Peer Paddle, a Paddle of Discovery 11th July 2025

A Paddle of Discovery.

We don’t normally use our website for peer paddle blogs, although we thought differently about this one.

Reason, to bring awareness as to what can go wrong at any time or place, also to put an importance on the training gained by the club’s leaders and instructors to keep themselves and anyone else safe.

Dave, Clare and Zoe left Culham lock at about 11am on one of the hottest days of the year so far, Temps around 35 degrees, brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies.

We had all the usual kit shared among us, as well as plenty of fluids, food and water to see us through.

We ventured to the jubilee junction of the Thames and the Berks and Wilts canal that runs toward Cricklade some 70 miles away and is also the start of our river Thames Journey.

As the sun shone down and the temperature raised, we (after about 100 metres) decided for an easier paddle on the Thames as we had all day, and Dave and Zoe were in a Canoe. The canal was lovely, a tad overgrown but not impassable with no flow.

We were taking many drinks breaks as Dave was aware of the heat and insisted on stopping every mile or so.

We meandered up the river until we came to a wooden bridge that was covered in foliage and deserved an explore, once through and looking at another stone bridge Dave recognised the river as the exit of Swift Ditch, well exit? more entry if your as safe as Dave.

With Zoe in the front providing power and clearing the nettles, Dave in the rear providing steering and power and Clare our photographer (also a PSL) following us on a slim 16 foot paddleboard we decided to see if there was a passage up, with many fallen trees and lots of foliage we wormed our way, ducking and avoiding as well as brushing cobwebs away.

To do this river in a Kayak is a feat, but upstream in a canoe and SUP was a totally a different experience.

We had agreed that if the going was tough, we could turn back as we wanted a nice gentle paddle today.

We were paddling in the shade due to the trees and foliage, but it was still very warm and when we were not finding our route, we were taking regular breaks for refreshments.

The flow against us was very gentle. And after almost every obstacle the river opened and looked stunning, almost enticing us to progress.

The water below us was crystal clear and many fish were seen, Zoe on the other hand seemed to always be positioned in a cobweb bush at every rest stop.

There were many bugs to deal with on this paddle and Zoe had her share of Crawley things as dave sat behind enjoying every paddle stroke.

We soon passed a bridge that Dave had mentioned that could be a good lunch stop, but due to a memory lapse it was not the right bridge, so onward we paddled.

Weaving our way through fallen trees, ducking them and even laying down as we made progress.

At one point on a very shallow section the water seemed too strong to paddle against as a tree was down on the left funnelling the flow, Dave hopped out of the canoe took the painter and pulled Zoe and Clare past the obstacle, once passed hopped back in and on we went.

Eventually we reached the bridge that Dave had remembered and set about exiting the water.

Clare exited left to scope for a get on to the Thames whereas Dave and Zoe Exited right up a bit of a bank, Dave beat the nettles back and made a path for Zoe to exit.

At this point all was well, but things were about to take a turn for the worst.

ARGHHH shouted Dave “I’ve been Stung”, Yep something had got caught under his BA strap and stung him just near the armpit, it seemed so painful he fell back down the bank and into the water.

It was deep but the canoe he grabbed hold of saved him and after securing it to a nearby tree with some fancy ropework and composing himself both Zoe and Dave exited the water to join Clare for a spot of lunch in the shade of the trees.

We all hauled the crafts out up the bank, laid out a picnic blanket and relaxed, what a great day, and Zoe was glad that bit was over, picking twigs out of her hair.

This was Zoes second time ever in a Canoe, the first was a gentle jaunt up the GUC from the clubhouse.

It was all easy from now on, back on the Thames for a gentle paddle to Abingdon lock and then on to our start point of Culham Lock.

Or so we thought, Dave had mentioned after lunch, he was getting a headache to Zoe.

It was a VERY hot day as we entered the Thames once again seeking out all the shade we could get on our paddle downstream.

We stopped at a shady place where Clare had decided to cool off with a nice swim, at this point Dave mentioned not feeling the best and decided to secure the canoe and exit into the river to cool down.

Instantly Dave felt better, even rescuing himself and paddling Clares PBoard for a short period, before once again taking a swim and rejoining Zoe in the canoe.

Dave mentioned to Zoe that he was feeling bad, and sick but ok, putting it down to Hyperthermia, that a cool swim should have helped, but it wasn’t.

By the time we reached the lock, Dave felt awful, making a bee line for the shade and laying down, at this point a migraine was setting in and all he wanted to do was sleep.

Dave was pleading for paracetamol that we didn’t have with us.

ICE  –  This stands for In Case of Emergency.

Zoe and Dave are married so they know what they need to know about each other;  Clare was also in the loop as to ICE as we (as leaders) do every trip.

At this point it was obvious Dave couldn’t continue and talk about apologetic.

Dave seemed to be saying he had heatstroke and all the signs, and nothing to point otherwise, until Zoe remembered Dave had been stung.

Dave has a bad reaction to stings, although hasn’t been stung in so long even he had forgotten.

Zoe and Clare sprang into action sourcing Paracetamol and puritan, also a plan B, as it was obvious Dave wasn’t paddling any further.

Dave soon had muscle cramps and violent shaking, as well as projectile vomiting in a discreet area and a headache that can’t be described.

Clare and Zoe calmed Dave down and made him relax in the shade, (totally right in this case) until he felt a bit better, and was a bit more cohesive, before shuttling in a taxi to Culham and returning in the big red van to collect kit and return to Culham so Clare could collect her car.

Dave had a hypersensitive reaction to a sting, (could happen to anyone) and we don’t know what stung him, but it’s left its mark.

I’m Dave and this situation was an emergency; I can’t thank Clare and Zoe enough for looking after me. I am fully recovered and ok, a wonderful trip went wrong because of me, or some pesky insect that I’m 1000 times bigger than, it can happen.

Know Your People – ICE

Even if your out with friends,  be there for them, know what you need to know, you never know what will/or can go wrong.

All in all, it was a great trip, we retired to a shady pub after and regrouped and debriefed, Clare and Zoe are stars.