Open Canoeing - Hen party

 

 

 

 

A fun session today out on the River Tone with 12 ladies on a hen weekend to Somerset organised by Lucy Porter.

 

We got on the river near Firepool Weir and made our way upstream and against a stiff breeze to French Weir playing a few games and learning a few skills along the way.

 

After a quick chocolate stop and a stretch of the legs we made our way back to Firepool. The ladies tried paddling standing up, counter-balancing themselves over the sides of the boat and raced to see which team could get themselves, their paddles and their boats through a hoop.

 

A great session enjoyed by all with 4 taking an accidental dip in the river. 

Today I was back out with the Foundation Degree Public services students from Bridgwater College for their third  Mountain Biking training day.

The emphasis of today was to prepare for the assessment day in a couple of weeks. We rode a relatively short route from Crowcombe Park Gate into Holford via Somerton Combe and climbed back out of Holford via Holford Combe to Dead Woman's Ditch and returned to Crowcombe park gate. Every student had the chance to lead a leg taking charge of the group management and navigation. It has been great to see their confidence growing each day and by the end of the ride the students were riding over terrain that would of made them nervous on day one.

We finished the day by heading back to Cannington Activity Centre to go through post ride bike maintenance including washing, full bike check and lubrication.

Expedition Skills on the Mendip Hills AONB

A brief break from Mountain Biking today to be back out with my Level 2 Outdoor Education students delivering Expedition Skills.

We headed to Tynings Farm on the Mendip Hills AONB to start a circular walk of around 10km over the open moorland of Black Down and around the coniferous forest of Rowberrow Warren.

The aim of todays session was to introduce the basic map to ground navigational skills including map symbols, collecting and catching features, map orientation as well as grid and magnetic bearings.

We also spent some time discussing appropriate equipment for the conditions and the extra personal and group equipment needed for a one day expedition on foot.

The students all did really well, more of a test will come next week on the Quantock Hills AONB.

I'm back out on the bike tomorrow on the Quantocks for day three of the FdSc mountain biking sessions.

Bridgwater College FdSc Mountain Biking - Day 2

I was back out on the Quantocks today with the Foundation Degree students from Bridgwater College. 

We spent most of the day getting to grips with navigation and group riding techniques but found time to improve our braking on loose terrain, negotiate rocky trails, understand the cones of movement and dynamic weight shift while riding up and down small drop offs and step ups.

It was great to see the students skill level and confidence grow as the day went on. 

Mountain Biking with Bridgwater College Foundation Degree Students

After a two week break from Bridgwater College for Easter it was straight back into it today with the Foundation Degree Public Services Students.

We met at Crowcombe Park Gate for day one of four mountain biking sessions which makes up part of their Skills for Land based Outdoor Education Module.

Areas covered today were: pre ride checks and bike fitment, appropriate clothing and equipment for biking, basic bike riding skills and some leadership techniques.

Tomorrow is day two where we will be spending more time on navigation. We managed to dodge the weather today, lets see if we get lucky tomorrow?!