After a month of too much rain or freezing temperatures, finally the first weekend in February delivered a stunning Sunday. There was only a small group who met up at HQ, The Albany Pub, and headed out, upstream before lunch.
Apart from a couple of Skiffers from Ditton Skiff and Punting Club, we had the river to ourselves up to Molesey Lock. We headed up over the lock and continued passed a few junior ladies crews out of Molesey Boat Club.
When we got up towards Hampton Church and the location of our local AquaPaddle, we saw, I assume the local group of BlueTits out for their regular swim.
If you haven’t had a go at AquaPaddle, it’s a Free 5k Timed Social Paddle, a bit like “Parkrun”, open to anyone who paddles. You just need to sign up. Some of the Volunteers on the local one are from Dittons Paddle Boarding. If you haven’t tried it, you should , it’s great fun.
We paddled up round Platts Eyot and picked up a bit of a head wind on the way back down stream. By not the River was ours. No one else on the water. It was idyllic to be out on the water. Even the head wind dropped.
After a pitstop for a coffee from the Coffee Wagon in Hurst Park, we headed back towards Molesey lock via the other side of Taggs Island.
Over the lock, by the rollers and passed Hampton Court Palace, looking beautiful in the late Winter Sunshine. I wonder what Henry VIII would of thought about Paddle Boarding. I think the younger Henry would have loved it. Not so sure about the older one???
Finally back to HQ for a well earned Recovery Drink. They had Hogs Back Tea on tap. A lovely pint 😁
Why not check out the Calendar for our next Social. All Paddle Boarders welcome. There is a very small booking fee if you are not a member.