Charity Paddle 2002

Friday night and the heavens opened, boulders disappeared as the Swale filled. Paddlers arrived and marvelled at the sight. The alarm went off and reality dawned.

My spirits rose slightly on the drive to Grinton as I passed several cars laden with canoes. We would have some paddlers even if we didn't have much water. Johnny, late as usual, left me to tackle the Krypton Factor by myself as I struggled to erect the club tent. Yes I know all the poles are colour coded but somehow that didn't seem to help much.

The paddlers started arriving and then more paddlers, and even Johnny turned up. We were in business. The usual quips about the lack of water were made from some regular attenders of this event. They moan each year but still they come back for more. Does that prove the masochistic nature of canoeists or their optimistic outlook? I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

The weather was very clement, although most people who were there wished it weren't. After registration was over a well deserved picnic was enjoyed by all the Broadley family at Swaleview. Well, Andrew and I enjoyed the food while the children enjoyed playing in the canoes, throwing stones and looking for moles - don't ask!

Then on to the clubhouse to get it set out for the evening and to get the food on. The food was thoroughly enjoyed by the SOC members who turned up. The smell of it slowly charring in the oven eventually bought members of other clubs to the clubhouse and thanks to some good ale and good music a thunderously good evening was enjoyed by all. So why weren't you there then? This social is open to all SOC members you know, not just canoeists. You didn't know that? Well you do now so we'll expect to see you there next year.

Sunday dawned even dryer and yet more paddlers turned up to have a go at scraping down the Swale. Taking down the tent is a lot easier than putting it up I can tell you. We even managed to take it down dry, a little compensation for the lack of rain!

This was the 16th Charity Paddle and either we are getting good at organising it or, more likely, it was just pure fluke, but everything went really well. Apart from the poor river levels, which nobody seemed to mind anyway, there was nothing to complain about, except boredom perhaps if you happened to be marshalling. Nobody got stuck, hypothermic, or injured. A bit disappointing really, we won't be able to dine out on tales from this year's Charity Paddle.

There are lots of people involved in organising and manning the event and our thanks go to all of them but especially to Pete Bridgstock, Acronym Unplugged, Swale Fell Rescue and Marrick Priory.

Oh yes! The amount raised on the day (or days) was £1,101.66. We also hope to receive some sponsor money in the next couple of months. This money will be split between Swale Fell Rescue, Marrick Priory Outdoor Centre and Low Mill Outdoor Centre. Both outdoor centres had been very badly hit due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic, and you really shouldn't need to ask why we support the Swale Fell Rescue.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Charity Paddle 2002

Anna Broadley