This one feels weird because I’ve tagged as #girlguidingpaddles even though there was no paddling. But it was a boathouse event and the boathouse is definitely #girlguidingpaddles. We do these on-shore evenings every year as part of our fundraising and awareness, Guides one year, Brownies the next. In my first year at the boathouse, we … More On-shore evening at the boathouse with Guides
Bumblebee Paddles was meant to be about paddling but it’s also going to have to be about Bumblebee – this particular identity, this blog, it’s about me as a Girlguiding volunteer. It’s about my kayaking journey, sure, but it’s also about the boathouse and the girls and what we do there – as volunteers. It’s … More A few thoughts on National Volunteers Week
I’m almost surprised I haven’t done this yet. Get to know our boathouse! I talk a lot about the boathouse because a huge part of my paddling life – or least the paddling life as documented on this blog – takes place there. So I thought it was about time I showed you around the … More A tour of the boathouse
Summer is approaching, I’m at the boathouse right as this post goes live and summer holidayers are starting to look speculatively at the water. Paddling is a joy but how do you get started? Go on a guided tour with a professional The absolute best way to get started on the water is to go … More How do I get started in paddling?
Since the season is about to start again, I thought I’d do a reintroduction! Hello, I’m Julie but my Brownies call me Bumblebee. I’m a Brownie and Ranger leader (and sometimes Guide leader but not currently) coming up on my 18th anniversary but for the purposes of this blog, we’ll focus on a different Girlguiding … More Hi, I’m Bumblebee: a reintroduction for 2025
Well, it’s actually been nearly 11 years since my first trip out in a double sit-on-top where I capsized six times in ten minutes and not quite 8 years since the second attempt and well under 6 since I started paddling semi-irregularly but I’m going to average all that out and call it ten years. … More 10 things I’ve learned in 10 years of paddling
When I started this blog, I started an Instagram account alongside it and so I curated a whole list of paddlesport or paddlesport-adjacent accounts to follow. There’s a whole blog post in how difficult it is to find kayakers to follow who aren’t into whitewater, as I’m not, but that’s not my point. SUP accounts … More You don’t have to be competitive
I haven’t got a clue what order these are supposed to go in. It would make sense to do them in the order they went on the towel but apparently they were on swimming costumes before they went on the towel, which means they’ve got out of order. Ok, let’s start with something easy – … More Let’s look at my swimming badges
Walking and swimming are, generally, my exercise of choice. Paddlesport in the summer, but that’s for fun, not for exercise. And since it’s still the middle of winter, although you wouldn’t guess that by the blue sky and sunshine outside right now, let’s go paddlesport adjacent and I’ll tell you about my swimming routine. It’s … More I like swimming
This is a sewing post! I suppose technically this counts as MYOG – make your own gear – but it’s not technical or kayaking gear or anything like that. It’s a suit of clothing to put on after kayaking and it’s possibly the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever made. I do occasionally make things. They’re … More My post-kayaking suit
Bumblebee Paddles 