No virtual challenge could ever replace DW (Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race), because the most amazing parts of this race are to do with community and mutual support, both on the water as well as by the crews. You will never get to a portage your own support crew hasn’t managed to reach and not be offered food by somebody else, for example. And what even is DW if you don’t get to climb up the steps at Westminster Bridge?
However, I’m super glad the DW team has organised this virtual race - it is lovely to feel connected to the DW-community and my favourite race in the world by taking part. The conditions are very achievable: instead of twenty hours, you have two months and as many sessions as you like to cover the distance (125 Miles). This is absolutely perfect for me this year. I’ve been struggling with an injury throughout 2020, but it only started causing significant issues in December. It took until the end of March for someone to find out what it is (called an upslip, apparently a fairly common sports injury. If you have recurring lower back, hip and leg issues you can’t quite pin down, this is worth checking out) and start fixing it. I’m feeling much better, but have been able to do super little during the last three months (even walking was too painful most of the time), so I’m a lot less fit than usual. The MyDW challenge will be perfect for getting into paddling and being more active again without putting too much strain on my body all at once.
1st Session: 3 April 2021. 6.6 Miles, 5.9 mph average. Strong North Easterly.
Because of pandemic-related travel restrictions, I’m still in Saarland, Germany with my family instead of in Scotland. Today, I headed to the river I lerned to paddle on, Saar, for the first time in ages. Even if I’m not injured, I struggle wiht motivation to paddle here because I’m usually by myself, and it’s just not that interesting. When I was seriously slalom-training, I did countless flat-water endurance sessions here. Often, I opt for a less time-consuming run in the local forest. However, I usually love it once I’m on the water, and I definitely feel more like myself afterwards. Plus I can’t run yet (just getting back into walking), and I need more exercise than that, and to be outdoors. Being injured has changed the way I exercise. I have an even stronger focus on how good it feels to move, and to be out in nature, because those are the things I could do much less of for quite a while. I hope I will retain that focus, it’s been something I’ve been trying to cultivate but that often took a backseat in comparison to … racking up miles on Strava, for example. It seems to have sunk in now.
I had planned to paddle upstream and then down, but with a strong tailwind, I decided to turn around after 1.5 Miles and go further down the river past where I got in, so I would have the tailwind on the last leg, paddling back to where I started. The wind was so strong I got to catch a few runners, it was sunny, and the willows are veiled in green now with some fruit trees blossoming white or pink. It was absolutely lovely to be out. Even after not paddling for so long, it felt natural and easy. Especially because I haven’t covered much distance walking or running, it felt amazing to be so mobile in my kayak. Going into the wind felt like flying (I do love a good headwind). Even so, the last mile felt rather stretchy - it will take a bit of time to get my distances and speed back up.
2nd Session: 10 April 2021, 8.35 Miles, 5.8 mph average, calm
I’m so glad I went for a paddle on this lovely, rainy spring day! I should be working on my thesis, so I felt a little guilty, but it was fantastic to be out. I’ve had a couple of days off because I had to fix my boat - the steering block had come loose. I had some really old resin knocking about and wans’t really sure if it would still work, but it did, and I’m pleased to say it’s all solid. I learned how to fix boats from Thomas, slalom boats at the time. It’s been more than ten years since I worked with resin, though, because when I moved to Augsburg, the edges would get damaged all the time so it was easier to just keep taping them. Anyway - I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it did, and that makes me happy.
Nature hasn’t changed much since last week’s paddle, the only thing is that the blossoming trees are brownish-wite now because we’ve had a couple of days of frost. I ended up going up river, originally wanted to do six miles in total but ended up doing ‘just a little bit more’, then there was a ship coming the other way when I was about to turn, so I waited to let it pass and then kept going for a llittle longer still because I didn’t want to paddle in the exhaust fumes. I’d been told there might be wild garlic where I turned, so I stopped a couple of times, but didn’t actually find any.
What I remember most from this paddle is the smell of the poplars. It’s very distinctive and reminds me of propolis.
3rd Session: 15 April 2021, 6 Miles, 5.9 mph average, very changeable wind that turned into a strong headwind 3/4 in.
