The paddle to Strensham was really nice and as we approached the weir there were two official looking guys on the bridge with long pole trying to clear the logs etc. that were caught on the bridge. We watched them struggle for a while, paddle over, jumped out onto the weir and had it all clear in 10 minutes. We headed off and the wind picked up, infact it was quite a paddle. We got to Severn Sailing Club and decided to have a break.

When we got back on the water the wind was picking up even more and as we got to the outskirts of Bredon it was getting quite strong and we knew we had the long straight under the motorway and then again after the pub in Twinning. By now it was about 11.50 so we decided to stop and have an early lunch. Over lunch we discussed our back up plan, if we did not make it all the way to Tewkesbury we would try to sail back to Eckington Bridge.

After about an hours for lunch we starting rigging an ‘A’ frame sailing rig. Over lunch we had discussed the various ways we had done it previously, with mixed results so now we set to. It did not take as long as I thought it might and about 1.30, and with a health upstream wind, we raised the sail and off we went. It soon became apparent that we would need to make some ‘modifications’, this done we ‘set sail again. To all of our surprise it worked really well, far better that we expected, or had previously achieved.

We ‘sailed upstream past the Severn Sailing Club at a very reasonable pace towards Strensham Lock, dropped the sail, entered the lock. Sailed out of the lock then back to Eckington Bridge.

Over all our trip (link to map) of 4 miles took up just over 2 hours to get to the lunch spot and about 2 hours, including going through a lock to get back to Eckington Bridge and the three of us had a great day!!

Richard did take some photos and some video and as soon as this is available I’ll post a link.

Though it was very sunny when there was a break in the trees it was cold at water level, the river was flowing sedately for the most which was fine as we were all in boats that didn’t take a tremendous amount of effort to paddle. Apart from Jules, who completely misinterpreted the email sent out by Clive plotting the route, and mistook the long blue wiggly line on Google Maps from Ham Bridge to Knightwick for some other river and thought we were just playing on Knightwick weir. Subsequently he turned up with his Jackson play boat and had to paddle twice as far as everyone else!

But it was a good morning, practising breaking in and out of eddys and because of the gentle flow of the river really having to commit the boats to crossing the eddy lines. There were a few faster moving spots giving some opportunities to get some ferry gliding in and a couple of small weirs which everyone shot (and Laura vocalised every time she went through with something between a squeak and a scream!). A quick break was had on one of the few spots where we could stop – Paul even arranged for the sun to shine on us while we were eating and drinking – and after Jules had managed to get some life back into his feet and toes (just) it was the final push down to Knightwick weir.

Everyone shot the weir when we got there and a few decided to play for a bit. The weir was quite grabby so most of us opted to just float in relative safety and watch. Claire tried to encourage Jules to go over so he could get some underwater shots with his helmet mounted camera but he just wouldn’t do it, much to her disappointment. There was no way I was going to oblige either – it was flippin’ freezing!

A good morning was had by all, even Laura who hinted more than once that she could’ve been in bed instead!

Matt Soley

Thanks in advance.

We had only been gone about an hour when Clive asked if we were all warm and ok. All were, apart from one, Jules.  He had cold feet, but he had a fancy camera stuck onto his helmet. Jules had recently made a new purchase, not his camera, but ‘happy feet’ and ‘sweet cheeks’. A been bag that molds to your feet or bum cheeks to keep you secure  and WARM.  Sounds great but Jules left the ‘happy feet’ in his van. He had warm ‘sweet cheeks’, a camera to film it all but freezing feet, which we all found very funny. Unfortunately he also read the programme wrong thinking we were only playing in the weir so came in his play boat which didn’t help his cold feet. Poor Jules.

There was lots of breaking in and out of eddys and some good opportunities to practice ferry gliding and a couple of weirs along the way but nothing too difficult.

Paul was given a challenge by Clive to find a sunny spot river left  for  a quick rest stop and drink which he successfully found.

At the end we all shot the weir. There seemed to be a good pull back on the water at the base of the weir so a few of us watched the guys playing in the weir. It was a lovely morning paddle with some good laughs along the way. We finished around 1.00pm and after a quick car shuttle to collect vehicles  we were on our way home by 1.20pm.

Claire & Laura Teagle