We are paddling, we are paddling

So, after the lovely mileometer I have our first training session down as Tuesday 15th January.

Since then, we have paddled for 2 1/2 hours on almost every Tuesday and Thursday.

Day one we didn't paddle many times around our beloved basin in a couple of hours (you just ask Sarah!). We now paddle between 22-28 times around in circles, depending on the boat we are using. So, in excess of 7.7 miles with 9 right-angled turns to be taken in one circuit.

We now have a stroke rate of 60-70 strokes per minute and can keep that up for 10 hours. We can hut (swap side for the non-canoeists) like a very well-oiled machine. In fact, I even experimented with a napping stroke while paddling last weekend. Sarah never noticed!

In terms of hours -  I have that as about 200 which also covers approximately 3000 mouthfuls of food for me. Sarah eats much less, though much faster, so I reckon, in total, we have shovelled 5000 spoonfuls down, all while still in the canoe.

I'm getting slightly maudline already as all I can think of is how much more training we could have done. Maybe started 10 hour days a month earlier and not had any life at all (sorry Dan!). However, Sarah and I might have got grumpy earlier instead of just these last couple of weeks....and at least we are now on the up as paddling Fifty around the basin always has a frisson of excitment about it! (I haven't capsized us for weeks!!)

Least we are on our last two full day paddles this weekend. Reading to Kew again.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are all in Fifty now, it is just a bit more fun as we navigate around our club beginners group and kayak rescues. We can always look and coo at the baby coots and swans or watch the swan and white duck soap opera!