Shatner went to space, Cameron went to the bottom of the sea, Forset ballooned around the world, Rogers rides the Roding. Epic and excellent. A change and interesting video.
Certainly was a great day out. The amount of rain doesn't actually show on camera, it never stopped. Look forward to the next adventure, maybe coracle from one end of The Thames to the other. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
You were fine bumping along down the river until you ran into a manmade obstacle. Well maybe that is a metaphor for our times. Despite the diversion from the usual, floating instead of walking, I really loved watching this journey. Much was learned! The journey down the river that you were able to make was amazing. Thanks so much!
I'm not sure whether you actually enjoyed that circular motion, John. I thought the paddle was there to check that motion. That's the first time I've seen a coracle with a hood (effectively a sail) on it. Bet you won't forget that in a hurry.
The coracle itself was made by man. Originally by men with very little in the way of boat building talent or brains. Unlike say, the Mayan dugout canoe, or practically any other contemporary ancient boat😂
Probably the most famous coracle is the one that used to be used at Shrewsbury Town FC when they used to play at a ground on the banks of the Severn and would sometimes need to retrieve balls that had gone over the top of the stand on that side.
Feeling a little guilt by association here having worked on the railways myself. Quite simply the bridge wouldn't have been there in the original age of coracles my Irish ancestors got about in. British weather has often affected the course of history though. You must do this again in similar weather to Ryan's attempt. Great unexpected viewing whilst relaxing with a glass of very strong home brewed cider on a Sunday evening 😁
I would imagine this is thoroughly wonderful on a warm, sunny day. Not that it wasn't something in the rain because it was. When I was about 13 my parents bought a small inflatable dinghy (barely more than you would use in a pool) and for that whole summer me, my siblings and a couple of friends took it to the pond in the little-used local park every single day. We would take turns, about 30 mins each, from about 10 in the morning until about 6pm, floating in the dinghy. The pond was unremarkable and tiny but in the boat, lying down and being so low to the water, all you could see was the reeds and the sky and to this day I remember those stints in the dinghy as some of the most strangely relaxing of my life. We all felt it, too, we were all equally addicted to something that, on paper, sounds utterly mundane and boring.
What a total delight. The walk is the walk. The float is the float. To misquote James Brown: It took you to the bridge. Bridges, as you know, have great mythological significance: symbolic of communication and union - how appropriate.
Oh man, that is the best video EVER. It had everything: humour, excitement, rain, plenty of nature, and, of course, a river! I could watch this over and over again (and have).
A drift. Wonderful. River deities, like all deities, are mischievous. You can't trust them any further than you can throw them. Very lucky they only jammed you under the North Circular
That was brilliant. As you alluded to, it's a metaphor for British life, i.e: launch into it with enthusiasm but end up hurting your head, use alcohol to sooth the pain, reach a crossroads that you can't get out of, then give up. 😀
It seems that the River Roding takes its name from the Essex settlements known as the Rodings (White Roding, Beauchamp Roding, Aythorpe Roding and the rest). They in turn take their name from being the settlements established by the Saxon Hroda (Hroda + ingas = Rodings via Roothings), who seems tro have been more of a person than a river god. The settlements were established after Hroda sailed up this very river - who knows, maybe by coracle?
Roding hasn't appeared in the Peter Grant books yet. I did once Tweet Ben Aaronovitch about Roding, mostly because there's a brief mention in Broken Homes of the boundary between East Ham and Barking, which is historically defined by the Roding, but that river wasn't mentioned. he replied to say that she will appear at some point.
That bridge is more of a metaphor for life than you may have realized. What may happenstance obstacle actually was a major blessing in disguise. If you wouldn't have been stopped by the bridge you would not have been able to come back even when the tide shifted because of the wind. The bridge bank actually provided a convenient way out of the craft as opposed to way down river in an inaccessible location, thick reeds, deep water, etc. Cool video! Thank you. Keep'em coming.
Oh John this is so funny , should be on Taskmaster programme, it really uplifted me after a serious illness, thank you , it could be a sequel to Jerome K Jerome Three men in a boat ! Three men and a Coracle ! Fantastic I hope you can revisit it on a better day , hope your headache cleared up ! Normal Service will be Resumed as soon as possible ! See you soon , love Simon Price 👍🌈💕☯️☮️
John,you must do that again - on a hot sunny summer day when it would feel dreamlike. It was July,it should have been hot and sunny with that heavy still deep summer air. I saw Sean's film first. There are definite comedic vibes in both versions. To be honest when watching Sean's film a certain well known saying wouldn't leave my mind - but you DID have a paddle!
I was drifting along with you appreciating your Zen experience, enhanced by the juxtaposition of a live railway corresponding with the natural beauty and rhythm of what we were experiencing with you and all of a sudden Boing ! Now this is a really Zen experience! Brilliant, Loved it :) Bless your heart John.
