All by myself

Well I promised I'd get back with details of new adventures on my Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP). And so here goes! I have managed 2 trips so far, both on the river Thames. The Thames runs through Oxford near my home, it's fairly wide at this point and so it seemed an obvious place to start. 

For my first outing I drove to Wolvercote, just North of Oxford City, and found a car park right next to a small tributary of the river. The perfect place to set off for my first solo voyage! First though I had to get my gear ready, and that meant a pre-SUP warm up.

When choosing a board I opted for a Red Paddle Co. Inflatable board. Now when I say inflatable, don't think it's like a big Lilo! The technology in these inflatable boards is fantastic. Once pumped up to between 15 and 20 psi, it is as solid as a rock, but still really light and easy to carry. I opted for a 12' 6" Explorer board. Once pumped up I realised just how big 12' 6" is!

The preparation of the board takes about 15 minutes and is the perfect warm up. All I need now was to squeeze myself into a full length wetsuit (I was expected to fall in!) and get going. Worth noting now that I was taking no chances with cold feet and was wearing 5mm wetsuit boots too!

Sliding the board into the shallow water I hopped onto the centre of the centre of the deck on my knees, and made my first few paddle strokes. Within a few feet I was in clear water with plenty of room around me so decided to try standing up..... Success! It seemed easier than I thought it would be, thankfully. And so I was off.

Just around the corner and I joined the main flow of the Thames, right next to where a large weir churns the water out past the Trout pub in Wolvercote. It's a pub I've been to many times, but this was a totally new view! And at 10.00am on a Sunday morning I was the only one there to enjoy the view.

The Trout Pub in Wolvercote

From here I decided to paddle down stream through Port Meadow. This is a popular place with dog walkers, runners and people out for a stroll. And there were quite a few people out enjoying the winter sunshine on this beautiful crisp morning. Strangely there were no other people cruising down the river on huge inflatable surfboards!!!

The only company I had on the actual river were a few coxless 4's out training from the local rowing clubs. It was really idyllic slowly paddling along the river, with just the occasional rowers passing me. The only other movement on the river was the graceful glide of swans as they eyed me up whilst passing, and the odd fish jumping out of the water. I was tempted to tell the fishermen on the banks, but didn't want to spoil their day!

A unique view of Port Meadow from the middle of the river

I paddled all the way through Port Meadow, as far as Binsey where I stopped for a short rest and a drink of water. From here I turned around and paddled up stream, which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. It took a bit more effort, but with a steady paddle stroke I seemed to glide smoothly along at a nice gentle pace. I paddled as far as Godstow lock, where I decided to head further up river to explore.

Getting out and carrying my board around the lock seemed easy enough, and was welcomed by my toes that had got rather numb standing still for so long. Walking past the lock I stopped and spoke to a couple that were out for a walk and were interested in what on earth I was doing! I explained what paddle boarding was all about and they agreed it was a fine way to enjoy the river on such a beautiful morning!

I had the river to myself, blissful!

Up river from the lock it became very quickly quiet, and all of a sudden I was surrounded by nothing but fields and the river. I could have been anywhere. It was just me, my board, the sound of my paddle gently moving through the water, and a few ducks swimming by. I was all by myself and it felt magical! Such tranquillity and peace sometimes seems hard to find in our hectic lives now, but this was truly wonderful.

I paddled for another 40 minutes or so, until I reached another lock. I figured it was time to turn around and head for home, and the down stream paddle on this stretch of the river seemed effortless. Again I had the river to myself and it was beautiful.

I paddled for just over 3 hours that day, and at the end I felt utterly relaxed. I'd had the best part of the day with bright sunshine and clean fresh air, and best of all I didn't fall in once! As a maiden voyage for my paddle board, who I named Ella (The Explorer) I was pretty pleased, and eager to plan another trip soon.

Keep your eye out for my next river adventure, where I go further afield.

Cheers, Andrew.

Out with the old, in with the new

So, I've been trying new adventures this year. I've been hiking and wild camping, I've been cycling more, and found that hammocks can be very comfortable, once you learn not to fall out!

I also tried Stand Up Paddle Boarding recently, and it's safe to say I loved it. No sooner had I finished the 2 hour taster session I was planning how I could get myself into this sport as soon as possible.

Well I set myself the target of getting myself a board and getting out and paddling before the end of 2013, and I'm glad to say I have achieved it! I started looking into the cost of a board, paddle, life jacket etc and quickly figured out I was looking at an outlay of potentially up to £900!

