Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Canoeing and Watersports => Topic started by: b0ogaloo on October 03, 2009
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As A trial for the big trip next year .. Pablo and I did the Bann Canoe Trail
So to test the yaks load carrying and our paddling fitness .. we decided to go for a bit of a paddle at the weekend . Lough Neagh to the sea :D
C.A.N.I have produced a guide to the Lower Bann (http://www.canoeni.com/Lower_Bann.aspx?s=2) which is quite good
Anyway we set off from Toombe in bright sunshine at 15:00 on Friday
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann.jpg)
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann1.jpg)
Passing out first landmark the Eel traps
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann2.jpg)
The entrance to Lough Beg
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann4.jpg)
Quite a choppy crossing with a gusting easterly
Paul put his sail up and took off .. cheating .. he cheated most of the way :roll:
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann5.jpg)
GPS is a handy tool
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann6.jpg)
The mouth of the Bann
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann7.jpg)
We passed Newbridge and kept up the pace . we wanted to get past Portglenone before stopping for the night
Unfortunately some people have no respect for other water users , the wake from that would capsize an inexperienced kayaker
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann9.jpg)
Portglenone in the distance
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann10.jpg)
Bit closer
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann11.jpg)
Onwards we paddled until a few K past the bridge , we found this likely looking camping spot
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann12.jpg)
So we pulled the yaks up and made camp for the night
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann13.jpg)
So after a relatively comfortable night we were back on the water for 09:00
We wanted to do twenty plus miles on this next leg .. just to see who's arms fell off first :D
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann14.jpg)
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann16.jpg)
The next stop was the lock's at Portna
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann18.jpg)
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann19.jpg)
Wouldn't fancy paddling this on my own :D
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann21.jpg)
The lock gates .. first time I've yakked into locks
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann22.jpg)
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann23.jpg)
I think these are eel traps too ?
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann24.jpg)
Theres canoe trail maps/info points at the egress points
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann25.jpg)
The Bridge at Killrea.. I think
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann26.jpg)
Nice boathouse
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann27.jpg)
Next stop the locks at Monavagher
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann28.jpg)
Crap picture .. but some may recognise the lorry ?>
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann29.jpg)
The dog takes a breather from all that paddling
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann30.jpg)
Kayaking limbo
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann31.jpg)
Through the lock gates
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann33.jpg)
Next Stop Carnroe. I don;t know if its true or not , but the lock keeper told us that this stretch was 3k a year to fish :shock:
At 3k a year you'd think they could afford to build a bridge so yer man could get across without wading :D
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann36.jpg)
Quite picturesque, mind for 3k a year i'd want pole dancers as well
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann37.jpg)
I'll bet that fella doesn't pay 3k a year :D
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann38.jpg)
I'd love a narrow boat ...
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann39.jpg)
Nice hat Pablo
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann40.jpg)
we'd paddled a few Km by this stage
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann41.jpg)
The last set of locks closed at 17:00 so we had to find a campsite .
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann42.jpg)
We pulled the yaks into a forest and set up the tents
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann43.jpg)
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann46.jpg)
The dog proceeded to pull them down again :roll:
That was us for the night ...
I was in my tent and unconscious for 21:00 .. we had paddled 32.5km .
My camera's battery died so Pablo can fill in the rest
Andy
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This looks awesome - I'm so jealous. What type of canoes are they?
Cheers for the photos.
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The Orange one is an Ocean Kayaks Elite 4.5 and the Green One is an Ocean Kayaks Prowler 15
Andy
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That looks great fun, id love a go. I did try canoing last year for the first time at the lagan and really enjoyed it i must try it again as i live near the coast and would love to get out fishing on one.
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Looks like a great trip, I would love to give it a go some time.
Thanks for sharing.
Davy.
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Great stuff cant wait for the rest of the photos would love to do this trip some time but its getting people to take their finger out of their buttocks and do it...neil :P
Regards,
David
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Great pictures Guys. I really enjoyed looking at them. Some of us need to get into a canadian canoe and soon or else the Yukon trip will end up getting put back.
