Before the rains came last night, we had a cracking late afternoon / early evening SUP Club up on the river. With enormous thanks to the Willow Set at Paper Mill Lock who amazingly kindly allowed us in (staying well off the grass!) when we discovered the roads were closed around Mill House. We paddled up to Stonham’s and back into the rising full moon before dinner and drinks at our favourite local. Thanks all for a very mellow evening…

Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Arrive: c.4.30pm (gates open at 4.15pm, close at 4.50pm!)
Launch: after 5pm briefing
Finish: c.6.40pm
Level: Competent river paddlers

An impossibly low tide and strong southerly breeze mean SUP Club is back at the river this week – but with an 18.01 sunset it’s going to have to be a crazy-ridiculous-early one. Good news is (as the road’s closed at Mill House) even though the Willow Set parking at Paper Mill Lock are now firmly closed for winter, the twins are very kindly allowing us to let ourselves in as long as we stay off the grass. So please bring £3 cash (ideally in coins) for your parking. Timings are tight, but we’d hope to open the gates at 4.15pm, closing c.4.50pm ahead of a c.5pm briefing and launch. (So don’t be early and don’t be late!) It will be getting dark by the time we’re back, but not pitch black, so feel free to bring lights if you like but there’s no compulsion: as ever just greens and reds though please, no bright whites as you’ll ruin everyone else’s night vision.

A potentially stiff southerly wind ought to be primarily blowing across the river tonight, so we should be good to head west against the flow to Stonham’s and back. We’ll be taking £3 cash for the Willow Set who are letting us in especially tonight, ideally bring coins and arriving from 4.15pm onwards. Please get there comfortably before 4.45pm, and don’t be late as the gates are planned to lock at 4.50pm.

So, setting up from c.4.30pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather in the ‘training zone’ for a 5pm briefing ahead of a c.5.10pm launch. A southerly breeze means we’ll be heading west tonight – hopefully up to Stonham’s and maybe beyond if we’re making good time.

As always, please ensure you are licensed to paddle the river (renewals via www.waterways.org.uk). Everyone licensed, with their own kit (including leash!) who can paddle confidently is very welcome… (And please, if you’re not yet competently steering, stopping and turning, a busy group at SUP Club isn’t the place to learn these essential skills.) Plus it’s going to be getting dark by the time we’re back, so not compulsory but do bring light if you fancy – just reds and greens though; definitely no bright whites!

After, we’ll be going for dinner and drinks as ever, if a little earlier than usual – numbers via a show of hands at the briefing.