And that was my first big hurdle. I certainly didn't have a spare £900 lying around.... or did I? I've had a few hobbies and interests over the years, and one of my great passions for a long time has been music. I spent a good part of my late 20's and early 30's buying records, yes records! The big round black things that old people used to have before CD's and MP3's were invented.

I amassed quite a collection of vinyl over the years, and I used to enjoy DJ'ing at parties and sometimes at club nights. To play my precious vinyl on I invested in a set of Technic's 1210 turntables. Anyone who has ever had an interest in DJ'ing will know they are the much revered and well loved industry standard tools of DJ's across the world, and they are still very much in favour now. Even in the digital age!

The thing about these bits of kit, and getting yourself started in the world of DJ'ing, is that it is NOT cheap! A pair of Technics 1210's will set you back hundreds of pounds. Much as they were a well loved possession they had sat boxed up safely in my shed/studio for the past few years and I've neither the time or inclination to play them. Seemed a shame to let them just sit there being unused.

Well I thought I'd have a little look on eBay and see if they were still worth anything. It turns out that you can buy a pair quite cheaply, as long as you don't mind them having bits missing and faults galore! If however you want a pair in good, clean condition, that are in their original working condition, that have been lovingly cared for and stored in a flight case their whole life..... you'll have to pay good money!

You can see where I'm going with this. I took a past passion and traded it for a new passion. Simple as that. Out with the old and in with the new. I thought it would be a tough decision and that it would be hard to say goodbye to my old passion, but i figured I'd had my time with that interest, and it was time for something new and equally exciting.

Since saying goodbye to my old friends and passing them on to an enthusiastic new home and the hands of another budding DJ, I have now found and purchased everything I need to get out and start paddling the rivers around my home.

It feels so much more than just selling some stuff and buying more stuff. It's more like saying goodbye to one passion and igniting the flame of another. I hope my new passion will bring me as much pleasure and fun as my last one, and I hope like music and DJ'ing I will meet lots of interesting new people. Well, that part has already begun! I'm now discovering a new world, with new people who are also passionate about paddle boarding. It seems they are popping up all over the place, which is great. More people to go for a paddle with!

If you are looking for a new passion, a new way to find fun and fulfilment, get out there and do it. Look at all the opportunities out there, pick one that catches you eye and go for it. It might be just the thing you need in your life to help make a positive change, to turn a new corner and open your eyes to a whole world of adventure.

Keep an eye on my blogs to find out how I get on with my new sporting passion. I'll be writing again soon.

Cheers, Andrew.

Saying YES more

A good adventure can start long before you get your boots on and get out of your front door. In fact these days it can often start whilst you're sat at your computer or staring at your smartphone. That is certainly the case for this next adventure of mine!

I've mentioned before an inspirational chap by the name of Dave Cornthwaite, he's done a few adventurous things of his own, nothing too special, just the odd 3618 mile skateboard journey from Perth to Brisbane and a 2404 mile Stand Up Paddleboard journey down the Mississippi to name but two! 

You can read all about his other great adventures here: http://www.davecornthwaite.com

Anyway, on top of all of his adventures, Dave has founded #SayYesMore, in his words it's all about "creating moments, embracing adventure, living simply, squeezing the juice out of life with three simple words. Say Yes More!"

So, when I got the invitation on Facebook to take part in a Stand Up Paddleboard lesson with Dave, there was only one word I could say.... I said a big YES! Having read a couple of Dave's books and followed his adventures on his website I was keen to have a go at Stand Up Paddleboarding, or SUP as it;s known, and this looked like the perfect opportunity,

The fact it was going to be on a British river in November was not going to put me off. I even managed to convince my wife Nina that it would be a nice thing to do together. Nina is not a big fan of getting cold!

Well, we both said YES, and what an adventure we had. An early morning drive from Oxfordshire down to the river Avon, 5 miles from Bath and we met Tristan Bawn on the river bank all ready with his SUP school and guest instructor Dave. Tristan runs Adventure SUP, a Bristol based SUP School, and he had invited Dave to come and lead a beginners lesson as part of Dave's current 50 Ways to make £50 project.

Once we'd got our wetsuits and boutancy aids on it was time to get going. Tristan and Dave gave us all a safety briefing, and talked us through the basics of what we'd be learning, and then we did a quick river bank warm up before heading onto the river.

Within minutes we were all starting to get the hang of the basic paddle strokes required to move safely about the river, firstly staying on our knees on the boards. Within 15 minutes we were all standing up and paddling up river. Brilliant! I never thought we'd be paddling so confidently so quickly, but with expert guidance from Dave and Tristan we were up and off in no time.

