SUP The Grand Union - Adventure Announcement!

I am so thrilled to share the news of a new summer adventure! #SUPTheGrandUnion with my friend Shilpa Rasaiah.

Pic credit Shane Morgan

Having paddleboarded coast to coast on the Leeds Liverpool Canal in 2019, I was keen to spend more time on our beautiful canals. I also knew that next time I wanted to share the journey with a friend. So when Shilpa, British Canoeing She Paddles Ambassador for 2021/2022 asked if I would share an adventure with her on the Grand Union Canal, it took me less than 24 hours to say a very enthusiastic yes!

We met at Kendal Mountain Festival where Shilpa was speaking with her #ShePaddles team and was interviewed by the wonderful Cal Major and Chris Brain.

We have so much to share with you as we plan and train for #SUPTheGrandUnion. Here is a summary:

Adventure: Shilpa Rasaiah, 58, from Loughborough and Jo Moseley, 57, from Skipton will stand up paddleboard (SUP) 160 miles along the Grand Union Canal from Paddington Basin in London to Normanton on Soar (Shilpa’s home boating club) in Nottinghamshire departing 4th June 2022, picking up litter and fundraising for two causes.

Pic credit Ghee Rasaiah

Key messages: We will be sharing key messages around ageing adventurously, teamwork and community, cherishing and caring for the canals on our doorstep and two friends simply having fun!

Causes: Litter picking and fundraising for:

a) Re-engage, a charity that provides vital, life enhancing social connections for older people through companion calls, tea parties and activity groups. Their vision is a world where no one is too old to make friends and enjoy social interaction.

Link: www.reengage.org.uk

b) Friends of the Grand Union Canal, a community of volunteers and canal enthusiasts committed to caring for the Grand Union Canal, via litter picking and clean ups along the canal. Founded in August 2020, they encourage local people to look after places closest to them.

Link: www.friendsofgrandunioncanal.co.uk

The Canal: The Grand Union is the longest merged canal in England, with a number of different arms.

We will be leaving London at Paddington Basin on the Paddington Arm, near Regent’s Canal. We will be completing the adventure along the Leicester Line, known as the Old Grand Union, arriving at Soar Boating Club, Normanton On Soar where Shilpa fell in love with SUP. She will in effect be paddling home!

The journey will take us from remote rural areas to dense urban areas. Starting at Paddington basin in London, paddling north through the Chilterns and the entire length of Milton Keynes, and continuing north, by-passing Northampton to the east, and entering Leicester from the south, travelling right through the heart of Leicester and departing at the north to continue through Loughborough and finishing the final leg in Normanton on Soar.

Interesting Facts about the GUC route:

· 5 Aquaducts

· 2 Museums

· 2 Famous Lock Flights

· 4 Tunnels

· And 2 Resident Ghosts!

Social Media and recording the adventure: As a team we will be sharing the adventure, including the planning, preparation, inspiration and lessons on social media on our personal accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Follow us at:

Shilpa Rasaiah:

Instagram @sup.loving.shilpa

Website: https://sbcpaddlers.wordpress.com/

Jo Moseley:

Twitter and Instagram: @healthyhappy50 @thejoyofsuppodcast_

Website: www.jomoseley.com

Facebook: Jo Moseley

The hashtag is #supthegrandunion.

We will be writing twice monthly blog updates too on jomoseley.com.

We do hope you will join us as we train and plan for this exciting challenge. We would love to hear from you and answer any questions about the adventure.

Thank you,

Jo and Shilpa x

More details to follow on #SUPTheGrandUnion - Postcards from a Paddleboard Update No 2.

Jo's board is Grace, gifted by Bluefin SUP in 2019.