Sea Kayaking - practice

Hiya again everyone

Sorry I haven't been here much again recently - I have been away on holiday which was absolutely amazing! I had intended on going ahead and writing some posts before I went away to automatically upload but I was't that organised! If I'm honest the holiday itself even kind of crept up on us and we didn't feel like we were completely ready for it even when it got here.

As we got into it I can definitely say that it was needed and was amazing!

We actually went on a cruise which itself was a he huge treat from my in-laws so a massive massive thank you to them!

One of the things that I had booked before we went away was actually on my "30 before 30" list - a sea kayaking trip. It's something that I have always wanted to do. I almost did it a number of years ago when I worked out in Canada but the weather wasn't great when I had planned to go so I never actually got around to it.

I used to kayak when I was a kid/teeneager and absolutely loved it. The only reason I ever gave it up was because I got to the point when school was getting busier and I was having more and more work to do at home meaning I just didn't have time to go any more. I used to have to go quite a long way when I was younger as well so I think my parents were a little pleased when I gave it up and they didn't have to take me every week as well.

I was a little nervous before I went away that I might have forgotten what to do so I wanted to go for a bit of practice before we went on holiday. I was trying to go to at least one of the training sessions with the local club before I went away but unfortunately I was at work each Saturday when the sessions were running so never managed to make it.

The only time we did manage to get to Holme Pierrepont for me to have a go was on the Sunday before our trip and I did get to have a go all on my own - I was amazed really that you could just walk up and hire a kayak without any tuition - you didn't have to have any idea what you were doing to be allowed on the lake! That seems crazy to me really but I wasn't going to complain - it meant that I got to have a go before we went away.

 I got strapped into my buoyancy aid before I set off...

 Climbed in on dry land which felt really really wobbly!!

 And in for the first nervous strokes!

 I started to get the hang of it a little bit before venturing over towards the people on the paddle boards and exploring the other end of the lake.

I thoroughly enjoyed it although I couldn't quite get used to not having any splash deck. Perhaps I should have planned a little bit more that I might be going to go kayaking and should have brought some different trousers and shoes.

It was a lovely warm day and it didn't take too long to dry otherwise I think I would have bottled it completely and not gone but I am really pleased that I did. It made me feel a little bit happier about being let loose only a few days later on the sea in a kayak on holiday.

I will update you on my trip and how the kayaking part in particular went over the next few days/week.