The Knockando Knackerer!

Discussing transport

Getting coach tips

 

Walkies

It's been a couple of years since we had been to the SCA CVC up at Glenmore, so when the choices came in I quite fancied some of the open canoeing on offer. Hubby dear had offered to help with the sea kayaking and ended up running the 3* training and assessment for the weekend.

Well laden down, we set off on the Friday evening for Glenmore. As soon as we arrived, we bumped into Marion and made arrangements to meet in the bar, a good weekend seemed to be developing! Next, a big cuddle from Wullie, that was for me, not Hubby dear!

We got sorted out with our room, then headed for dinner - yum! After that, it was straight into the first workshop I had booked, Coaching the Mind, before retiring to the bar. One of the good parts of the conference is the socialising, meeting up with old friends and making plenty new ones. Eventually it was time to call it a night.

Walkies again!

Early next morning, it seemed a mad dash getting everything I thought was ready, actually properly ready. Hubby dear and I seem to have our own routine for getting things ready when paddling together, but this weekend we were doing our own thing, which resulted in me faffing lots!
After the SCA meeting, it was time to head out, everyone, all at once! I was heading out for a day of Open canoe skills for women being run by Caroline 50 Shades of Paddling Carr. After much loading and jiggling of boats, kit and vans we made our way up to Knockando. We spent a great day working on different techniques to help with our paddling in unbelievably gusty wind, making trimming and ferry gliding interesting at times! Fab photographer, Fiona Ainslie was there, snapping away making even me look as good as I'm likely to get!

Our gusty conditions

3* WW arrives

Ladies who lunch together, paddle together!

At the end of our session, the canoeing finished, now the hard work was about to start! Lugging open boats up the steep steps at Knockando. Up and down several times humphing boats is a real leg killer! The next thing to think about was we were going to be late for Glenmore's famous afternoon cake and tea - oh no!

A busy duck pond

Didn't realise you could tandem a SUP!

Still upright - just!

 We didn't arrive back to the lodge until 6pm. Ages ago when filling out my choices for the workshops, I thought the SUP on Saturday evening would be fun! Exhausted from a tiring day, late back, no cake, this choice didn't seem so much fun now. I decided as soon as I got out of the van, I would head straight over to the duck pond. If I went back to my room, I'd never emerge again!
The pond was already busy with paddlers looking like they knew what they were doing! Keith explained about the board, suggested lying on it until I got the feel, so off I went. I have to say, the thought of falling into this duck pond water didn't exactly fill me with joy. Fiona was there again, lots more photos being taken! It wasn't too long before I decided to try standing, I even managed paddling, then turning, wow, I'm impressed I'm still standing! Then someone spoke to me, breaking my concentration and making me multi-task! Paddling and talking at the same time I'm a natural at, add in standing, it was all too much for me, in I went, sploosh! By now it was getting near dinnertime, so we finished for the night. It was great fun, possibly if I had longer to practise, I'd get better, possibly not though! I don't think with any amount of practise would I ever be ready for the Tay descent on a SUP!
Heading back to my room for a well deserved (and needed) hot shower, I was delighted to see that Hubby dear had kept me a piece of cake from earlier :) Yum, yum!
After dinner, I crawled up the stairs to the bar. Stories of the day were exchanged. A slightly earlier night to bed was needed!
Next morning, dragging myself out of bed, legs struggling after the Knockando steps, we headed back along for more food!

A busy put in

Heading down the Spey

Another clutter of canoes

 More open canoeing today, this time leadership skills. We all met up in the carpark, sorted out more boats, kit and vans and found out the venue for today. You can imagine my excitement when I found out our get out was to be Knockando again. Had no-one considered my knackered knees?

