In 20 days we are on the start line at Devizes

Only 20 days to go. Suddenly time has accelerated. It seemed like we had months to get things together and now it is days. This last month has been pretty dismal. First Beaujolais was unwell and then Dirty D was similarly confined to quarters. Then Beaujolais went wandering in Norway. Then Dirty D’s work shift […]

Ruff Stuff

Dirty D and I enjoyed a really good paddle last night. As soon as D arrived at the House, bringing with her dark clouds and heavy rain, I sensed the last thing she really wanted to do was paddle. So paddle we did. The route taken was once again a random meander through the Islands […]

The C Word kicks butt

So Dirty D has introduced her ex K2 partner to the support team. This has introduced an interesting dynamic to the mix. Cecily Redmond aka “The C Word” is a strong and to Beaujolais anyway quite an intimidating character. Not only does she breed GB paddlers, she has been known to give him a good […]

The sweetest view?

As Beaujolais alluded to Loch Lomond really is a stunning place to train… It’s not somewhere I have paddled much in the past and it’s becoming one of my favourites. On a Friday evening, after a challenging week at work (aren’t they all), it does the soul a power of good to pull up to […]

Not feeling the pressure… But!

Another 22km paddled this am, back on Loch Lomond which is prettier than anywhere else we train. Today it was also pretty lumpy. Which is good as we need to be able paddle rough water given the conditions that can be expected on Tideway. We paddled another 14km last night in similarly robust conditions, and […]

Less than 50 days to go..

Whilst… FOB’s (Front of Boat’s) Ben and Dirty D seek shelter and warmth Less than 50 days to go and we still have not reached a stage of equal division of labour. Obviously the FOBs as pilots see themselves as a sort of elite commissioned class and leave the work to their NCO’s ie BOB’s. […]