How many locks will there be?
Adventure Paddling - The Portage
Locks and lifts appear all along the waterways and they are designed to help boats climb hills. They are a feat of engineering and the UK has an impressive variety. During your adventures you will come across these locks. You will need to traverse, cross, hurdle, get over, get around - You will need to portage (said in your best French accent please)
"Portage or portaging is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, canal, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a portage"
This is TeamSUP at Bingley Five-Rise Lock, an impressive staircase lock we navigated around on our Coast to Coast England Crossing in August 2019.
During this adventure challenge we navigated ourselves around +90 locks. You need an efficient, safe and slick portage skill when adventure paddling to tackle them easily and maximise the “mini break” in your paddling adventure.
Keep reading for our top tips, for a faff free portage.
This is TeamSUP at Bingley Five-Rise Lock, an impressive staircase lock we navigated around on our Coast to Coast England Crossing.
Tips
If you are first to arrive, assess the best spot to leave/launch the water and let the rest of your team know. Always check for a dedicated portage point. Remember this could be habitat for wildlife so look around and portage at the most suitable place. If there is no dedicated point, consider height & stability of the sides and which side you are re-entering the water. Take a couple of minutes to paddle and look around you, you will find the a safe spot and it may not be the first place your saw.
Paddling in a group? Make space for the next paddler. Get out, get your board out and keep this portage moving.
Footwear. Find paddling shoes you are happy paddling in and keep them on throughout the adventure, saving you time putting your shoes on and off. Never portage barefoot. Cutting your foot, could mean end of adventure. Flip Flops. Keep them for the beach. We have seen some pretty nasty toe injuries with people wearing flips flops on adventures. Don’t ruin your day out. Get some suitable shoes.
Backpack. Carry all your gear in a waterproof backpack with 2 straps. At the portage, take your bag off the board, it’s much easier to carry your board when you don't have that extra weight on the nose of the board. Also the 2 straps means your bag won't fall off your shoulders. But remember to take it off your back as you're putting your board back in the water. We have seen many a splash because of this. (you tip forward, your bag tips you further forward. SPLASH).
Split the load. Board in one hand, bag on your back, paddle in the other. Don't rush, take your time and swop hands over to even out the weight if you’re on a long portage.
Drink & eat. When you are ready to launch on the other side of the lock, take the opportunity to grab a quick snack, or your lunch. Or if you have a handy snack and it’s safe to do so eat as you walk.
Stretch. Use this time to walk, stretch your feet legs, arms, back and shoulders.
Catch up. Use this time to catch up with the rest of your adventure paddlers and share your paddling stories.
Take your time, ask for help, support your team, especially if you are navigating multi locks across multi day adventures. Remember there are no “short cut” to portaging, especially if you’re tired. “Stepping off the board” might mean you have one less up/down but it’ll probably mean you’ll be wet, bruised and frustrated.
Portages (french accent please) are our friends. You can eat, stretch, catch up with friends and climb up / down those water hills.
Learn to love the lock.
Cass, Emma and Mark, catching up and grabbing a bite to eat part way through Day 2 of Coast to Coast 2019
How high? Oh there’s a ladder. Great, let’s get out here then. Andy, Michael, Rhona and Eszter, somewhere along the Coast to Coast 2019
Again. How High? Navigating the Bingley 5 Rise. It was Very, Very Steep. But look how efficient the team is making this portage - Shoes, paddle, backpack, board.
We’d love to see you out on the water with us, we have lots of sessions and adventures on over winter and for you to join some of our multi day challenges and holidays in 2024.
Some Highlights:
Night Paddle and Floats are a lush option to have a little paddle in the dark and eat biscuits
Beginners, Tempo, and Thursday adventures carry on throughout the winter and you are very welcome to join us, everyone paddles at their own pace and we usually end with coffee, cake and chips.
Santa SUP and Boxing Day Paddle for some Christmas fun.
Check out the What’s On for a daily breakdown.
See you on the water!
Coast to Coast 2019. Is Eszter praying that this was the last lock? Or stretching? Or both?