Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => General Chat => Topic started by: RedLeader on May 25, 2009
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So what did everyone do at the weekend, outdoors or otherwise?
I'll go first - Saturday I canoed to Salt Island in Strangford Lough for sausage butties cooked on a wood burning stove (was an excellent day but the weather was really bad and the paddle was torturous). Monday I went for a walk (and more sausage butties) in Tollymore. Had a few relaxing beers inbetween as well as some sofa time for the footy and F1... Not a bad weekend all things considered but I'm bloody knackered :D
I'll stick up a blog when I get a mo.
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On saturday I helped out Ardclinis with the splash and dash session at cushendun, followed by a little yak surfing :) I then went to Rathlin (by ferry not kayak!) for a few beers. Sunday I spend looking for my head and 1 lost purse.
This weekend coming is going to be some craic as I am doing my kayak Canoe level 1 coaching assessment :'( not scared at all honest. I was out in a canadian on Monday night there just for a wee refresher paddle. We paddled up from Portna (point 5 on the lower bann trail) and just practiced a few strokes etc just up from the sluice gates. It was really beautiful, despite the rain :( I really need to get more canoe paddling done.
This Thursday I think/hope to be paddling from Dunseverick to Ballintoy with CCKA- busy week for paddling!! Dont know what is going to happen when i get a job!!
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On saturday I helped out Ardclinis with the splash and dash session at cushendun, followed by a little yak surfing :) I then went to Rathlin (by ferry not kayak!) for a few beers. Sunday I spend looking for my head and 1 lost purse.
This weekend coming is going to be some craic as I am doing my kayak Canoe level 1 coaching assessment :'( not scared at all honest. I was out in a canadian on Monday night there just for a wee refresher paddle. We paddled up from Portna (point 5 on the lower bann trail) and just practiced a few strokes etc just up from the sluice gates. It was really beautiful, despite the rain :( I really need to get more canoe paddling done.
This Thursday I think/hope to be paddling from Dunseverick to Ballintoy with CCKA- busy week for paddling!! Dont know what is going to happen when i get a job!!
You certainly had a busy weekend, sounds great.
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The purse has turned up- after i cancelled my card :( If you do bacon butties I will join you on a trip out next time !!
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The purse has turned up- after i cancelled my card :( If you do bacon butties I will join you on a trip out next time !!
Sounds like your night out on Rathlin must have been an absolute belter!!! Also, I don't go anywhere without bacon - my body wont operate without the promise of a buttie at some point!!
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I have been ponderin the idea of a bacon butty orienteering course. Butties instead of check points yum
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Saw Angels and Demons on Sat. It was OK, nothing spectacular. Did the NIBA day out (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=241.0 (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=241.0)) on Sun. That's been well written up and photographed, so I won't rehash it :) Also caught up on some reading, and got some work done.
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Saw Angels and Demons on Sat. It was OK, nothing spectacular. Did the NIBA day out (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=241.0 (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=241.0)) on Sun. That's been well written up and photographed, so I won't rehash it :) Also caught up on some reading, and got some work done.
So is Angels and Demons actually worth seeing for someone who only really likes movies where lots of people get shot (yeah, I'm shallow)?
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Heh.. I've a bad reputation for recommending movies Jonno :) I usually find something to like in any movie.
It's kind of in-between the action genre and the intellectual mystery genre, doing neither of them well. For me, it was a decent night out with friends. I'm interested in the whole old-style spirituality vs. modern decadence thing it got into a bit, but I doubt that would appeal to most. Even with an interest in one of the main themes, it wasn't that great for me. I've seen a LOT worse though. If you liked The Da Vinci Code, this was a bit more action and a bit less thought, so you'll probably enjoy it more. Otherwise... it (probably) won't make you want your time back; just don't expect too much :)
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I had the pleasure of being invited to canoe over to Salt Island saturday evening 10.30 to be exact where we had a midnight BBQ. We then set off next day to explore the surrounding islands weather was great, company was even better and a good time was had by all, best weekend i had for a very long time
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I had the pleasure of being invited to canoe over to Salt Island saturday evening 10.30 to be exact where we had a midnight BBQ. We then set off next day to explore the surrounding islands weather was great, company was even better and a good time was had by all, best weekend i had for a very long time
I'm so jealous. I really want to get camping on Salt Island.
I spent Friday driving the Bann from Toome to Kilrea to check out the canoeing and camping possibilities. Then on Sat I was off to the Mournes with m'boy and we climbed Slievenaglogh followed by the cup final, a BBQ and some celebratory Coronas. By the time I hit Sunday I was knackered and a day on the sofa was called for!! A top weekend all round (but I'm still jealous I wasn't camping on Salt Island :D:D:D)
Piccies of the hike on the Mournes here http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=249.0
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On Saturday, I had my first (Though unsuccessful) attempt at making bread in a Dutch Oven over an open fire. Unfortunately, I didn't pay it enough attention and I badly burnt it. Ahh well, I'll do better next time.
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Well I'm ashamed to say that other than a quick 3 miles in Black Mountain on Friday night I did nowt at the weekend. I did a bit of unsucessful shopping on Sat (for canoe paddles and camp seats) and spent Sunday on the sofa. I hate wasting weekends when the weather's nice >:(
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Spent sunday out. Made some cordage from nettle fibres, did a spot of spoon carving, made some wood sprites and had a nice time by the fire.
