1 Adventurous Life: April 2012

Home,
Home is Home. There is always the sense of excitement I get when I come home. Anxiousness to get home and have that famed cup of tea. See them familiar faces that makes coming home even more better every time.
But there is one thing I dont understand, it's that people in this country don't realise what an amazing country they live in. Of course it is good to take breaks, get focused, re-energised. But this country has got so much to offer, all it involves it getting out of your house. Going hiking in the Wicklow mountains, Surfing in Lahinch, Sea Kayaking around Ireland's eye, a revitalising swim in the Irish sea. Even nights out in Dublin are some of the best around. Hitting up templebar for a wild night and waking up without any cash. Visiting landmarks like New Grange in Meath.
It's all about discovering and finding a means to enjoy this life as you only got one life. Enjoy it!

Surfing Infusion wave, at Mundaca

Paddle guiding Puente a Puente

So I finally arrived home on the 26^th of March after a strenuous journey but happy to be home. I’ve been doing some editing on the footage I accumulated over the course of the futaleufu season. Finding work here so I’m occupied doing some freelance work here and there. So times are good. Also some house work, cleaning the windows of the house which was some of my most constructive work in the first week.

I got a little working holiday back in the emerald Alps of Slovenia for a week. Coaching and guiding the Shackleton guys, which was good fun because they were so motivated and keen to get out kayaking that it was super enjoyable on the river. This was the course I came through and to see the standard and interest in kayaking was incredible. These guys were charging and good times were had.

I love the Soca, It’s an incredible place and river. I spent two seasons there and every season I spent away from that valley and I loath to go back. But as a wise man once said never dwell on the past. But its good to return and see good friends and paddle a quality river.

We spent a day in Venice, Italy. The choice was to stay in a hostel or sleep in the airport. Some of the hard core folk spent it in the airport. While I, Rob and Pat roughed it in a tiny hotel room. But it was probably the cheapest accommodation in Venice at €25. I was here before with my folks and relations a good few years ago, so it was good to refresh the memory of this ancient town. It was a Saturday so we went out on the lash that was an expensive affair. Surprisingly enough there isn’t a lot of places to hit up in Venice. We talked up the chicks that were there to be talked up to no joy but good night and a fair few good stories. Good thing about hitting it up the night before we were wrecked on the plane so slept right through.

Few things to remember while visiting Venice. Its Expensive. So it helps to be absolutely loaded in this place with nothing but money to throw away. The average price of a beer is between 6-7 quid. This is definitely a town for the rich. And you can’t sit down in St. Marks’ square for 5 minutes without being told to stand up. I think they don’t like the idea of people sitting around like rubbish on the ground. Which is understandable because who does want to see and kind of wasters’ hanging around a fairly big tourist attraction. And enjoy the local scenery!!

So with Slovenia out of the way, I got back to working back home and the rain has come.

And Norway just around the corner I can feel a summer filled with work to make some wedge and get some amazing kayaking done in the Creeking paradise of Norway.

Here's just some late photos I never got around to putting up.

Pura Vida

1Adventure Life