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By Catherine Dacey

10th July 2022

Leamington Spa Doggy Paddle.

This event was advertised as: The Doggy Paddle is an 18 mile flat trip on the river Avon to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The route passes through Warwick Castle, Barford, a lunch stop at Hampton Lucy Weir, Charlcote Park, and finish at the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

What was there not to like, a new river, a nice long paddle and the bonus of raising money for Charity?! Five of us went, Claire, Gregg , Carolyn, Trish and Kathy.

This stretch of the  River Avon is spectacularly clear. There was no other river traffic for the majority of the paddle other than the participants many of whom we leap frogged as the day went on. On occasions we grounded in the gravel, other times we flew over the weirs. We all admitted that had we seen the weirs before we went over we would never have done them but with the encouragement from the safety guys manning the weirs we went over the top - and boy did we fly!! It was sooo much fun!!! The river meandered quite a bit, sometimes only to a few meters wide assisting us with a strong flow and giving us a small taste for some white water activity!! 

The scenery, clarity of water and weather all prevailed to make it just a fabulous paddle with some great friends. We seriously hope to get many more from the club going next year - any takers!?

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