4 thoughts on “Messing About On The River”

  1. ce

    Really nice to see people appreciating the rivers more – lot of messing around in boat on the Blueways and our various weirs

  2. V aka Frilly Keane

    ‘Mammy coming out in me here

    but the teenager was the youngest (at the time) to ever complete the Liffey Descent

    I was further up the course, and she was at the back with the instructors, far too young to compete
    or get into the crush at the start
    those f’n Canadians are mad altogether
    She was quite young to get into the canoeing, but since she was already sailing and messing on kayaks over the summer, she was confident in the water, well used to wet suits and proper water safety, and bad weather, so I introduced it to her as Winter/ Easter thing
    and she loved it, passed levels no bother, kinda thrived with the showing off in front of the other students tbh
    It was the instructors that egged her on to enter

    anyway that day, lads got word got up to me saying she was getting tired and they didn’t think she’d make it
    so they were going to ready themselves to catch her there at the Lucan Weir
    Organisers, First Aiders all there in their gators, Ambulance n’all

    and me getting stuck in the shallows
    So I had to get out and squelch along the bank
    there in me shortie and skirt ffs, and all sorts of bits in my hair

    and wait for her to appear behind the bushes and steady and hold herself at the top of the earlier drop point – the furthest from the Bridge there
    – what ye see there are the wider more open drops mainly used for the doubles and the Canadians

    Anyway as each of the pack-at-the-back appeared, everyone was ready, all the organisers helpers and Mammys and Daddys and Spectators
    All cheering them on
    And as expected – there were a few needing a dig out, most got back on their way and paddled onto Strawberry Beds
    Then we all see my one at the top laughing at a few lads coming a cropper, and everyone shouting at her to wait until they were away. Ben the instructor was with her – you could hear them chatting

    And as soon as it was all clear, all eyes on her
    she sailed down, and kept going
    I walked alongside as asked if she wanted out there
    Naw, didn’t see her again until they came through the bushes at the then finish at the Canoe Centre
    (This years is a different and longer course btw)
    and there was two of them left belting it out, and a bitta craic from all the other competitors who were already home and hosed

    I’ll dig out the t-shirts, the date is on them
    guessing tis 212/13

    Christ I can’t get her to put the green bin out now

    But not a final note, Check out Canoeing Ireland, they used to do Adult Training, its a great Winter time outdoor activity
    And You don’t have to buy all the kit, eff all investment,
    I lost touch with them about three ago
    My week ends got taking up this other stuff, and just made do with the Sea Kayaking
    but highly recommend giving it a go

  3. V aka Frilly Keane

    Definitely
    If I’d known and registered in time
    I’d have given it a go last weekend

    I see there now in the Canoe Training Centre tis all Kayak
    not canoe
    Is that Health & Safety / Covid stuff d’ye think

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