Friday 14 May 2010

Too busy paddling, no time for blogging

Yes!  I am still alive and still paddling!

You can tell that the 'summer' has begun because paddling is taking over my life.  On Tuesday I help coach the juniors or go on an OSKA paddle, on Wednesday we coach our adult group, on Thursday it's KKC paddle night, Friday is canoe polo, Saturday is adhoc paddling and Sunday is OSKA paddling day.  So only really Monday off then.  Because I'm so busy paddling I've not got much time to write about paddling but I'll try and write more when I can.

In the meantime, enjoy paddling!

Sunday 2 May 2010

First (official) trip

Thursday was the first official Thursday evening paddle for Kirkwall Kayak Club.  A few of us met at the carpark where it was decided we’d go down to the second barrier.IMGP1405 Peter sets off

First of all, we pootled around the blockships, the low water allowing us to get right inside some parts.IMGP1408 Around the blockship mast

The blockships were sunk in the narrow entrances to Scapa Flow before the Churchill Barriers were built.  The barriers are solid causeways that completely hinder access to the flow through the eastern entrances.IMGP1413 Rockhopping

Further up the coast we engaged in a spot of rock hopping, again making use of the low tide.

After a while we headed back to the blockship, where Peter was determined to land at the mast and claim it as his own.IMGP1424 Peter and Neil claim the blockship as their own

The evening ended with a lovely sunset before we made our way back to the cars with a quick roll to finish off.

IMGP1415 Fine sunset over the barrier