Paddle Boarding at Papermill Lock

Another of the activities on Holly's six-week holiday "to-do" list was paddle boarding, so when another heatwave was forecast for last Friday, with temperatures expected to reach 33–34°C, I booked the day off work. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get out on the water, cool off and tick another item off Holly's list.

We did consider heading over to Shoeburyness for something a little different, but unfortunately high tide was around 3pm and Tina needed to be at work for 2pm. So, like creatures of habit, we got up early and headed back to our trusted paddle boarding spot in Boreham.

The plan was the usual one: jump into the River Chelmer and paddle our way up towards Papermill Lock, with the added motivation of knowing there was coffee and cake waiting for us at the tea room. Let's be honest, that particular combination is probably the real reason we keep coming back!

The river was absolutely beautiful. The water was crystal clear, the current was incredibly gentle and, in the extreme heat, it was wonderfully cool and refreshing. It really was the perfect conditions for a morning paddle.

That was until we got to the final 100–150 metres before Papermill Lock.

Suddenly, the beautiful, clear river transformed into something resembling an astro-turf football pitch! The surface was absolutely covered in thick green duckweed, and paddling through it was like trying to push your board through a bowl of syrup. Every stroke became hard work as the weed seemed determined to grab hold of the paddle and board.

Thankfully, it was only that final stretch and the rest of the river was lovely. If the entire route had been covered in duckweed like that, I'm not sure we'd have enjoyed the day quite so much!

Even the poor swan in the picture below looked like it had had enough. Rather than attempting to swim through the green sludge, it appeared to have decided that the best option was simply to park itself up and wait patiently for someone to open the lock and flush the whole lot downstream!

Despite the unexpected encounter with the world's worst natural swimming pool, it was another great day out—and another item successfully ticked off Holly's holiday list. And, of course, we couldn't leave without the obligatory coffee and cake at the tea room!

Did anyone see where the river went?

Who is up fr a game of football on this nice flat astro turf?

Never see it that thick before. Poor swan looks stuck.

Not sure I would want to dip my head in that.

The swan was going nowhere. God only knows how it is staying white.