Re-Connecting: COAC @ Ellerton 2014

Canoes, Mountains & Caves spent the weekend with the folk from Cockerton Outdoor Activity Club (COAC) at their annual canoeing & camping event at Ellerton Water Park in North Yorkshire.

This year was the 16th Ellerton weekend & began on Friday evening in dry conditions with a little hazy sunshine, a very rare commodity over the years! We got tents pitched and moved boats around before adjourning to the camp fire.

Saturday morning dawned with the most incredible bird song and a clear blue & sunny sky. Porridge for breakfast and ever increasing numbers appearing on site for a day on the water.

There were sessions for "beginners" & "skill builders" in both canoe & kayak in the morning, a break for lunch and then a full afternoon on the lake - around 50 people participated in the water based activities, whilst on dry land families took part in "Viking Chess" & compass trails - all good fun!

Tea time on Saturday was a mass BBQ - excellent!

In the evening sunshine a few of us enjoyed a "tech-geek" open canoe skills session, looking at both paddling & poling technique, there are quite a few photos of this below and on our Facebook Page


The latter part of the evening was once again spent around the camp fire, another late night!

Sunday morning saw "Alternative Church" take place on the water as an armada of Canoes & Kayaks set sail and went on to hear of Peter's attempt to walk on water...........

It was a special occasion to spend the weekend in the company of so many good friends and reassuring to sense that the "heart" of COAC remains well after all these years.