INTERVIEW: Shilpa - paddleboard adventurer
Paddleboarding offers brilliant outdoor times from March until November. It’s also been a great way for Shilpa to explore the UK’s waterways.
Paddleboarding offers a brilliant way to see places from a different perspective. It’s also been a great way for Shilpa to explore the UK’s waterways. What’s special is that Shilpa leads by example, encouraging women to go on adventures with their paddleboards on 2-5 day paddles, camping along the journey.
“I’m trying to be fit,” says Shilpa, 60, explaining why she is determined to keep having paddleboard and cycle adventures. One of the first on a paddeboard was during her British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador year which saw her paddling along the 165-mile Grand Union Canal from Camden, London towards her home in Leicestershire, in 2022. This long paddle also included 138 portages around locks with at least four long lock flights which she had to walk alongside. See #SuptheGrandunion on Instragram for more information about this or Shilpa’s interview on Tough Girl Challenges on Spotify
We’ve met up, thanks to Instagram, while she’s in London checking-in on her much-loved older sister - who recently spent 10 weeks in hospital after tripping over a paving slab, which broke both her elbows, only then to discover she also has osteoporosis. “I’ve spent a huge amount of time during my BC Ambassador year getting other women on to the water with taster sessions,” she says, “but because of my sister’s accident I tell ladies to ‘get yourself weights, move more, and do some gentle exercise’.”
For Shilpa it’s clear that “balancing and being out in nature,” is the best way to stay fit and do “something for me”. That’s why in the warmer months of last year (2023) she says that, “at every opportunity I was out paddling.”
Shilpa: “Paddleboarding is my time now, I’ve retired as a town planner and spent the last seven years working for myself. I do still do some work and also volunteer at the Peter Le Merchant Trust which involves taking people out on the water.”
Over a chai latte in Vagabond café on the Holloway Road, the week before Christmas, after a little winter walk across Islington to see Freightliners Farm, with its goats and hens, our meet up ends with tentative plans to paddle together along the River Lea Navigation across east Hertfordshire to London in the spring.
Here are some more of Shilpa’s adventures during 2023, which may inspire you to plan a paddleboard trip.
River Wye with Karen from @paddleboarding_adventures and website . “This was my second trip with Karen Maidment as she is a really considerate, and safety conscious, coach. I also really enjoy the company of like-minded paddlers on her trips. We did three days paddling, plus two nights camping (glamping then camping). I like to add on days to my adventures so started by staying in a magical castle, St Briavels YHA on the border of England and Wales, and then finished with a trip to Bristol.
River Avon using Mark Rainsley book Paddle Shakespeare’s Avon as the basis for the journey inspiration, and after seeking lots of advice from paddlers local to the area, Shilpa paddled with two other friends of similar ability over three days and two nights camping at campsites next to the river. There was a fourth day add on so she could join the Doggy Paddle (raising funds for guide dogs) from Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon. This trip ended south of beautiful Tewksbury on the very wide river Severn. “What an amazing adventure this was, as it was an entirely new body of water, and we were not sure what to expect in terms of the weir crossings (of which there were many). There were lots of brews alongside portages, strong head winds and beautiful towns and villages. Our overnight stays at the Evesham Caravan Club and Wyre Mill Club were fantastic, we were made very welcome and provided with chairs,” she says.
River Cetina in Croatia, “was one of my favourite trips last year as the views were absolutely breathtaking and the water was so clean, and sun so perfect that it was great to be paddling and swimming too. This was a five-day mixed tour guided by Adriatic SUP and hosted by the lovely Ana of @Standup_paddleboard_with_ana. Again, one of the best parts of this trip was meeting a whole bunch of amazing caring women who ate, laughed and explored this beautiful part of Croatia together. We’d stay at one campsite and the SUP company then drove us to various launch points which included the amazing backdrop of the Marjan Hills, and the mesmerising valley formed by the Mosor Mountain where every view was just captivating, and paddling out on the Adriatic sea in the daytime towards Split. The water was turquoise. I did an add on journey of island-hopping around Croatia with my hubby before joining the SUP trip. We travelled by public transport on the ferries, hired SUP boards in Hvar, and paddled with @standuppaddlevis with the lovely Lea who has a heavenly place on the island of Vis. Everywhere we went the waters were crystal clear and fabulous to swim and snorkel in.”
“My River Soar, near where I live. It flows through Leicester where it is joined by the Grand Union Canal and parts of it form the Grand Union Navigation. I paddle here a lot normally as day trips, but I did a lovely solo three night camp and paddle which was my first ‘solo camp’ trip and I loved it. I did this on familiar waters, but pushed myself by paddling on fast-flowing back waters with challenging portages. I found that it was really lovely to paddle and eat when and where I wanted, and have some meditation – reflection time - surrounded by nature. Spotting kingfishers is one of my fave pastimes on this body of water. I paddled into gorgeous sunsets and sat up by candlelight. It was blissful and inexpensive.”
