How to destress my way!

Well, I have to say, it's absolutely ages since I have visited my blog! There have been various reasons for this, mainly, since retiring I have very little time to myself now!
The last few months have been a bit stressfull. Amongst other things we were wanting to do some alterations on our house, so set about getting an architect, well one that would actually do the work! Easier said than done. The plans were eventually drawn up and put in to the council, planning permission wasn't too bad to get, however getting a building warrant was a different ball game. Change of architect (the one that actually wanted the work!) eventually the warrant came through.
To keep sane during all this time, we found that locking the door, packing the car and going off paddling was the best destress we could get and as we seemed to have had more than our fair share of hassle, we have managed to probably have more than our fair share of paddling!
Since Orkney, I've managed to fit in my 4* OC training, not sure I'll ever be up to scratch for the assessment!

OC rescue practise

Next was a special paddle. I took the Kayakey Kid for his first sea "trip" in his own boat. He was delighted to be visited by a seal. 

A very happy Kayakey Kid

We've had a wonderful weekend paddling from Easdale, battling the currents, through the Corryvreckan, battling the wind, through the Cuan sounds, generally a bumpy, refreshing, but great time weekend!

The bridge over the Atlantic

It was an exhausting trip!

A weekend up on Skye doing rescue scenarios ended up with me only having half a set of spare splits - not happy! Tried to contact Celtic paddles to see if I could buy a replacement half, didn't even get a reply!

Me 'n' He having fun

Then there was the Scottish open canoe symposium up at Glenmore - more paddling up at Knockando, great weekend!

More OC rescues

More fun

Next we were up at Ratagan with the Lothian club, out round by Plockton, then a play down at Kylerhea. Another excellent weekend!

After the, we needed a wee warm up off in Florida. We did manage out in the Everglades for some paddling, however, there had been a lot of rain just before we arrived, as a result there were masses of hungry mozzies. We also managed to get a bit of diving down on the Keys with Turtles, Nurse shark, Barracuda, lots more. Fantastic holiday.

A couple of our paddling companions

Coming back from the lovely heat of Florida, we went straight up to be final sweepers for the Tay Descent. I have decided this is about the most soul destroying job of the Descent. We left after everyone, including the racers. We paddle the full course of 23 miles to make sure no one has been left behind or injured and never saw any other paddlers at all.

Glad to have finished!

It didn't seem long before we were now into the New Year which of course meant our New Year's day paddle. It was certainly breezy enough to blow away even the most stubborn of cobwebs, but good to be out again.

Our New Year's day jaunt

Out again on the 2nd, Inchcolm this time.

Still January, up at St Andrews this time where I managed to have a battle with a barnacle covered rock, the rock won!

February was pretty much taken up with our son's wedding, there are certain times even we don't go paddling!

Not a drysuit in sight! With No.3 Grandchild

In March we had a beautiful days paddling on Loch Lomond, stopped for lunch on Inchconnachan, spotted a Wallaby, then on to Luss for what else, but icecream!

Loch Lomond Wallaby

The following weekend was a SSKEG trip up on the Moray coast with Zoe. Big and bumpy conditions meant we couldn't get close in to the shoreline. Day 2 saw us having a great time with a surf session.

Into April with another SSKEG trip, our one this time, out to the May Isle, unfortunately a bit too early for the Puffins to have landed.

Rounding the May

Next weekend we had fun under the Forth Bridge playing in the faster flows with "An introduction to moving water" session.

Even more rescue practise!

The following weekend, we were back up at Ratagan, seeing the Leopard man's bothy, then stopping at Eilean Donan for icecream, where they thoughtfully put up a "wet floor" sign behind us!

Inside the Leopard man's bothy

Eilean Donan for ice cream

Still in April, we were up at Glenmore again for the CVC, this time I took up my river kayak and ended up on the middle Findhorn, then had a fabulous surf session the next day up at Sandend.

Time to warm up again, so off to Tenerife, no paddling, but we did get out diving, lots of Turtles and rays.

Me 'n' he again 

Going up!

So as you can see, we've had an extremely stressful few months! However, now that the building warrant has come through, the real stress begins! House has to be cleared again, quite how we have managed to fill it with so much junk already, I'll never know - we're never at home! At the end of May, the builders were starting. First off, walls were getting knocked down, so what did we do? We went paddling! This time to the Jersey seakayak symposium!

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!