It’s slowly getting greener out there, with willow leaves properly visible now. I was feeling super tired and sluggish today, it only got better at the turn. The wind kept changing directions, and it was bright and sunny with whispy clouds. Most memorable moment of this session was when it started snowing just as I was reaching the finish. I had the sun at my back so it was nice and toasty, so I hardly believed my eyes at first. The snow looked particularly impressive because of the dark hill as a backdrop.
4th Session, 17 April 2021, 7.5 Miles, 6mph average. Strong NE
With that annoying NE still going, I decided to paddle downstream today. I love that section of the river, too, just generally prefer to go upstream first so I have the current on my side on the way back. Anyway, this was a super nice paddle, it was wormer and sunny. I turned into one of the side-channels of the river so I had less into the wind time in total, and that’s where I saw some storks on their nest, feeding their young!
5th Session, 23 April 2021, 6.3 Miles, 6.2 mph average
Really lovely conditions, evening sunshine, light, changeable breeze. The nicest bit today was meeting some paddling people at the boathouse, which is why I got to the water even later than planned. All the way through lockdown winter and spring, these young people have been training every day, doing what they can, and don’t seem to have lost their focus and their fun.
6th Session, 25 April 2021, 7.3 Miles, 6mph average
Weird to think that being on the water before 9 feels like an early session now! I woke up to sunshine and felt drawn to the river, glad I went. This was a great reminder of how much I love starting the day with a paddle! Struggling to get into it a little at first, but it got better. My favourite moment was when two young swans landed right next to me - I’ve always admired how they land on water, even as a child I was a little jealous of how awesome it must feel to extend those cool paddle-feet and skid-float to a halt… Maybe that’s why I started paddling, I think you can get a similar feeling when you jump into a strong eddy. On the way back, I paddled towards the swans, and they took off right in front of me, which is almost equally cool. They just flap towards you faster and faster until you get genuinely worried about an impending collision, but then they make it ‘just in time’ and lift off over your head.
7th Session, 27 April 2021, 8.4 Miles, 6mph average
Bit of a headwind on the way upstream, which is perfect because you know that the way back will be a lot easier than the way there. Couldn’t really get any speed or rhythm up today throughout the whole session, but it was still super enjoyable. My favourite thing was how the sun sparkled on the tiny waves! I would have loved to go for a swim after the session - it was sunny and I was actually getting quite hot, but the river is really murky at the moment, people have been breaking lots of glass bottles and throwing them around, so I didn’t want to be in the river bare-footed and ended up not going in. Also got stared at by a man in a creepy way. I’m super used to people looking- there aren’t many racing kayaks where I launch and most of them have never seen one, so they watch me. I always say hi to remind them I’m a person, and usually they’re super friendly, maybe ask a question etc which I’m super happy to answer… This stare was different. I said hi anyway, he didn’t reply and kept looking me up and down demonstratively for a really long time, even when I glared back.
8th Session, 29 April 2021, 6.1 Miles, 6.1 mph average
I had one hour, so I paddled for one hour. To be honest, I was more focussed on the time than on enjoying the session. There was a headwind on the way back, and the best bit about this session was that I still managed to meet my target time, even though I had to paddle harder into the wind.
9th Session, 1 May 2021, 8.4 Miles, 5.8 mph average
Because I’d enjoyed it so much last weekend, I wanted to be on the water before family breakfast again. This time, I went a little earlier in order to have enough time for a slightly longer session. So worth it! If you’ve ever been out on the river after a cold night, you know how the early mornign fog dances in tufts on the water. The river was mirror-flat, too, enhancing the otherworldly effect. The air was much colder than I had anticipated, so much so that the water felt warm when I dipped my hands in. I wanted to see how I would go if I didn’t look at my watch at all - a little slower, it turns out. I massively enjoyed this paddle though, just knowing I would go all the way up to the green buoy - that’s where the Nied joins the Saar. Usually, there are lots of people fishing there, but none this morning, so I used the upportunity and paddled up the Nied (about 500m) to the first rapid. I got freezing cold on the way back - with a bit of a headwind picking up, this felt like a proper winter paddle again all of a sudden. I’m now more than half-way through the challenge.