Off we set to the Spey, where we split into 2 groups. The wind was still a bit blowey! I guess at least it was blowing us downstream! Myles, who was taking our group, gave us lots of hints and tips for leading on the river. Unfortunately, no matter how many river trips I've done, I'm first to admit I'm still not the best at reading rivers! So when it was my turn to lead I was slightly bothered when my fellow paddlers announced we were approaching the Washing Machine! I wasn't sure what to expect, but after places named like Hellhole corner (the Tay) or the Graveyard!(the Awe) I knew it would be bumpy. I always get the feeling these bumpy bits are named after some paddlers have sat round a campfire, cracking open a beer or five or in this case a nice wee whisky! Maybe I'm getting used to bumpy water, but it ended up just being a nice wavetrain.

Andrew

Phil

Absolutely beautiful boat

                      Myles showing us how it's done

 It wasn't too long before we were back down to Knockando - and those steps!

We were late getting back to the lodge again, missing tea and cake again. I was really hoping Hubby dear had kept a bit of cake again, I was starving!

Arriving back, most folks had already left for home being as it was 6pm again. I was once again delighted to see my bit of cake sitting there waiting for me. Yum, yum, yum!

I was glad to hear that although the conditions were interestingly blowey all the 3* sea kayakers passed their assessments, well done.

A really fantastic weekends paddling, with really fantastic food and really fantastic company!

A huge thanks to Fiona for allowing me to use her photos and for having a good giggle with me to boot!

Just add water

Last weekend, Hubby dear and I spent our time at the Club Coaches weekend up at Glenmore Lodge. Arriving on the Friday evening, we quickly dumped our bags and headed straight for the bar where we bumped into a couple of guys I did my level 1 with last June. It was great seeing them again and catching up with all their adventures. After a rather delicious dinner (the food is rather excellent at Glenmore), we had a good natter with Wullie, the poor long suffering coach who assisted with the level 1. I wasn't sure he would remember who I was, but I think the nightmare of me and open boats will probably stick with him for a long time yet.
Next morning was spent getting various SCA updates, then more food. The afternoon saw me at the "coaching young paddlers" module. It was great to hear other coaches stories about the joys young paddlers can bring to us, such as not wanting to put kit away, disappearing before kit is put away, preferring to splash and soak anyone in the near vicinity. It made me realise that our club is pretty much like any other club. Wullie (yes, he had to put up with me for another afternoon) summed it up by saying it can be like herding kittens, so true.
The evening was sponsored by Balvenie whisky and saw us having a wee whisky or three with our tea. We were then surprisingly upstairs in the bar where there was "A question of paddlesport" quiz organised. Quite how Giles figured out the marking, I'll never know. One question right, 1 point. Any more right, have a few extra points, seemed to work.
Next morning was when we should be getting wet. Our course was "Intro to surfing". Our problem was beautiful, sunny weather and no waves! Our group headed upstairs to go over how to predict when the surf will be there with weather and surf reports, surfing etiquette and watched some surfing videos of how surfing should be done. We then all traipsed outside to go over different styles of surf boats. Marty then arrived with 6' garden canes. He explained they were used to mark out the beach to show where the surf area is and where the paddling out area is. So far so good. Next he took two canes with rubber bands at each end and stepped into them - a boat. He then stood at the top of a grassy slope (this was the wave) and started running up and down explaining which edge to use and how to get back on the wave. Looked absolutely hilarious but was extremely effective at showing how to use your body to move the boat. It was then our turn. We donned our "boats" and took turns at "surfing" much to the delight of the group who were stuck in a classroom all day "coaching the mind" who had now come out on their balcony to watch. Marty then brought out an inner tube, put his boat on it and showed us the effects of edging and good posture. Another very effective teaching aid. Hubby dear did suggest I get one for coaching. I did say I already had a spare tyre, but it wasn't quite the right one, although after all Glenmore's yummy food, my spare tyre might be just as effective.


Getting our instructions



Now our turn

With real paddles!

                                     
We then took the boats down to a lovely, calm Loch Morlich with not a single wave in sight where we had a go at paddling the surf boats, rolling them, then doing rescues and generally playing. So when I say, just add water, we did have water, just not the right type.

On Loch Morlich

                                                                              
Hats off to John, Fiona, Marty and Matt for giving us such a great days flat surfing. Hopefully we'll see you in a couple of weeks at Sandend and hopefully there might even be some waves.