Today I'm celebrating my 850th newsletter and my second last day of 33 sessions of radiation. (I also had 33 sessions last year that didn’t hit the right spot that's why I'm back.) So after Monday no more radiation, at least for now. You never know what is going to happen in the future.

Going to radiation at Genesis Care, Salvado Road, Wembley has been a delight. The staff were just so friendly it was a pleasure walking through the door. Every session was on time, there was a gym to use and there was free easy parking. Every week I had appointments with a nurse and my doctor who would ask me how I was going. Thankfully I had no problems to report. I even got pleasure from listening to the radio on the 25-30 minute drive to Wembley.

However my hormone treatment is far from over and I’m told the side effects will last for another seven months. Luckily I have only suffered one or two side-effects that I have noticed, which are hot flushes, a little weight gain and I may have lost a tiny bit of my speed, or other paddlers are getting faster! 

I haven't felt tired, or been moody, which are side effects. Other side effects, like a loss of muscle mass, bone thinning (which can lead to broken bones), less body hair, growth of breast tissue, diabetes and heart disease, I might not notice until a later stage. 

The hot flushes or hot sweats I can get any time of the day, but they mostly arrive in the evening and in bed at night. Some evening I can get them 6 times in the matter of four hours. In bed they can come on 2-3 or times.

They usually start with a tinge of warmth, (sometimes very soft pin pricks on my forehead) and then the warmth creeps all over my body until I start to sweat and my forehead drips and within seconds the sweats descent to my under arms, my arms, the sides of my body and around my crutch and legs. Within seconds I’m usually dripping and feel as if I’m in a sauna.

I instantly strip off, walk around, find some cool air, or a fan and try to cool off. The cool air helps the hot sweats to fade, but for those few minutes the sweat is most uncomfortable which many women will have experienced. When in bed the hot sweats will wake me, then I will take a walk mainly to the toilet and then try to get to sleep without any bedclothes on, until I get cold that is. 

But the radiation, the hormone treatment and its side effects is a small thing to pay to get rid of my cancer and I’m just happy to be so active and to be living a great life through it all. 

I'm standing on the jetty on Tuesday timing the paddlers in the Progressive Racing Group and being rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

Join us every Tuesday at 5.00pm, Ascot Kayak Club.

We have water at Moondyne Rapid.

But don't get too excited yet.

Photo Ben Dallin.

• Paddler of the Week - Noemie Fox
• WAs Ben & Genie
• International Paddler of the Week - Verlen Kruger
• Wild Water Race - The Drain Race
• Guildford to Garratt K4 vs Rowers
• Paddle Across the English Channel - D-Day
• Birds Along the Way
• Coming Events

Paddler of the Week

Noemie Fox

is going to the Olympics

There was a moment in Sunday’s kayak cross final in Prague when it suddenly dawned on Noemie Fox that she was coming last, and if she stayed there she would miss the Olympics.

“I thought to myself ‘God no’,” Fox said after the race.

Let the record show 27-year-old Fox pulled of a move on the final gate as cunning as the furry mammal which shares her name, elevating her to third and, after eight months of trying, a ticket to the Paris Games.

“It’s been a long road to get here, and to be on the podium today,” Fox said.

“It’s been like eight months that I’ve been dreaming about this day every single day, and visualising it, and really being so motivated to get to this race and be in the best physical and mental possible state, I’m just so proud of myself.

“To finally be able to go to the Olympic Games, and to share that with my sister and Tristan (Carter) and Tim (Anderson) and the rest of the Australian team. It kind of feels surreal and it will start to kick in, but I think it’s been such a long day. I’m keen to just decompress and start dreaming about the whole journey tonight.”

 Noemie Fox competing in Kayak Cross.

For so long Noemie Fox had been forced to accept she would probably never get to an Olympic Games. Older sister Jessica is considered the best female slalom paddler in the world, and as each country can only take one athlete for each event – well, you would never not take Jessica Fox.

