The PaddlerUK magazine July 2015 issue 3 | Page 21

Matt rescues Ed after capsizing
The team:
Richard Harpham Matt, Harpham, Jay Goss,Tom Rowland and Ed Taylor.

teams to move the kit, waterproofs and rations
we had with us. To pass the time we also began
to count the number of footballs we found lost
in reeds or blockages and you will be amazed at
the final total. On one occasion we waded
through deep mud on an overflow channel next
to a large sluice.

Plenty of laughter

Launching in the longer touring kayaks resulted
in instability and one of the team capsized. Whilst
I observed with plenty of laughter my brother
jumped straight in to try and affect a rescue. The
result in deep mud was a swimmer in a drysuit

(the rescued) and my brother soaked in cag and
shorts (The rescuer). After much laughter, a
change of clothes and plenty of advice about
look before your leap we paddled on!
It was amazing how the river changed from deep,
slow and meandering to shallow, narrow flow
through the rural countryside. On several
occasions we were the source of much curiosity
from bullocks who insisted on chasing us down
the river bank. As dusk approached we made it
to Milton Keynes and the aquaduct where the
Grand Union Canal passes over the River Great
Ouse. It was a great photo opportunity so I
jumped ship and walked up to get some pictures.

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