Windermere Solstice Paddle

Windermere Solstice Paddle

In a change from recent solstice events, Windermere looked like a mid-summer solstice should be with balmy temperatures, sunshine and calm conditions with a light NW wind. With Barbara drumming, Peter helming and Rob in the support boat a crew of sixteen paddlers set off from the start at Wateredge at 11-00 am.

Following a mile paddle to the start and guided by Peter we set off for the 10.5 mile paddle down to Fell Foot at the southern tip of Windermere. Our steady rhythmic paddling carried us down past White Cross Bay, Bowness, Belle Isle and beyond crossing the ferry path to the southern reaches of Windermere.
Peter’s sequential rests for Paddlers interspersed with active pushes of 80%, 90% and 100% in bursts of 20, 30, 40 then 50 stroke sequences saw us approach the finishing line with a final 750 metre push. A last effort of a 100 metre dash at full power and we crossed the line at 1 hour and 59 minutes with the aid of a few ‘Jelly Babies’ and ‘Bon Bons’ along the way.

Rob towed Phyllis back to Low Wood Bay with the help of a small group of paddlers.
Paddlers felt this was a very satisfying result on a very enjoyable day on Windermere.

The Grand Dragons borrowed ‘Lucy’ to complete the paddle in a record 1 hour and 14 minutes and then paddled her back to Low Wood!