Well what a year we have had, and it isn’t even over yet!
Very soon we’ll be celebrating our first year on the water! We couldn’t have got here without the help and encouragement of so many people.
Dan and Rick delivered the boat on 11th Jan to the Isis Farmhouse pub and our first paddle was only two weeks later. It was cold and overcast but we found that having a boat makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and the smiles in the photos say it all!
Since then we have paddled as often as weather and river flow have allowed us, often twice a week over the summer. Thanks to coaches Chris Bailey and Esmee Haigh, we have improved our skills and fitness. We get distracted by ducklings, goslings, herons and river life in general, all those warm evening paddles with beautiful sunsets are good for the soul.
A group of people are in training to be coaches and helms. Some great social events have helped us get to know each other better, and the wider breast cancer paddling community. We have welcomed paddlers from other clubs here as well us racing in Milton Keynes, Liverpool and Nottingham.
We have plans for going abroad next year, 2021 and to the IBCPC convention in New Zealand in 2022 – we can’t wait!
And – very exciting! – we are putting in our order for a new boat! We’ve even found ourselves a new mascot in Edgar the Dragon, who joined us last weekend for a cuppa and some cake at the Isis Farmhouse.
So a very happy Christmas and new year to everyone and please come along when we dot The Eyes and wake up the dragon of the new boat – we’ll be in touch!