New Update

Gosh we have had a very busy few weeks with courses. A 4* training course for Peterhead Canoe Club was really well received at the weekend. The weather was very kind to us with sunshine and really big water. What more can a kayaking group wish for.

Our planning application and building warrant application for the library conversion is in with Moray Council at the moment. I am hoping to run fast track instructor training awards next year with the new bunk house providing the accommodation for the students.

Have some bookings for this month and also the beginning of December so everything is looking healthy at the moment.

Autumn has certainly arrived and the colours of the trees and leaves are brilliant. What a beautiful place we live and play in!

Well I have had a hectic couple of weeks with whitewater safety and rescue courses, 4* white water training and we eventually got the keys for the library. We are in the process of submitting our Building Warrant application to extend it and change it to a 8 bed bunk house. Have to say it is looking quite good! I also need to remove the sign and get one made up for Aquaplay though this is not a priority at the moment. Still getting bookings coming in which is heartening. Hopefully our good name will continue to go out there and attract more business.

New Project

Been busy recently, lots of courses and activities and we have also bought the library downstairs of our flat.

We are looking at converting it to a 6-8 bed bunk house. Think we are well situated for paddlesports, walking, mountain biking fishing, skiing and snowboarding in winter etc and no decent bunkhouses within 30 miles, we should be well placed.

Spending a bit of time working out the layout just now.

Well that is me back in Scotland after a long drive from Slovenia. We had a wonderful time, basking in sunshine and paddling one of the most beautiful rivers. Aqua green water tumbling over and through huge boulder fields.

Our apartment was so comfortable and within minutes of the river. Eating out was awesome and we just generally had an fantastic time.

Already planning a return trip next year to run BCU star tests and white water safety and rescue courses for groups of a maximum of 4. Fantastic water conditions, warm and sunny climate, relaxing atmosphere and a few drinks in the evening to reflect on the day and chill out in great company.

Slovenia kayaking trip

Well what a few days we have had in this wonderful country. Weather fantastic, rivers awesome and food to match. A great bunch of guys out here paddling with me so what more could I ask for. The journey out was hard work but after a night of comfort in a hotel in Austria we eventually arrived on Sunday about lunch time. Got settled in and then went paddling. Have been paddling every day now and it is so magic having such a superb river as the Soca on your doorstep. Our apartment is very new and extremely comfortable for kayakers.

We are doing the lower Soca gorge tomorrow. A difficult walk in/descent down to the river rewards you with one of the best sections of river paddling I have done. It was a favourite from my last visit here and am so looking forward to returning tomorrow. The bike shuttle is working well and keeping me fit!!

Just returned from a frantic weekend of activity. We did the gorge walk on the river Meig on Friday night, mountain biking at Golspie on Saturday and Balblair and Carbisdale today.

Balblair is awesome, very testing and technical. had to be cautious with my trip to Slovenia this Thursday.

If you are ever in Golspie drop into the Golspie Inn for a meal. The meal we had on Saturday night rates one of my best ever!!

Update and Coasteering at Portknockie on Thursday 29 July 2010

Wow what a day yesterday, coasteering and kayaking! Awesome fun, Karin joined Dirk, Lena, Felix and Gesa coasteering at the Bow Fiddle Rock, Portknockie. After 2 days gorge walking and canyoning the team were well up for the swimming, scrambling and jumping all associated with our coasteering site. We finished off with hot chocolate and double chocolate cake in the Puddleduck Cafe in Cullen. Wow sugar and more sugar!!

Just got home in time to tidy the kit and then sort out stuff for kayaking on the Spey.

Today we are off to do some canyoning on the River Meig near Contin and then up to Golspie for some mountain biking on Saturday. A stop over there and then down to Carbisdale Castle for a second day biking. Busy boy!!

Then I really need to get ready for setting off to Slovenia next Thursday!

Just finished tidying up the kit from our gorge walking afternoon at the Bridge of Brown today. Dirk, Lena, Felix and Gesa all had fun on the challenging climb and descent in this unique little gorge.

It is becoming very popular and there were 3 other groups using the gorge in the time that we were there. Water level up a little bit but not much past a low level. I am looking forward to trying it again when it is pumping. Had to turn back last time as some of our group were struggling in the big water.

Getting ready for the coasteering tomorrow.

Another busy day yesterday, had an afternoon gorge walking at Culloden Gorge near Inverness with Dirk, Karin, Lena, Felix and Gesa from Cologne. They are holidaying in Scotland for a second time and have based themselves in the Aberdeenshire area having stayed in Fife last time. They are a family up for fun and lots of adventure. They took great delight in exploring all of the waterfalls, slides and jumps on this amazing gorge. I am meeting them again today to do another gorge walk, this time at Bridge of Brown, Glenlivet.

We did the Culloden Gorge walk yesterday with Dirk, Karin, Lena. Felix and Gesa from Cologne. They are a lovely family and up for adventure and fun. Gesa tried to teach me some German without too much success. We did all the swimming and jumps into the deep pools and progressed all the way to the top.

When I got home we had Steph's brother and family visiting so all in all a very busy day.

Hello, we hope you have had a great weekend. We have finished our second day of the Level 1 coach training course. This course looks at people coaching both canoeing and kayaking skills. We based at the Moray Watersports Centre at the West beach Lossiemouth.

We are having a month break before the second two days which involves assessment of the groups coaching skills, safety and rescue skills and general paddling knowledge.

Everyone is working hard and showing some excellent skills but needing polish in some other bits of the syllabus.

Whilst they are honing their skills for the assessment I will be in Slovenia with a group of paddlers from the Edinburgh area. Found a split in my Wavesport Diesel, have welded it but decided to buy a new one for Slovenia!! It is to arrive on Tuesday!

Have to do some paperwork for this weekend and then relax a bit.

Have a German family wanting to do 2 gorge walks and a coasteering day this week so quite busy just now. Will post some photos of this later in the week. In the meantime here is a picture from this weekend.

Hello, we hope you have had a great weekend. We have finished our second day of the Level 1 coach training coures. We are

Had been hoping to let you know about our come and try for the Moray Tourism Development team tonight but the river was huge. Safer to come home and write about not doing it!!

A team of us are going out tomorrow night to paddle down from Knockando to Carron. If the river stays at its current level or gets higher I don't think we will take long to complete the trip!!

Our wedding dress model Rachel, from the wedding fayre at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness won our prize draw for a half price hen party. By luck she is organising a hen do for a friend so I am sure it is going to come in very handy.

Well that was a top weekend, doing the wonderful gorge at Cawdor on Saturday and then we were at the Wedding Fayre at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness on Sunday. It went really well with our stand looking very professional and getting quite a bit of interest from visitors. Oddly it seems the woman are more up for it than the guys, happy days.

We are now preparing for the wedding fayre at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness tomorrow. Will park the newly signed van in a strategic place and just wait for the bookings to come in ! Drop in and say hello if you are in the area.

Sitting in Mat and Sandra's living room following our gorge walk on the Cawdor Burn this afternoon. Said a sad goodbye to my video camera as it was washed over a waterfall. Otherwise it was a fantastic day out.