Isle of Man Symposium 2006

I knew that all invited teachers for the Adventure Week Symposium would be staying at his home – but I didn’t know Keirron well enough to not figure that this couldn’t be just a tiny apartment in the city…

So when I was asking him via cell where to go, he directed me  the way to a lovely farmhouse, located somewhere out in the bushes of the Isle of Man, where his whole family lives. And "whole family" on the Isle of Man obviously means something different than I was used by myself.

 

(standing:) Kirti Walpole, Jim Krawiecki, Nico Middelkoop, Jonathan Walpole, Trys Morris with baby Finn, Nigel Dennis, Michael Butler, Nadine Tastagh, Katia Tastagh, Finn Tastagh, Naomi, Joe Leach, Keirron Tastagh    (sitting:) myself, Aanti Linonmaa, Kim Tastagh, Jukka Linnonmaa, Pete Jones

 

I had to pass some very narrow roads of the island, but I guessed, was that really necessary to pad out all corners and walls when I was arriving with my big van??? I’m not *that* bad on driving…

The famous Isle of Man motorcycle race was just over, and the road looked still like a racing course…

 

His mom Nadine and dad Jimmy welcomed me on Sunday late afternoon, as Keirron was still out on the water with some students.

Two peacocks, lots of chicken, some cats and the pretty friendly white woman-boxer dog “Blondie” were running around as I tried to pull my huge van through the narrow driveway onto the farm courtyard.

It was only working backwards, with Jimmy directing me in inch by inch, not only checking the sides, but the van’s roof with my kayaks for low hanging branches as well. But it looked as if it was just made for my dimensions, and I was happy not to have to stay out on the road

 

The Ballabrooie Farm’s court was packed with kayaking vehicles

 

Nadine, Keirron’s brother Kim and his sister Kista were already busy preparing dinner for the whole family in the farm kitchen, and it was easy to get to put to work to fill all those big pots

My job was to peel and slice a big basket of apples just picked from the garden, but not with an ordinary knife… they had a little machine for it which reminded me to my grandfather’s pencil sharpener – just put the apple on a pin and turn the handle a couple of times and the apple comes out peeled and sliced – very easy and effective! And definitively more fun than using a knife.

They showed me the farm veggie garden, too, and I really thought why do they still need to do some shopping? There was just everything growing to feed the whole family.

 

Keirron showed up from his paddle at about 10 pm, as the group couldn’t resist hitting the local pub before having dinner.

Nico Middelkoop from the Netherlands and Jukka Linonmaa with his 14 year old so Aanti from Finland were joining him, as well as another sister with her boyfriend and Joe, a young guy working for Keirron.

The big table in the middle of the farm kitchen could (still) take them all…but there were a few more guests expected the next days!

The first day ended with some good talk over some glasses of wine at about 1 am, late enough to feel that the (expected) noisy early morning cock crows at 5 am didn’t really kick you out of the bed…

 

 

Next Monday morning started slow, and Nico and I decided to go for a short bike trip.

Before we could ride a small footpath with high grass *downhill* to a lovely beach, we had to climb up and down on the road with the bikes several times, which gave me something to breathe hard, not being used to “hills” any more on bike rides…Nico, having biked a bit more in the world than I had, seemed not to feel any hard work

 

Back for lunch in time, we could see Jukka making progress on constructing a roof for drying gear for the expected bunch of people the weekend. Good job, guy! Good to have various guest with different skills at home

 

With two big bowls of homemade tomato soup in my stomach, we went for my first paddle on the Isle of Man in the afternoon.

 

 

Keirron in my Qaanaaq SS

 

Keirron wanted to try my Qaanaaq SS on a trip along the coast, but it was not rough enough to scare him at any time in that low volume boat :-))

 

After getting a second group on the water at night with Nico guiding, Keirron went for his first experience wearing a tuilik and touching a Greenland paddle – he even used an “ugly” nose clip rolling in my Qaanaaq

 

A slim kayak on a fat van…

 

He was keener on learning the hand rolls rather than getting entangled with the stick, and did a good relaxed job then, fascinated by the ease of my rolling machine.

It was Jukka’s turn later, and we had much fun playing around even a long time after it got dark. He noticed his goggles were kind of useless on rolling when it’s dark anyway … rolling with “feeling” was the lesson…

 

Dinner was late then, and after a nice hot shower in my van I fell into bed, tired of the first paddling day.

