Tag: River
-
Paddle London: Seen from the Water – Glimmers
Urban paddling is full of tiny surprises — a sketcher at City Road Lock, a bookswap box at Enfield Lock, a coot nesting in a boat fender. I’ve put together ten small glimmers from my London paddles that made me smile.
-
SUP Stories: Duncan “Flussmensch”(Germany)
Like many in the SUP world, Duncan and I are Instagram acquaintances. We’ve followed each other for a while and share a passion for SUP. Plus, apparently, 168 mutual accounts. When I relaunched this blog, Duncan messaged to tell me about a little paddle he had done on the Rhine. It turned out to be…
-
SUP Stories: Sophy (London)
Has anyone ever talked you into a charity challenge? A 10K run, a Tough Mudder, maybe even a marathon? That’s how Sophy found herself paddling 26 miles down the Thames in 2013, despite never having stepped on a paddleboard before. With just a few practice sessions under their belts, she and a friend participated in…
-
SUP Stories: Tilda (London)
What do you get when you combine lower back pain, Bill Bailey and a love for travel? For Tilda, that’s how she discovered paddleboarding. An Unexpected Beginning Tilda didn’t set out to fall for SUP. She was just trying to fix her bad back and avoid the gym. A TV clip of Bill Bailey paddleboarding…
-
SUP Stories: Daisy (North Yorkshire)
Great things happen when you step outside your comfort zone, especially in good company. Daisy first tried SUP six years ago, treating a friend to a birthday lesson close to home in North Yorkshire. They both loved it, but life and the pandemic put things on pause. It wasn’t until September 2020, after a refresher…
-
SUP Route: Verdon Gorge, France
Some places are magical. Amongst them stands Verdon Gorge. A natural wonder. The true enchantment lies in the hours before 9 am or after 7 pm. It’s early morning and quiet blankets the lake. The rental places that will soon be bustling with activity are still closed. Colourful pedalos, canoes and kayaks patiently wait at…
-
SUP Route: Richmond 5am Club, Thames
Early bird? No, I’m not a morning person. In fact, I’m barely even a person until I’ve had my second cup of tea. And staying up late into the night? Night owling is not my style either. So what does that make me? Perhaps a daytime squirrel, darting about during the daylight hours. I’ve been…
-
Hidden Gems: Where River Meets the Sea
During my SUP travels, I’ve been immersing myself in the coastal geography of the UK. Unfortunately, not always with great success. There have been places such as Plymouth, Weymouth, Portsmouth, Falmouth, Bournemouth, Dartmouth… Do you see the pattern emerging here? As I sat in Vicky’s car en route to Dorset, it finally dawned on me.…
-
SUP Tips: POV: London Paddleboarder
One day I will be a paddleboarder with a decked-out camper van. My van will be called ‘Wanderlust Wheels’. It will have solar panels and the trendiest coffee-making gadget. I’ll seek out the best paddle spots and explore crystal-clear lakes, meandering rivers and scenic coastlines. But until then, my everyday SUP life in London is…
-
SUP Route: Cambridge
Punts are to Cambridge what gondolas are to Venice. These flat-bottomed wooden boats have been around since the 19th century, navigating the shallow waters of the River Cam by way of a long pole. What started as a leisure activity for Cambridge University students has since become a top attraction for thousands of visitors. Can…
-
SUP Route: Richmond-Hampton Court, Thames
I cheated this winter. I completely neglected my relationship with SUP and had an intense affair with the gym. It was all physical. In the warm embrace of the indoors, I was swept away by the allure of the barbell, kettlebell and sorry, the ski erg! More about my gym Barch in a separate post…
-
SUP Tips: Checklist for Safe Adventures, River Thames
Are you ready for some SUP on the River Thames in London? Hold your horses, cowperson! Before you hit the water, let’s go over this quick checklist to keep you safe and sound on your SUP adventure: And there you have it, my simple checklist for a safe and enjoyable Thames SUP adventure. Don’t forget…
-
SUP Route: Putney-Richmond, Thames
I travel to Putney on the District Line and walk to our launch point. So thankful for my wheelie bag! Like most Saturdays, the Embankment is heaving with rowing crews. Just before low water, the ebbing Thames has left the concrete slipway along the riverbank muddy and slippery. We pump up the boards and wait…
-
SUP Route: Weybridge, Thames & River Wey
Sometimes I wish I had a car. Getting from Richmond to Weybridge riverside on public transport was complicated with the usual weekend engineering works – 90 minutes for a modest 17km. Seriously! It would have been a feasible bike ride, but I am yet to carry my SUP bag on my trusted electric Brompton. At…
My SUP Stories 