Is paddling a woman thing?

Paddling is great fun but I no longer tuck my skirt into my knickers to do so! Paddling is best done with your ordinary clothes on. Trousers rolled and skirts tucked up and your socks and shoes in your hand. Its possible to tolerate quite cold water with just feet and legs in. Very relaxing and good for the soul.

Yep, I am a paddler. Can't help it - as soon as I get near the water, shoes off, trousers up and get soaked. Love it.

Having been brought up on the Firth of Clyde, I never had any fear of the waters of the West of Scotland which are warmed by the Gulf Stream; we spent summer holidays in Fife and bathed at St Andrews most days - we were obviously hardy children! Two weeks ago I ventured into the North Sea on the Suffolk coast, but only once. I fear that my hardiness has worn off in the last 60 years. Happy enough to paddle though.

Agreed about Scottish waters, gally. I also thought I would die when I tried swimming, on a hot August day, off the west coast of Scotland. Three strokes and my limbs started to stiffen in the cold!! Scary! I was jolly glad that I was still within my depth and could wade out. Skinny dipping in the Andaman Sea on the other hand....

When at home, I walk on the beach most days but have absolutely no desire to paddle- far too sandy and too cold! I've lived in the same place for 31 years and have swum in the sea twice - when it was very very hot (for Scotland) about 25 degrees and boy was it cold in the water, I thought I might die!
On the other hand, I do like to paddle in hot countries; I had a good old paddle in Cyprus in June, followed by a dip and I usually have a bit of a paddle here in Curl Curl, NSW, but not during their winter thank you. The sand here doesn't seem to get between the toes like it does at home

I paddle at every opportunity - luckily we rarely holiday in cold places. I agree with Butternut that nude swimming def beats paddling but one has to be a bit choosier where and when one bares one's all.

My GC love to paddle but up north it is usually in a stream with wellies on.

I was sorely tempted on a hot day in Russell Square last year when my feet were tired from mooching round the British Museum. Children were splashing in the fountain and I wondered if I could just pretend to be someone's granny. I didn't though.

We have a "water feature" in the centre of the town where I live. It's basically just water cascading down a series of steps that are aligned with a long row of steps that people walk up and down. As soon as it is switched on in the summer it is full of paddling children – some of whom have not bothered to remove shoes and socks.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

Hmm? Might rust my crutches.

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

Paddling is good.

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

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

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...