With massive thanks to the Willow Set at Paper Mill Lock for hosting – it was so good to get the gang back together for SUP Club last night. Not the warmest in that easterly breeze, but a beautiful evening as we went a lock each way down to Rushes and up to Mill House, enjoying a beautiful sunset and a barn owl flyby before dinner and drinks at our favourite local. See you next week?

Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Arrive: c.5.45pm (gates close c.6pm!)
Launch: after 6.15pm briefing
Finish: c.8.00pm
Level: all competent river paddlers

Our 2025 SUP Club season is on – and El has negotiated us into the Willow Set at Paper Mill already, with huge thanks to the twins for having us…

So it’s nice and dry and hopefully sunny again this afternoon, but we’ve still got this chilly north-easterly breeze, although we’d expect it should back off a little through the evening – please do wrap up sufficiently warm, and remember that water’s still going to be properly cold too. As we’re ‘at home’ from the Willow Set at Paper Mill, everyone capable and confident of stand-up paddling a couple of locks is welcome. We’re just planning to go a lock each way tonight: one downstream to Rushes, then one up to Mill House and back. The Willow Set are kindly allowing us in pre-season, charging £3 from 5.30pm onwards when you use the password ‘SUPsect’ or flash our logo at the gate. Please get there from 5.45pm (and comfortably before 6pm) – don’t be too early and please don’t be late, as 6pm is when when the gates are planned to lock, then we’re going to brief at 6.15, so do make sure you have time to pump up before that… (We’ve got a 19.43 sunset, so timings are tight to finish before dark.)

So, setting up from 5.45pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather at our ‘training zone’ by the entrance for a 6.15pm briefing ahead of a c.6.25pm launch. We’ll probably be going a lock each way tonight: one downstream to Rushes, then one up to Mill House 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 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.