2012 so far... Part II
Since April this year ive been concentrating a bit more on getting out boating, and after my officially becoming old again in late June (!) received some tragic news that a friend went missing out in Norway on a paddling mission.
I began to question whether paddling was something i wanted to pursue, having not ever known anybody personally before that has been involved in any serious incidents, i wasnt sure how to react. It was a hard time and still is to think about it now, but felt compelled to get back on the water and remain totally fired up to get out and boat more. This resulted in me going on a bit of a solo mission from York up to Scotland to get out boating with friends there who had also heard the news and were willing to let me tag along for a weekend :)
We paddled the Middle... i think... Upper?...not sure im sure that Dave will correct me on that...but either way it was the Orchy and it was pretty awesome, in true highlands style, horizontal rain in our faces with the headwind sucked a bit on one of the flat bits but it was a very efficient midge repellant so that was fine by me. It was a bit of a head game and spent the trip reminiscing back to the previous trip to Scotland, when Jason and Sam told me to tuck my skirt in and go off the falls of falloch - as that was the last time i was here, aaaages ago. The trip went well, one swim in the group and no, it wasnt me for a change! Got off the water feeling very happy that i got on and a bit more at peace with the whole thing. Made me think about Jason a lot and what i learned from him, and as i said, im more stoked to be on the water than before.
So after an evening of drinks in Glasgow, and a morning of the most horrendous hangover ever....I dont know what part of Dave or Haydn's minds were thinking that absinthe or jager were a good idea... but we decided at about 3 in the afternoon to finally get off our lazy for a blast down the Leny! Lovely little run, not even that far away and I was told to 'man up princess' and get down the falls of Leny which was great, felt awesome after that, didnt think i was making it down in million years but turns out it was good :) ....
....and then this happened....
Oops. I got carted off to Forth Royal hospital i believe it was, and had my arm put back into socket which was one of the more uncomfortable things in the world but actually, them putting it back in was less painful than the ambulance drive there with no drugs at all...the ambulance lady said she ws stunned how i wasnt screaming the place down but even so there was no way i was letting them cut my drysuit off without a fight, and it came off in one piece...painfully and covering the nurses in river water...phew :)
Boating is a dangerous sport, and accidents do happen. This however does not kill the passion and fire that we all have to get out and push ourselves, and feel the freedom of being able to get out onto water and paddle. Even though i managed to break myself, and even though ill always think about Jason, ill still want to get back on the water and learn from it all...
Until next time ... back on the water for WWPF?? Fingers crossed....
Rach
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I began to question whether paddling was something i wanted to pursue, having not ever known anybody personally before that has been involved in any serious incidents, i wasnt sure how to react. It was a hard time and still is to think about it now, but felt compelled to get back on the water and remain totally fired up to get out and boat more. This resulted in me going on a bit of a solo mission from York up to Scotland to get out boating with friends there who had also heard the news and were willing to let me tag along for a weekend :)
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| R. Orchy, End of Civilisation (fab name!) [ukrivers] |
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| Falls of Leny a bit lower than we did it [scottish-places.info] |
So after an evening of drinks in Glasgow, and a morning of the most horrendous hangover ever....I dont know what part of Dave or Haydn's minds were thinking that absinthe or jager were a good idea... but we decided at about 3 in the afternoon to finally get off our lazy for a blast down the Leny! Lovely little run, not even that far away and I was told to 'man up princess' and get down the falls of Leny which was great, felt awesome after that, didnt think i was making it down in million years but turns out it was good :) ....
....and then this happened....
 |
| Consequences of over-extension of your shoulder when about to fall over.... |
Oops. I got carted off to Forth Royal hospital i believe it was, and had my arm put back into socket which was one of the more uncomfortable things in the world but actually, them putting it back in was less painful than the ambulance drive there with no drugs at all...the ambulance lady said she ws stunned how i wasnt screaming the place down but even so there was no way i was letting them cut my drysuit off without a fight, and it came off in one piece...painfully and covering the nurses in river water...phew :)
Boating is a dangerous sport, and accidents do happen. This however does not kill the passion and fire that we all have to get out and push ourselves, and feel the freedom of being able to get out onto water and paddle. Even though i managed to break myself, and even though ill always think about Jason, ill still want to get back on the water and learn from it all...
Until next time ... back on the water for WWPF?? Fingers crossed....
Rach
View Larger Map
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