Last post for a while

Though I'll be keeping in touch via twitter (link above). This afternoon Mrs CWW is going to to deliver me to the Solway Coast, for the start of my Big Paddle/ mid life crisis.
I'm now extremely anxious, and very aware of the comfort that ordinary routines bring. The forecast for tomorrow is pretty blowy, so it looks as if I'll be twiddling my thumbs on the campsite (probably Sandyhills) for a day before departure. That's not going to help the nerves either. On the plus side, the wind looks like settling for quite a while afterwards, and there is a good chance of some company for the Arran to Oban stretch.
Just to make me look a bit wimpish, Sarah Houten is setting off to row the Pacific, alone, about now. She looks both tougher and a lot younger than me, though.
I had a good send off from work yesterday. I now have all sorts of devices to help if I need a pee when at sea, and an inflatable companion called Wilson (a close relative of the famous football).

First packing trial

I had a first go at packing my boat tonight. It went remarkably well considering it's gear for 9-10 weeks.

I reckon there's room for quite a lot more chocolate in there.
I can't decide what to put in the awkward bit behind the skeg box- another gas canister or a bottle of whisky. I suppose I could, in emergency, burn whisky, but I don't think I could drink camping gas.

What a long winter.

Efforts to get fit for my Big Paddle have been hampered considerably by the weather. Partly it's a reluctance to be out on the water in freezing weather, partly competing attractions. The hills have been great for walking and skiing recently. FCAG had an Easter Egg hunt on Friday evening, though. It was a short trip, but good fun. Snow was clearly visible on the Lammermuirs before we launched at the Silver Sands in Aberdour.


Despite low temperatures, wildlife is returning to the Forth. A porpoise cruised past us- the first I have ever seen around here. Gulls are flocking back to Inchcolm.

Perennial wallflower are starting to flower on the island, much earlier than the ones in my garden.

We stayed on the island as the light started to fade. There was a big ebb tide, clearly visible from the fortifications at the summit.

Soon it was time to head for home.

Gadget test

With the big trip in mind, I though it would be worth getting one of these gadgets.

This may cheer up Mrs CWW a bit, as she generally has no idea where I am when I'm paddling. It's probably a good investment for other purposes too. I tend to fall over a lot more than I used to when I'm out walking or cycling.
I took it out for a trial run today. It was also about time to get some training in, as I haven't been in a sea boat for months. It is a bit wintry just now, but a blink of sunshine helped me to get going. A south westerly breeze livened up the Forth, giving  some bouncy bits between Largo and Elie. I started off feeling a bit ill at ease, probably because it was windy and cold. The sea state was also enough to give me a wet face every so often.

Do I need flares when I've got this hat?

Training for the big paddle is probably as much about psychology as physical fitness, so a bit of roughness was probably a good thing. Unfortunately the fitness bit was distinctly lacking- there's a lot to do.
The Spot tracker seems to work so far. It produces texts and emails to say I'm OK, and the position goes onto a map.

This can be added to a Google map back at home, or embedded in a webpage as it is.
I'm hoping to get out for a while most weeks over the winter. The downside is the horror of rinsing and drying gear afterwards. It's bad enough hosing it down with snow all around, but then it has to lie round the house to dry. Maybe the best training would be to leave it wet, just to toughen me up a bit.

An Adventure Begins

In the last 25 years of work I have never been away from my desk for more than 2 weeks. I'm all too aware that my fitness is declining and recovery time is increasing. Injuries aren't just the result of accidents, often I just wake up with them. I'm in my mid 50's and there are too many people of my age suddenly developing life altering, or even threatening, illness.
So it seems time for a bit of an adventure. After years of rumination I've decided to take extended leave from my work, to go paddling.
The general plan is to start in the Solway Firth and head the long way round Scotland back to home. Clearly the basis of the idea comes from Brian Wilson and "Blazing Paddles". I first read it many years before I started paddling, but it left the seed which probably got me into a kayak in the first place. I suspect my paddles won't be blazing, though. Maybe just flickering.
The biggest hurdle of all seems to have been cleared. The arrangement to get away from work for 10 weeks is made. I've found someone to do my job for me, and, best of all, one of the CWW juniors may be able to come with me.
The plans can still all go wrong. Start date is the last weekend in April, and there are plenty of things beyond my control that can scupper the whole adventure. Not getting started would disappoint me more than not finishing the trip.

But at least it's worth a go. Out with the books!

Seeing in the New Year

It's become a bit of a family tradition to paddle the River Feshie at New Year. We see in the New Year at a house just where it joins the Spey, and it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to come straight off the water into a hot shower.
This year, Little Miss CWW and I ventured out. "Upland gales" and blizzard conditions and closed the Cairngorm ski area.

Being a hardy student type, Little Miss hadn't bothered to bring anything to keep her hands warm. By the time we had dragged our boats to the river, she was throwing up because of cold extremities. In sympathy, I took a photograph.

After a bit of rewarming, and hijacking of her Dad's pogies, she was looking a bit happier, despite the blizzard.

 The Feshie consists of some short fun rapids at the top, followed by a long shallow bouldery section (greatly exposed to the weather), and a fast and furious gorge. Just before the fun run started I managed to get broached on a couple of rocks. Fortunately, Little Miss CWW was out of her boat at the time, and managed to rescue me before an undignified exit. She seemed to think that rescuing her parent was not part of the deal, but it seems to me to be part of the circle of life. Maybe she'll carry me up a hill next.

Speaking of hills, the following day I was wandering about in a bog below Cairngorm when I met Owen. How he recognised me I do not know. I bought my first sea boat from him several years ago. His memory and ability to see through several layers of outdoor gear are amazing.

There are Other Rivers

It's nothing to do with paddling, despite the name, but if you love journeying, you'll love the book.

Al Humphreys is an "adventurer and writer" and very good at both. I first came across him when I read his stories of cycling round the world. This included taking on Siberia in the winter.
This book is the story of a walk across India, but it isn't a travelogue, and he doesn't even say where he was. It's short, easily read in a couple of evenings. It's all about why we love journeys, despite the all too frequent discomfort. I loved it.