Paddling the Basin

The team have been at it again, this time the starting location was Paddington Basin in West London where we would explore the Paddington Arm, the waterway that connects the Grand Union with the Regent's Canal. It wasn't the most tranquil of paddles that we've ever been on taking into consideration that it runs parallel to the notorious Westway (A40), one of the main arteries that feed motorists in and out of Central London, but it did take us through the picturesque Little Venice. To make it harder we were using inflatable boards that were shorter, thinner and lighter than anything we had used before. ​ These boards definitely have there positives including being easier to carry and manoeuvre out of the water, something that may help us traverse the many locks that we will face along the journey itself; the ability to carve our way through the water at a higher speed and the ease of changing direction to avoid obstacles in the way. 

All these are fantastic qualities to have in a paddle board, however, when this is only the third time stepping onto a board then it throws up an issue - they're not very stable for the novice. The thinner, lighter and more agile the board, the harder it is to stand up and find that neutral grounding to provide a decent balance. That first half-an-hour was precarious for most of the team with a couple almost ending up having a face-to-face meeting with the canal (me included). I'm not sure if you're familiar with city canals but they're not exactly a swimming pool, it wouldn't be a nice experience falling in. Surprisingly none of the team did end up meeting the canal face-to-face, a feat we're all very much proud of. ​

...there is a life away from the screen and, as a nation, 
we will be happier and healthier for it..

As we passed Little Venice the whole team had found their 'water-feet', or as Mr Pilate's would say: "the neutral spine", and were beginning to work 'as one' with the board. The sure-fire way of noticing this is that the general conversation between the teammates moves on from the stability of the board compared to previous experiences to general chit-chat and team bonding. It was a pleasant evening with a breeze that was light to moderate depending on the direction of travel. At one point we were greeted with a head-on gust, not too strong that it endangered our balance but enough that it caused the surface water to ripple in a consistent motion towards us. It was astonishing how much more effort was needed to keep the paddle board moving in a forwards direction and in a straight-line. It was a realisation that a head-on wind could drastically slow-down our progress on this trip. On the flip side however, if we experienced a tail-wind this could make life a lot easier and propel us at faster speeds counting down the miles as we go: it's swings and roundabouts.

As it was another evening paddle we were again blessed with a stunning sunset: the burning sphere of the Sun dipped below the horizon illuminating the sky with a deep yellow glow; the houses, apartments and narrow boats lining the waterway switched on their interior lights like a well-choreographed show; the flow of the water decorated by the reflection of the twinkling streetlights to a soundtrack of the bustling metropolis all around; it felt like time was still. In that moment, it didn't matter what was going on in the World, other than being in the present, paddle in hand, chatting away with friends and enjoying the serenity of what Stand Up Paddle boarding is all about. That is the true essence of what this trip is trying to show: there is an outside world around us and closer then you may think, away from the trials and tribulations of everyday life;  and, even in a large metropolis, there are spaces to explore and experience the great outdoors with friends and family, you just have to leave the house, office or dwelling, close the door and go find it. There is a life away from the screen and, as a nation, we will be happier and healthier for it.

This was a fantastic training session and team bonding exercise. We were still one person down from the team but hope to rectify this in a couple of weeks when he returns from Myanmar! But, as sessions go this has definitely gone a long way to help us realise that we can actually do this and that it could be a whole lot of fun along the way. Still so much yet to organise but the team are well into it and looking forward to the challenge! 

Don't forget we are doing this challenge to raise awareness and funds for the Youth Adventure Trust, a fantastic charity that aims to give children the confidence and ability to take on life and to battle it head on through the use of free adventure. Teaching them that they can reach their full potential to take anything that life throws at them. So, feel free to follow this link: www.paddlecrawl.co.uk and click on the donate button at the top of this page to help them, help children. Thank you.
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Image by: Active360