10th Session, 2 May 2021, 6.6 Miles, 5.6 mph average
Went downstream into the wind, but gave up on trying to keep up my speed against it. Quite a warm morning, completely different from the day before. I went to check on the storks - the storkling has grown a lot, and there were two mandarin duck families with ducklings, too! Most excitingly, though, and definitely my favourite moment: I saw a beaver! Heard a big splash, looked around and there it was, swimming from the bank towards the middle of the river to avoid me, then disappearing underwater. I see a lot of nutria on my paddles, but this was the first time I ‘met’ a beaver. Awesome!
I have to walk up a steep incline on my way back to the boathouse, and there was a man with a bag and sunglasses at the top, just watching me. Because of the experiences I’ve had with weird comments and inappropriate questions, I was mentally preparing myself. When I was at the top, he said ‘Here comes somebody who can give me tipps!’ I was expecting all sorts of things, but it turned out he was there to paddle, was actually taking part in the same challenge I’d completed in November (DKV 30 Jahre Deutsche Einheit Challenge) and just wanted to ask where to best launch his (rather heavy) boat. I was annoyed with all the inappropriate comments that were the reason I’d been so wary. If he’d just said hi instead of just staring at me walking up the slope with my boat, though, that would have made a big difference, though. It was so nice to meet somebody from a different area taking part in a challenge I’ve done, too. I was thinking about how the most miles I’ve paddled recently were for the 30 Jahre Challenge and MyDW, and that I have to e-mail the couple I met on the water in Berlin in November.
11th session, 6 May, 8.4 Miles, 6.2 mph average
This was a spontaneous morning session because my sister woke me up. I hadn’t slept much, still get some pain and it had been keeping me awake, but I wanted to paddle that day anyway and decided to just get on the water rather than trying to go back to sleep. It was calm and flat, and I got to paddle up to the Nied again. After a couple of sluggish sessions, I felt a lot better on this one. It is getting very green out there now!
12th session, 8 May, 8.4 Miles, 6.1 mph average
Saturday morning as planned, a little later than usual because I slept badly again. I really, really hope these are just after-effects of the osteopathic treatment I had last week, because I can’t wait to (not be in pain all the time but also) go running again! I had a streak of running at least one 10k a month, kept it up for two years, and then this happened and I haven’t run since the very beginning of January. But anyway. at least it doesn’t hurt to paddle any more, and I’m super grateful for that! Saw a nutria.
When I was walking towards the water, a lovely black lab started barking at my boat, so I put it down to let her have a sniff. She was still young, very cute and a little clumsy, and I am very proud to have cured her fear of boats ; )
13th session, 9 May, 6.2 Miles, 6.1 mph average, tough southernly
A slight southernly is awesome, because it means I can go upstream into the wind and have both wind and current with me on the way back, but this one was a tad too strong. I was also still tired from the day before, definitely haven’t recovered my fitness yet. This is why I let it at 6 miles today, rather than doing 8 again. I paddled past a very grumpy angler. As soon as I saw him, I gave him a very wide berth and a friendly, quiet nod, which he didn’t return and chose to glare at me instead. This is why I then said ‘you’re welcome’ pointedly. I just wish people could share the river in a friendly way, and I haven’t met a single friendly angler while paddling in Germany. I feel like I’m always respectful whenever I pass them, giving them lots of space and keeping quiet. I remember when I was really young, one of them shouted at me when I paddled past. He asked why I was paddling at the bank instead of in the middle of the river. If he had asked in an actually interested and friendly way, I could have explained about the current and eddies etc. Instead, this guy probably still sits next to rivers with no clue of what’s going on. That’s not the only time some random angler felt the need to shout at a fifteen year old. It’s definitely happening less now, I guess I’ve perfected both my friendly nod as well as my death glare. I tense up whenever I see someone fishing though, and it’s so unnecessary, it doesn’t have to be that way - I’ll continue to nod and smile and hope for the best.
14th Session, 13 May, 9.2 Miles, 6.2 mph average
Woke up at 6 and decided it wasn’t worth trying to get back to sleep, so I went for a paddle. After what I wrote last time, I really need to say I met some very friendly anglers today. I was still half asleep and didn’t spot them, and they had to call out to me because I would have paddled into their lines otherwise. I apologized, and they were super nice about it. Phew. Sorry guys!
It was brilliant on the water, the sun hadn’t risen over the horizon yet and mist was rising in soft columns from the mirror flat water.
