Is this a first for the UK? Dunno,for certain I’ve never seen her like on the Thames.

Developed by NASA during the Apollo programme but then dropped due to the Sea of Tranquility’s lack of water, the baton was secretly picked up by the folk at Cremorne and turned into the Big Ben Jingle Bells events.

She took her maiden flight on Saturday and performed beautifully, belting out seasonal favourites such as Rocking around the ChristmasTree and Rockin’ Robin.

Info @ Big Ben Jingle Bells

The concept is this: gather a group of paddlers who normally lead groups through town or elsewhere and paddle down to ‘Tower’ and return. On the way we shall look at mobile and stationary hazards, route choices, VHF use, awareness of group behaviour and control and awareness of group effect on other river users.

Before setting off, a Port of London (PLA) Harbour Master will give a presentation about the PLA’s perspective on river users , followed by a Q & A session.

After paddling we’ll have a chat about the day so far and  scan our eyes over PLA material which offers advice on safe navigation practices in the dark. Back on the water, we shall look at different lighting systems for kayaks

This will be a good chance to meet fellow kayakers from different organizations, more than sixteen clubs, centres and tour groups have expressed an interest.  While the day will be fun the emphasis is on safety and good leadership through the centre of town….here’s hoping the weather plays ball.

HW prediction on the day: 16.03 – 7.32m at Tower Pier

hazards on the tideway have changed since Harry was a lad

So, guess the object and where it is sited correctly and you win. We require some degree of accuracy here fellas.

Leave a means of contact with you answer and we’ll delete any personal info before the post is approved……Good luck Mum, I mean, everyone.

The other day I had some thoughts about destinations for a paddle trip, Northern Canada came to mind, with it’s endless coastline, vast wilderness and natural beauty offering limitless scope for adventure. Being a top of the food chain tenderfoot from a country where our most dangerous predators are human beings (Homo sapiens, to continue the classification theme), my thoughts wandered towards polar bears (something I hope I never physically do). I begin to imagine scenarios….please know, I understand that I’ll probably never see a polar bear and they’re not all in a snowcave somewhere planning my demise, but still….

I’m on land, cooking a nice ragu sauce and readying to wash it down with nice glass of red (I really rough it), I see a bear quite close to me so I urgently pack up and paddle off to pastures safer – or do I? After imagining this scene I checked out some polar bear facts online.

Polar bears can or will ;

• swim at speeds up to 5.5 knots ……………………………………………..hmmm!
• swim for 60 miles, even more if necessary…………………………………interesting!
• run at speeds of 25mph over short distances………………………………jeez!
• actively stalk people as prey (guess we’re just food like anything else)…..WTF!

So, if a polar bear likes my scent and I am guessing I’d be exuding a lovely fishy aroma judging by the smell of most paddle kit, then it will come looking for me. I can’t out run it and of greater surprise and concern to myself, I probably won’t be able to beat it on the water if it chases me there. I’m now wondering if anybody’s ever been chased in their kayak by a polar bear?

These are just musings coming forward during a training session, still, perhaps Portugal has some nice coastline?

‘mmmm, neoprene’

How did he end up here? It was only a few weeks ago  that he stood on top of the world. State dignatories waited in line to shake his hand, but now just a short while later he lay discarded in the river that had shone so brightly with olympic fire and hopes.

I pulled  Wenlock aboard and ferried him back to Cremorne. He wasn’t bitter, he understood that the flame of celebrity is but a fleeting spark in the story of human endeavour, besides, he said he was made of plastic and it would take a gazillion years for him to perish. I feel, personally, that it was only his strength and fitness that saved him. The second photo shows how keen he was to demonstrate his prowess with a quick succession of press-ups, attaboy!

Wenlock is currently lodging at Cremorne and is already helping out on beginner courses. Best wishes Big W…..where was Mandeville when you needed him/her ?

trivia: Wenlock was born in China, it says so on his bum.

Win a Kayaking London jacket and a copy of the book ‘The River Thames‘ by Derry Brabbs.

Those of you who use the Thames regularly should know the location. Even if you don’t paddle too often there may still be (internet) ways and means of finding out where this is, I’m not telling though.

Try and be accurate with your guesses please, because “it’s by that bridge next to wotsitsname” just aint gonna cut it.

First correct reply wins and please leave a means of contact with your answer.

