It turned out to be a glorious evening for SUP Club last night, with a surprisingly big early turnout as we paddled downstream / upwind to see the sunset (credit to James H for the images) at All Saints Church before paddling back upstream / somehow also upwind (!) to Paper Mill Lock under a rising Harvest Moon. Huge thanks from us all to the Willow Set for hosting us after hours, and the amazing Six Bells Boreham for ever-welcoming dinner and drinks afterwards. No SUP Club next week as we’re off to Welsh Wales for our September club trip – but we’ll be back in October…

Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Arrive: c.5.30pm (gates open at 5.15, close at 5.50pm!)
Launch: after 6pm briefing
Finish: c.7.40pm
Level: Competent river paddlers

An impossibly low tide and pretty strong north-easterly breeze mean SUP Club is back at the river this week – and with a 19.04 sunset it’s going to have to be an early one, then we’re paddling back into dusk. Good news is, even though the Willow Set parking at Paper Mill Lock are now technically closed for winter, they’re very kindly letting us in. So timings are tight but the gates are due to open especially for us at 5.15pm, closing c.5.50pm ahead of a c.6pm briefing and launch. (So don’t be early and don’t be late!) It will be getting dark by the time we’re back, so do bring lights if you like: just greens and reds though please, no bright whites as you’ll ruin everyone else’s night vision.

With a potentially stiff north-easterly wind tonight it’s likely to be tough going at times, and against the grain both ways as we’re heading out against the breeze and coming back against the flow. (Inexperienced paddlers might have trouble keeping up this week, and it will be getting dark by the time we’re back, so definitely not ideal for confidence building: please email us via info@supsect.com if you’re not sure!) The Willow Set are opening especially for us, charging £3 from 5.15pm onwards when you use the password ‘SUPsect’ or flash our logo at the gate. Please get there comfortably before 5.45pm, and don’t be late as the gates are planned to lock at 5.50pm.

So, setting up from c.5.30pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather in the ‘training zone’ for a 6pm briefing ahead of a c.6.10pm launch. An easterly breeze means we’ll be heading east tonight – hopefully up to All Saints Church, Ulting, via Rushes Lock and back.

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… Tonight might feel like hard work for inexperienced paddlers though, as we’re going against the wind then against the flow. (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 lights may be a wise choice – reds and greens though; definitely no bright whites!

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