The final Thames session of the season was seen out in fine style by Nick, Chris, Dan J and Fiona who paddled sea kayaks upstream on a beautifully calm and still night. The favourable conditions meant that progress was swift, enabling us to get as far as Fulham FC before turning back for home.

We stopped off for a quick pint (and some remarkabkly fine chips) at the Rutland Arms after Dan (the smooth-talking lawyer) managed to get permission for us to land on Furnivall Sculling Club's private beach. We marvelled at how smart and well-ordered their clubhouse was and promised to apply the same rigorous OCD-esque principles to our own club shed (note date for your diaries: 25 October for shed tidying and boat maintenance!).

Bright moonlight illuminated our return paddle on a gently turning tide. Despite fairly good visibility we opted to wear head-torches as there were still a considerable number of scullers about who, rather confusingly, had white lights on both the bows and sterns of their boats making it quite difficult to identify the approaching hazard!

Nick set a cracking pace for the final 1000m and is now aiming for London 2012 as his Olympic debut. Move over Tim Brabants!