Nomad Christmas Paddle – St Patrick’s Stream & the Thames
Nomad’s Christmas paddle began at Wokingham Waterside Centre, where we arrived full of festive spirit and an impressive assortment of boats, buoyancy aids, and Santa hats. Kit was sorted, vehicles were shuffled in a well-organised shuttle to the get-out point, and the younger members debated one of the day’s most important questions: whether their Yule log should be consumed on the river or saved for later. We set off down the Thames in conditions that were far better than expected, fuelled by jelly babies and seasonal optimism. Nigel and Tony made the most of the moving water, demonstrating ferry gliding and breaking in and out for those newer to flowing rivers, while giving others a chance to practise and refine their skills. Meanwhile, some of the polo players, clearly suffering…