Oops forgot to blog this but we are out again paddling at the SoTP big meeting and we are paddling on Ullswaters in Cumbria! 

So we have paddled up wind for a while and time for a brew stop and to break out the rocky roads

Just out of shot is Ed on the right (who we met out on the water ) and Glen on the left.   Totall out of shot are Stu, Sri and me!

Ed and Stu are getting on like a pair of spaniels as they have a shared love of landrover ownership and talking about welding,  things falling apart, bodging things together and other things relating to British engineering

Content should be on the right of the screen, oh try the slideshow link

After a stunning drive through the mountains we have arrived at Mallaig. I am pleased to report that the new chauffeur, Glenys, is taking to driving the truck well.

Glen: I still have not uncovered my bikini bottoms

Filth I tell you, filth

Well that was fun, after a week’s break out on the water again, the pakboat managed to put itself together cockeyed again and had to be redone

River was low but not as bad as we thought it was going to be, the “rapids” were good fun to play on and then eddy back up to have another few runs on

Pictured is Stu’s boat which is now up for sale on SoTP

Nice long brew stop with cake and choc hobnobs we actually took a lot longer than we had planned but had a fun time, let’s just hope Stu’s dog “Rocket” has not eaten anything odd due to his dinner being delayed

Off for a paddle Arley to Bewdley

I’m not going to recount the stories here, they are back in the blog. But I am going to say that I was proud to travel with both Glenys and Tig, we have a bond now which will last for ever. This is forged through the experience of travelling together and enduring joy, stress and hardship together as a unit.

The group functioned well from the outset and by the end of the trip we could judge each other’s feelings well. Yes there were plenty of laughs, some tears (from me) and a silly accident which nearly saw me loosing a toe. My mates looked after me, and I looked after them and that’s just how it was.

Various bodies and people deserve our thanks and deepest respect, they are:
British Waterways
The Coast Guard
Boots n Paddles
Margaret and the staff of Glen Nevis camp site
My Mum for acting as shore contact
Gordy for his blog interaction
Sean Taylor for his constant advice and words of wisdom
Tamarack Outdoors for supplying most of the kit
Simon for being there to chat to on the phone (when I was missing Shropshire)

I am sitting at home now, trying to work out why I need all this stuff, does any one actually need a microwave? a tv? But I guess we do. Everyday life pays for adventures. This holiday has changed me fundamentally. Life is about experiencing adventure. The daily grind is all about facilitating this. Soon Tom will be along for the ride, I can’t wait.

Finally, thanks to Glen and Tig. For accompanying me on this mad adventure. Glen your cooking and good humour kept me going, looking forward to a good meal at the end of a hard slog motivated me more than you can imagine. Tig, singing silly songs when we were battling in to a headwind, setting up this blog and being the trip comedian got me through the harder parts of the trip.

It was a blast.

Stewey.