In these days of economic doom and gloom everyone seems to assume things are going a bit quiet here in Ireland with the Celtic Tiger whimpering into his recessionary cage, tail firmly between his legs. But here’s a quick update just to let you know that the paddling scene over here is alive and hopping!
In these days of economic doom and gloom everyone seems to assume things are going a bit quiet here in Ireland with the Celtic Tiger whimpering into his recessionary cage, tail firmly between his legs. But here’s a quick update just to let you know that the paddling scene over here is alive and hopping!
Here on Clew Bay, the Saoirse na Mara fleet has had a busy start to 2009, after a full-on instructor training course for the ICU in Limerick, I was out on Clew Bay for 4 days of 1:1 coaching. These Dublin fire brigade are a hardy bunch –Paul camped each night on a different island around the bay, enjoying the stability speed and generous stowage space in the Skye 17 (How’s that for some subtle subliminal advertising?!)
After Racing down the Whitewater of the Clare Glens, this weekend an equally hardy bunch from the University in Galway came out for two days of Sea Skills. We explored Tawin and Eddy Islands in Galway, and God bless Sully’s enthusiasm, despite a late finish and a decidedly nipply feel to the breeze, nothing would satisfy him but a good old “all-in-rescue” scenario-uggg! The following day we hit the Turbot Is and Inshturk close to Clifden and got a real breath of North Atlantic air in our lungs.
Since Christmas I’ve become a huge fan of the MSR Jetboil, it has to be one of the best gatgets for seakayakers in this climate. Its always in the front hatch now, and yesterday, in Clew with the Outdoor Ed students from Castlebar, we had jetboiled Cockles and Mussels (yes, you’ve guessed it…. Alive alive-oh..)
