2020 – the year of COVID-19
Please can we pass on this year and skip to the next as soon as possible?
Arisaig 3rd September
A day out with Arisaig Sea Kayaking. Pity the weather was a bit dull, but that was the recurring weather theme for the whole week. We saw quite a few seals close up but the highlight was a mother otter fishing with her two cubs. They were totally oblivious of us and we were able […]
Anglesey 19th & 20th August
Some CPD with Sea Kayaking Wales (part 1) Menai Straits It was a windy week; a windy day; the only shelter was in the Menai Straits. So we set off Menai Bridge, paddling down the Straits, under the two bridges, paddling against the last of the Flood Tide. A bit of ferry gliding and tough […]
HAFWAY DofE Gold Qualifying Expedition 19th – 24th July
What a wonderful expedition. On the practice expedition, the young people eventually realized that they were capable of far more than they’d originally thought. Well by the time they’d finished the qualifier, that fact had really sunk in and these young people were absolutely amazed at their accomplishment. They experienced much from easy, flat conditions […]
Coniston 7th July
There and back again… A serene paddle on Coniston Water with my favourite paddling partner. From Monk Coniston down to Allan Tarn and back again with an obligatory stop at The Blue Bird Cafe for an ice cream. The weather couldn’t have been better (notice the thin layers).
HAFWAY DofE Gold Practice Expedition 28th June – 1st July
Cholmondeley Castle Tri 21st June
Another highly enjoyable event; my favourite in the Swim Safety calendar. The grounds of Cholmondeley Castle are very beautiful, there’s plenty of wildlife, and the campsite is at the side of the lake. Camping and kayaking – brilliant. The weather was brilliant and we even had a fly-past from the Red Arrows.
HAFWAY canoe training 16th June
Putting the final steps of training before the practice expedition.
Great North SwimRun 2nd June 2019
My first workings with Swim Safety for this year (excluding the pre-season training) was on two swims; Lake Windermere and Rydal Water. Swim Safety (https://swim-safety.co.uk/) are contracted by Great Swim to provide water based safety for the Great North Swim and SwimRun (https://www.swimming.org/calendar/all/great-north-swim-2019/). An early start to be ready for 7:30am and then following the […]
Windermere Adventure 1st June
This was meant to be an evening’s paddle on Ullswater the previous day. Unfortunately we weren’t blessed by the weather gods in the Patterdale valley… it was “blowing a hooley”. As we were all staying in the Lakes overnight we decided to postpone till the morning… the picnic would keep. Launching at White Cross Bay, […]