Row, row, row your boat.

It has taken until May, but finally the weather was good enough for me and the boys to get out on our canoe. So we headed off to the river Chelmer but instead of going straight to Papermill Lock we got dropped off at a bridge about a mile up the road. This forced me, Joshua and Brandon in to having to row all the way to the Lock without keep getting in and out of the boat like they usually do. My plan worked a treat and both boys rowed their little hearts out as we attempted to race Tina back to Papermill Lock in a Top Gear type challenge of car versus boat.

 

 

After a quick set-up in a lay by we were soon in the water and heading up stream to Papermill lock.

Joshua used a large double ended ore at the front of the boat, I sat in the middle and Little B took the back seat with the small single ore. Joshua was a little power house and pretty much rowed all the way and really contributes to the effort/speed. All the way there he was shouting, "come on boys, faster, lets beat Mum". Brandon on the other hand was happy to sit back for the ride and then when he felt we needed more speed he would simply dip his ore into the water causing the boat to start turning whilst be and Joshua were powering away.

And we are off powering our way down the Chelmer.

En route we kept commenting what a "beautiful day" to be out on the boat and in the water, to which Brandon would reply, "we're not scared" - referencing the "beautiful day" line from the bear hunt book. How funny.

Finally we arrived at Papermill Lock only to find Tina waiting there having beaten us in the race.

Time to dock our boat and head for a well earned ice cream.

It was lovely to get out on the boat and spend some quality time with the boys. Whilst they watched the long boats going through the lock whilst chomping away at their ice creams, I indulged in the most gorgeous cream and jam scone, topped with a strawberry. Just delicious on a nice hot day and made the row well worth the effort.

 

Joshie has really taken to the canoeing and already wants his own single seater.  He kept asking if he could take our boat out on his own and obviously I said no as he currently doesn't have all the skills at the moment. But what I did do is take him out with just be in the boat and I told him I would not row unless he needed help. Surprisingly he actually did quite well and managed to row straight, turn and he learnt how to row backwards. I figure that if I do a little bit of this with him each time we go canoeing then within a year or so he may well be ready to go solo in his own little single seater! Watch this space....