We went with a support car to Dreadnought yesterday to paddle down to Marlowe a distance of 16 miles. We neither of us know why but we both felt that the whole thing was hard work, we both seemed to be struggling to keep the pace up and the weather was not helping.
The first 2 portages are no access to support so we were really lookinf forward to Marsh only to be disapointed when they were not there. (stuck in traffic) The portage was very low so it was a question of dangling our legs into the boat and ballet dancing our way into the boat.
We finally caught up with our support car at Hambledon after the heavens had opened and we were drenched. we set off with cags and soggy sarni's only to nearly capsize 20ft further on when the weir stream washed us straight back into the bank.
After that the paddle was reasonably un-eventful but when we got out at Marlowe it became apparent that there was a problem. within a couple of minutes my back has seized up solid, it had been twinging the day before and I would normally note the warning signs and go to the osteo but as we had babysitters and support booked I reckoned that necking some painkillers would do the job. I couldnt have been more wrong. By the time I got home I was in quite alot of pain and not able to breathe without significant pain.
Anyhow, quite message to my osteo and I spent the night laying on icepacks and hot water bottles and was seen very early this morning. after having my back cracked and sounding like a peice of bubblewrap the offending rib has been sorted and I am once again pain free albeit very sore in the muscles that ended up doing all the work paddling as my back had given up the ghost. Huge thankyou to my osteo who saw me at short notice and put up with my very babyish low pain threshold squeaking throughout not to mention the odd expletive. I owe you a large bottle of wine.
Going to Savernake at the end of the week to practice the dreaded tunnel. think I might take my waterwings with me and a powerful torch. Check in after the weekend to find out whether we swam.