 

 

Tuesday morning was “office day” for me, finishing some urgent e-mails and updating my blog from the last trip, lacking time for that at home…

 

It was blowing quite strong in the afternoon, and I was excited to get into rough water again.

We played a bit surfing up and down, before we went on a short trip up the coast. Amazingly the way back took only a quarter of the time than the way upwind…

 

I was working then with three clients on rolls, and all of them did a good job.

  

 

Nigel Dennis, Pete Jones and Trys Morris with her baby Finn arrived on early Wednesday morning from the night ferry, pulling a big trailer with kayaks behind Nigel’s blue van.

 

They had to catch up with some sleep in the morning, and I went out playing with my rolling kayaks and in a Triton double with Joe Leach and Michael Butler, Keirron’s assistants.

The only wish Keirron gave me on the way whilst he was dropping us at the water was not to drown them and not to teach them better hand rolls than he has got…as the advantage of long arms on hand rolls is hard to beat

Michael was interested in learning the headstand in the kayak after we tried it already in the lounge last night with lots of fun, and he figured it would be the best to learn that in the front seat of the Triton with me bracing a bit…

 

Michael Butler and I having fun in the NDK Triton

 

I’ve never laughed that much seeing from the back seat his heavy tries of raising his butt :-)) :-))

But eventually he did it!

And then it was time for the first double headstand in a kayak ever!

I started first, and was easily standing there for some seconds, as Michael raised his butt, too, to a somehow proper headstand!

 

And Joe kept on pressing the button of my camera…but obviously he didn’t press hard enough or was not letting go or whatever was wrong…no pictures of that historical event  later… :-(((

 

 

In the afternoon there was a navigation class for the 5-star training run by Nigel and Pete, and after dinner they headed out for night navigation in Port St. Mary.

I didn’t get wet enough yet, and asked if Kirti, Jonathan Walpole’s wife, who just arrived from the airport, was interested in a night rolling session.

Jonathan, Nico and Pete were out with the groups on the water in the harbour, and we both enjoyed rolling in the darkness.

 

Nigel, Pete, Keirron and I had some relaxing drinks and good talks in my van later, it felt good for me bringing my (rolling) home to people I like to hang out with! But I rather would be happy to organize an own symposium around my house…but no chance without good water…

 

 

Thursday there were two groups out on the water, the 5- star skills training with Pete and Jonathan, and the 5-star skills assessment with Nigel.

 

 

Nigel and Nico 

 

Nico and I decided to watch the assessment, and it was blowing quite heavily. The two assessed young guys had a hard time keeping up with Nigel’s instant pace crossing the bay at Port Erin first, seeking a sheltered corner where the exercises where discussed then.

 

They had to do a rough rock landing…

 

…re-entries, rescues and towing in quite choppy waters! Interesting to watch…

 

My lunchbox…

 

…was worth some laughter, but I promise I was NOT thinking like them when I was packing it!

 

Jukka and Jonathan showed some slides in the kitchen lounge of the farmhouse, quite impressive pictures!

It was pub time later, and Kista and I had quite a bit of fun laughing… Nigel later had to figure in Kista’s apartment the difference between an African woman and an elephant…

 

Friday was again 5-star training or 5-star assessment (leadership day).

Our assessment group needed dummy paddlers, so Lauren and Janet, two active 3-4 star paddler, were asked to do the job. Nico and I were watching together with Nigel, how the two assessed guys led the small group. General direction was the lighthouse on Chicken Rock, after we crossed the races in the Sound of Man.

 

 

The approach to Chicken Rock

 

But the approach to the lighthouse is tricky, with lots of rough and choppy tidal streams on the way. It’s easy to miss it.

Lauren was happening to capsize right in the roughest part, and the two guys had to work hard to get her into the kayak again and towing the rescued pack out of the rough stuff. This was assessment with reality touch…

 

Lauren swimming in the roughest race (on  the left)

 

But Chicken Rock was done for the assessment group, as over the rescue we were flooded far away from the right course and the girls ran out of enough power for a second approach.

 

Nigel asked Nico and me if we both would like to do the lighthouse rock on our own, once we are out there, and we happily split off the group and headed again to Chicken Rock. 

