Lake District Boat Club best dressed boat.

The challenge has been put down again. Another goal for Paddlers for Life to strive for. Can we become the best dressed boat on Windermere? Elaine and Barbara step forward to plan a theme and organise the decoration of the boat. There are many creative people who can contribute their own ideas and skills to add those extra touches, seat covers, costumes and additional materials. Thanks June and Mags and Christine.

The day starts early. Roger works doggedly to ensure our two dragon boats are lashed together. A super structure of hooped tent poles, guy lines and wooden stays ensure there is a firm framework for the decorations. Supports are assembled  to take lanterns or streamers on canes and the heads are dressed with flowers, greenery and plumes rendering them ever more beautiful.

Poles are bound in gold and red and tassels and lanterns are added. Lights are strung along guy lines and dragon flies hover.  The team work steadily through the day as the boats are transformed by the dedicated team.

Soon oriental costumes are donned and the paddlers set off in good spirits to paddle the four miles to Bowness. The journey is quickened by excitement and optimism. Spirits are lifted by sunshine and singing as well as the 'stroke-tap' of our paddling rhythm.

A few moments of uncertainty as we arrive at Bowness and then a welcome berth at Total Sailing for last minute preparations. Many more lanterns, lights, parasols, penants and incense complete the decorations along with last minute costume additions. We muster at the meeting point along with Popeye, Alice in Wonderland, Father Christmas, Morris Dancers and Avatar.

Then the procession twice circuits Bowness Bay. Our beautiful boats, enthusiastic singing and rhythmic paddling elicit applause and warm support from onlookers, especially from fellow paddlers on the shore.

As we paddle back towards Low Wood we soon cadge a tow from our support boat and a smooth, quicker ride home. Roger's handiwork ensures that the boats tow well with a moment of excitement as the boats hit a surprise wave.

A quick undressing of some decorations and paddlers rush back to Bowness. Paddlers for Life have won the shield for the best team boat! 

Already Barbara and Elaine are musing on ideas for next year!

Well done everyone for your multiplicity of team skills, ideas and  effort.

Thank you Elaine and Richard at Total Sailing for providing a temporary berth to complete preparations.

Thank you Eric at Dash Dynamics for supplying our stickers. 

The Dragon Boats are ready to go.

See more  pictures here at Paddlers for Life.

Run or Paddle?

What a gorgeous day! Blue skies and sunshine, a cool breeze, lapping waves and hazy fells in the distance. But, the smell of salt? Not Windermere, this is Morecambe promenade with that wonderful Midland Hotel behind me.

More than 100 runners, many of them children, all around. Then we're off! Heading out along the prom towards the Battery and then Heysham. How did I get to the back of the field? I must make my way through and encourage the kids as I go. I need to set a pace to catch up with the leaders. I didn't stock up with the carbohydrates yesterday and I probably haven't done enough training but lets go for it.

It's not feeling so bad. I'm in the first twenty now. Set a steady pace make up some ground slowly. I wonder what it's like out on Windermere today. This feels a very different sort of exertion. Where would I rather be?

I'm quite happy with this pace and I can keep to it. Get a rhythm just like paddling even though I'm on my own. What was my time last year? Up the pace a little. I pass the Battery and Heysham appears in the distance. Keep going, steady breathing, it's hot. How are they feeling in the Dragon Boat? Are they working as hard as this? Can't be in two places at once. Shall I run through the water fountains? I chase Paul in front although he's younger than me I try and match his pace. There's a marshall in the distance . Must be the half way mark to turn back. I feel okay. 

I'm tempted by water and turn on the home leg. Water was a mistake. It's sloshing around inside. Can I hold the pace? I have been playing 'leapfrog' with another runner who looks about my age. He overtakes me, I return the favour. I'm starting to feel the pace so slow down and breathe. Keep a steady rhythm just like paddling. I know I can run this pace. I find reserves in the boat and I can find them now as I run back past the Battery again. I encourage familiar faces as I meet children on the outward leg. I feel like slowing now but I can see a red tent in the distance that marks the finishing line. It's getting hard now but dig in just like seeing that buoy at the end of 500 metres. 

I'm hot but a final resolve to find that last energy reserve and I'm past the line. I think I shaved nearly a minute off my time last year.

Now, I'd better run it again and give those children a bit of support. 

Run or paddle? One solitary the other teamwork, I love them both! They're both addictive.

I hope you had a great day today, I missed paddling but running was fun too. The aches will just be different tomorrow.

A Special Tribute

Many tributes have been given throughout the festival in Peterborough.  Thanks to everyone at home and in Canada who supported the team so well.

