I thought a little research was a good place to start and quickly learnt that paddling from Putney Bridge to the sea is prohibited by the London Port Authority (PLA). Safety of course being a big factor. 

 

Do you know that feeling when you want something so much, you won't let something saying 'no you can't do that' stop you? That's exactly how I felt, so Mel and I started thinking of ways to get around the prohibited bit.  A whole lot of work followed, and ended with an email and phone call to the PLA.  They granted us a meeting - unbelievable!  They were giving us a chance to discuss our 'event’ with them and were willing to hear more about our adventure.  This all started as a tiny idea and now we are having meetings with the PLA.  Crazy.  

 

We walked out of the PLA meeting an hour later with them not saying NO to us! But they didn't say YES either.  They are responsible for the safety of everyone on that stretch of the Thames, paddle boarding is a fairly new sport and Central London Thames is like the M4.  Its busy, has strong currents, not many exit points and is very tidal.  A fact for you - in the past two years, freight on the Thames has kept 500,000 lorry trips off London roads.  Basically there are lots of hazards for two of us on our paddle boards.

 

So how can we possibly get the PLA to agree to our trip and say yes?  I am now for the first time ever writing a Risk Assessment and Passage Plan for 92kms of river, 15 bridges and countless number of hazards.  We could do all this work and they could still say no!  But what happens if they say yes.  In my mind there is only one option - we have to do it.  If not, when I'm in my rocking chair at 88 I'll be kicking myself for not trying and always wondering ‘what if?’.

 

Mel and I will keep you posted.