Alnmouth enjoyed a gentle row up the Tweed River to Paxton house and back with a picnic on the banks of the river at Paxton on Sunday 15th September.
Both skiffs made the journey up to Berwick and joined 16 other skiffs, moving trailers and carrying the boats down onto the sandy beach for the start at around 11am. It never ceases to amaze me at how friendly the “skiffie world” is and how everyone just digs in and helps each other whenever they need it. The skiffs were soon all lined up on the beach ready to go, with a few eyeing up all the different interpretations and builds of the various aspects of the skiffs and oars.
As all the skiffs launched it was then off to pass under the first bridge, the 1624 Berwick bridge, everyone jostling for positions making sure there were no collisions as we all passed under the same arch one at a time. Quickly following on were the next two bridges, the 1928 Royal Tweed bridge and the 1850 Royal Border bridge. On the second bridge we heard our supporters yelling out their encouragement.
In “Enflaeda” we were trying out our new racing oars which definitely seemed to have a go faster edge as we gently rowed past various other skiffs and led the way to the landing at Paxton. We all enjoyed lunch on the river bank where the sun also made an appearance complementing our picnic experience. After lunch we all swapped skiffs so that all our rowers could experience rowing with the new oars, brightly painted yellow with a nod to the Northumberland flag on the front of the blades. We all rowed up to the newly installed chain bridge and admired its construction from underneath, and then set off back for the return trip.
Arriving back the skiffs lined up on the beach for a very orderly and well organised return onto the trailers, with everyone pitching in and helping. A lovely relaxed day was had by all, helped along by the company, warmth and sunshine.
