28/05/09

A huge thank you to everyone who was kind enough to sponsor me. Including gift aid the current total stands at just over the £500 target - which is fantastic!

The weekend itself was a great event. We camped under a starry sky on Friday before setting off to the river Clyde to unload the canoes on Saturday morning. Joe and I paddled the first section and were told on reaching the rapids at the end there had already been 3 capsizes, so it was an exciting finish to the first leg as we bounced over the rapids and turned the corner with the help of a lot of coaching advice shouted from the banks. Kelly and Nick took over and the next few change overs and sections had less white water and thankfully were assisted by wind and river flow (just as well!), with countless sandmartins swooping from the banks and above the surface of the water. Perfect conditions for practising new steering techniques (see photo).

Saturday evening involved a post paddle snooze and apres paddle card game in Nick's camper before feasting on a delicious barbecue and putting our dancing wellies on for the Ceilidh - after which I was extreme dizziness set in (from spinning people round you'll understand, not from the delights of the bar ; )  ).

Next day brought glorious weather and Joe took over steering duties while I enjoyed the view from the front and worked on my tan (a rare opportunity to do so in Scotland) and nursed my head - still dizzy from all that spinning at the Ceilidh ; )  . Then the wind came, and the next few legs were really tough, the flow of the river having slowed and having to paddle right into the wind as hard as we could in order to make headway. The final section brought the most rapids we had seen all weekend and we got stuck on rocks quite a few times before limping our aching shoulders across the finish line.

After some delicious tea and scones provided by the event hosts Wiston Lodge everything was rounded off with a presentation, in which our team were awarded a minature paddle carved from maple for being the team to raise the most for Venture Scotland! Thanks again to everyone who helped to organise the event and who sponsored us and helped us raise so many much needed funds for Venture Scotland!

Best wishes

Tim

20/04/09

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

I'll be doing a 50 kilometre Canoe Challenge down the Clyde over the 23rd and 24th of May. I'm aiming to raise as much as possible to enable Venture Scotland to continue it's outstanding work - especially with disadvantaged young people, but also giving people from all backgrounds a chance to share in the conservation and enjoyment of a truly special place in Kinlochetive bothy.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Venture Scotland gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me nowand support this amazing cause!