Recovery paddle on the Upper Derwent
First time for a long time that I've posted.
Been having a bad year. A detached greater trochanter of the humerus (where the rotator cuff and muscles that allow the arm to go over shoulder height attach) probably being the main problem which has taken a very long time to recover. I fell off a ladder and caught the edge of the wall on the way down to stop myself. Luckily all the muscles and tendons held and the shoulder didn't dislocate. The consultant says this injury is usually accompanied by an anterior dislocation and severe muscle tear which never heal properly, whereas this will. Probably have a combination of regular paddling and tai chi practice to thank for that. Also had an unrelated surgery earlier this year, a change of job and most recently combined salmonella and campylobacter food poisoning.
However. Rivers are up. I had a half day today and I feel my arm is acceptably functional and comfortable that I can lift a canoe onto and off a roof (more of an issue than the paddling itself in fairness). No idea how well it would work for paddling but time to get back in the saddle.
A windy day so somewhere familiar, sheltered and easy to rescue from was called for. i decided to head out fo Kettlewell carpark on the Derwent. The little bay round plattyplus is pretty shallow and sheltered, then there's the upper Derwent if things are going ok, a place where the song of the paddle can be heard quite clearly in my experience.
A slightly brooding sky over Derwent Water. Managed to find all my kit again.
Aaand, first time on the water in 9 months,
WIll I even remember how this works? Will my muscle memory remember after all the abuse?... Is that a squall coming down Borrowdale?
A blustery day, gusts up to force 3 producing a light chop meant I fast found out and yes. It looks like a both remember how to paddle and can manage to do it with enough power to make headway. All the yachts were out today, perfect sailing weather but one thing at a time!
I made a bee-line for the Upper Derwent. Paddling into the wind and current so the return journey shouldn't be a big issue. No idea how good my endurance will be, I've lost a lot of muscle mass, I can feel that at work. One of the other reasons to get back in the boat again.
Like meeting on old firend again.
I wonder what the collective noun for a group of stand up paddleboarders is?
The river was pretty high. This means a lot of the more minor rapids are washed-out and you can thread your way upstream in eddies forming round trees. There were two riffles that were pretty pushy. Took me all my energy and balance to get up them, I landed up attacking them with a hit and switch technique, tried again with the trim a little further back and eventually surfed up and over the top. Used more energy than it takes to both paddle and take pictures at the same time.
Finally had Grange Bridge in sight.
This was my ultimate aim for if I was doing well so really chuffed. One extra all-out effort saw me at the central island downstream of the bridge. I could have got out and walked to town from here but decided not to. No way I was going to get any further without a pole and I didn't bring one... First things first and all that.
In fairness, I was pretty stiff by this point. Happily a tail wind and current means getting back downstream was mostly a case of drifitng restfully and occasionally dipping a paddle in for steering purposes.
Rain. Don't care, I'm enjoying myself.
Stops as soon as it starts anyway.
Always time to relax a little more.
Chinese bridge. Lots of walkers with ineffective umbrellas out today in horizontal rain showers. I'm drifiting with the wind so it feels calm on the boat.
Coming back out into the lake.
No less moody than when I started. Probably not a good day for being in the MIDDLE of the lake.
And then home. Happy chap. Went much better than expected. I suppose I'll see how stiff I am tomorrow but I think I should make a rule that I go out in the boat at least once a week from now on.
Been having a bad year. A detached greater trochanter of the humerus (where the rotator cuff and muscles that allow the arm to go over shoulder height attach) probably being the main problem which has taken a very long time to recover. I fell off a ladder and caught the edge of the wall on the way down to stop myself. Luckily all the muscles and tendons held and the shoulder didn't dislocate. The consultant says this injury is usually accompanied by an anterior dislocation and severe muscle tear which never heal properly, whereas this will. Probably have a combination of regular paddling and tai chi practice to thank for that. Also had an unrelated surgery earlier this year, a change of job and most recently combined salmonella and campylobacter food poisoning.
However. Rivers are up. I had a half day today and I feel my arm is acceptably functional and comfortable that I can lift a canoe onto and off a roof (more of an issue than the paddling itself in fairness). No idea how well it would work for paddling but time to get back in the saddle.
A windy day so somewhere familiar, sheltered and easy to rescue from was called for. i decided to head out fo Kettlewell carpark on the Derwent. The little bay round plattyplus is pretty shallow and sheltered, then there's the upper Derwent if things are going ok, a place where the song of the paddle can be heard quite clearly in my experience.
A slightly brooding sky over Derwent Water. Managed to find all my kit again.
Aaand, first time on the water in 9 months,
WIll I even remember how this works? Will my muscle memory remember after all the abuse?... Is that a squall coming down Borrowdale?
A blustery day, gusts up to force 3 producing a light chop meant I fast found out and yes. It looks like a both remember how to paddle and can manage to do it with enough power to make headway. All the yachts were out today, perfect sailing weather but one thing at a time!
I made a bee-line for the Upper Derwent. Paddling into the wind and current so the return journey shouldn't be a big issue. No idea how good my endurance will be, I've lost a lot of muscle mass, I can feel that at work. One of the other reasons to get back in the boat again.
Like meeting on old firend again.
I wonder what the collective noun for a group of stand up paddleboarders is?
The river was pretty high. This means a lot of the more minor rapids are washed-out and you can thread your way upstream in eddies forming round trees. There were two riffles that were pretty pushy. Took me all my energy and balance to get up them, I landed up attacking them with a hit and switch technique, tried again with the trim a little further back and eventually surfed up and over the top. Used more energy than it takes to both paddle and take pictures at the same time.
Finally had Grange Bridge in sight.
This was my ultimate aim for if I was doing well so really chuffed. One extra all-out effort saw me at the central island downstream of the bridge. I could have got out and walked to town from here but decided not to. No way I was going to get any further without a pole and I didn't bring one... First things first and all that.
In fairness, I was pretty stiff by this point. Happily a tail wind and current means getting back downstream was mostly a case of drifitng restfully and occasionally dipping a paddle in for steering purposes.
Rain. Don't care, I'm enjoying myself.
Stops as soon as it starts anyway.
Always time to relax a little more.
Chinese bridge. Lots of walkers with ineffective umbrellas out today in horizontal rain showers. I'm drifiting with the wind so it feels calm on the boat.
Coming back out into the lake.
No less moody than when I started. Probably not a good day for being in the MIDDLE of the lake.
And then home. Happy chap. Went much better than expected. I suppose I'll see how stiff I am tomorrow but I think I should make a rule that I go out in the boat at least once a week from now on.