should have at least one of these...I especially like the color.

WilliamKayak, I think you should be official TT Paddlers BBQ Scout...

Dave

The bit above the bridge would be nice for a barbeque, but we really want to have the barbeque at the base camp, where the boats, repair station, first aid station and dead bodies are situated. Its not as nice there but will do.

After the children convinced me that Polar's (swimming) hounds are really Isar crocodiles, I'm not sure what they'll make of the above.

What meeting time? Is the big canadian coming again?

The Canadian is available, but will need someone to get it, as it is, with the demo boats, there will be 9 WW kayaks that I have to figure out how to get over there. Don`t think there is a set time yet, probably firm that up Thursday.

Dave

I've negotiated a pass for Saturday so I'll be able to join and help with moving boats around.

@PQ I'll get in touch via email to sync up on moving the boats.

I've just received an email which may offer an alternative for Saturday should anyone be interested in going further a field...


Basically it's advertising a sale of kayaking gear this Saturday at Blue & White (near Rosenheim) which is followed up in the evening with a kayaking film (in Rosenheim). The opportunity is to find somewhere to paddle on the Saturday afternoon and then stop over at Rosenheim on Saturday night so that a few beers can be accommodated.

Hmm...think we can paddle at Thalkirchen in the morning and do the Rosenheim thing in the afternoon ?

I plan to go get the demo boats on Friday and bring them back home to Eching. I thing I can get my three plus another two on my roof, if JG can get another two, then I think with personal boats we should have enough. If they can be dropped off back here, I can return them on Sunday as I am heading that way to train dogs for two weeks. The Rosenheim thing could be a good way to get some gear for next season.

I`m excited about the interest shown in paddling so far. Would be great if we can get some sort of winter program going...pool sessions, slide shows etc, was even sugested on Sunday, that the TT paddlers could also meet through the winter, to ski, climb, hike or, as seems to becoming obvious, engage in the universaly enjoyed activity of fine outdoor dining...in fact, an "Outdoor Dining Club" seems like a damn good excuse for outdoor pusuits to me!...Perhaps I`ve been in the Alaskan woods too long!! Anyway, I`m already excited about next seasons paddling prospects, and we are far from done with this one !!

More thoughts on Saturday??

Dave

mmm kayaking down ski slopes ?

but seriously, I'm up for outdoor sports in winter, be it more kayaking (in drier gear I hope), skiing... I've always wanted to try Ice climbing, but never had the chance!

I'm game for whatever happens on sat, although I'd probably come back late sat night (mind, I have a friend who lives in Rosenheim, so who knows)

Unless there are special arrangements for this Saturday I think Blue and White are only open until 14:00 on Saturday.

[Don't you just love German shop opening hours!?]

Given the time it takes to get to Rosenheim from Munich then I think our options are limited to:
1) Stick with plan A and give a visit to Blue & White a miss.
2) Visit Blue & White early Saturday morning and then return to Munich to paddle in the afternoon (and skip the evening film etc)
3) Paddle locally early (really early) on Saturday and then dash over to Rosenheim
4) Head to Rosenheim in the morning and paddle over that way in the afternoon
5) Skip paddling altogether

Options (3) and (4) could be combined with visiting the film show on the evening, which could be combined with a beer or two.

Of course the other potential clash would be with the rugby (England vs France) which is kicking off at 21:00 on Saturday - I wonder if there'll be anywhere in Rosenheim that will be showing the game?

Personally I'm coming down in favour of option (2) and I guess that would make the most sense for most people.

Therefore I propose two trips on Saturday:
* Blue and White in the morning
- meet up at 08:00ish to drive to Rosenheim.
- leave Rosenheim in time to be back in Munich for 12:00 to load boats etc (I don't see much point in hauling a roof load of boats to Rosenheim and back without getting them wet).
- brunch/lunch somewhere along the way?
* Thalkirchen in the afternoon.
- meet up at 13:00ish
- on the water for 13:30ish
- paddle until?

[And it wouldn't take much arm twisting to get me into town at the end of the day for the rugby, a few beers and a curry]

I know I'm sad being on line a this time but just got back in to hotel. I'm on for this Sat. Just need to work out later in the week logistics etc. Certainly can help pick up boats etc from your place Dave or whatever. Could also bring trailer over if boat transport is an issue.

I see I'm missing out on quite a bit of action here! I should read these threads more regularly from now on. Can't make it this weekend unfortunately. And I think I need to visit some of the sports stores for some water gear...

Need a new helmet - why not make your own?