I saw a kingfisher again for the first time in ages! I just love spotting them on my paddles. The male ones are brilliantly blue, and when they flit away next to the riverbank it always feels like a challenge. As if they’re trying to show me I would never keep up.
Aaaand: I saw two beavers! Both of them were swimming upstream parallel to the bank, so I was catching up with them. The first one didn’t notice me until I was right next to it, two feet away at the most! When I had almost overtaken, it startled and dove into the water with a flick of its tail. Somehow, seeing the tail made it all the more special. I think I’ve seen beavers there before, but because people see nutria all the time and think they’re beavers, I thought that was what had happened. Beavers are bigger, of course, but if you only see them for a short time, it can be hard to tell. The tails are completely different, though, so now I finally know without a doubt. The second one was swimming further out towards the middle of the river, so I wanted to ovvertake on the inside, by the bank. This one also didn’t notice me until I was almost next to it, and unfortunately decided to swim towards the bank just as I was passing and got really scared. I feel bad for interrupting its peaceful morning. Same awesome flick of the tail, it’s amazing how powerful it is and how fast they can propel themselves under water!
I found morel mushrooms for the first time in my life two days ago. I had been looking for them for ages! With all the kingfishers and beavers, this really feels like such a special time. It makes up for this injury just not healing, which is getting increasingly frustrating. I was put on different antiinflammatories and am really hoping that those will do the trick. Super grateful I can paddle, though!
15th Session, 16 May, 6.6 Miles, 6.2 mph average
These six miles were so much harder than Thursday’s nine miles. There was a bit of a headwind, but I think it was mostly to do with my form, I was super tired. The coolest thing today was a Cormorant showing off on top of a buoy. Met some lovely folks at the boathouse, they were preparing to leave for a whitewater trip to Diekirch (a nearby artificial course).
16th Session, 23 May, 7 Miles, 6.1 mph average, strong southerly
I’ve had some time off, because YAY!!! I got the first shot of my Covid vaccine! I didn’t have any side-effects, hardly felt anything in my arm, even, but wanted to give my body some time off for my immune system to do its work. Plus, it’s been super windy, so instead of getting back out on the water right away, I went for my first run in ages, and I’m still pain-free! Fingers crossed, please! It was still rather windy and gusty today, but lovely out on the water. I need to take back what I said about anglers, there was another super friendly one today who even said hello!
The beaver got me back for scaring it last time: I didn’t spot it and it jumped into the water with a super loud splash just as I’d passed. I also saw a wood-pecker and some ducklings. Paddling is such an awesome way to start the day.
17th (and last) session, 28 May, 6.2 mph average, 4kt northerly
DONE. After almost two weeks of super windy weather, the wind has turned and slowed down. A north wind is not ideal, so I got on the water at half past five in the morning because that was when the wind was weakest. I normally paddle in almost any weather, I just wanted good conditions for the last leg of the challenge. It was awesome! The full moon was still up in the slowly brightening sky when I started, huge and close to the horizon. It was cold, with soft mist rising from the water’s surface. I felt strong, and the time passed super quickly. Saw one of the beavers again, which was my favourite moment, along with arriving at the river with that huge moon hanging right over it. I paddled up to the Nied, where someone was fishing. Gave him a wide berth and nodded hello, to which he did not react at all. Water level was lower than it has been. The sun came up when I was a mile into the paddle back downstream, followed closely by really thick fog and the wind picking up. It was eerie and chilly, a very different and special athmosphere. I could see ten yards ahead of me at most for a lot of the paddle back. Couldn’t have hoped for a better last session, and I’m glad I waited and planned with the conditiions.
I had only slept for four hours and it got super chilly in the end. Also: note the headband!
I’m so grateful to the DW team for organising this challenge. It was a huge help getting back into paddling. I wish they had been more adaptive when it turned out that Ludum didn’t work for so many people. It works fine with Garmin Connect, so I didn’t have any issues myself, but it was a shame seeing others get demotivated and drop out of the challenge. I appreciate how hard it is to organise an event like this and the most important thing is that it happened, I just feel like this was bad for the reputation of the event. And discuraging people is the opposite of what this challenge was meant to do. Hope it gets sorted. Huge Thanks to the Organisers and the other paddlers.