 

Chicken Rock lighthouse

 

Nico did a good job on guiding us two with a hand painted tidal stream chart on a piece of garbage bag :-), as we had to ferry glide in a strange angle to hit it right.

 

 

Around the rock were extreme tidal streams, and there was only a chance to get off the water and on the rock in a small quieter corner with jumping into the water first, climbing the rock and towing the kayak up then.

 

Nico and I on Chicken Rock

 

On the rock there were some men busy working changing the huge lighthouse batteries for the next ten years, but they weren’t allowed to let us climb up the tower :-((.

 

 

So we had lunch, took some pictures and did again a tricky launch.

  

At night after the good dinner at the farmhouse table we were all heading to the bonfire out on the field, having some beer and good talks.

 

 

Saturday morning was the start of the “real” symposium. Keirron was busy organizing, hoping to attract lots of people to sign up.

 

Keirron, caught in the act…

 

The courses and events sheets filled up quickly, and each instructor organized the transport to the launching site. 

 

 

  

 

As the whole thing was called “Adventure Week” besides various sea kayaking classes there was an offer for coasteering, abseiling and climbing.

 

 

 

Keirron’s "coasteering" class

 

My ½ hrs one on one rolling classes were kind of tricky to fit into the ½ day/ full day schedule, but there were always people splitting off their other courses, and I was busy teaching as usual.

 

 

 

I had several good students, but the women in general with their flexibility were topping them all again :-))) – it was enjoyable to teach! Thank you, Juliette, Janet, Lauren, Janette, Naomi!

 

 

Janet in perfect style

 

 

Saturday night was really exciting to listen to Nigel Dennis’ slide show about his South Georgia expedition, I just would have loved to be there, too!

Nigel might have got just a little nervous about Michael Butler showing up in the audience in gumboots and well padded Speedos (only…) :-)))

 

And then there was the traditional Kylie dancing night…who has never experienced this kind of very organized, but chaotic group dancing to traditional music doesn’t know what he is missing… WE HAD FUN! No chance for the guys to hide and to shy away…we’ve got you anyway! :-))

 

 

Sunday continued with the same courses and classes as Saturday, and the day was passing by quick.

 

 

The next four days were planned as the circumnavigation of the whole Island. Our group started big, as Nico and Jim had to paddle two Tritons solo to a spot where Keirron organized a photo shooting for an advertising.

 

 Jim Krawiecki, author of "Welsh Sea Kayaking"

 

Jim, chasing me with his "long one"…

 

 But both of them had to leave after that day, and there was Jonathan, Kirti, Joe, Keirron, Ian and I heading out for the whole circumnavigation.

Jonathan had some shoulder problems next day, and had to stop, too.

 

I was enjoying a sweet water shower after a day’s salty paddle

 

 Keirron in his brand new "Isle of Man" NDK Explorer

 

"Homeless" Keirron, cooking noodles on the road…

Kirti Walpole

Jonathan did a great job cleaning and organizing Keirron’s kayaks whilst we were out paddling…

 

But the rest of us made it around, being back on Thursday afternoon.

I almost put a farm shed under fire then, as a still coiled cable connected to my van was burning like hell…

 

I couldn’t resist doing the whole circumnavigation again racing on my own on Friday only. The weather was forecasted sunny and fine, winds to 2-4 NW, neap tides.

Keirron, Jonathan and Joe escorted me on that Friday morning to set out at 7am.

Joe, who did the same thing some weeks ago, took 20 hrs… and so the guys at home dared to put out their bets on my time

All people on the farm were betting between 16 and 18 hrs…I said 15 hrs…

 

It was highly motivating for me to see their faces then when I realized at the north point I will be way under 15 hrs!

I finished at 09.07 pm, taking 14:07 hrs for 115 km. And the last leg from the north point top Peel was the fastest, average 9 km/ hrs.

No breaks off the water, eating, drinking and peeing into the kayak…what was the hardest part? Jumping into the dark cold water after the trip to rinse me and my kayak :-))

 

Anyway, after a nice hot shower there was still time for the pub later…I felt great that night!

 

I really enjoyed my stay on the Isle of Man, especially being hosted at Keirron’s family. Thanks to them all! And I love to be back next year…

 

P.S.: Keirron told me later he managed to get a report about my record in the local paper. I hope to be able to scan and post that soon.