Hi folks, having taken over a year to get to grips with setting up my Geneaology site (fentonparsons.com) I now find myself having to learn how to Blog......so here goes! Having taken up shore angling last year I came across anglers who were using kayaks to get to better fishing areas which were obviously beyond casting distance. Having done a little kayaking at school 30 odd years ago I thought I would have a go at that then! I sourced a used Ocean Prowler Elite 4.5 up North so having come home with that I began buying a few essentials for it. I seem to have been financially raped but it's always the same when you take up something new and want the best of everything....
To date I have been out paddling three times. The first time was about eight weeks ago up the Quoile River. I went with Andy (Prowler 15) and the river was seriously flooded with a fast flow. Hard work for a novice upstream.....although I think I managed around 5 odd miles all told. Was surprised at how little I suffered after it though my left wrist tendon was up for about a week or so and very painful. Once I had decided to do the Belleek to Limerick trip with Andy and Paul around May/June time I realised I needed to get some mileage in so 3 weeks ago Andy and I launched in the fog at Cultra and headed off down Belfast Lough to Bangor. I had forgotten how far it is on the water! Was pretty tired by Bangor so a coffee and a choc bar was very welcome on the Marina slipway. Bright sunshine and an increasing breeze on the nose was the order for the return trip. Grey Point never seemed to get any closer however eventually made it back to Cultra after a total of around 4 hours and 40 minutes paddling time. We had covered 14.5 miles and I was very happy to see RNIYC again! Virtually no after effects which surprised me. Last week Andy and I went up the Quoile for the start of the trout season. No fish caught however a further 11 odd miles notched up. Our trip is going to require us to paddle around 20-25 miles a day so a lot of work to do but really looking forward to it. Have been dieting the last two weeks and have lost 13lbs with two days to go...........I obviously had it to lose! This will jump start me into action as I have been very lazy the last two years or so. Will keep you all up to date with the training and fund raising. Cheers for now. FP