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We're going back at the end of October to do the trip both ways .. Toombe-Coleraine -Toombe 30th to 1st September. Weather permitting .. if the Banns in flood we'll probably do upper and lower Lough Erne
If you have a yak or can hire one your welcome to join us .. but we will be doing 35km a day
Andy
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I meant to ask you Andy what is the big trip yourself and Pablo are planning, if you dont mind me asking? Not sure i have had enough outings this year to keep up with them distances you are planning, would like to try it at my own pace first, though i certainly will give it a thought.
Regards,
David
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We're going to paddle from Beleek to Limerick for Charity approx 300 mile in 14 days
I'm doing it for Casting for Recovery which is a breast cancer charity .. I don't know what charity Pablos chosen
Even if anyone wants to join us for half the trip i.e. Toombe to Coleraine ... Leaving on Friday morning you'll be in Coleraine for lunchtime- ish Saturday ... all welcome (providing you have the necessary safety gear )
Andy
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A few more photos and commentary courtesy of Pablo
heres some more pics of the bann trip.
(http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8871/p9250191.jpg)
(http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/4066/p9250190.jpg)
check out the pimped up yak rack....patent pending 8)
(http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5093/p9250195.jpg)
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/3649/p9250204.jpg)
(http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/8011/p9250206m.jpg)
(http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4223/p9250215.jpg)
thats the al-ikea sleeper cell on manoevers.
(http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6842/p9250219.jpg)
(http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/7745/p9250233.jpg)
(http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1849/p9260241z.jpg)
(http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7710/p9260246.jpg)
(http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7613/p9260256.jpg)
any idea what the f*cks going on here?
(http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/6138/p9260260.jpg)
Andy showing all the relative safety equipment for yakking responsibly.vhf radio,gps,pack of flares,on a proper PFD(not a life jacket)
dog is optional extra,but adds warmth to any sleeping bag :mrgreen: (actually it does make quite a difference in cold weather)
(http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/8719/p9260261.jpg)
emerging from our camping spot(sat night)
(http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5153/p9260271.jpg)
another lock on the way
(http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6393/p9260279.jpg)
me cheating again..........class :lol:
(http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/2936/p9270300.jpg)
journeys end , but next time its there and back again :shock:
i gotta say we really were lucky with the weather. we didnt encounter the winds that Noel and co did which made this trip much easier. still,it was hard enough on the shoulders and i think it could be done in a full day if you paddled straight through from early morning till night.but then youd miss so much of the cracking scenery,and theres plenty of it too.
i thouroughly recommend doing this at least once lads,its really something to look back at.
cheers ,Pablo.
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Cheers for the additions guys cant feckin wait to get on that river. Doin my FSRT course soon so ill be able to rectify my capsized ass properly someday without bailing out ;D
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Absolutely Brilliant!!!!!! this is the sort of thing I have invisaged doing in an open canoe and the camping. Looks like you had a great time and I am so jealous. If you ever organise a trip I am always off Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed's if you but I dont have a canoe yet.
Ken
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I noticed in this image you have a mapping Garmin GPS:
(http://www.chasingsilver.org/images/bann/bann6.jpg)
Where did you get the maps for it and what sort are they? I have an HCX and I just put the normal road maps on because there are no topo ones for NI.
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I use Garmin blue chart and garmin street maps
The blue chart#s are marine charts . but they do have a bit of topographical info on them
I purchased the blue charts with the plotter for my boat
Andy
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I use Garmin blue chart and garmin street maps
The blue chart#s are marine charts . but they do have a bit of topographical info on them
I purchased the blue charts with the plotter for my boat
Andy
I have the street maps on mine but the marine ones are prob a bit expensive for me.
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You would need to check if your GPS is blue chart compatible ....
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"because there are no topo ones for NI."
I thought there were (http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php (http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php)) with a little bit of instructions here (http://www.geocachingireland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=48 (http://www.geocachingireland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=48)). I've downloaded them and used them on my computer and not on my gps as my gps is very basic :(