Was a really bright, but chilly day. Walked up something between Ambleside and Kirkstone - but can't remember what! Good views across to the Langdales though : )
Good of them to let me out for the day...
Thursday 15th March - Pay day and shiny new toys : )
No paddling for almost a fortnight and no rain forecast so not surprising that I'm feeling twitchy.
Almost making up for that however, I had to pass Lancaster on my way home from a few days of chaos (work) and my new boat was lying in wait for me at UK Canoes....
A quick call and Lol agreed to keep the shop open for me as I was going to be 15 minutes late in arriving. Fool - the M6 is vicious at best whenever you need some speed and so it was that I arrived a tad (!!) later than promised at the Lansil Estate. Then announced that I'd also need to borrow straps to keep my new baby safe on the journey north - Doh!
No problemo for our man Lol; a much appreciated coffee and squint around the new extension to the shop - it's gonna be huge - later and we unwrap my baby blue beauty from the protective wrapping that Dagger send their boats out in. Lol wasn't going to part with what is in effect a giant plastic Jiffy bag - pity as it would have made a great combination sleeping mat/bag; but I digress...
Sweet as a sugar coated sweet thing dripping in honey.
Once home there were further surprses in store; Andrew's new Palm RT BA, my Summer ML registration and log book and confirmation of £300 sponsorship toward my training week in September from St Martin's College were all waiting for me!
If working away from home always had this kind of result, I'd do it more often... And just to rub it right in, today I confirmed my trip to the US in May - work, but a with a few days leave while I'm out there. Given the strength of the Pound against the Dollar, I reckon a hefty dose of retail therapy is on the cards; must start checking US outfitters and ordering Gucci-kit to bring home...
Looking forward to our trip in May, I spent a quiet hour tonight playing with video and stills from last Easters short stop-over in France; Andrew's surprise 14th birthday paddle on the Middle Guil; watch it here...
Looks like snow tomorrow so maybe it's going to be a "fit out the new boat then off to the pub and watch the Six Nations" kinda day. Maybe the world isn't such a grim place after all.
3rd / 4th March - Welshness with the Birmingham Canoe Club
Sleeping sickness hits the Tryweryn.... well, it did in my case! Heading on to Corwen from a meeting in Widnes, we arrived at the Goat Inn around 4 o'clock; settled into the room and I went straight to bed! Well, one of those weeks, not helped by my right thigh doing little but complain about the bruising it had suffered over a week ago....
Friday evening was all good with the usual suspects - John & Bec, Dave & Sarah arriving for dinner, followed by Paul & Becca in time for a beer or three (except John who had his rations the previous evening apparently!). A quiet night, early breakfast, river smarties (Co-codamol!) and off to meet the rest at the mighty T....
Friday evening was all good with the usual suspects - John & Bec, Dave & Sarah arriving for dinner, followed by Paul & Becca in time for a beer or three (except John who had his rations the previous evening apparently!). A quiet night, early breakfast, river smarties (Co-codamol!) and off to meet the rest at the mighty T....
Bright sunshine and 9 cumecs promised good times were to be had; my day came to an early close when I ran back to bed early afternoon for more sleep, but it seemed like everyone else was buzzing. Andrew certainly was when he arrived back at the Goat and started melting his hair wax ready for the evenings merriment... Much rain and a lunar eclipse failed to interfere with the drinking and bull****ing that went on into the wee small hours; peeps finally retiring sometime around silly o'clock.
Sunday dawned dull and windy, but at least I'd caught up on my kip! Folk were jumping on the river at all kinds of places, some above the chipper, some at the raft put-in while yet others went onto the lower. Eventually those on the upper river caught each other up and a great morning was had with coaches working overtime and all having a top time. I paddled mostly with Sarah in her relatively new Burn; she worked hard and had worked out a lot of the ways of the new boat by the time Andrew and I had to say our goodbyes and head back to the Lakes. A long and sleepy eyed drive saw us home just after 7, none the worse but with another top weekend under our belts.
Andrew hitting the skiramp halfway eddy hard
Shredding the NRA
Andy got butt heavy on the NRA....
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/heybaz/?action=view¤t=AndyNRA2.flv
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/heybaz/?action=view¤t=AndyNRA2.flv
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