Up river we worked on more paddling techniques including different sorts of turns, and I got a chance to practice my 'self rescue' after a couple of dunkings into the river!

2 hours seemed to pass by really quickly, including the race which I'm proud to say I won! Only paddling against the other beginners though. At the end of the session I felt at home on teh SUP and was paddling amd turning with confidence. It's safe to say I have been well and truly won over by the experience and I can't wait to do it again.

This experience would not have happened if I had not said YES. Dave really is onto something with his #SayYesMore mantra. Since I stared saying yes more I've been happier, more enthusiastic about life and I've met some brilliant people. None of this would have happened from the comfort os my sofa! So, one simple piece of advice..... Say Yes More! 

Sleeping with the Stars

This year I've been getting back to basics, trying to simplify my life and concentrate on the good stuff. That has mostly been achieved by getting off the sofa and getting outdoors for some fresh air and adventure.

There is so much you can do without splashing out money on expensive trips and entertainment. One of the simplist forms of adventure is to go for a walk. Now, if you add in a night of wild camping and cooking your dinner under the stars, then you're really getting somewhere!

The beauty of this is that you can do it pretty much anywhere. You don't need to be in the mountains to have a wild camping adventure, you can do it within just a few miles of wherever you live. Alastiar Humphreys is a pioneer of the doorstep adventure, and has written about many of his #microadventures on his website. Have a look for yourself and get inspired: http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/

A few weeks ago I got dropped off a few miles from home on a Friday night, just before it was getting dark. I had a small day packon my back containing a sleeping bag, some water, a very small camping stove, and the ingredients for one of my favourite camsite meals, corned beef hash! 

I walked for about 2 hours, deep into some very overgrown woodland that clearly had not seen any regular visitors in a long time, apart from the local Deer population! Once I'd fought my way through the chest high stinging nettles I finally came out of the woods and up onto an open hillside overlooking my home town of Bicester in Oxfordshire.

My bed for the night was a £10 green string style army hammock I had purchased from eBay. I found a suitably discreet spot, tucked away between two trees at the top of the hill, and started to set up camp. It soon became apparant that my hammock was not the best £10 I've ever spent. You live and learn!

Too short and too narrow to actually sleep in, it was going to be an interesting night's sleep. Once I'd made the best I could of my bedding situation I turned my attention to a roof. The weather report was for a dry night, but you never know. I successfully erected an old army poncho above my makeshift bed, to keep the wind out and keep me dry in the event of rain.

So, dinner time! The sun had set by now and I was looking out across the hilside to the suburban glow of the town below. Making a comfy seet on an old log I set to the task of cooking dinner. Using my old army mess tins (you'll see a theme developing here, I spent 5 years in The Army Cadets as a boy and rescued much of my old kit from my parents loft!) I cooked up the onions, potato, corned beef and beans to make myself a delicious hot dinner. 

With a full belly and heavy eyelids after a busy week at work I was ready for bed. I climbed into my sleeping bag, and spent an interesting night half suspended in my hammock and half resting directly on the ground. It was a peaceful night, but I've slept better. 

I have since invested in a 'proper' hammock. Thanks to seasoned adventurer Dave Cornthwaite I'm now the proud owner of a Hammock Bliss Sky Tent:  http://www.hammockbliss.com/  Dave has a great review of it on his website: http://www.davecornthwaite.co.uk/blog/?p=871 

Part of the plan, apart from an evening walk and a night sleeping under the stars, was to follow it up with a run/jog/walk back home in the morning. Packing up camp was swift after a quick ham sandwich for breakfast, and then I was ready to head home.

I left my camp site just before 7.00am, and enjoyed a 1.5 hour gentle jog and walk home. It was about 9 miles in total, and I got home in time to enjoy another breakfast with my family, this time it was bacon, eggs, toast and fresh coffee! After a nice hot shower I was ready for the day, having already had an adventure before many people were even out of their beds!

If, like me, you are short on time but have a hunger for a little adventure in your life, I can highly reccommend getting out of your front door and finding some wild camping spots near to where you live. As long as you are respectful of the environment, take your litter home with you and be careful about where you camp, you can have a mini adventure of your own on a minimal budget.

I'm looking forward to many more nights under the stars, and am building up quite a list of routes and wild camping spots all within a short distance from my home.

