Hello All

[Bodhisattva]

Hi All!

I stumbled upon this site while I was researching sea kayaks on the web and thought I would drop in to introduce myself.

I started kayaking through a Sea Scout group in my home town of South Shields, Tyne & Wear at the tender age of 8 (I am now 37). Being based on the coast, sea kayaking was the main discipline and I progressed through the BCU star awards in short order, gaining my Sea Proficiency at the age of 13.

I had an enforced break from kayaking from age 17 until 27 as my Army service gave me no opportunity to paddle. In 2000 (whilst still in the Army) I got back into paddling but switched camps to white water kayaking and paddled extensively in Bavaria/Austria, France and Norway over the next 5 years, culminating in me regularly paddling grade 5 rivers, gaining my inland 4 star and white water safety and rescue awards and qualifying as a level 2 inland coach. After a monumental trashing in a giant hole in Norway, I sold all of my boats and gear and decided that I had come just a little too close to dying for comfort.

So, having left the Army 3 years ago, I am now itching to get back on the water and have decided that returning to my first love, sea kayaking, is what I want to do. This will also allow me to access remote areas in order to indulge in my other hobby which is wildlife/landscape photography.

I am currently catching up with the developments in sea kayaks as the last boats I paddled were a P&H Baidarka, Ulmnak and a North Shore Shoreline. I see that North Shore still make the Shoreline although it is now called the Atlantic. As the Shoreline that I paddled over 20 years ago was not mine, I still hanker after one so subject to a test paddle, I think I might buy one.

Anyway, that is me - I am hoping to get back on the water towards the end of the year and look forward to meeting up with some of you in the future.


Mark.

[John D]

Hi Mark and welcome to the forum.

Are you based near the South East at the moment ?

(I was about to scream 'yo Steely Dan fan' but I googled it and discovered all about Buddahood !!)

Best Wishes,

John D

[Bodhisattva]

Ah, I see that my location has not appeared in my post. I am based in Bookham, Surrey and as such, am only about an hour away from a lot of the south coast :)


There we go...fixed that.

Thanks for the welcome John