Kayaking in Stockholm

And so next on the agenda ..att paddla to kayak. I have always been fascinated by kayaks, they look so graceful but also terrifying to a guy who is not at ease on water. Miss P kindly bought me a session with a company on Kungsholmen but for various reasons I did not go and before I knew it the season was over.

Before the off...

I had decided to make it a team event with my Senior team. I felt it would bring us close together and might actually make me do it and not bottle out. You see just as with heights – water is not my förte.

Looking thrilled

We rocked up at the spot and were given kanelbulle and a drink. The briefing lasted all of 5 mins which surprised me and if I am honest we all were beginners and felt the instruction was not good enough. We all got on the water and I was last and I struggled at first. I could not balance and I have problems with balancing. I knew I should have gone in the double kayak but no not me, I wanted to beat my fear. I was having one of those panic attacks that I had when skiing.

Every conceivable doubt ran through my mind and thats the problem I think. I get myself into a real state. My colleagues were waiting and I did not want to let them down or tell Miss P that I let a fear win.

So they offered me a more stable kayak so I got out of the slimline one and into the larger version. Definitely felt better but they told me that it would be hard work as there was no rudder like the others. Ah give me stability than in the water anyday.

Very suave blogger

I cant say I was graceful as I thrashed about but I was afloat and moving and in the middle of the water. We took off from Kristineberg heading for Långholmen. I had a few nervous moments when I thought I was going in but I managed to keep my balance.

As I progressed, my absolute fear of falling in, subsided. I was no longer that bothered about going under. Though I had wished the instructors had given us more training on what to do should we capsize.

My colleagues even teased me that I had time to ‘flirt’ as I spoke to a lady who was swimming near me. Not at all, I just wanted to make sure I didnt hit her!!!!

Dressed in my fjällråven shirt and lifejacket I was hardly looking James Bond like

We had some issues when a member of the group got stuck so we managed a 5k route circling a certain island where Miss P lives. Oh if only she had been walking along and seen ‘scaredy cat’ Shane bobbing along in his kayak.

In fairness out of six of us…only one capsized and nope it wasn’t me!

Kayaking was a lot of fun. I cant say its my number one hobby but I could seriously see myself wanting to have a go at this on a river or out in the Archipelago maybe.

Actually when we got back, I stripped down to the bare minimum ( I am not quite Swedish enough to skinny dip in front of colleagues) and jumped in. One small jump for man but a giant jump for this blogger and his water fear. It felt good, though I was still very edgy about not being able to touch the bottom.