Use your head, buckle up

I read a post on Facebook this week from an old school friend that really made me think. I’d like to share with you what my friend Hilary said:

“Have just driven by a young lady riding a horse on a busy main road with the strap to her riding hat flapping in the wind!!! Many a Saturday morning as a young girl was spent in my dads' office where he kept the crash helmets and riding hats of head injury patients. Each of them told a story and thankfully most had a happy ending. These helmets/hats are designed for a reason, to save lives but only if worn properly so DO UP THE STRAPS!!!!”

Hilary’s dad worked for years as a brain surgeon in Oxford. He spent his career dealing with people who had sustained head injuries from accidents and falls. He himself cycled daily into work for many years, “ said Hilary.

I responded to this message with my own tale of the week, seeing a young man riding through the centre of Oxford, a famously busy and quite dangerous place to cycle, holding his cycle helmet in his teeth by the strap!

It seems crazy that people will go to the trouble of buying a helmet, but don’t bother using it properly. Wearing a helmet that is not properly fitted or fastened is as good as not wearing it at all.

I think people underestimate how much of a difference wearing a helmet properly can make if you have an accident on your bike, fall off a horse, or get things wrong in the skate park. I have had several lucky escapes from head injury, and every time it has been a safety helmet that has saved me from injury.

I have spent years cycling into work and have had a couple of notable occasions where I’ve taken a trip across the bonnet of a car. Both times I landed head first onto the road, and both times my helmet took the force of impact. Both times it was properly fitted, and most importantly it was securely fastened by the strap!

If you’re going to be cycling, horse riding, skateboarding, skiing or snowboarding, it’s really important that you take proper care of your head and wear a good quality helmet that is properly fitted. I know kids don’t think it’s cool to wear a helmet, but we must remind them that’s it’s even less cool to end up needing the services of someone like my friend Hilary’s dad!

Don’t forget, if you need a good quality cycle helmet you can support the Child Brain Injury Trust  by purchasing one from their eBay shop. The helmets are really good quality and we’re able to offer them at a reduced price, just for you! Follow the link to buy yours now:  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cycling-Helmet-with-embedded-360-degree-LED-lights-/330982093860?

If you’d like to talk about supporting the charity, please get in touch: andrewtee@cbituk.org

It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part.

There comes a time in a man’s life when you think “I need to get fit before I get too old”! Well, that time is now. I know, I couldn’t have picked a hotter time of year to start cycling into work and running in the evenings, but you’ve got to strike whilst the iron (and everything else) is blazing hot!

I, like lots of people, have had various dalliances with fitness over the years. I’m a classic example of the person who signs up for an event, gets fit, completes the event and then hangs up his running shoes for another season (or two!).

Well, this time it’s different. No, really it is, I promise. Having just started with the Child Brain Injury Trust 2 months ago as their Community Fundraiser for the South my job is all about motivating people to get involved with the charity, and taking on challenges to raise money.

I figured whilst I’m riding high on the wave of enthusiasm for this new role I might as well give myself some challenges too. So, not being one to do things by halves I have signed myself up for a muddy 10k assault course in October with a group of friends, and I’ve also said I’ll run the Rome marathon in March 2014 in support of the charity!

I’m a big believer in leading by example, even if it is leading from the back of the pack. Let’s get this straight, I’m no Mo Farah, but I’ll give it a good go. For me it really is like your mum used to tell you at sports day, “it’s not about winning, it’s about taking part”!

So, how’s it going so far you ask? Well, I got to my first training milestone last night by completing a 10k run. I left my house at 7.00pm, and by 7.03pm I was thinking “what am I doing?” it was far too hot to be running. But I toughed it out and completed 10k in 1 hour 10 minutes, not the fastest I’ve ever run by any means, but still respectable.

You see it’s not about how far you run, or how fast you run, it’s about getting out there and just running. Or cycling, swimming, walking, whatever is your thing. With busy lives it’s too easy to find an excuse not to go to the gym, not to get your running shoes on and go for a quick run. But as soon as you get out there and do it, you remember why it makes you feel so good.

I love running because it’s a great way to de-stress from a busy day. I don’t listen to music whilst I run, I don’t really think about anything whilst I run. I just plod along and clear my mind of everything apart from the road in front of me. And then when I get home I know I’m a little bit fitter and healthier than I was yesterday, and that is motivation enough to do it again tomorrow.

There are loads of motivational slogans about running, my favourite goes something like this “Don’t ask me why I run, ask yourself why you don’t”. If you feel motivated to get active and you’re looking for a challenge to work towards, or you’d like to talk about supporting the charity in a less strenuous way, please get in touch: andrewtee@cbituk.org