But the addition of kayak cross on the Paris Olympic program suddenly opened up a path. It would be long and arduous, would take an enormous amount of work and a fair dose of luck, but with each country allowed to enter two competitors in the race, the possibility was there.

“It’s been such a long road, and with all the little problems we’ve encountered with water quality issues or the flat water, we really tried to give myself the best possible preparation for this,” Fox said.

“I felt so much good vibes and support from the overall slalom community. The amount of good luck messages and hugs I’ve been getting from my fellow athletes and friends, it’s just been so incredible.

“I feel like I was carried down the course, I’m so proud to have earned my spot and to be going to the Olympics.”

Of course it helps that Fox had the support of a family that is synonymous with the sport. Father Richard and mother Miriam are both Olympians, and of course sister Jessica is a gold medalist – and the red traffic light that she thought would forever keep her from the Games.

“I always had a big block in the way, but I think to be able to share this journey with her, she has supported me so much,” Noemie Fox said.
“To finally be on that Olympic team together, and have two Australians, is just so special.”

Paddle Australia.

Happy times Noemie and Jessica.

Mum Miriam, Titouan Dupre, Noemie, sister Jessica and dad Richard.

WAs Ben Pope & Genie Collin

paddling in Europe

Ben Pope at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 in Prague.

Geni Collin  at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 2 in Prague.

International Paddler of the Week

Verlen Kruger

Verlen Kruger

He was an innovator, inventor, builder, conservationist and adventurer. Verlen spent the last half of his life paddling the waterways of North America and beyond, designing and building canoes, and inspiring others to follow their dreams.

During World War II, Kruger got drafted into the Army, where he was enlisted to be a tank driver. He graduated from the Army Air Force Flight Training School, and became a pilot, and eventually a flight instructor. In civilian life he was a plumber.

Ultimate Canoe Challenge

The Ultimate Canoe Challenge was a 28,043 mile North American odyssey exclusively traversed by paddle and portage (1980-1983). Steve Landick and Verlen Kruger completed the canoe trip in three and one-half years earning them both a Guinness World Record for distance. The trip included many major rivers of North America, as well as ascending the entire length of both the Mississippi and Colorado Rivers. Verlen completed the entirety of the trip in his handmade Kruger Crafted Loon, Steve started the trip in his own handmade Loon (yellow) but finished it in a Mad River Monarch (red) designed by Verlen.

Verlen's and Steve's trip.

On August 2, 2004, the paddling world lost a legend. Verlen Kruger, one of the greatest canoeist who ever lived, passed away after a long fight with prostate cancer. He was 82.

Read more about Verlen here:-

https://www.zollitschcanoeadventures.com/articles/verlenkruger.html

Two Continent Canoe Expedition

The Two Continent Canoe Expedition was a 21,000 mile canoe journey beginning at the top of the world, the Arctic Ocean and ending at Cape Horn, South America (1986-1989). Valerie Fons and Verlen Kruger completed this trip in Verlen’s newly design Kruger Crafted canoes, the Sea Wind. After reaching Cape Horn, Verlen paddled 10 miles solo around the totally unprotected south end of Cape Horn earning him an official Cape Horn Certificate, as witnessed by Chilean naval personnel.

His 80th birthday present to himself was a running of the 2,040 mile long Yukon River!

During his lifetime of canoeing, he earned 11 Guinness World Records, and was the first canoeist to paddle up the Grand Canyon.

 In 2004 Ed VanEeer and I took part in the 750km Yukon River Quest Race.

We paddled against Steve Landick, who paddled 28,000kms with Verlen. 

In the Yukon Race Steve was paddling a canoe with Olympian Bruce Barton. 
They were first in the canoe section and we were 4th.

Bruce Barton and Steve Landick at the end of the Yukon Race.

Steve and Verlen paddled 28,000 miles in a canoe in 1980-3. 

Bruce, (brother of Olympic medallist Greg Barton) had been in canoe and kayak racing for thirty five years and in 1976 and 1980 was in the US Olympic Team. 

Wild Water Race

The Drain Race

The faster paddlers waiting for their turn.

The slower paddlers go off first.

