Sue went out - wild woman of Borneo returned

Sue went out on the kayak yesterday to explore 'Swift Ditch'. She came back with sticks in her hair, soaking wet, muddy, the kayak full of goodness knows what and a dirty great happy grin on her face. She would tell me no more other than to wear long trousers, long sleeves and a hat! The one pic published on her blog made nothing any clearer!!

I set off on the same trip this morning at 9.00am - this is what I found. Hang a left under this footbridge off of the Thames

A beautiful tranquil day

 Lovely isn't it? However did Sue get in such a state?

Pretty stone bridge

Quite a lot of submerged wood here

 The view straight ahead; it doesn't look like I can possibly get through here but if Sue did so can I - moi competitive?

 Ah yes - a tiny gap to the left

 now it's getting really silly

 limbo under here

and here we go again; absolutely no means of forward propulsion here other than a handful of twigs and reeds to port and a handful of stingers to the right - not helped by the fact that the current is quite strong in these narrow stretches. Much easier coming back down.

but it does 'open' up again - for a short distance

 and I'm stuck on a submerged log trying to rock myself off

now I know how she got in that state - I'm now in the same mess plus I've just copped a face full of stinging nettles. What a brilliant paddle - my best ever yet without doubt. Fantastic