7am and I dragged myself from the warmth of my bed, donned clothes and headed out the door. The car was loaded the previous night as I had about an hour to get from Eastbourne to le Chateau Ransom.

The reason I had to get to the Ransom stronghold instead of straight to the pool is that the passion wagon is requiring a new skipper for the day as our illustrious chairman is otherwise detained due to needing to organise flights for people who are stranded courtesy of the Icelandic volcanoe eruption.

I needn't have rushed though as I arrived just in time to see Pharaoh Mike the First cracking the whip over his hebrew slaves (sons) as they reluctantly struggle to extract their kit from the heaving mass of assorted wetsuit shoes, roofrack straps and other kayaking paraphernalia.

Leaving late as usual! We hightailed it over to the pool where everyone else had been sorting out kit. Quickly loaded, we were off and racing around the motorway trying to make up lost time. 

Strangely, we caught up lost time and so arrived just after 11am at the Nene White Water Centre. We were sharing the course with Tandridge Canoe Club and had got it booked for 3 hours of carnage.

Today, we had three white water kayak virgins. Alistair and Andreas quickly jumped on and got stuck in. Sarah also took her first white water steps. Even more impressive considering this was her first time in a kayak.

The Nene is a great place to practice and hone your white water skills from front surfing, hole trashing / cartwheeling to eddy hopping.

Everyone got on and found a place at their own comfort levels where they could practice but it wasn't long before some of the club started an impromtu Old Skool Rodeo demonstrating paddle twirls, Air Guitars, shudder rudders and the ever popular YMCA while surfing on the wave.

All too soon, the session came to and end and those people with enough energy left jumped in for a swim round the course.

Loaded up, everyone dashed to the pub for sustenance while discussing the various antics of the day.

The journey back was a longer affair as everyone fell foul of the speed restrictions on the motorways. All the kit was stored away and then it was time for goodbyes as everyone headed off to the various homes. I eventually arrived home 14 hours and 350 miles after my departure at 9pm. I guess that is the problem for all paddlers who are located in the South East.

A whole load of other photos from the day can be found here http://www.croydonactivepaddlers.org/Gallery/tabid/89/path/Nene%20White%20Water%20Centre%202010/Default.aspx