Shilpa on a lunch break at Buttermere - Photo by Gehan © Shilpa The English Lake District exploring Derwent Water and Buttermere with my family. “I even enjoyed jumping out of bed at 4am to do a four-hour drive to meet up with @sup_erjen to paddle the length of Windermere on a gloriously sunny summer day, followed by a day of solo paddling on Ullswater. As I grow stronger in my paddling skills, I’m more confident to go on solo paddles, (as it’s not always possible to find company) and although I’m usually nervous to do them, I’ve actually really enjoyed paddling alone, stopping whenever I want to for a snooze or brew, and singing and meditating as I paddle. Did you know that technically, there is only one lake in the Lake District – Bassenthwaite, as it is the only one to have the word ‘lake’ in its name. The rest are meres, waters or tarns and apparently geographically different to a lake. If you have good weather conditions, the Lake District lakes are just so awesome to paddle due to their amazing backdrops of splendid mountains and forests.
At the start of summer 2023, Shilpa travelled up north to support her friend Deborah who was paddleboarding from Leeds to Liverpool by canal. “I paddled with her for a couple of days at the start and end of the trip, including through the amazing Saltair World Heritage buildings, and near the impressive Liverpool Docks. The best was the countryside near where Postman Pat was written, you could see the beautiful bridges and lanes where Pat and his cat Jess drove around. We stayed at hotels along the canal with lifts provided by her husband to get to launch points. I met Deborah the year before when she joined my Grand Union adventure support team and paddled and trained with me for a number of days, whilst learning about adventure planning from my trip.”
A SUP camping weekend in the Norfolk Broads. “I was following Martin on Instagram who’d completed the Yukon 1000-mile race in July 2023 and there he was, at his campsite (see insta @yukon1000_rmc ). The paddling in the Broads was magical – the body of water is so varied and different to anything I’ve paddled on before. It’s incredibly challenging due to the large open waters that are very windy, but the sheltered rivers with sunsets were magical. It was amazing to learn about the role of the ‘pump houses’ – windmills dotted along the waterways to keep the land drained and prevent flooding, and seeing the cutest little thatched boat houses, it was like stepping into another world.”
“‘The Peak Forest Canal must have the most inviting name of any of our canals,’ says The Canal Guide by Adlard Coles (updated by Stuart Fisher). After reading this description I had wanted to paddle this canal for some time, and it happened in November 2023, when the autumn colours were truly golden and breathtaking. I met two other friends for a mini SUP and walking weekend, which gave me my first taster of staying in a motorhome. The canal in autumn was magical and the views over the top of the stunning Peak District were just unbelievable, especially with the mist rising. An additional attraction for the weekend was a trip to the National Trust’s Lyme Park the setting for the unforgettable Pride and Prejudice scene of Mr Darcy in his wet shirt.”
“I enjoyed exploring the River Thames and Oxford Canal even on a bleak wet and windy September. We paddled for two days testing water quality as part of the #RaceforRivers project to test the water quality of waterways in the England with Planet Patrol. Logistics is always difficult when doing a continuous journey, and I was fortunate to have an aunt who just happens to live midway between my two-day paddle. Paddling through Oxford between the rowing boats was surreal and I caught a glimpse of the Oxford colleges.”
Q: How did you get into the outdoors?
“There was always an adventure streak in me. When I was eight-years-old I came to Leicester from Uganda. In Africa I was outside the whole time, playing in the rural wilds. But in this country I was not allowed out much - to keep me safe I stayed indoors. In my generation (the baby boomers) growing up in this country, playing and exploring outside was not something Asians did. I didn’t even learn how to ride a bike or swim – these came much later in life. Now I feel very cooped up indoors and have to get out at least once a day.”
Q: When did you learn to paddleboard?
“I’ve never had any formal lessons. I was a not very active member of a kayak club, going out in just fine weather. I didn’t have kit as I could borrow everything. I found I liked being on the water, though sometimes I was petrified as I only learnt to swim in my 40s. Then the club bought some paddleboards in 2021. I decided to have a go. I had my wetsuit on and I was petrified of being immersed in this brown and dirty water full of cow poo. My legs were like jelly but I managed to stand up, so went again the next day and it was better, so I kept at it.”
Since then Shilpa has taken her FSRT and British Canoeing paddlesports instructor qualifications and undertaken the leadership course training.
Q: What paddleboard do you use?
“I did my Grand Union trip on a 12.6’ long and 28” Quroc which I was gifted – it’s quite speedy and incredibly light weight. I did think about giving it a name, Shanti, meaning peace, but I haven’t gone down that route.
“For camping trips I use my 13 foot Quroc which has massive bungees so can take a lot and is more stable, but it still super light for its size .
“I am incredibly grateful to Quroc, they have taken me under their wings, advised me on boards and kit, and opened up a whole world of SUP adventure. Insta: @quroc_isup .
“I’ve also been lent a mega SUP board by Quroc and boy did we have fun on that!”
Q: Any trip kit tips?
“On trips I always take a small green (padded) gardening mat. It’s so useful that when I lost it after doing six miles against the wind, I turned around and went looking for it. I’ve also got wheels for portages. My husband made some, and we looked at SUP specific wheels costing around £100, but in the end I bought a set for kayaks for about £40 and they are the best. I love my little tent and sleep pad set up, and I’ve got great dry bags from Gill Marine.”
Find out more
· Insta @sup.loving.shilpa
· Shilpa has helped support British Canoeing with its Clear Access Clear Waters campaign, and went to Parliament for the launch.
Help Planet Patrol with their Race for Rivers and litter picks
For ideas about how to travel to Europe on public transport, and adventures while you are there see Flight Free website.