1st paddle of the year. No fishing though

[izzetafox]

Having read Cankay's thread and seen the hard work he had put in I was inspired, or should I say shamed, to put some work in myself.

www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?34498-Two-very-different-paddles-in-Leicester

So out came the kayak and tools.....drysuit, pfd, foldable saw, secateurs, rope and bin bags.


A 10 minute paddle and I was at the point where all the hard work had been done. More rubbish had gathered and I could see that there were still some submerged branches that were catching drifting debris.
Out came the saw and several larger branches were cut away, they had to be put across the kayak and taken downstream to be hauled out.






After hopefully making a bit of a difference I decided to go further upstream.....OMG I could not believe what confronted me......





I could see it was an impossible task and I only had an hour so I cut back a few branches and tossed some logs onto the bank, I filled three bags with bottles and polystyrene.


Just as cocerning was the growth of floating pennywort. It seemed to have been restricted last year but looking at how much was here it may make a comeback.

Well a start was mad and then back to the launch point. I saw a family as I paddled back and they asked what was in the bags. When I told them I was flattered when they thanked me for caring.

It all made a bit of a mess of the kayak.....jetwash job before the wife sees her pide and joy and goes mad I think.








Terry

[philpot]

Nice job Terry, yes I also noted that is was in your wife's kayak, sound thinking that man

On a serious note, that is really a major task, you could do with a floating barge ie empty canoe to drag it all away, Oh but then you would find it hard work paddling it all back-------may have a solution to that problem ;D ;D ;D
Phil

[izzetafox]

Myself and the guy who runs the Canyak web site have been in touch with local councils trying to get support with limited success.

I have today written to the EA to find out if we are breaking any laws by throwing thw wood onto the bank, which is very overgrown. I am also trying to track down the angling club to see how they feel about helping.

[philpot]

I am really amazed that there is possibly an angling club who use that water, it makes you wonder where their interests lay. I find it hard to believe they would let it get into that state.
It is a pity you live so far away because apart from the earlier banter, I would quite enjoy giving you a hand.
Well done you mate !!

Phil

[izzetafox]

Appreciate that Phil.

It's one of those things the locals should do really.

What we want to know though is where we stand legally. We could end up being done for fly tipping.

[deerphil]

Izzetafox that was in the river Terry !?

Joking apart , that's a fantastic effort there, looks a very smelly difficult job. Great enthusiasm
and energy required to do a thing like that. Thank God for people like you.

Well done

[izzetafox]

Apr 3, 2012 20:52:33 GMT -1 deerphil said:

Izzetafox that was in the river Terry !?

Joking apart , that's a fantastic effort there, looks a very smelly difficult job. Great enthusiasm
and energy required to do a thing like that. Thank God for people like you.

Well done

It was indeed Phil.

The problem is that it is effectively a backwater or the Grand Union Canal and all the litter seems to flow down it. Then as it is unmanaged when a tree falls in it is left there. It only takes a short while for everything to collect and choke the river.
The block in the pictures is starting to solidify.The floating pennywort is tying it all together, that in itself is an evil invasive plant.

It is a lovely stretch of river and has produced barbel to 14lbs along with chub, roach perch and even trout. It deserves to be looked after.

[kerny]

Good work Terry, not many guy's would do that mate, hats off to you.