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!
Friday, 14 May 2010
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.
First of all, we pootled around the blockships, the low water allowing us to get right inside some parts.
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.
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.
The evening ended with a lovely sunset before we made our way back to the cars with a quick roll to finish off.
Saturday, 17 April 2010
4* Frolics
A couple of weeks ago I travelled to Skye to undertake 4* training with Gordon Brown. The weather when i arrived in Skye was perfect, pity about the low pressure than came in over night……
The first day of training was spent indoors doing tidal planning and navigation work while the wind howled and the rain poured. On arrival back at the tent, it was at an ‘interesting’ angle so I retreated to a warm and dry B and B.
The second day of training was spent at Armadale where we did blind leading around the skerries and played in and around some interesting gaps and rocks.
The next day we visited Kylerhea where the tide was still noticeable despite it being neap tides. We did loads of wet work trying to stand up in our boats and getting out in very awkward places.
Thursday and Friday were 4* assessment, I chickened out of doing my assessment but decided to guinea pig while I had the chance. I enjoyed playing the unconscious casualty!
After all that excitement, I went back to my parents house (via B and Q). The weekend weather was great again and I spent Sunday helping my friend with an open boat session in Inverness.
Back home, Tuesday night was an induction evening for club trips. Despite the calm conditions, unfortunately several of us inadvertently capsized and had to be rescued.
Saturday, 27 March 2010
The view from above
This afternoon was not an afternoon for paddling, instead I went to Mull Head in Deerness for a walk. The path around the top of the cliffs follows a well kent kayak route but everything looks different from above. 
The path first makes its way to above the Gloup where there is a viewing bridge allowing you to look down over the waterfall. From above it looks vast and impressive. 
Next passed is the Brough of Deerness. This was once an important early medieval settlement and is covered by the foundations of houses and workshops. The church was excavated a while ago and this has been restored partially. To reach the brough, there is a steep path from the mainland down to the sea and up the other side. Earlier in the year some friends of mine worked on the most recent excavations here, carrying tools and equipment up and down wasn’t fun and I only had to do it twice! I didn’t visit the brough today but instead looked wistfully at the seas beyond.
From the top of the cliff, I got a better view of some of the local residents.
I carried on my walk and soon rounded Mull Head itself. After a few hundred metres further, I found myself looking down into a familiar lunch spot. The tide was clearly out today and the tunnel access to the beach was high and dry.
I could have carried on my walk to the Covenanters Memorial but instead took the shorter route back towards the car. I’ll save a trip to the memorial for another day.
I did see anyone apart from a farmer in his tractor during my walk but I did happen across a pair of ‘paddlers’……
Monday, 22 March 2010
The Lonely Lomo Boot
For some time I have had only one Lomo boot which really wasn’t very useful. I searched high and low but its friend was never discovered and I had given up all hope of finding it again. Eventually I gave in and bought a new pair. However after our paddle yesterday, a lomo boot was spotted inside a lobster pot by the side of the road. It was the missing boot! Discovered at least 7 months since it was lost! The boots are now reunited and very happy they are too.
Yesterday we paddled around Deerness in the east mainland from the fantastic slip at Newark to the beach at Halley. Although on Friday we had a huge westerly storm, there was still a bit of sea on the east side. Rather than a slow easy swell, there was a fair amount of clapotis around coming off the cliffs. I did a little bit of rock hopping, getting right into the soup on one occasion (brace, brace, brace……). We carried on up the coast and made our way to The Gloup.
We then carried on northwards towards Mull Head, pausing beneath the Brough of Deerness for a quick snack. Once we rounded Mull Head the swell and clapotis lessened considerably.
We rounded the head and then made our way to a beach in one of the geos reached by a tunnel. Often the end of this is difficult to get through but the high tide made it easy for us to pass all the way through. 
After a warming cup of tea, we had a good run back to Halley where we spotted the famous missing boot.
Last night was another sea boat session in the pool. I was rolling OK but I still don’t feel bombproof. I suppose all I can do is keep practicing……
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