It being a beautiful day we went for a walk by the sea today. A sandy beach, a blue sky and gentle waves lapping invitingly on the shore. I immediately slipped off my sandals and paddled. He didn't. He never does. Neither did any other bloke on the beach, but most of the women were in there splashing in the shallows. Is there some deep rooted instinct that draws a woman into the water and man's inner little boy fear of cleanliness?

Once witnessed an amazing display of paddling by a group of Japanese business men who were allowed onto the beach for 15 mins in the middle of their business session. They all followed the boss like ducks. First he took his shoes off and rolled up his trousers, then everyone else did. All followed him across the beach, paddling away and then back again and into their minibus. In Malaysia.

Wonderful! Perhaps it's just British men don't think it's manly.

They don't want to take their socks off

I love paddling, I walk the length of the beach in about 2 inches of water and it is so refreshing!

Now, now you lot. I spent plenty of time yesterday with my 2 year old grand-daughter in her paddling pool, sockless and carefree. I've paddled on the beach too, many, many times. A doctor writes; 'Paddle reluctance derives mainly from avoidance of post-paddle stress, caused by wet sandy feet in leather shoes. Cases of reluctance from embarassment are common but these are not solely associated with either gender, especially after consumption of alcohol.'

Frankel

I paddle on the slightest excuse. I was probably born paddling!

When Mr absent and I first went to New Zealand during their winter, we were taken on a trip to see various sights. When we reached a beach we both felt that it was essential to have a paddle in the Pacific, much to the amusement of our hosts.

We both paddle. DH more than me at times because he doesn't feel the cold as I do. Paddling along a sandy beach is wonderful and refreshing. Ours is somewhat stony and I keep meaning to get some plastic shoes. As a little girl I used to create havoc getting sand in my socks after paddling - what a pain I must have been

I love to paddle DH does not, I think it maybe stems from women taking their children paddling , its usually the women that do that and the men that either are not around or sit and watch, maybe its more effort to take off shoes and socks that men wear rather than sandals that women do..

I too made a point of paddling in the Pacific when I was in Los Angeles waiting for a flight home , my hosts thought I was bonkers too...

And absent I found both the S Pacific and the "mighty Tasman" far too cold to actually immerse one's whole body!

Paddling is good.

(....but swimming in the nude is even better!...)

Absent, I have paddled in the Pacific but not in the NZ winter. I thought I could swim with Hector's dolphins at Akaroa but even in a wet suit, I nearly had heart failure!
GG, Crocs are the ideal solution for paddling when the beach is stony, or for walking up rivers in France.

I've paddled in the Pacific at Santa Barbara, whilst being harassed by pelicans flying one inch over my head. After swimmng with bottle-nose dolphins in freezing Med water, and realising just how massive they are close up, I can't say they gave me the therapeutic experience that people talk about, although they are beautiful creatures. I love walking along a shore-line in the shallow water.

Can't beat the Indian Ocean, but the Firth of Clyde and anywhere else on the West coast of Scotland are pretty good for paddling.

Sigh, butternut you are right. In warm mediterranean water. Wishing now that I had stuck out for going to the Med in September rather than N Spain where the water will be too cold. Duped, I was, into a holiday that could include HIS BIKE

Anno I thought crocs would be great for when the beach at Abersoch is stony, but they just filled up with stones and I had to keep stopping to wash them out!

Depends on the size of the stones, apparently, Ella. Mine were excellent when walking up a river gorge in Provence but there the stones were more like small boulders!

Hmm? Might rust my crutches.

You could get little wellies for your crutches, though come to think of it, I seem to remember paddling in Normandy with my crutches after my hip replacement.

Yours were only for short term use though! Mine are long term.

Jess - It was in the Indian Ocean about 10 years ago - quite beautiful.
The Med. I'd steer clear of - lots of nasty bugs and unclean - no matter what is said.
N.Spain - great! I'm going in Sept. too.

Depends on where in the Med I think butternut - quiet Greek island, away from any towns or villages ok. Off shore in a Costa, maybe not. But if you have high levels of UV (ie lots of sunshine) that kills a lot of bugs. They use it in state of the art waste water treatment plants.
Where in N Spain? Have you been there before?

It's fab - called Green Spain. We've been several times driving up and down the Picos Europa Mountains staying in little pensions. Your BIKE man will love it. This time we're going with mates in a Land Rover and travelling across from St. Jean Pied de Port, over the Pyrenees (off road - the 'white roads') and ending up east of Pamplona. I'm taking a cushion and a camera.

We did a similar trip in '73 on a motorbike, that time sleeping in a tiny tent.

I think paddling is definitely a female or under 6 years old thing, my grandson is four and he will still do it. I walked up to Hyde Par k today and the Diana memorial fountain was full of kids having fun paddling, I wanted to join them but felt conspicuous not having a child with me. Will take them when they come in a few weeks time.