Open to all and judges may be easily bribed………Good Luck!

Although, it was less of a find than a rescue – two, in fact. As reported on our @KayakingLondon twitter account:

Excitement on the #Thames today, one member of the public and one bumblebee rescued from the river by our Discover and Big Ben guests—
Kayaking London (@KayakingLondon) June 23, 2012

Turns out that Harry and this morning’s Discover London trip were passing by the Charing Cross area on their way home at just the right time – some guy decided to jump off the bridge into the Thames. Harry, and another Harry, teamed up in a sterling rescue effort and disaster was averted.

Meanwhile, further up river, on a smaller but no less important scale, Katy rescued a bumble bee from drowning, and then it hitchhiked a ride on her buoyancy aid back to base at Cremorne.

“The universe sends an extra bit of love to those on bicycles”

With a shy Sun and threatening skies we kitted and launched against a pushy Thames, big tides this weekend, and after a half an hour or so we were at the mouth of the River Lea…Just here on the north side of the Thames, stands Trinity Buoy Wharf. Alongside the walking boat, lightships and London’s only lighthouse amongst other historic buildings you’ll find a vibrant community of artists, tenants in homes made from ship containers and cafes and  a diner, although the thing with a diner is, it really helps if it isn’t closed over a bank holiday weekend, as this one was. What to do? About turn and go to the barrier? No, been there, done that…we decided to paddle up the River Lea, firstly along a strip called Bow Creek.

The Lea winds it’s way through a seemingly unremarkable urban landscape but is potmarked with interesting places. Just beyond Canning Town DLR lies Bow Creek Ecology Park on the Limmo Peninsula. The peninsular is the site of an archaelogical dig which has unearthed remains of the Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company. Closed 100 years ago, the company finshed works on the world’s first iron warship, HMS Warrior, and were the founders of a football team which went on to become West Ham United.

Paddling on, we floated past disused bridges, industrial sites, residential moorings and wharfs which seemed to be full of old caravans, coaches and cars. Islay Wharf is one of these, on Lochnagar Street (Scottish connection there somewhere but I can’t find out why? On a map, nearby there are Oban St and leven Rd.. Whisky, maybe?).

A mile further, we came to The House Mill. Dating from 1776, the mill’s water wheels were turned by the ebbing tide, driving large millstones which ground grain for supply to the bakers of Stratford.

Retracing our path to Bow Locks, a portage was required to get our boats into the Limehouse Cut (built 1777 to avoid the long route along the Lea and around the Isle of Dogs )  which would then carry us, unsurprisingly, into Limehouse Basin. Here, the boats were carried past the locks leading to the Thames but not before we had some refreshment  at The Cruising Association’s headquarters. Splashing down underneath Narrow Street, the paddle down the final stretch was on a bumpy high water towards Island Gardens, directly oppsosite the Cutty Sark at Greenwich.

A pleasant, unplanned, interesting day out was had. The backwaters of the River Thames’ tributary rivers are packed with history and well worth a visit if you’re seeking something different.

paddle route

As it is officially spring, there is now absolutely no excuse not to be out paddling, and I’m glad to say that it’s well worth the effort to dust those cobwebs off your outdoor mentality and get back into a boat (for those of you who haven’t stopped paddling through the winter, ignore me).

Last Tuesday a few of us from Chelsea Kayak Club took a lazy trip to Chiswick Eyot. With the setting sun, and Jupiter, Venus and Mars accompanying us along the way it was a truly magical experience. I’ve never been that far west by kayak; paddling around the Eyot at dusk  was rather fairytail-ish. Ann Gales had her camera with her and took a great photo of the sunset.

This past Saturday was St Patrick’s day, and in true Cremorne style, Harry led a ‘Paddle for Paddy’s’ to Westminster and back. With the boats decked out in green, everyone wearing Guinness hats, and a few Irish tunes belting out across the water it sure was fun. One of the clients wrote about it on their blog – read it here.

And then this morning, on a rare occasion when I don’t have to be sat at my desk at 9am on a Wednesday, I joined the Chelsea Yakkers for a lovely paddle to Westminster. And, Hello Spring! What a fantastic morning. Warm sunshine, blue skies, still waters….lovely jubbly. I may have even got a smidgen of colour.

Ah, yes, Spring is here.