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How Saira paddles throughout autumn and winter
Like most outdoor enthusiasts , the desire to be close to the river smell , or the fresh air has meant me and my family have the desire to be outdoors . We often kayak and canoe as a family on my local river . I ’ ve been kayaking for many years , so I have a long list of my most treasured moments on the water , but to name a few , my biggest achievement was kayaking with my daughter when I was pregnant . I couldn ’ t resist the water but safety was paramount . I ’ d ask my friend to take me out in the canoe but it was never the same , so getting in a boat with her felt positive in that my love for kayaking could be shared this way .
Some of my favourite memories on the water are encounters with wildlife . On a sea kayaking adventure in the Farne Islands we were heading home and as we paddled around the corner along came puffins flying above and seals playing and jumping alongside us . That was fantastic . We also camped and canoed on Lake Windermere which was amazing , here we watched the last flight of the Vulcan fly over us .
I ’ m a strong believer that you can enjoy paddling all year round . A common phrase in our house is “ We don ’ t stop for the rain or cold ”. We have to get out and there ’ s a beauty in seeing the seasons change the river dynamics . Throughout autumn and winter , I ’ d like to encourage everyone to get out on the water in the bright mornings . But if you ’ re not an early bird , why not embrace the crisp afternoons ? By adapting your kit to suit the conditions , wearing more layers and bringing snacks and flasks of hot drinks along you can have just as much fun on the water .
Keeping up the exercise is a great way to remain active throughout winter and means you ’ re ready to explore even more places when the warmer weather comes around .
Before heading out on the water in autumn and winter , you need to consider a few more things . Here are my top tips for paddling through these seasons :
> Paddle in a pair or group and make sure you carry a means of communication with you
> Make sure your equipment and kit are appropriate for the conditions you ’ ll be paddling in . Take a look
here at what to wear when paddling in autumn and winter
> Before you get on the water , make sure to warm up . This will help prevent injury and mentally prepare you for your paddle . Find top tips
here
> Plan your trip in advance before heading out on the water . Check the weather forecast , tides and water levels beforehand too . Take a look at British Canoeing ’ s top tips
here > River levels fluctuate throughout autumn and winter , see how they can affect your plans
here > Enjoy our waterways responsibly by following
the Paddlers ’ Code - respect , protect and enjoy
> Plan to finish your paddle before dusk . Give yourself enough time to get there and back
I ’ m hoping to encourage myself and you all to paddle as many times as you can throughout the colder months and create memorable moments with your friends and family . Let me know where you ’ ve been exploring !
You can follow Saira on Instagram @ sairapaddles here and keep up to date with her paddling adventures and her time as a # ShePaddles Ambassador . If you ’ re looking for places to paddle , take a look at PaddlePoints for inspiration .
Canoe Focus Early Spring 2023