‘Source to Sea’ fundraiser concludes 210-mile Thames paddle
Somerset adventurer Ed Pratt has become a viral sensation since starting his ‘Source to Sea’ 210-mile River Thames paddle on Saturday 29 June.
Pratt, who had previously cycled around the world on a unicycle, before starting his new challenge, is finishing his 19-day journey today (17 July 2024) in Sheerness. Starting his journey in the Cotswolds wading through the Thames in a wetsuit before switching to a kayak, Pratt has been uploading daily videos across his social media, attracting millions of views, as he raises money for The Rivers Trust.
Pratt set himself a rule: to make progress, he had to follow the course of the river exactly. When he leaves the river to eat or sleep, he returns to the same point.
During his challenge, he has been navigating the UK’s busiest river alone, from pitching his tent on river banks, in pub car parks, with newly found fans offering their homes. He has battled capsizes, bad weather and navigating busy lanes during his journey.
On Tuesday 16 July, his penultimate day, Pratt departed Erith in his kayak, paddling below Kent’s iconic Queen Elizabeth II Bridge before arriving at Gravesend RNLI.
Thames Commander Karla Thresher said: “What Ed’s achieved over the last 18 days is sensational; it was a pleasure to welcome him to Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat Station, showing him our Atlantic 85 Lifeboat and offering our facilities to him for a quick refresher before pitching his tent for the night.
“Ed’s final day from Gravesend to Sheerness will be the most hazardous yet; so far, he’s been treated to waters protected by locks and central Thames, whereas on day 19, he’ll experience sea-like conditions, so it was a great opportunity to offer safety advise, show him his route on charts and point out potential hazards.”
Speaking yesterday, on his penultimate push, Pratt said: “There’s 18 miles between here and Sheerness, I need to get in just before high tide, push for six hours and hope I can get there before the tide turns.”
Pratt’s journey has so far raised over £15,000 for The Rivers Trust.
The post ‘Source to Sea’ fundraiser concludes 210-mile Thames paddle appeared first on Marine Industry News.
