O’ch, ye’ll be awrite!
August 31, 2008 on 3:15 pm | In Sea Kayaking |
‘Gees, man…just don’t show your chattering teeth’…was all that was really going through my mind in an attempt to look like I’m fairly at ease with the thought of Kayaking for the first time in my own single kayak. That however, wasn’t so much of the issue. More like the looming surety that my fellow work colleagues (who are all either Kayak Instructors, enthusiasts and pedantic paddlers) would tire of my lame ability to keep up with the team. It’s an issue for me doing any water sports, probably because I cannot swim and have a real fear of deep water and drowning. Pretty lame for a 25 year old that works for an outdoor company. My worries drifted however, almost as sweetly as the Easky took to the water in Lamlash Bay. Before I knew it, I was picking up the manoeuvring techniques (with some tips from the guys) and realised that it was pretty easy to change directions, control the boat particularly on such a tranquil sea! The prior niggle of me having to play catch-up all the way wasn’t such an issue after all. With this thought in mind, I really noticed how everything at sea is illuminated, sounds and textures more prominent. Your eyes awaken to the wildlife, you ‘zone out’ to the distant sound of birds, waves and wind. Not as rigorous as you may think this Kayaking business. Not when you are out in a group. The social aspect kicks in, everyone goes out of crunch mode and into a more laid back, ‘all the time in the world’ persona, which is really what I dig from coastal tours. Cruising along whilst nattering away to your friends can produce some of the most interesting but equally pointless conversations. You can also have jellyfish counting competitions, if you run out of stuff to say. The only moment of regret I would say was when my ever-growing puddle on my spray skirt finally burst through the fabric. Silly me, for thinking my non-waterproofs would handle the outing. My strokes were a bit high so I guess I was asking for it, the water dripping from my paddle each time onto my lap. Not so bad though, when we reached our destination (Bar Eden in Whiting Bay), the fillet steak arrived on the table in no time. The sun was going down, the muscles were ready for a good sleep. The sogginess was somehow all worth it in the end.
Suzanne Sell
http://www.arranadventure.com
Working for the Arran Adventure Company. Sea kayaking sorts me out! There are some fantastic coastal locations to explore around the Isle of Arran and it has become so popular that there is a thriving new club that meets on a weekly basis.
