This incredible trip marked so many personal firsts for me: first time proper kayaking (bar a 1 hour “pootle” off the coast of Cornwall ) ; first ever group holiday ; first engagement with serious physical challenge after a 2 year period of major health issues - 2 operations and a new auto-immune condition.
I found the holiday intensely challenging in so many diffreent ways, but I absolutely LOVED it.
Context : I am a 60 year old woman who started the year on crutches after a hip replacement . A subsequent diagnosis with an inflammatory auto-immune arthritis then had me frequently confined to bed with pain and fatigue. Once the inflammation was under control however, I worked hard both to rehab my hip and restore fitness, and, come September, I felt ready for the kayaking challenge - if a little trepidatious.
My trepidation increased as I realised just how hard-core this trip was going to be. 100% self-sufficient - (all food and water for 4 days to be carried on board) - we were also headed to the rugged North coast, where our camping beaches would have no road access. (So, gone was my mental safety clause : “I’m a wimp, get me out of here”).
To my joy however, I managed the expedition.
I certainly underestimated the sheer physicality of kayaking in wind and swell. But I’m also very glad I did, otherwise I would never have booked!
As other reviewers have mentioned, the expedition is meticulously planned. And our two expert guides, Lucas and Jan, had wonderfully complimenting energies : Lucas - fiery and galvanising, Jan - calm and patient.
The kayaking conditions and demands changed repeatedly, with spells of exploration in beautiful clam turquoise water, then stretches of hard slog across open choppy sea. We were also swapped between single and double kayaks so that we experienced the challenges of both.
I confess I loved the single kayak, but loathed the heavy double with an equal passion. Slow to respond and hard to correct, it felt the antithesis of the responsive
single. Added to which, double kayaking of course presents all the challenges of teamwork .
Once the trip was finished, I found myself wishing I could replay the whole as. a video in my mind, so intense and full was the experience.
It’s too early to claim the experience as "life-changing" but it was most certainly “life-punctuating” . These 4 days in 2025 have marked my recovery . So, thank you Karetta from the bottom of my heart ❤️