Shame you didnt get the full experience John but it was quintessentially British and pythonesque when got stuck😂 glad you made it back safe… the river roding knew you need to make more videos and gave you back to us
So used to seeing JR on land , this is probably one of the best episodes I've watched with you being out of your comfort zone made it also funny as well as your usual knowledgeable journeys , absolutely brilliant A+
What a wonderfully charming video this film is John. Your dive into the coracle was awesome ... too much adrenaline I think!! ... I'm sure the Lafroig took the edge off the pain though!! .. thank you John.
Perhaps the river's Gods were sympathetic to the rail workers and stopped you crossing the tracks? Quite right too. But what a beautiful thing, both the journey, the adventure, and the coracle. Thanks John.
This was a wonderful living history experience. I would love to try a coracle for the link to the ancient past, I hope you enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing.
Brilliant, everybody! As a North American, I marveled at this type of prehistoric boat, when we are so used to the long history of canoes. And how different to be totally passive, and yet still totally comfortable. John, you are indeed the best for this. Thanks to the whole team. What a metaphoric image of the adventure being quashed by the pilings of a railroad bridge.
Yes John...I know that feeling, the tide changes to the right direction, but the wind blows me back. Thoroughly entertaining video, and there was some really funny moments. If they're recasting 'Last of the Summer Wine' I reckon you should audition for all 3 leads 😉 There's no way the River Roding would reject you John...more like it wanted to keep you, and give you a big bridge hug 🤗
Brilliant John, thank you. Have you seen Paul Powlesland’s monochrome portrait currently in the Dear Earth exhibition at Hayward gallery. The picture along with 4 others is huge and made from grass. Amazing.
Really enjoyed that! Definitely Heart of Darkness but also reminded me of Iain Sinclair’s Swandown crossed with with his straw bear from Edge of the Orison/By Our Selves. Hastings to Hackney via coracle next! Lovely stuff 👍
you made my day John, torrential rain here in Thailand and with the rain where you are and my air/con on bringing the temperature down to 25 degrees ( that feels cold in my room ) .... I felt as if I was there with you all...I love all aspects of history, at junior school I was lucky to have a terrific history teacher...we had several lessons on the Coracle and river traveling.
That was a really different journey floating down the River Roding in a Coracle John and floating was the operative word until you conldn't go any further at the bridge.It seemed a very relaxing mode of travel with some Laphroag to help you on your way.Really good video and very interesting it was too!!!
Hi John, just watched your latest video with a nice cup of coffee on this rainy Monday and loved it. I recently reread Three Men in a Boat and this could have been a chapter from that book. Your videos really inspire me and its comforting to know there are people out there such as yourself doing this kind of thing. You made my day. Thanks.
Well this was certainly different. I did laugh at your graceful boarding of the coracle . I feel the riding wouldn’t accept you as an offering and let the return to make more great videos for us all. Great to see Sean with you .
The Coracle Debacle Just needed Kotting in full Wicker/ Scarecrow garb, pushing you off with 'the stick'... Gently funny endearing stuff... keep up the good works/walks, where ever they may be.
Well done John! I for one would have found that a challenge..! The coracle's a lot more use with the lid off. Not exactly a single skiff, but at least navigable. It would've been more appropriate if you'd had half a pint of Navy rum and some hard biscuits with weevils in. Yo ho ho! ⭐👍
Thanks for this, I've now subscribed to Sean's allotment channel, which certainly inspires me with mine 😊 This is such a lovely relaxing journey ❤ Until wind before tide mucked it up!
I wish there was video of you jumping into the coracle. That would've been a sight. You're a trusting soul. That could have been the last we've seen of you. Great video.
Coracle time travel, such a delightful musing. And, its interesting how that concrete bridge, as an image of the built world, caused so many obstacles. At least the river tide finally turned but then there's the wind to deal with... so provocative, and like a coracle (sounds like oracle) shamanic journey too. I'm reminded of a Fritz Perls' quote "Don't push the river, it flows by itself." Anyway, so timeless in places, and also funny in places - great video. 😊
Re living in the stone age. Back in the mid 1970s a BBC producer had the idea of building an "iron age village " ( like Butser) in a secret location. It was in woodland on a private estate in Dorset. A team of volunteers were assembled and they lived in this settlement as Iron Age people for a year. It put at least two of tge marriages under strain and took one or two of the volunteers to the edge of a nervous breakdown. This was pre all the capacity we have to film now so in between the camera crews once a month visits these people lived in a very close abd isolated way. Unlike today this was not "scripted reality",the viewers didn't get to vote one off each time. The volunters actually took it seriously and didnt cheat. It did give genuine insights into how life would have been like,thr farming etc but it also and unintendedly showed aspects of how human societies act in small isolated groups. How ,without an outside Other to focus (hate) on,one member if the group gets identified as "not like us". This was the most painful part to view. And these people were super intelligent,they were top uni graduates,medical students. I think a couple of them are now top doctors. Of course like i say,if they did that now theyd make it really stupid with the girls in Raquel Welch bikinis and viewer voting.
