BEXLEY: Paddling their own canoe brings teenagers a golden reward (From News Shopper)

BEXLEY: Paddling their own canoe brings teenagers a golden reward

5:48pm Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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A CANOE trip along the River Thames put the finishing touch to the Duke of Edinburgh gold award for eight Bexley teenagers.

The group paddled 67 miles from the village of Cholsey in Oxfordshire to Teddington Lock to seal their achievement.

They used a 27ft long Bell Boat , a twin-hulled canoe which can hold up to 12 people, to make the trip.

With them, they carried all their camping equipment and food because they had to be self-sufficient.

Unfortunately most of the trip was done in the wet, as it rained almost non-stop, making it difficult to erect wet tents, cook under the shelter of trees and keep their clothes dry.

Along the way they studied the impact of humans on the river and its defences against erosion.

They planned the whole trip themselves and trained with Danson Watersports.

To find out more about the award scheme call 020 8308 1821.