About Dean
Dean Dunbar is a Blind adventurer and
inspirational public speaker. Two years
after being registered blind at the age of
29, Dean did a charity tandem skydive
which changed his life. Since then he has
notched up over 80 activities around the
world, ranging from adventure racing to
zorbing, and set almost 20 world firsts
in activities ranging from open-water
swimming to stand up paddle-boarding.
Find out more about Dean at
www.extremedreams.co.uk
and www.dean-talks.com
Instead of hanging around in Colintraive, waiting for the
girls, we made a decision to try and make some movement
down the shoreline. Every yard we paddled today would be
a yard less to paddle tomorrow and by the time the girls met
up with us, we had paddled another couple of miles past
Colintraive. This unplanned, rough camping spot, proved to
be the best camp site of the whole trip!
Cathy and her daughter Farraid also joined us here and Cathy
paddled the first mile or so with us the next morning too.
Day 4
As we turned the corner at the lighthouse,
just past Toward Sailing Club, we entered the
Clyde. Here we hoped to have the wind and
tide with us. From the west side of the Clyde,
we took a slow and steady paddle aiming to
our 1 o’clock.
76
We did get some assistance from the tide, and we were
grateful for that. But up near Cloch Point the water got
rough and two team members took a dip. Rounding the
Point however, the water became much calmer, and from
here we made our way towards the finishing point over at
Helensburgh.
An Ideal Role for developing a volunteer or
current paddler, supporting club level activity;
CLUB ACTIVITY ASSISTANTS CAN;
The sun had shone for most of the 4 days, and we all ended
up with weird and wonderful tan lines. We had a fantastic
team on and off the water for the ASKT, and I think this could
well be the start of many adventures together. I certainly
hope it is!!
• Facilitate Safe and Engaging paddle sport
or paddle sport related activity
• Support particular session or activities
Thanks to the great fol k at Argyll and Bute Council who
were so helpful with our preparations and Cathy Winterton,
because it was all your fault. Thank you Cathy!!
in a controlled environment
• Provide a fully developed support
Written by Dean Dunbar
pathway towards a British Canoeing
Endorsement
FIND OUT MORE AT: www.
www.gocanoeingweek.o
w gocanoe
noeingw
week.
ekk org.
rg.uk
r u
ukk
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
Canoe Focus Autumn 2016
77