We managed to sidestep the worst of ex-Hurricane Erin on Wednesday evening for a suitably chilled-out SUP Club from Paper Mill Lock, with huge thanks to the Willow Set for having us again. This time a couple of locks upstream and upwind to Stonham’s and back, including a bit of light litterpicking after the Bank Holiday, before dinner and drinks at our favourite local. 

Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Arrive: by c.5.50pm (gates close at 6.05pm!)
Launch: after 6.15pm briefing
Finish: c.8.10pm
Level: confident, capable river paddlers

Firstly, full disclosure: we are expecting a fair bit of breeze and quite possibly some drizzle and/or hefty rainshowers (courtesy of ex-Hurricane Erin) if we’re unlucky tonight. But it’s not looking too bad, so we’re back ‘home’ to the Willow Set at Paper Mill, with huge thanks to the twins for their continued support… We are possibly heading out into a fairly stiff south-westerly headwind though, so particularly inexperienced or nervous paddlers might have trouble at first. While it’s absolutely not a race and we’re only going at gentle cruising speed, not feeling able to ‘keep up’ isn’t ideal for confidence building: please email us via info@supsect.com if you’re not completely sure it’s right for you.

We’d probably expect a bit more of a ‘hardcore’ turnout in this sort of weather system. But that said, as we’re ‘at home’ from the Willow Set at Paper Mill again, everyone capable and confident of stand-up paddling a couple of locks into the wind is very welcome.

We’re just planning to go two locks upstream tonight: broadly upwind to Stonham’s via Mill House and back. The Willow Set are kindly allowing us in, charging £3 from 5.30pm onwards when you use the password ‘SUPsect’ or flash our logo at the gate. Please get there by c.5.50pm (and comfortably before 6pm) – and please don’t be late, as 6.05pm is when the gates are going to lock, then we’re briefing at 6.15pm, so please do make sure you have plenty of time to pump up before that…

So, setting up by c.5.50pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather at our ‘training zone’ by the entrance for a 6.15pm briefing ahead of a c.6.20pm launch. We’ll probably be going two locks upstream to Stonham’s and back tonight.

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 stand-up paddle confidently is very welcome… But 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 – we offer lessons for that!

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