Jessica Shaw taking on the race for the first time but looks like a professional.

Another paddler will start off 30 seconds behind.

Young Kai Stafford is away.

He had dreams of beating me, but he was 24 seconds short.

Maybe next time Kai.

Jamie Cartwright is off.

Jamie ducks under a tree. The first obstacle.

Photo David Gardiner

David Burdett is a professional. He won. He is also going to Europe later to take part in the World Wild Water Championships. David started paddling as a slalom paddler.

Photo David Gardiner 

What would we do without the timers and helpers.

Guildford to Garratt Road

K4s vs Rowers

This is a new race for paddlers.

Crews were sent out at 20 second intervals in what was a seeded start list to avoid overtaking as much as possible. 

There were 17 K4s competing against dozens of rowing 4’s and 8’s.

Photo Tony Moore.

Last week Josh Kippin was paddling in a World Cup in Germany. This week he is paddling a K4 with other great paddlers from Guildford to Bayswater.

Photo Selena Lloyd.

Looking good.

Photo Selena Lloyd.

Being chased by a rowing 4.

Tt was a wet day at times.

Photo Selena Lloyd.

Crews near the finish line.

Nashani, Julie, Helke and Anita enjoyed their K4 paddle.

The Kayak Winners

Jeremy Alderson, Mitch Tamblin, Luke Egger & L Armstrong.

Photo Selena Lloyd.

Results here:-

https://rowingmanager.com/mobile/regatta/6376/events

D-Day 80th Anniversary 

Royal Marines Paddle across the English Channel

Paddlers from the Royal Marines have marked the D-Day 80th anniversary by paddling 90 nautical miles across the English Channel overnight to Northern France.

Setting off in two-person Klepper folding kayaks on 4 June from The Yomper in Portsmouth, the momentous challenge was completed by the morning of 5 June after safely crossing the English Channel and arriving at Port-en-Bessin.

The group paddled onto the Allied opposed landing beach heads in Normandy, beginning with the American sectors (Utah and Omaha), culminating with the British and Canadian sectors (Gold, Juno, and Sword).

The team is made up of nine serving and eight veteran Marines, two former Hasler (Naval Recovery Centre) members, and the Royal Marines Charity Vice-Patron Keith Breslauer.

The idea came from Lee Waters and Joe Maynard, who formed the RMA Paddle Sports Group to support serving and former military personnel, and led the expedition of the nine folding boats.

Royal Marines land in France

Speaking from Normandy after completing the challenge, Lee Waters said:

“Myself and Joe came over here five years ago in a folding boat and it just gave us the idea that we should paddle the Channel for one of the significant celebrations such as the 80th anniversary and paddle to all of the beaches.

“It's been emotional to be here, people have been coming up to us and giving us money to put into our charity. The atmosphere has been amazing, most of the French people dress up as the different organisations of the military that served here in World War II.

“It's been such an amazing and unique experience to be part of.”

The RMA Paddle Sports Group is formed of veteran and serving Commandos from across all three UK Services; the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force.

The Royal Navy Paddlesports Association is a Paddle UK affiliated club and members regularly compete in the annual Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race.

13 members competed in the 2024 edition in the senior doubles and singles events.

The Normandy landings in 1944 is the largest seaborne military operation in history.

D-Day is recognised as the beginning of the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, which laid the foundations for the Allied victory in the Second World War.

The D-Day anniversary paddle is to support the Royal Marines Association Charity, which exists to help and offer a range of services to serving members, veterans and their families.

Birds Along The Way

The Little Black Cormorants were extremely active this morning.

There were thousands of them feeding.

Many will still be underwater when I pass and they often come up right beside me.

Great Egret.

Coming Events

• 16th June 2024 - Upper Swan Marathon
• 22nd June 2024 - IOP Downwind Winter race #1
• 23rd June 2024 - Wild Water Race #4
• 14th July 2024 - Northam to Toodyay
• 20th July 2024 - IOP Downwind Winter race #2
• 28th July 2024 - Walyunga N/P to Middle Swan