SUP - 03/15 - 07/15

SUP

Just after a fell in :)

Instructor - Jarlath McHale


Day 1:


We started out by meeting at Islandeady and getting in there. As it was my first time SUPing Jarlath ran through a few basics with me before we left. We started on our knees and then hen we were out from the shore we could pop up to a standing position. He also told me that any time the wind was strong or i just felt uncomfortable that I should kneel again because it's easier. 
When we started we were head to wind for the first 30 mins and I could feel the pressure building in my arms already. We aimed for a point on a small island up ahead and when we got there I relaxed and then..........fell in :) Really really cold but great fun.
We carried on as the wind blew across us and eventually went behind us. Our aim was to get down to Lough Lannagh and get out at the car park where we left the van. We estimated that it would've taken about 3 - 3 and a half hours but after 1 hour we were already half way. The wind was pushing us so hard that we didn't have to paddle at all. As we were firing on down through the bilberry we had to dodge loads of low hanging branches which actually added to the fun of it. We ended up getting to the car park in under 3 hours which was completely unexpected. 
This was a really long and easy paddle but I would love to do it again when there's not as much wind. 


Day 2:


A good friend and former outdoor Niall Tansy asked if I would go for a paddle with Jarlath for his cousins birthday so I said yes. 

Birthday Banter :)

This time around we decided to meet at Lough Lannagh and left from there. We got in at Lannagh Village and went up past the bridge. We stayed on our knees until we got that far as we started head to wind. We then learned how to pop up correctly while holding the paddle.....and not dropping it. We were each successful, some more unstable than others but once again as we got going it got easier. We then turned around and decided to go down as far as the bridge at Aldi. On the way down we learned how to do different turns. After an encounter with a tesco trolley and other various objects we decided to head back and have a few races. I ended up winning the first but Nialls cousin won the next two. Jarlath then decided to join the race as well but I reckon he definitely had some kind of engine with him.