Blue Skies

photo - Johnny

Weather is returning to normal here - wet and windy.

Nice to look back at clear skies.

Magic Paddle

I forgot to take a few things including my camera to the pool last night, luckily right before I jumped in I realised I'd forgotten my deck, stayed dry and went home to get it. While at home I also picked up my 'magic paddle' and arrived back at the pool still without camera.

I acquired the magic paddle from a highly repected fellow paddler, coach and experienced friend who passed on its 'magic' to me. I took it to the pool as a kind of teaching aid. There are rules to its use though, the main one being use it where you won't accidentally strike the bottom of the pool with it.

The magic allows the paddler that extra few degrees of headspace under water to consider what is actually happening in the roll. I find that using the combination of mask, magic paddle and warm water I prefer to be upside down, or somewhere in between. I know this is not 'realistic', but it is enjoyable and it has helped me understand and learn kinaesthetically. It also works in the sea!

It's a wing of course!

The Snow and the Flame

On Sunday 10th January we set off from St. Margaret's Hope in South Ronaldsay. After a perilous scramble over an icy old pier, I managed, with much help, to assemble all the essentials.

Unfortunately unlike Johnny I was without sunglasses. The clear skies meant, as we headed south west, we were looking into the low sun most of the way out.

Aided by the easterly wind we made light work of going south.

Mary(aka NK) and Johnny.

Johnny and Kristian.

It was all happening down in The Hope. First the lifeboat appeared and raced towards Flotta. A helicopter simultaneously passed overhead.

Johnny watches the lifeboat.

Mary and the Pentalina.

Then the Pentalina raced past with a promising looking wave building up behind her two hulls. Disappointingly however, by the time it did reach us tales of wakes of mythical proportions had been dismissed as nonsense.
Kristian.

We went as far as Hoxa Head, contemplated crossing Widewall bay to the Altar but decided time was against us and turned back for The Hope. We passed the WW2 gun emplacements and the new light before stopping for afternoon tea and toast.

Passing below the WW2 archaeology.

Peter passes the light
The snow and the flame.

A very pleasant afternoon which was dominated at all times by the view of the Flotta flame and the snow covered hills of Hoy.

Blue boat takes a break.

After watching the last rays slip over the horizon we turned and paddled hard into the easterly wind for about 3km - a stiff push back but I was pleased with my fitness. We arrived back in The Hope in darkness, the Pentalina looming over us.

10.01.10 - 14.3km.

Back on the water.

15 weeks to the day since I broke my ankle I managed to get back on the water (of the briny variety) with a bit of help with the lifting and portaging of the boat over the icy slipway to the water's edge.

NK and myself afloat.

After a dramatic couple of hours attempting to reach Stromness which involved two of our vehicles spinning on icy roads and going into verge or ditch (thank you passing farmer in tractor!), we eventually made it on to the water by returning to the put in place closest to home - Scapa. Thankfully no-one was hurt and no vehicles or boats were damaged either.

We left the pier and passed Hemp Stack, the spring tide allowing us to paddle between the stack and the rocks seen to its right below. On our return this rock hop was out of our reach.

After a cup of tea at Deepdale we headed back in the last of the sunlight.

The first of many paddles this year I hope.

Happy New Year

Happy New year to all. Looking forward to another year of paddling in great company and a few new challenges which are non-broken-ankle related. Cheers!