Real Adventures

I have been working with Dan Robinson and Real Adventure over the past four days in the Lake District. It was great fun to be back working with Dan and good to visit new places and work with old friends again.
I was working with 9 girls from Malvern College for four days . Together we Kayaked and Canoed on Ullswater, walked over Birkhouse Moor and gorge walked up Red Tarn Beck.

More Assessments

I was out with West Highland College again today, although we spent the entire day in canoes. Going through lots of different paddle strokes. The weather wasn't the warmest but everyone did well to keep going throughout the day.
A couple of them were doing there two star assessment's which ment they had to take a dip! It's fair to say I didn't envy them but they did pass their two star.



Day Off!

I have been busy with work recently but I managed to have a day off when the weather was actually really nice. So Anne and I had pleasant wee paddle on Loch Eil.

Anne on Loch Eil

Nevis Canoe Club

I was out with the Nevis Canoe Club to go over some two star paddle skills for an upcoming assessment. Everyone was familiarizing themselves with Canoes and we looked at steering the boat and did some solo paddling.

Andy looking out West along Loch Eil

Outward Bound

I have spent the last four days working for Outward Bound at their Loch Eil centre. Which is a organisation which has contributed to outdoor adventure education for over 60 years. While at the centre I was with a group of young people from Fettes College. It was an absolute pleasure to work with such a great group, who did themselves and their school proud. I had a great time kayaking, canoeing and on the last two days I headed out on expedition with them and played a rather infamous game of telepathy snatchy grabby.

Rowing to our destination

Heading into the wilderness

Performance Clinics

Was canoeing with the college today as part of the performance clinics the college are putting on for the students. We where with Matt who is a demon in a canoe and we where going over topics like forward paddling, indian strokes and other useful skills.
Then it was back to College unfortunetly.

2 Star Preparation

I  was out with the West Highland College today shadowing Mark McKerral who was preparing the first year students for their Star Awards.
Everyone started off solo paddling and looked at basic skills like forward paddling and turning. Then we went on to looking at tandem paddling and rescues.

Vertical Air

Nearing the end of my Work Experience and I have been with Vertical Air. Doing a variety of activities such as Rock Climbing at Twistleton, Canoeing and Kayaking at Devils Bridge, Caving at Longchurns and Ghyll Scrambling in Yorkshire. Last day tomorrow!

Coniston Water

After a scary day abseiling yesterday The Cheetah Girls, Nigel and I had a chilled day on Coniston. We started off in the kayaks playing some games and then headed over to hidden harbour for a spot of lunch. The Kayaks were then swapped for canoes which turned out to be a pointless exercise. Since more time was spent in the water than in the canoes but everyone was having a great time so I joined them when it came to jumping off the pier.

Castle Rock

It was rafting on Lake Windermere today but first the kids had to build the raft then learn how to control it. Once all the rafts where constructed we went for a wee journey around the islands then landed on one for a spot of lunch. We played a few games on the Island then headed back.

Me climbing the overused Ewe tree on North Wall Eliminate

After some grub Dan and I headed to Castle Rock and did North wall eliminate (E1 5b**), Gazebo(HVS 5a*), Overhanging Bastion (VS 5a***) and had an attempt at an E1 5c but it was denied.

Level 2 Training

Over the past four days we (Lochaber College) have been doing our Level 2 coach training for kayaking. It was a really good course and everyone came away knowing much more about kayaking and coaching.

Ben Nevis from Loch Eil

The weather was like this for five minutes over the four days we saw a lot of wind and rain

Kev gave us the TIP OF THE DAY

When righting a canoe don't use your face! This will break your nose!

3 Star Open Boat Assessment

Today was definitely not a day to be out on a river, I am still trying to warm my hands up.

For the assessment we had to be efficient with skills like poling, sailing and canoeing. I still don't know how I passed. Going over our paddle strokes

Callum with his characteristic smile

No Canoes!

Today I was at the bottom of the River Arkaig with the college. The aim was to practise more three star skills with the canoes for our assessment next Tuesday. It was fun to play around in some faster water.
Quote of the day came from Callum, 'It wasn't a capsize, it was a self rescue'.

Matt showing off his mad skills

Nice day to be out on the River

More 3 star practice

On Loch Eil again today but I was in a canoe this time. Stuart was going over more skills for our 3 star assessment. Everything went well until we started practising low braces. Coaching tip of the day 'If you try a low brace and end up in the water, you did it wrong'.

Cold crisp morning.

Me disturbing the water

No idea who that is or where that is

Technique?

John (Snowgoose Mountain Centre) was preparing Dougie for his level 2 assessment today, so I invited myself along for a day's paddling. John was showing us so many different paddle strokes that even the seals were popping up to have a look. That or they were laughing at my paddling technique. Weather coming in

Weather in
Weather away

It was great to be out on the open boats again, I can't remember the last time I was in one. Unfortunately its back to work again tonight.