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‘A Paddle on the Thames’ is a beautifully shot short film by filmmaker Benjamin Sadd. In the summer of 2014 Ben and a group of friends decided to go on a SUP adventure. And as with any SUP adventure it takes planning to get the most out of your time on the water.
Back in May we decided to make the most of our bank holiday weekend: taking a few days off work, we attempted to Stand Up Paddle the River Thames. We gave ourselves five days. Having only been on a paddleboard for about half an hour before, I thought this wouldn’t be too hard. It was, however, much more complicated than I thought- apparently you need to have a permit to paddle on the Thames and special permission to travel beyond Putney Bridge… After five days we had to take a break and go back to real life, returning a week later to finish what we started. Harry and Charlie who were with me at the start returned sooner than I could, completing the Reading to London stage ahead of me. A few days later- with a couple of new friends I found on the internet- I also made it to Putney bridge, before reuniting with the “OPPO Brothers” to head through London’s canal network, finally finishing in Limehouse two weeks after starting the trip. Words : Benjamin Sadd
Find out more about Benjamin Sadd and his films on his website here Facebook page here trailtoanywhere.
Over the winter months it’s a great time to plan a summer SUP adventure. Find out about the area you’re planning on paddling using maps, and local knowledge. It may be worth contacting a local SUP club or school for advice. Depending on what type of water you will be paddling please use the correct leash and equipment, and ensure the route you plan and water you paddle is suitable for your paddling ability. As you can see in the video the guys were not using a leash at the start of their journey in the fast moving water but chose to wear a leash near the end where the currents have eased.
Lovely video! Captured some lovely moments there.