With the knowledge that I’m now on my way towards some kind of leadership or coaching qualification, I became acutely aware that I can’t roll a kayak. Wouldn’t know where to start. But actually, this came about because I was looking at doing my PRS training, which was still called FSRT when I started looking … More A roll-practice pool session
I spent nine or so days driving around Iceland’s Ring Road last summer. I’ve spent a lot of time in Iceland and covered most of it but I’ve never done a circuit of the Ring Road before. I didn’t plan to do it that time either. I planned to drive up to Akureyri and the … More Kayaking on Jökulsárlón
Last summer I had a paddling overnight adventure. I’d not forgotten the beautiful night nav by sea kayak in October 2021 but the company hadn’t run that again. They did, however, have a slightly bigger adventure available and I thought I might do that. We’d have a night paddle by kayak, bivvy in the woods … More An overnight paddle adventure
It only seemed five minutes since I was looking at the three levels of Sea Kayak Awards and deciding that was way beyond me when I found myself down at Studland on a miserable grey April day. Apparently I was going to spend two days doing my Sea Kayak Award. Why did I do this? … More Sea Kayak Award training
I didn’t plan to buy a paddleboard. I’m a kayaker, not a SUPper, although I have been known to go out on a SUP or canoe for a bit of variety. I like a Sunday morning canoe paddle followed by an ice cream and there’s something about the simplicity of SUP that I find pleasing … More I bought a paddleboard
Well, we’ve come to the end of the 2024 season, my second season, at our Girlguiding boathouse and so it’s time to reflect on the last few months. First of all, this so-called summer has done its level best to sabotage us! We had 19 dates in the calendar, seven boat club sessions and twelve … More 2024 season at the boathouse
And so, at the end of the last week of the 2024 season at the boathouse, I finally reach my first season, 2023, on the blog! My first proper visit was in mid-April when a couple of us went to clear up after the long winter, check on the boats and their airbags and generally … More 2023 season at the boathouse
With sticking last week’s escapade in the blog schedule and booting this a week, it does feel a little odd, because immediately after capsizing, we come to my very first capsize on the sea! This is My Paddling Story clashing big time with Paddling In Real Time. It’s July 2022 and I’m in a long … More My first capsize on the sea
Well, this one wasn’t in my blog schedule but here it is nonetheless! We recently had a group of Guides at the boathouse, eight girls and three leaders, including the region chief commissioner (in her role as leader of said Guides; it wasn’t a region event) and long story short, I capsized. It was a … More Seven things I learned capsizing at the boathouse
Part of the reason I started paddling – well, part of the reason I started looking into qualifications in paddling – was so that I could go to Studland in the summer, hire a kayak and feel confident that I knew what I was doing. I’ve done that a few times and they don’t generally … More A hard paddle and a seaside sauna
Bumblebee Paddles 