 

But I would like to pay a very special tribute to our patron, Eve and to our founder members, Sue, Louisa, Christine and Sandra.  It is due to their dream, their passion for Paddlers for Life plus their sheer hard work and determination that we have had experiences that will live in our memories forever.

 

Our group of survivors and supporters is astonishing.  The team work is exceptional.  What we have achieved is amazing.  Paddlers for Life has a bright future!

 

So, a huge thank you to Eve, Sue, Louisa, Christine and Sandra.

 

Paddles Up!

 

Barbara

Windermere Solstice Paddle

Paddlers for Life had a great day participating in the Windermere Solstice Paddle.

A crew from the Three River Serpents helped us get the boats ready and on the water. Our finesse as a well oiled machine was complemented by their 'brute' strength and the boats were soon ready for the off.

A mixed team of Paddlers for Life paddlers and friends from the NHS soon settled into a steady rhythm of paddling with the help of Barbara on the drum and Tony on the helm. We had a gentle warm up as we paddled to the start at Waterhead. An optimistic and positive attitude pervaded the boat. 

 We were soon ready at Waterhead for a 'dotting of the eye' ceremony. With a song from  some of the paddlers and a warm and affectionate speech from Keni about Paddlers for Life and it's many achievements the spirit of the dragon was awoken to protect us on our journey with a deft splash of paint from Keni.

A quick return to the boats to start the race and we were off. In the starting melee and jockeying for position an unfortunate canoe outrigger sought to escape another outrigger and received a dunking courtesy of a nod from our dragon's head. Sorry! 

The first mile or so saw us gradually settle into our timing and technique as a new mixture of people learned to work together. Barbara lured us into shape with her drumming and stroke pair set a steady pace. Tony on the helm steered a canny course and encouraged us and rested us on our way. Three River Serpents, who had borrowed one of our boats, soon disappeared into the distance. Keni, in her outrigger canoe, lead us for a few miles as we  tussled to get our timing. Then with resolve and an upping of pace we passed Keni and settled into our task. Riding a few waves from time to time and occasionally battling with the wake of a support boat we ticked off the miles wriggling to relieve our numb 'derrieres'. Then before we knew it we were past the halfway mark. More steady paddling ate up the miles and then the surprise announcement from our support boat that we were merely a mile from our goal. Excitement muddled our rhythm for a moment but soon we were steadily powering towards Fell Foot finishing in a spurt of powered paddling lured by the thought of bacon butties.

Sunny conditions and a cooling, following breeze allowed Paddlers for Life to beat last year's best time by 12 minutes finishing in a time of 1 hour 44 minutes. 

Three River Serpents dragon boat team from Durham finished in 1 hour 27 minutes!

Keni, solo paddling in her outrigger canoe, finished soon after Paddlers for Life.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in, especially Barbara who dressed the heads and tied lovely bunches of carnations. As always many members quickly adopted a variety of roles and took on jobs to make yet another event so successful. Another great day paddling.

Survivors Abreast team rests up (The Peterborough Examiner, 15 Jun 2010,)

Paddlers for Life members and banner accompanied this article. Click the newspaper on the left for a closer look.

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Survivors Abreast team rests up
kgordon@peterboroughexaminer.com
The Peterborough Examiner
15 Jun 2010

From Friday’s parade and opening ceremonies to Saturday’s rainy paddling and Sunday’s closing ceremonies, Little Lake was thronged with paddlers, spectators, supporters, family and friends. “We’re just ecstatic about how it went. For us, for the team...read more...

Click on the newspaper thumbnail or above link.

Paddling Windermere.

Our thoughts today were very much on Paddlers for Life members in Peterborough, Ontario. They're having such a great time and paddling well. They carry our thoughts and shared aspirations with them.

Windermere was rainy today but calm and not too cold. Jane helmed us through a good range of drills and exercises that addressed the needs of newcomers and reminded the more experienced of the skills of paddling. A good soaking from a 'tug of war' seemed a fitting outcome for the day.

Thanks to Jane for helming today and everyone else for a good day's paddling.

We look forward to the news from Canada.

Musings on the Peterborough International Dragon Boat Festival

How Amazing is this event? The atmosphere is electric.

If you stand still for too long, some new friend will swap the shirt off your back, and we now have a fine collection of team paraphernalia from around the world.
Our race times today felt slower, but we came in singing and with big smiles. As Keni put it, "If you don't win in the race - win at the party!". We're definitely leaving a reputation behind as the team who sings and dances; when Lynn lead our musical warm-up, we had folk dancing right down the street!

Right now we're sitting on the grass waiting for the closing ceremony, and the sun is smiling on us at last. We are so privileged to be here and be part of this fantastic community; and it really does feel as though we're winners! 

Frances