At 1125 am on Easter Sunday we crossed under Westminster Bridge completing the
Devizes to Westminster in 26 hours. But the journey really started for me way
back on a cold December night when I came down to the club to meet Colin and to
seek his help in trying to prepare two novice paddlers for the DW in 3 months.
To his great credit, he didn’t tell us we were crazy, but offered to help in any
way he could. Members of the club rallied round, in particular Paul Fielden,
who gave up his time to help us get started and offered sound advice throughout.
In addition Clive and Sam were always encouraging and supportive, particularly
when they realised how rubbish we were!
Our first trip out in a K2 in early January lasted approximately 2 seconds before
we experienced the now very familiar feeling of full immersion in Taunton canal.
We repeated this about 5 times before cold and waning morale forced Paul to take
up one of the seats in the boat, just to prove that it was physically possible to
paddle without falling in.
And so the reality of we had undertaken started to sink in; a challenge that would
test our resolve, skill and willingness to even get to the start line.
Progress was pitifully slow with several outings down and out in
Weymouth Bay; surprisingly flat and forgivingly shallow for getting back in!
Waterside A came up rather quicker that we would have liked and we put the boat in
at Great Bedwyn with a feeling of great trepidation.
As crews powered past to get to the start, we sat, the boat twitching uncontrollably,
as every muscle in our bodies appear to go into spasm.
But slowly we got moving, eventually reaching the start line for the race 15 minutes later!
Off we went wobbling our way down the course, as all manner of craft sped past, but slowly we made progress.
Morale was greatly improved when we realised that we were actually going to overtake someone just before Newbury, as we drew level we turned to offer them some friendly encouragement and our minor victory was dampened by the realisation that they were both at least over 90, one was eating a sandwich and they were paddling a boat the size of the QE2!The journey would not have been complete without some swimming and I helpfully obliged by turning the rudder the wrong way as we approached a portage spearing the bank at some speed and throwing us both in.
The next few weeks of training were tough and time flew past.
Thoughts of the Thames were worrying us as we were still very unstable, so we
decided to try and find another boat.
Some old Army friends helpfully obliged by loaning us a boat that in their words was
‘bomb proof’; it wasn’t, it was actually much more unstable than the Mirage we had been using.
After a very cold afternoon of swimming we knew that time was running out. Gary,
my partner, decided enough was enough and he amicably agreed to withdraw but to
act as a support crew if I could find another partner.
Well, finding someone for the DW with 4 weeks to go was going to be a challenge,
but undeterred I decided to get in a K1 and at least keep paddling with a view to
doing the 4 day race if I couldn’t find a partner; things were not looking promising.
By chance, I found out that the Parachute Regiment were entering a team and were going
to spend a week training and being coached on the course. I got in touch and they
very kindly agreed for me to join them and hook up with a partner.
So I was very lucky to meet Sam, a 19 year old private soldier, whose first experience of sitting
in a K2 was Waterside C!
We paddled together, stayed upright and comfortable.A week on the course was invaluable; long paddles, learning the portages, paddling at night and finishing with Waterside D which went well.
The last few days were a rush to get all the administration resolved.
We had a final paddle on Thursday, when we were attacked by a very aggressive swan and
discovered to our horror that we were taking on an alarming amount of water.
Eventually we discovered that the internal housing for the under stern rudder had completely come
away from the bottom of the boat!
I hadn’t come this far not to even start, so emergency measures were called for.
We live next door to a local farmer, Andy Barnes, who is one of the stars of Scrap Heap challenge.
I knew if anyone could fix it he could. So at midnight we were in his cattle shed having dried the
boat out and repaired the housing with a mixture of fibreglass and body filler!
Before we knew it we were at the start, the support crew were there and we were off at 0925.
There are loads of memories from the race; the long slog through slow water
to the first portage, the tunnel, a mile run at Crofton, but we arrived in Newbury
in good order and on time.
After a short break off we went down to Reading passing through the town centre as darkness
fell. We then had a minor calamity when Sam dropped the boat and bent the rudder.
We managed to get the short way to Dreadnought Reach without any steering before fitting a spare,
which Clive had advised me to buy the previous week!
During the night, my partner Sam really started to suffer and when he exclaimed
that he could see the London Eye as we passed Windsor, I knew it was going to be
a long slog!
By this stage the faster crews were coming past. I was blown away by their speed and technique;
they literally disappeared into the darkness with a brief word of encouragement.
Dawn broke with 12 miles to go to the major milestone at Teddington and all thoughts
turned to making sure we hit the tide window, so we pushed on as fast as we could.
Unfortunately, a resident swan had other ideas and attacked us from the front before going
behind us. The next thing we heard was its beating wings as it took off towards us again,
crashed into the back of Sam and we were in the river.
Instinct took over and we eventually got to the bank in good order, just as Sam and Clive came past!
We got to Teddington, had a change of clothes and prepared for what I had been led to believe
was a leisurely ‘victory lap’ up the Thames, where you merely had to enjoy the ride as the tide
whipped you along to Westminster.
Nothing could be further from the truth; it was a relentless grind and seemingly endless,
but we knew we would get there.
I breathed a huge sigh of relief as Westminster bridge came into view, and our
minds started to close down as the finish approached.
At that moment, a very large pleasure cruiser came past us at speed and we were in the river again!
We spent 5 very long minutes in the water before being picked up by the safety
boat and re-righted; we will always be grateful for their quick response and encouragement.
We then wobbled our way very slowly under the bridge into the arms of the most
attractive bearded man in a dry suit I have ever seen!
There was no sense of elation, we were very cold and Sam was exhausted but slowly we recovered
and realised that despite all the challenges and difficulties, we had finished an
incredible journey.
So was it worth it? Undoubtedly yes; for Sam, it was the hardest thing he had ever done and what ever challenges come in his life, he knows that he has the willpower and courage to keep going long after he thought he would have to stop.
For me, it was hard but grimly pleasurable and deeply satisfying to have finished such a demanding challenge with so many trials and tribulations along the way.
On the way home my thoughts had already turned to next year; learning to paddle properly,
a faster boat, more training.
So if anyone fancies it next year, let me know!
A big thank you to my wife Leisa, the best support crew you could ask for and also to everyone at the club for their help, advice, equipment and encouragement.
Guy Lavender