4 July 2010 Paddle Round the Pier

Today was the Paddle Round the Pier Festival: hundred of people took to canoes, kayaks, rafts, and surfboards to paddle round the West Pier. Unfortunately none of my pictures captured the plethora of floats out in the water, but I did get these two girls trying to put their raft in the water, against the current, which was wickedly strong today. It took them ages to get themselves in the boat and to float the boat in the water. By that time the current had pushed them about 50 yards down the coastline. Still, they eventually succeeded and paddled some, though not around the pier. There’s probably a metaphor in there, or a lesson, maybe even to do with our own journey to this island and our uncertain future here. Do we go with the flow? What is the flow? How likely are we to capsize? Do we go with the kayak or the bright pink inflatable duck boat?

Ah, to heck with metaphors and lessons.

And to my American readers, Happy Independence Day! Walking down the seafront today we passed by a band playing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” and I briefly sang along, feeling subversive because the tune is that of the British National Anthem, “God Save the Queen.” Then I saw one of the band members sporting a tiny American flag. I’m not a typically patriotic person, but it did please me to see the stars and stripes today.