Justine’s Blog

I never imagined myself paddling in an 18 seater Canadian canoe around the isle of Skye, but that’s exactly what Barry and I spent the last 2 days doing! We joined Canadian adventurer Chris Cooper for a short section of his circumnavigation of Great Britain. He’s taking 3 summers to paddle the replica Montreal canoe around the British coastline, giving local people and school children the opportunity to take part in the journey. It was surprisingly hard work considering I’d like to think I’m quite paddling fit, but then it’s different from seakayaking! Chris steers the canoe from the back with a big paddle which he uses as a rudder, while everyone else follows his instructions about when to paddle forwards, sideways or stop. It was fun to be part of the team journeying on the sea in this way.

Perhaps this is a good time to mention that I’m making a canoeing (as opposed to kayaking) DVD next. It will be a similar format to ‘This is the Sea’ with about 10 individual films about different inspirational people, places or expeditions. I hope it will be as well received in the open boating world as the “This is the Sea” series has been. I’m enjoying learning about open boating and the new challenges of filming it. I’ll give more information at a later date, I’m still working out what will be in the DVD at the moment!

Any ideas for a DVD name would be gratefully received. Apart from “This is the River”, or “This is the Lake”!

On Tuesday afternoon, we went to Puffin island on Anglesey – but with a difference. Barry was taking his son Adam and Adam’s friend Mark out for a paddle. For a change, I swapped my seakayak for my open canoe, which hasn’t seen much use until now! The sea was calm in the tidal passage between the mainland and the island and I easily drifted across the half a mile or so channel. We paddled around the island and as usual, saw lots of seals. One of the more friendly ones came and said a close hello to Barry, and he got that great photo. A big seal also swam right under my canoe but I didn’t manage to get it on film very well. I’ll just have to go out there again!!

I’m not very smooth in an open boat yet, and I was much slower than the seakayakers but I felt comfortable on the sea because I’m used to it ( and Barry was there with his tow rope if the wind picked up and blew me away!).


Thanks to Barry for the photos.

BRIANCON GORGE
I’ve just got back from 5 days whitewater kayaking in the French Alps (more info here if you want – like pictures and stuff). I haven’t done much whitewater paddling before, although I have done a few days in lots of different places – including seakayaking down the Grade 3/4 Ottawa river to film “This is the Sea 4”. My survival paddling has always been quite good!!

TREE DODGING ON THE CLAREY
THE CLAREY

I really enjoyed spending 5 days on the rivers, learning about reading the water and how to apply what I’ve learnt seakayaking in tidal races onto a river environment. We had some coaching from Tom Parker We stayed at the campsite by the slalom course at l´Agentiere la Besse and branched out from there. Highlights for me were 4km of Grade 4 rapids on the lower Guisane, running 7 drops at Fournel ( up to 12-15 foot), and our last run on the Grade 3+ Ond. I’ll definitely be returning to the river!
THE DURANCE

MARIANNE AND TOM ABOUT TO HEAD DOWN BRIANCON GORGE

‘BEFORE THE BITCHES GETS GOING – ONE OF THE ROCKS WHICH THE TIDE WILL POUR OVER

‘BUILDLING UP’
WATER POURS OVER THE ROCK SHELF FORMING ‘THE BITCHES’
THE BITCHES TIDAL RACE IN ACTION.

I’m home after seakayaking in South Wales, and whitewater kayaking in the French Alps. I’m still tired from a long drive back to the UK and not up to much work today! Here are some photos from Pembrokeshire Congratulations to John-Boy and Lou on their marriage!
BARRY PLAYS ON A POUR OVER IN ‘THE CLERKS’
LANDING ON SOUTH BISHOP FOR LUNCH
Alps photos to follow tomorrow.