Up early on Sunday morning to catch the time and tide.

High water was for 9:30am. The aim was to launch the canoes at 8am, drift upstream with the incoming tide, and then do it all again in reverse once the water had turned.

The plan just about paid off.

It was an effortless paddle past Rowhedge, the University and then down to the Hythe. We then noticed the tide turning at exactly 9:30am as the strokes became harder.

Tidal timetables are a wonderful thing.

I pointed out a beautiful white swan to Anna down by the muddy banks.

It turns out that it was a white plastic bag.

Whoops.

Some motor powered craft came up from behind. It was pretty cool catching the wave with the canoes at 90 degrees, and then surfing inwards back towards the old Sailing Club hard.

Back at base and it seems that the lovely neighbours had the same idea. They paddled out in the other direction all the way to Brightlingsea.

A quick wash up, and then Sunday was all about @surreycricket.

There was quite a lot resting on the Royal London semi up at Headingley.

If the ‘rrey win then we have a late summer beano at Lord’s; lose, and we have no London commitments coming up.

Which can only mean… time to re-home a couple of kittens?

Anna has been… having kittens just thinking about my suggestion.

In the end there was to be no trip to the Colchester Cat Rescue, but another trip to Lord’s with Surrey once again.

#WeAreTheRey.

AND PROUD.

JADER YOU BEAUTY #wearetherey

— Jason_Cobb (@Jason_Cobb) August 28, 2016