Kayaking Harriers - Harriers' Paddle Playschool!

The Sunday designated as the Harriers Come and Try Kayaking day dawned bright and clear, no excuses for them not to turn up at the appointed time. Kenny and I waited expectantly.
Sure enough 11 Harriers duly arrived all bright and eager (Graham arrived well last with some sob story about having completed a long run and somebody got tired or something, yeah heard it all before, all the girls beat you this time Graham accept it) and were duly dispatched to get into their extremely flattering wetsuits. In case you don’t recognise them in their new finery in the photos they shall be named in no particular order.
Davy, Colin, Malcolm, Karen, Eddie, Frances, Geo, Joanne, Chas, Frances, Graham.
When they had all assembled Kenny and I had the daunting task of trying to estimate inside leg measurements to match to the kayaks which we had arranged on the jetty. Suffice to say we did not get it all correct, but with a bit of fiddling about got everybody sitting at least semi comfortably in their new mode of transport.
A quick outline of what they were in for and  that a straight line paddle was not to be expected immediately, along with the fact that it was dry, sunny, no wind, flat calm, ideal conditions therefore we did not expect anybody to fall in/over/upside down/capsize at any point. I know, I know it was tempting fate to say that and fate took us up on it.
Anyway everyone launched and floated about getting used to the situation, some smiles, some grimaces, some not even breathing, but everyone upright, so far so good.
Though it was a good job they were in kayaks and not cars, they would have been lifted for drunk driving as nobody appeared to have any definitive direction in mind, also as expected some circles were evident.
However with some perseverance things got appreciable better and we even managed to get everyone rafted up …..  eventually ( rafted up technical term landlubbers may not recognise but which our trusty crew now know and can perform at the drop of a hat).
In fact the forward paddling was beginning to look so good between two buoys at least 50 yards apart that Kenny decided a further challenge was required – paddling backwards, easypeasy!! Just the opposite of forwards.
I think fate was mentioned earlier, well it picked on Malcolm, who it has to be admitted was looking pretty good reversing backwards towards us, anyway a big hand came down from the sky and gave him a wee gentle nudge when he was not expecting it. With a soft splash and before he even had time to shout “abandon ship” he was upside down floating next to his kayak looking somewhat perplexed at how he had actually got into this position without particularly trying to.
However Malcolm being a hero took it in his stride, and we duly emptied his kayak in the middle of the heaving ocean!! and discussed the best way of getting him back into it. We tried one approach which was not too successful and then opted for plan B which saw him slither otter like straight back in to his kayak and ready for anything now he knew a wee capsize was no particular problem to a man of his caliber.
A round of applause from his watching shipmates I am sure made it all worthwhile, though they were probably all thinking “Glad it was him and not me”
Well you know what Harriers are like, one guy does something gets a round of applause and somebody else thinks they can go one better. Step forward Davy Searil, not one but two lapses of concentration I think he called them, when he was looking for attention and applause. Well done Davy you kept Kenny busy anyway.
After a short tea break we had a wee demo and go at throw line practice. All I can say is if you are waiting for Eddie and Malcolm to rescue you, you may get a rope but there may not be anybody holding the other end to pull you in, while they discuss between them who exactly was meant to be holding it. See the appropriate picture for this classic, never mind guys somebody always does it.
While this was going on Kenny was introducing Frances and Joanne to the delights of sea kayaks. Well at least they go in a straight line, though they do take a while to turn, a fact which Frances ably demonstrated by paddling straight into the jetty on her way back from visiting the distant island at the far far end of the loch. No damage as she was not at full speed ahead at the time, again there is a picture in which we will give her the benefit of the doubt and say she was in fact backpaddling to lessen the impact.  
The jolly tars finished with the throw lines and joyfully leapt back into their trusty kayaks for team games. Kenny drafted another 2 for a sea kayak trial and disappeared once again into the blue yonder.
The rest of the crew showed how far they had progressed by paddling without paddles, it can be done. At this point Kenny came back looking for the next 2 volunteers for the sea kayak experience. Karen was scheduled to give Geo her sea  kayak and take his wee river boat. She decided a mid Atlantic transfer was called for with no feet touching the shore, or backsides the water, would be a very professional manouver. Not sure Geo agreed, but he could not back down at this stage and the ensuing exchange between big kayak and wee kayak went so smoothly and with such success that from then on everybody was at it. Transferring from one kayak to another just to prove they could do it to. Harriers competitive !!! A further step on this was when Frances and Joanne changed from wee kayak to wee kayak looking totally stable all the time. (They may dispute this statement but that is the way it looked). Karen/Geo look what you started.
Chas as the last man into a sea kayak due to logistics was transferring at the jetty, and once he was settled, Graham pushed him off and in , ie literally as Chas ended up testing out his wetsuit. Graham did look suitably innocent as he said “Nothing to do with me Captian” but the jury is still out on that one.
 And finally at the very end of the session, Eddie decided he would like a go at the capsize and rescue, so as we aim to please we immediately threw him over, only kidding Sandra, he threw himself over without any hesitation, saying something like “Anything Malcolm and Davy can do I can do” (wee bit of poetic licence here maybe)
Eddie did the drill no problem at all, so well done Eddie.
To round of a fine time we managed to finish and get ashore just before the rain started.
A very well done to all who participated, Kenny and I thoroughly enjoyed our wee day, there is definite potential amongst you, and if you want more then you only have to ask.  


The gallery of photos with comments from Billy! A big thanks to Billy and Kenny for taking on the responsibility of not drowning Calderglen's finest!
Alan