"Muzz" writes:


Love the water
Preferably you should be able to swim 50 metres fully clothed. Although
canoeing is carried out on the water and not in it, most people are
attracted to canoeing by a love of water.

Do I need to get into swimming first ?

You don't necessarily need to "get into" swimming, but, yeah, take the
time to learn how to swim better, as Kayaking is a water sport if
something happens and you capsize being able to swim, and being
comfortable being in the water is helpful, not to mention safer
for you and anyone with you.

It is especially important if you want to do any whitewater
kayaking or surf kayaking.

--
James jamesk[at]homeric[dot]co[dot]uk

Do something unusual today. Pay a bill.

Gairloch. Great, I grew up there..
You don't need to swim a lick to paddle. You do need to wear a BA or
PFD.
I think I may be able to swim 20 feet fully clothed. I kayak like crazy
and don't worry about it.
I am a kayaker and a very poor swimmer, I am a paratrooper too. I know
I cant fly!
Here hypothermia is a much bigger problem than drowning. I don't go
near a kayak without a wet suit and Boiyancy Aid ( BA ) or Persomal
Floatation Device ( PFD )
I instruct kayaking and open boat canoeing ( Canadian Canoe ) You must
be comfortable around, in and under the water to truly enjoy the sport.

I would recommend you enjoy the sport but be aware of your limitations.

Kayaking is a superb activity. Enjoy.
Helensburg used to have an outdoor swimming pool by the peir. God that
water was cold.
Alex McGruer
http://pages.ivillage.com.mcgruer

wrote in message
oups.com...
Gairloch. Great, I grew up there..
You don't need to swim a lick to paddle. You do need to wear a BA or
PFD.
I think I may be able to swim 20 feet fully clothed. I kayak like crazy
and don't worry about it.
I am a kayaker and a very poor swimmer, I am a paratrooper too. I know
I cant fly!
Here hypothermia is a much bigger problem than drowning. I don't go
near a kayak without a wet suit and Boiyancy Aid ( BA ) or Persomal
Floatation Device ( PFD )
I instruct kayaking and open boat canoeing ( Canadian Canoe ) You must
be comfortable around, in and under the water to truly enjoy the sport.

I would recommend you enjoy the sport but be aware of your limitations.

Kayaking is a superb activity. Enjoy.
Helensburg used to have an outdoor swimming pool by the peir. God that
water was cold.
Alex McGruer
http://pages.ivillage.com.mcgruer

Long paddle from Gairloch to Helensburgh :-)

Ewan Scott

Its been a long time. I should learn to spell too. : - ))
Beautiful place.
I sailed more than paddled there.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Its been a long time. I should learn to spell too. : - ))
Beautiful place.
I sailed more than paddled there.


Both wonderful places. My first paddling was at Gairloch, out round Lunga
Island where we dived into the weed to collect sea urchins.

Ewan Scott

My mistake. Gareloch, Next to Helensburgh ( I missed the spelling on
that too.) I was 10 when I left living in Clynder and Roseneath. I have
been back a couple of times but most of my family has passed on.
Lunga Island is what woke me up. I know the immediate area well and
that threw me so i had to check. Dyslexia is a wondrous thing.

Ah yes I have been to Gareloch too aswell as Gairloch. The former seems to
get even more rain than the more northerly Gairloch !
Anyway, it's a small world and all that... My wife took the kids swimming
and bumped into a guy that I used to go hillwalking and cycling with a few
years back, he now goes sea kayaking.

I phoned him right away and went out to his house, he has two sea kayaks and
has invited me to go out with him, I was working night shift so couldn't go
immediatley but I will phone him to organise an outing another day.

Even stanger... While I was at work the wife got a call from one of her old
workmates who now lives in Stornaway, when she mentioned what I had been up
to she was told that her friends husband does sea kayaking and that his
brother is president of Inverness Canoe Club

I'm going to get in touch with the club, they do pool sessions throughout
the winter. I'll work on my swimming too :-)

--
Muzz
send mail to muzzmackay@'7thletterof thealphabet'mail.com