Oh yeah, I kayaked the Thames!

This has, without a doubt, been the most unusual thing I have ever done in London.  Most Londoners don't even know you can do it.  Yesterday, five of my classmates and an jovial, irreverant Irish guide named Harry kayaked three miles up the Thames, got a one-of-a-kind view of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and then paddled back down to the launch site!

Standing on the massive bridges which cross the Thames from high above, the size, power, and amount of boat traffic nearly caused me to chicken out the day before we booked our adventure.  I have a severe fear of water, stemming from nearly drowning when I was fourteen.  I also get seasick.  But, I am also a strong believer in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, "You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." So, I cowboyed up and did it.  And it was totally worth it.

I had the great fortune to be paired with Miguel Ruiz in a tandem kayak--what Harry called, "The divorce kayak."  Kayaking partnerships would have a much higher success rate if everyone had a partner as great as Miguel.  The lone "chap" in our class of 17, Miguel really is remarkable for his kindness, intelligence and humor.  He talks to everyone, cracks jokes, and his good manners inspire me to teach my boys as well as Miguel's mom taught him.  So, I lucked out and Miguel's partnership made the trip bearable.

I say bearable because it was really, really hard.   There is a very strong tide in the Thames.  Central London is 80 miles from the sea, but the rise and fall of the water level can be as much as 7 meters where we were.  We were paddling with all our might (which is a lot--have you seen my muscles?)  So arms, shoulders, upper back were working away--and then I had to steer.  I have one major issue with steering.  I can't tell my right from my left.  Since I am taller than Miguel, I had to sit in the back and the back person controls foot pedals inside the kayak.  Did I mention this is really hard?  Your knees are splayed out against the sides of the boat (think bow-legged cowboy) and you push the peddles with your right or left foot.  If you can tell your right from your left.  Plus, the current/tide is so strong and varied that you must adjust the rudder about every three paddle strokes, or Harry screams at you.  "GO RIGHT! GO RIGHT! GO RIGHT!"

We were on the river over nearly four hours.  It was so tiring that all we could think about was getting back to the dock.  I kept thinking, "If I paddle harder, I will get back sooner."  Some of us enjoyed it less than others, let's just say.  Some of us (I am not naming names, but..um...Harry) were singing showtunes to take our minds off the pain.  We were all super happy to get our of the boats at the end of it.  It was a chore just to straighten my fingers out after I pried the paddles out of my grip.  But, fear of water, seasickness, absolute physical exhaustion aside, I ended up loving it.

How many people have kayaked on the Thames?  I have joined a pretty exclusive group!  But, I still haven't discovered two corpses in the last 12 months, like Harry has.  I guess I don't need to be in that exclusive London group.