FINAL DAY! (Molesey to Putney Town Rowing Club)

Powered by curry, crispy duck and the prospect of a comfy armchair we got back in the boat and started on our final stint. Ignoring the pain from our hands and our butt cheeks, we cruised around hampton court and Richmond Park and made our way gloriously into the steps of PTRC where we were welcomed by our adoring fan(s).

Thank you again to all our supporters and those of you who have sponsored us.

Thank you to.....

Putney Town Rowing Club - for the loan of the boat, trailer and kit

Goring Gap Boat Club - for training, advice and suppport

The Leander Club - for their hospitality at lunchtime on Thursday

Molesey Boat Club - for securing the boat on Friday

Day 5 - Friday (Cookham to Molesey)

Our last full day on the river started out with a short hike from our overnight accomodation and an early morning paddle. We were soon underway and aware of the long day ahead, set off at a good pace on calm waters. We stormed through 9 locks and after arriving at our planned lunch spot at about 10.45 decided to continue on to Chertsey another 8 miles downstream. After a brief respite we carried on to Molesey Rowing Club where we racked the boat and headed off for a well deserved shower and beer.

Day 4 - These hands weren't made for rowing!

Day 4 - Leaving Leander

Day 4 - Still trying the sponges.....

Day 4 –Thursday (Caversham to Cookham)

At last – we’ve reached the half-way point and, better still, spirits in the boat are high thanks to the arrival of Sam and his comedy genius to brighten our mood and get us through to the end! So with Sam safely installed in boat, off we set from Reading Rowing Club, bound for Henley and with an invite for lunch at Leander Club keeping us powering downstream all morning. And what a lunch it turned out to be. After an impeccable landing on the pontoon at Leander (thank god!), we were greeted by the club Manager who, with his team, looked after us fabulously well.

Climbing back into the boat and setting off into the strongest head-wind of the trip so far was somewhat difficult after our fine lunch but nonetheless, off we set down the Henley course (the wrong way!) and on to Cookham for our evening stop. An hour of flaffing later and after carrying the boat for a mile to our B&B, our day’s stresses are over and it’s time to head to the pub. And that’s where the story pauses....as we sit in the pub with the laptop and a glass of whiskey, it’s time to put the computer away and focus on the drink for the rest of the evening......

Day 3 – Wednesday (Clifton Lock to Caversham)

Finally Steve brought something to the party...bacon sarnies all round to start the proceedings. Not the traditional start but it made us feel a little more human having been woken early by crows cawing from 3am. Highlights of the day over and back to the lowlights...the rowing. The hands are now well and truly blistered from bow to stroke...each morning now involving an elaborate combination of different tapes and blister plasters in an effort to make the pain manageable...it generally fails.

Special note to be made of our guest rower for the day...in lycra for the first time since his stag-do, Ollie Scudamore joined the party to complete the whole of team Scudamore having been in the boat.

We've raised over £10000!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who has been sponsoring and supporting us. We have now made more than £10000 for the GBS Support Group.

Please keep sponsoring us at:

www.justgiving.co.uk/charlesscudamore

Day 2 – Tuesday (Bablock Hythe - Clifton Lock)

Following a very wet night under canvas we were all up early doors and on the river by 7.15am. The rain eased a little and we made good progress up to Pinkhill Lock where we met a particularly unhelpful barge owner who reluctantly helped us through. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get away from him and had to endure him for the next 4 miles and 2 locks before he finally pulled in for his morning coffee. All silently envious and with the rain lashing down once again, we ploughed on trying to ignore the pain from our backsides and made excellent time through to south Oxford where we moored up for lunch.

The afternoon saw a guest appearance out on the water, after 50 years in retirement from competitive rowing, with the return of Kerry Scudamore. The weather even cleared up to welcome his arrival and we had a superb afternoon...only 2 locks, 10 miles and completed in double quick time. Evening on day two brings us back to camping but this time with that ultra-modern gizmo...a warm shower....more than welcome.

Stopping aches and pains?

We were told these might help....

Don't think they're working!

Day 1 – Monday (Lechlade - Bablock hythe)

Not unhappy to leave our dubious cottage in Lechlade marina, we had a pleasant breakfast of pain au chocolat and bacon baps washed down with energy drinks before rigging the boat. We gingerly lowered the boat into the water and pushed off in high spirits and anticipation of the days ahead. The morning was spent charting our way through tight twisty sections of river and negotiating the locks expertly assisted by our cox Matt who was prepared to sacrifice life and limb to keep us moving. Cheered on by our loyal supporters we made it to lunch ahead of schedule and enjoyed a brief respite from the increasingly uncomfortable seats. The afternoon was a little less twisting though still fairly narrow but with stern guidance from the cox, the team powered on through and arrived at the Ferryman Inn (Bablock Hythe) just after 4.30 where camp was pitched, the boat was moored and the increasing pain from back, hands and buttocks was eased with a few ales and a hearty meal.

T - 3 days

Right, the time for logistics/organisation is almost at an end and soon we will be able to focus purely on the rowing side of things. I say almost because this weekend is the final big push.

We'll be picking up our boat on Sunday afternoon from Putney Town RC along with a couple of spares seats and runners; loading it up onto the trailer and transporting the whole thing up to Lechlade on Sunday evening. There is talk of a few beers in Lechlade on Sunday night in order to galvanise our collective spirit so no doubt by the time we come to setting off at 8am Monday morning, we'll be raring to go!!

The plan is to get to the Trout at Tadpole Bridge by lunch on the first day and Bablock Hythe by the evening, approximately 23 miles downstream from Lechlade.

The enthusiasm and excitement that we all have now in anticipation of next week will undoubtedly have disappeared by the end of the first day, but right now...we can't wait!!!