Today Is The Day

All up and ready at 0615 breakfast and coffee before getting on the coach for the hour long trip to Millwall Slip out in the east of London.
A wait of around two hours allowed us to sample possibly the worst coffee I have had in years, so bad I threw it away.
Eventually it was our turn to get our gig ready, on a muddy foreshore we loaded our kit, water and Haribo’s into the gig (Haribo’s for energy). Around 1200 we pushed off and were afloat, then followed forty odd minutes of paddling to keep station in the holding area.

1245:02 and we were off, in scorching hot 27* sunshine we settled into our rhythm heading down river. The first hour flew by as we passed the capitals historic landmarks, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, London Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Houses of Parliament etc.
The temperature increased, water breaks every 20 minutes and the pace and rhythm maintained.
There’s no time to admire the scenery as you pass it, looking aft, head up, concentrating on maintaining the timing.
Over the last mile we increased the stroke rate as we picked off and passed other craft including one last gig, we were move strongly as we crossed the finish line.
The sense of achievement masks the exhaustion, some of my family, son Barry, his wife Janette and my granddaughters were there on the shore to help me celebrate.
A row over to the White Swan where fluids were replenished, I had chance to chat and share the moment with my family and my teammates, I felt emotional.
Gig lifted out and onto its trailer ready for the morning. Sausage & Chips for dinner with the obligatory beer before heading off to the campsite, a shower and in bed and asleep by 9:00pm, shattered but happy.