Sun, Sea and Crags...

 

This weekend started with our 2 star training, in canoe and Kayak which involves:

• Lift, carry & launch the kayak
• Efficient forward paddling
• Steering the kayak
• Manoeuvring
• Moving sideways
• Preventing a capsize
• Turning
• Returning to the bank
• Securing
• Capsize and self rescue
• Peer rescue

After weeks of practicing and learning new skills in the rolling poll, Strangford Lough, The River Bann and Castlewellan lake it was time to see what we got!

 

Day one:

We headed to Castlewellan Lake, the trailer loaded with kayaks. We soon discovered Claire (Tollymore Doughnut) had forgotten her spray deck! An hour later it turned up after a professional radio call by Caoimhe to the centre. Are skills were tested after having to dodge Tiny Life’s fundraisers raft race, dogs swimming after sticks and the odd  fisherman.

It was a lovely hot day to be on the lake, but that soon ended when we started rescues, brain freeze galore... Caoimhe got rather cold after an ‘amazing’ rescue by Kathryn...

The day finished off in the rolling pool to perfect rescues.

 

 The gang

                                                                                                                              

Day two:

Strangford Lough- Open Boats

 

 

Another perfect day to be boating in the heat of the sun which ended in nice tanned hands and white arms.

We transferred our skills from the previous day in the kayaks, to the open boats. After a pleasant journey it was time for a well deserved lunch chilling in the sunshine! 

 

 Kath

 

 Claire drawing

 

After lunch we then worked our skills in tandem canoeing. 

 

 No I didn't just fall over...

 

Then it was rescue time, but was thankfully a lot warmer than the lake. Kathryn redeemed herself with a super fast rescue!

 

Monday training day – Climbing Lower Cove

 

Another roasting day which also ended in even worse tan lines and sunburn!

 

We all headed out nice and early with our new lady friend Marty handbag and all! We got lots done from First corner, Tyro to New decayed.

A cool chilled out day with lots of sun and laughs – can you ask for anything better... this is the life!

 

 

Caoimhe chilling at the top

 Cheeser

 

 Caoimhe stylin

 Peek-a-boo Kathryn

Life is Good!!!

Life is good as a Trainee... us girls have been having a hoot. 

Every Monday is a training day and so far we have been:

Kayaking – Rolling most Wednesday nights with Jonny Mornin, perfecting our low and high braces.  In turn getting closer to getting our rolls styling. We also had a good day in Castlewellan lake doing rescues in the kayaks and open boats.

                                                                Kathryn pushing the high braces

 Claire mastering the low brace!

Sea kayaking – In Strangford Lough with Oísín and exploring Pawls Island, which was once a model farm in the 60’s.  We had a lovely day out and as they say, accidents always happen after lunch and Caoimhe showed us how not to get into a sea kayak as she took a tumble for the worst – On the bright side the head stayed dry! 

                                               Caomihe searching for her lunch!

Open boating – We have made many journeys in the open boats down the Quoil, through the Bann and in Strangford Lough. These days we have been looking at our basic strokes for paddling efficiently and we have even taken on our first rapids in the river Bann.

Kathryn pulling a cheesier in the sun! 

Pose!

Hill walking – We have had a master class with Kieran on Pigeon mountain practicing micro navigation.  Kathryn made sure to fall several times whilst coming off the mountain to ensure we were up to speed on our rescues. 

We all had a few good days while we had some snow dusting the hills too!

Climbing – With the wall at our doorstep we have no excuse not to get training on it!  We have had some great laughs in at the wall from chalk fights to practicing taking lead falls.

 Kath and Caoimhe have got out in the new season, in the beauty of the Mournes.  Claire has been getting loads of climbing in, over at the Edinburgh climbing wall - getting her pump on!!!

Caoimhe will be doing her first lead outdoors very soon – so watch this space – EEEEEEKKKK!

Caoimhe!

Mountain Biking – Tollymore forest park offers us guys some great opportunities to get out and about on the mountain bikes.  Trevor kindly brought Kath out to try the famous bomb hole where she successfully carried out the moves but later had an epic fall over the smallest bump!

Claire the mountain bear beasted Kath and Caoimhe up the massive hills of Tollymore forest park - Fun times!

Winter Mountaineering – Claire headed off to Scotland on 26^th February for some snow and ice climbing.... with the not so great winter weather conditions... but still found lots to do!

Caoimhe and Kath headed out the week after for some winter mountaineering.  We had a class week and luckily got 3 quality snow days.  The first day started with the Fiacaill ridge then up onto Coire Lochan, where we learnt some nifty winter skills from self arrest to belays and bucket seats. Caoimhe had the joy of climbing her first Munroe – Sgor Gaoith

Claire!

Caoimhe and Kathryn!

                                                                                     
Caoimhe and Kath stayed in what they call a ‘Wigwam’ – we preferred Chicken coop.  We can’t wait for another adventure in the Snow.

Finally, us girls will be completing our first official training of the year for our 2 star in Canoe and Kayak next weekend – Exciting stuff.  We will keep you posted on the craic.

Welcome!

Hey! Welcome to our Blog!
We started at Tollymore National Outdoor Centre in January 2012, as trainee outdoor instructors.
This blog is to keep you all up to date with what we are getting up to, throughout what we hope to be an exciting year.

About the dudettes:

Claire
I am twenty four and born and bred in Tollymore so I've grown up in the Mournes. I love the mountains and am a very keen hillwalker and my true passion in life is climbing! Loving this year as a trainee instructor at the Tollymore centre and looking forwards to all of our wee adventures! :)

Kathryn
Twenty two year old Larne girl. I have always been involved in the outdoors due to my parents keen outdoor interests, hill walking over the UK from the age of three. My main outdoor passions would be climbing, hill walking and skiing, but I like to give everything a bash and just love being outside! I have recently completed a degree in Outdoor Education and this year at Tollymore is the next step in my outdoor career.

Caoimhe
Hello Bloggee's - I'm 24 and from Belfast 'Yeeeeoooooo!'.  I was a Youth Worker for 5 years before coming to Tollymore and I've always tried to use the outdoors to work with young people to overcome challenges and take risks.  I love everything about being in the outdoors from the water to the crags - I love the adrenaline rush and feeling of achievement after a great day out with friends or a class wee group of people.  By the end of this year I want to have pushed myself to the limit and achieved as much experience as I possibly can to be able to empower people to get outside and play in the mountains, rivers and sea!