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I was kite flying at Island Hill on Sat afternoon - everyone should try flying a kite when the wind is string. It's awesome. Was at the ice house in Donard Forest on Sunday. Wanted to work out if I'd be capable of walking up there with camping gear. Good news is I think I'd be okay as long as I could stop and be sick occasionally... ::)
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Its a good walk up with plenty of sick stops believe me been there done it.
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Its a good walk up with plenty of sick stops believe me been there done it.
We'll have to get an overnighter up there on the events calendar.... Is it okay to light fires or hobo stoves up there or would the firebrigade appear and hose you?
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Any time we go up there we have a fire lit and have never had any problems.
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yeah as iong as you don't take the piss. We tend to use the same fire ring all the time anyway. you can't call it camping without a fire.
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yeah as iong as you don't take the piss. We tend to use the same fire ring all the time anyway. you can't call it camping without a fire.
I totally agree. Its one of the main reasons I like camping. There's nothing better than sitting round the fire chewing the fat and perhaps having a beer! I also find I enjoy myself more if I've had a chance to fashion a seat :D
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this weekend I finally did something worth telling you about. I was in Bushmills at the Education centre with the canoe/kayak coaches group.
Friday night kayaking in Coleraine pool, learning and improving our steering strokes and braces (and playing games of course).
Saturday morning in open boats paddled from Agivey bridge down the Bann and up the Ree for a bit. I'd never even noticed the Ree before and it's an excellent wee slow-running deep river. We turned after about an hour and made our way back. Lots of experimenting with trim to account for wind and water flow.
Saturday afternoon, kayaks among the sea stacks around Ballintoy. One or two hairy moments when the waves picked up (even hairier when the sea vanished leaving exposed rocks!), but excellent for practicing our newly learned steering strokes. then we did some tow line and rescue practices - eskimo rescues and X-rescues.
I even managed my first unaided roll in the sea - I've done it in the pool before, but when will you ever need it in the pool?
Saturday night looking at rescue, maintenance, safety and repair kit worth carrying, and practising with throw lines. (as well as watching Bill Mason's 'Path of the Paddle')
Sunday morning back in the open boats at the Cutts practising J-strokes, Canadian, Indian, box strokes, draws, stern rudder, bow rudder, cross-deck strokes... all that sort of stuff, then a couple of solo rescues to finish off.
Did I mention I'm a wee bit tired this morning?
I'm a bit diappointed not to have got my 2* this weekend, but I've only been paddling since the start of the year - plenty of time to get more practice and get certified before the coaching weekends in September.
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Wow sounds like my kind of weekend!!! Congratulations on the roll - any chance of helping me nail that one??
Pity about the 2*, did they give you a review of why they didnt pass you for it? If you need practice give me a shout always u for a paddle!!
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I was up Cave Hill oin Sunday for some fresh air and exercise. It was really hard going getting up to the top still. Was hoping I would be finding it easier by now... On Sunday night we had a BBQ and smoked up the garden burner. The weather was great, top night!
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Really I just need more practice Michelle,
I've only been paddling since the start of the year and I don't have my own boat yet so I have to think about what to do rather thaan it being instinctive and natural. It'll come.
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Took the youth club to East Coast Adventure in Rostrevor for the weekend.
After a very very disappointing Saturday morning it gradually got much better with sit-on-tops, banana boating, jet-skiing in carlingford lough, and then canyoning/bouldering and cliff jumping at bloody bridge.
Ended up being quite a good weekend.
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Wow sounds like a a cool weekend dry bag! I spent a lot of my weekend awake and having a few jars, its hard work not having to study any more. I have a wee surf boat and a sea kayak, I may be able to borrow another surf boat if you fancied a tootle about. its all about "bum in boat time" a man once told me ;)
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Robin's always telling us to get more bum in boat time.
I'll be picking up a boat tomorrow, on loan for the summer. It's an old fibreglass kayak though, so I won't be risking it on anything but flat water.
Where do you usually paddle? I might be up at the north coast in a couple of weekends' time, maybe we could meet up for a couple of hours?
I've been spending far too much time away from the family recently, so everything I do will fit round them for the next wee while. I'm sure we get a one-year-old hooked on surf kayaking though!
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do you think we can get him turned int a pro by the olympics???
Send me a pm if you want to come up we could go a wee doodle up the bann or down it :) prob between coleraine and kilrea is best - it can get a bit choppy depending on weather from coleraine to bar mouth. I know a couple of other people who are itching to get out a paddle too.
I normally tinker up and down margy, or go out into the bay when i can get hold of a few ppeople to paddle with :)
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Between a family birthday and Christening I only got a quick jaunt up Cave Hill this weekend. I feel like the summers starting to pass me by!!
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I was at Dungannon yesterday trying my hand at a bit of bog snorkelling not as easy as it looks. Well not that easy when half way down the course you swallow a mouth full of peatland bog :P.
How they can call a fella standing on a scaffold with a power hose a "refreshing and cleansing shower" i will never know.