NWSK Newsletter 2007
Another newsletter to celebrate another trip around the sun, as much of it as possible spent on the sea.
Another year of Fridays dragging on until the earliest respectable finishing time? Boat already on the car and kit packed? The week draining away as you arrive at the venue to be greeted by familiar smiling faces amongst the clutter of boats and tents? The excitement of planning tomorrow’s trip? The pleasure of tall tales and a dram? An early start, oddly easier than those early starts for work? The familiar thrill as you launch onto the briney? The camaraderie of relying on each other as we paddle for pleasure and challenge? The pleasure of learning new skills from each other? All those endorphins from mastering that difficult water? And then more tall tales and drams around a fire? Just as much fun on the Sunday spent with such great people? And the long drive home, tired, but happy and contented?
Not just me then.
We’ve had lots of adventures this year.
Some of our venues in 2006
Early Birds” meet in the Cardigan Bay area
Beginning of Season Meet: Anglesey
Pembroke
Scotland – Clyde estuary area or Firth of Forth area
“New comers” & introductory w/e Anglesey
West coast Scotland expedition - Skye;
Applecross
South Wales
Severn Estuary
Northumberland Coast - Coquet Island Race
Cumbrian coast paddling, including St Bees Head
Rough Stuff w/e playing in the Anglesey tidal races for the experienced paddlers
Lleyn Peninsula
Seaquest race on R. Wyre, Fleetwood
Dumfries & Galloway
End of Season meet: Anglesey
We also have an improved website with a shiny new phpbb message board Thanks Trevor. (No, I don’t know what it means, but then I don’t know how my telly works either).
There are challenges for 2007. Sea paddling in general, and NWSK in particular, are becoming ever more popular. Maintaining our open ethos, whilst managing the risks inevitably associated with our pursuit, will be a difficult balancing act.
Inevitably we have had the pleasure of a few bons mots over the last 12 months and so here are my quotes of the year:
“We’ve written a guidebook, you know.” Andy and Jim (And very good it is too. Have you got yours?)
“Yes, I think you mentioned that” Most of us
“Bags of confidence. Oh……..and something to eat” Mr Roscoe’s comprehensive list of requirements for a long crossing
“Peel me another fish, my good man” Helen Marsden, in recline
“Now you see me, now you don’t” Maurice “Mr Camouflage” Hoare
“The eagle flies on Friday and on Saturday we go out to play” from “I got the low down sea paddling blues” aka “Stormy Sunday” by Blind Lemon Entwhistle, the famous Irwell Delta bluesman
It’s all true. Every word. Really, it is!. Bob “Honest John” Mark
And finally, to bring back memories and inspire you for the coming season, are contributions from Maurice Hoare, Andy Biggs, Ian Collins, Mr Peter Roscoe, Jimski and Ian Collins again. Read on……………………………………………………….
Bob Mark drbobmark@btinternet.com
Click on the links below to read on for:
Don't forget your passport by Andy Biggs
Easter by the Brook (Pembroke) by Jim Krawiecki
We'll get to Bardsey next time (maybe!) by Trevor Shepherd
Rhodes to Kos 2006 by Mr Peter Roscoe
Skerrie Weekend by Maurice Hoare
Summer the first time by Ian Collins
Isle of Man Adventure Week September 2006 by Jim Krawiecki
End of Season Meet 2006 by Jim Krawiecki
NWSK Calendar of Events 2007 compiled by Helen Marsden