Seems we’ve found our (mini) Pinsent and Redgrave
June 18th, 2008 by Admin
Last Saturday we took to the water. No we’ve not given up the beer… come on … life has to be worth living! No, we took to the Royal Military Canal in a couple of two man kayaks, kindly provided by the Seabrook Watersports Centre, to get in some practice at paddlin’.
We arrived, and I felt at home at once…
I saw the flipchart being set up and I was ready to run a workshop there and then on selling tips. I had an audience, I had the time, but I’d forgotten my pointer, so I had to sit down again. Sadly, their presentation was slightly less interesting, as they were telling us to avoid drowning and how to paddle safely, but I respected a fellow professional and answered all his questions with gusto. “Go Super Steve…it can be lonely out there at the front!”
Whoah! Sorry, rambling a bit there!
Anyway, we got suited up, had on some lovely red helmets (can anyone spot the Cameo Word Up moment?), briefed us on what to do, and then proceeded to bring out the QE2 in beige. I mean, I was expecting to be sitting on something small, plastic and bouyant, but what we were given was luxury…..adjustable seats, adjustable foot rests, drinks holders, dry locker, back supports, casino, tennis court…okay, not really, but it was lovely. Trouble was that it weighed a tonne and Lewis and I had to lug it round to the canal. By the time we got to the water I had one arm longer than the other. Lewis clearly was knackered from lugging the warship and sent me off for drinks and chocolate to re-charge his batteries.
Then we did a very odd warm up….pass the helmet anyone??!! Then we jumped into the vessel and set off….into chaos. Our maiden voyage was happening with a groups of holidaymakers who also wanted to get on the water, and at one point it seemed that there were about fifty of us on the water in a space big enough for two. With some strategic barging with our galleon, including a very funny “finger moment” we found some clear water and headed off like a drunk making his way down the road after happy hour at the Dog and Duck. Sad to say I’m intimate with both banks of the Royal Military Canal. Seems our kayak (Lewis and I) had a bank magnet on it. David and Jason however had a straighter boat and despite thrashing around like toddlers in the bath seemed to get the hang of paddling in no time.
Anyway, thanks to Chris our instructor for taking the time to train us up and to eventually get us heading straight(ish). The time just flew and it was only when I tried to get up on Sunday morning that I realised quite how much work we’d actually done! Roll on when we’ll be set free to test ourselves over 5km…..Twiss Road Bridge and back!!!!
