Buzzing around Yorkshire, our columnist’s days are never the same…
‘I went paddleboarding on holiday,’ my daughter, Beth, announced when she arrived back from a few days away. ‘Oh, I’ve always fancied that,’ I heard myself answer vaguely. Be careful what you wish for, even in casual conversation and ESPECIALLY just before your birthday.
A week later I opened my birthday card and out fell out a ‘paddleboarding experience’ in the Lake District... and the whole family was coming too.
And that is how I found myself on the bank of Der went water early one Sunday morning dressed head to toe in rubber alongside my husband, said daughter and her boyfriend (both already paddleboarding veterans after their previous outings, not to mention that as fitness fanatics – he is a personal trainer – they both wore their wetsuits better).
To be honest I had resolved, as I entered another year around the sun, that I’d say yes to more new experiences… and it was a stunning place to be so early in the morning.
It promised to be a beautiful day and, as the sun broke through, the black lake was smooth as a millpond (or so it looked from the shore). Our surroundings were dramatic and atmospheric as the mountaintops overlooking the lake rose through the morning mist and, as we were the first at the paddleboarding venue, it was very peaceful with only the sound of shallow water lapping around the small marina breaking the morning stillness.
First task (after wrangling with the wetsuit!) was negotiation of the pebbly shoreline (shoes and flip-flops had to be left behind) to reach the actual paddleboards. I opted for the extra-wide version as it looked less precarious. Our patient instructor showed us how to attach the safety rope to our ankles, where to put our feet when standing up (she’ll be lucky, I thought!) and how to use the paddle – no it’s not obvious, it turns out I was holding mine back to front.
To my relief she instructed us not to attempt to stand up until we had got out of the marina, but to kneel on the board until we passed the anchored boats. Good, less embarrassment while still in view of people, I thought to myself. Then she told us we had an hour and wandered back to her office... it was now down to us.
Out on the open water I watched in awe as the other three stood up and glided, seemingly effortlessly, their paddles barely making a ripple. I clung to the board on my hands and knees, going round in circles.
For some reason trying to get upright caused me to get a fit of giggles each time, which honestly doesn’t help when you are trying to balance.
Then… miraculously it happened. I pushed myself up, balanced and, for a whole
