The hottest day of the year and no football matches, so after weeks of nagging from the boys we finally dusted off the old Hudson inflatable canoe for our first trip along the Chelmer and up to Papermill lock. As usual we set-up the boat in a lay by by a bridge about 3/4 mile up river. Then Tina and Holly drove up to Papermill Lock and me and the boys rowed up there. Having not used the canoe in about 7-8 months I made a school boy error and left the drain plug open (woops). So about 10 mins into our canoeing and Brandon started complaining about getting a wet bum and cold feet. Soon the water level was getting pretty significant and I had to make an emergency docking and get the boys to the riverbank whilst I drained the boat and this time fitted the drain plug properly.
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| The calm before the storm as we launch HMS Hudson without realising she was taking water on board. |
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| What a beautiful day and the water was large a sheet of glass. Joshua took to the bow and Brandon had the stern. |
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| Joshua probably did more rowing than me and Brandon. He is keen to prove his capability as he really wants his own single seater. |
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| Brandon with hs single oar causing steering problems at the rear. |
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| Eventually we made it to the Lock and the boys used the sunshade to get out of the sun and dry their wet bums! |
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| After a nice picnic me and Joshua went out to teach him some basic boat handling and to see if he could do all the oaring with me just sitting for the ride. |
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| After getting very hot with all the rowing and wearing a wetsuit, Joshua decided to jump in to the river and have a refreshing swim. |
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| I think he did about 10 lengths along the slip bank going backwards and forwards. |
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| Holly just chilling and soaking up some rays. |
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| Little cutie. |
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| Brandon face plants into a picture of Holly (again!). |
Of course one of the big draws when going to Papermill lock is visiting the tea room for a cream scone with strawberry on top - they are to die for. Although having said that Brandon picked chocolate cake and Joshua had some ice cream.
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| Snack time after all that hard rowing. |
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| Joshua enjoying his ice cream and wearing his new larger wetsuit for 2014 season. Poor Brandon got Joshua's old hand-me-down one. |
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| Brandon tucking into the biggest slice of chocolate cake ever. |
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| Tina sneaks a bit of Brandon's chocolate cake for Holly to try. |
Obviously there was no way Holly could go out canoeing at her age, but there was no way she was going to get away with not at least having a picture taken sitting inside our canoe.
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| Beautiful little Holly getting comfortable in my seat on the canoe. |
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| She didn't quite get what the oars were for and preferred to try and gum them. |
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| This is the life, just chilling on the boat. |
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| Even using her feet to push the oar up and towards her mouth. |
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| Me and the kids at Papermill Lock. |
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| All 5 Kings. |
My Mum would kill me for the next picture as Holly is 5 months old, has no life jacket and is sitting in a canoe on the Chelmer! Rest assured the canoe went nowhere with he onbaord and this was simply to get a nice picture of all 3 kids on our canoe. By the time Holly is old enough to come out on the Hudson I would imagine Joshua and possibly Brandon will be in their own single seaters. From what I saw today though, Joshua has someway to go yet before I would trust him to go solo. He is very keen to learn though.
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| Joshua, Holly and Brandon on HMS Hudson. |
1 comment:
Mum would definitely be having kittens if she saw the piccie of the 3 children in the canoe!. Some lovely pics again and looks like a fun day was had by all xxx
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