Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

I’ve recently returned from a great 520km mountain biking journey in Nepal from the stark grey mountains of Jomsom, down through fertile valleys and  tiers of paddy fields, past the shimmering blue Pokhara lake and onwards to the brown haze and honking horns of Kathmandu. It’s my first visit to the country that I will remember as full of smiling faces, colourful clothes, dusty roads, mist-filled valleys, lofty ridges and magnificent snowy peaks.

There was always something to look at – noisy kids running alongside with a rubber tyre and a stick; endless roadside puppies, goats, water buffalo & chickens; walking bushes that turned around to reveal a small woman shouldering a heavy green load; prayer flags streaming from temples, wooden huts decorated with Nepali chocolate bars, almost-cold coke  and delicious-looking samosas that I was advised not to eat.

Namaste.

Now I’m home, I made the most of a calm sunny day to go sea kayak surfing with Barry. It’s been a while since I was on the water but it felt good.

I’m working hard to finish editing “This is the Sea 5”. Half of the 8 films are finished – a circumnavigation of Sardinia, Paul Kuthe surfing, Tierra del Fuego & sea kayaking amongst active volcanoes in Sicily. Others need a bit more work.

In 2 weeks, I’m travelling again. This time to the Golden Gate Symposium in San Francisco. I’m excited about this event as there’s something magical about paddling under the giant suspension bridge & maybe getting out towards Alcatraz. There’s a really strong line-up of coaches and paddlers. It will be great to see some friends again, and to meet a few new people. There are still spaces at the event so if you fancy some West Coast US paddling then get in touch with Sean Morley or one of the other orgainsers!

Cheryl and I have been friends for 30 years, it’s her fault that I discovered the exciting world of adventure as a little over 15 years ago she dragged me along to the Jersey canoe club. She also planned our first walking trip in Scotland and persuaded me to buy a bike so we could cycle across the Pyrenees.

She now runs Rather be Cycling, taking people biking to some exciting & interesting locations. When she excitedly said I should join one of her trips to mountain bike in Nepal this Christmas, I couldn’t resist. So here I am! I arrived a week early to do some biking with Cheryl around the foothills of Kathmandu & have had some good rides – as well as a great introduction to the friendly people.

Soon we set off on a 500km mountain bike journey from Jomsom back to Kathmandu – details here.

Yesterday’s ride!

Cheri & Turner of Kayak Ways are coming back to the UK in Spring 2013 and will be touring around giving Greenland-style rolling and paddling workshops. They’ve been touring the world sharing these skills for 7 years and are widely praised for their teaching.

They’ll be in North Wales on May 4th and 5th giving workshops. The location will be Lyn Padarn in Llanberis or the coast of Anglesey, depending on the weather. Please get in touch with cheri@kayakways.net for more information, or check out their website.

In between their teaching, we will be filming and editing the sequel to “This is the Roll“, which will cover how to learn many more of the Greenland-style rolls.

If you want to do your homework beforehand then pick up a copy of “This is the Roll” for Christmas!

There are some places where I feel relaxed, happy & energised. One of those is Bardsey island. A journey there is a wonderful combination of exciting paddle, beautiful scenery, magical destination & lovely people. It was a pleasure to share a special place and journey with Sarah Outen today.

Barry, Sarah and I were up in the dark to make the most of the short day but despite that we were having so much fun chatting to the Porter family & walking round the island that we still ended up paddling back in the dark!  We crossed the sound in the fading light and pulled up on Abadaron beach just as the last of the light faded from the sky. Sarah rolled in the surf landing – her first unplanned roll!

Rounding the Southern tip of Bardsey

A brisk walk up the hill when we should really have been paddling back already!

Moody light to Bardsey

Dusk over Bardsey Sound

There were a few exciting moments on the paddle there and back.

Happy faces on landing at Abadaron in the dark.

Our track from the day.