PADDLER 74
PADDLER 74
Though we feel incredibly privileged , life isn ’ t always easy . My recent trip to the Outer Hebrides turned out to be the experience I didn ’ t realise I needed . A few months before SKW ’ s Outer Hebrides 2024 expedition was set to depart , we encountered some logistical challenges . Mirco and Stuart , our lead coaches for this trip , had plans to combine their SKW work in Scotland with other activities – Mirco with a subsequent cycling holiday and Stuart with a mothership-supported kayaking voyage to St Kilda . As a result , they could not return the expedition van , sea kayaks , and Charlotte , one of our participants , to Anglesey immediately after the trip . The solution seemed simple : I would drive the van and join the expedition myself .
I couldn ’ t believe I was suggesting joining the expedition . Due to having the children , I ’ d gone seven years without kayaking and had only started paddling again this past year with some days on our # ShePaddles events . Before starting a family , I was a regular social sea kayaker , often paddling with our ‘ Saturday Gang ’ of friends to Anglesey ’ s tideraces and on holidays to Scotland and Ireland . I ’ d also reluctantly engaged in white-water river kayaking , though I disliked swimming down rocky rapids . On the sea , I ’ d been more courageous in waves until an incident in the surf at Cymyran Bay near Rhoscolyn shook me up and took some time to get over . Despite this , the thought of going on an expedition with our team to Scotland appealed to me . The opportunity to spend my first week away from my young family was enticing . I ’ d often seen Geth benefit from his SKW expeditions to Scotland and Pembrokeshire , and now it was my turn .