Ken McGuire

Off For The Weekend

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Ken McGuire

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It’s been a while since I actually took a day or two off work with the intention of doing nothing (I took a week off in August to produce / direct / act in a theatre production which lasted from the crack of dawn to well into the night). This morning, says he with one foot out the door, I’m off to Sligo for a few days. No email access, no wifi, no mobile broadband, no TV. I’ve the Jaiku mobile packed and that’s about it.

I’m aiming to be at the house (family home) before 12, allowing for a stop in breakfast in Athlone around the 10 mark. Gotta love that Kilmartin roundabout. What I do plan on doing is

  • Trying out my new wetsuit by kayaking on the lake this evening followed by some kayak surfing over the weekend.
  • Following up the kayaking by trying my hand at sailing on Saturday / Sunday.
  • Finishing the Vernon God Little script.
  • Polishing off a blog theme I’ve been working on for another new venture.
  • Taking in some of the WRC stages – the D70 and hiking boots are packed, along with the earplugs.
  • Getting stuck into a few pints of the black stuff at a the Saturday night trad session.

Above all else I just need to get away for the few days so I’m outta here until Monday night. 8am is the “hit the road time” so to all, have a good weekend!

Comments

5 responses to “Off For The Weekend”

  1. Paul Browne - Technology and People Avatar
    Paul Browne – Technology and People

    Kayak Surfing? Now why didn’t you mention that before!

    Prefer Bundoran to Sligo for that myself, but both are better than anywhere on the East Coast. Esp when you’re reduced to surfing the standing wave on the Malahide estuary for the half hour or so when the tide is just right … 🙂

  2. Ken McGuire Avatar
    Ken McGuire

    Ah it’s a new thing I’m getting into. Spent my teenage years surfing and bodyboarding up and down the west coast, now that the family is settled up above in Sligo I’ve a good base to work out of for exploring new sports!

    This was my first weekend kayaking, never made it out to Enniscrone. Was due there today but had to come back to Kilkenny early. Figured Bundoran would be a be of a stretch traffic-wise with the rally on in Mullaghmore today.

    Borrowed a kayak for the weekend and took off around lough talt, calm enough waters to let me build up to the first weekend in December, should hit the surf at that point.

    East coast is rubbish – tramore is reasonable but you’d want a storm brewing to make it worth your while.

  3. Paul Browne Avatar
    Paul Browne

    What I’ve learnt not to do in the last 10 years kayak surfing:

    – Same as surfing – never go out alone! I’ve had people pull me out in Bundoran ; only needed a tow of 2 feet , but those 24 inches were the difference between an unhappy swim and being able to walk out to the beach.
    – Learn how to low brace – means that in surf you can always ‘bongo slide’ i.e. come in sideways.
    – Never High Brace in surf – very easy to pop your shoulder (see it happen – it looks painful).
    – Watch out for the poor people on the boards. A kayak full of water weighs about half a ton. Same reason, never stand between the kayak and the shore (wave picks up , both hit your legs, not pleasant).

    Haven’t been out this year …. should be blogging less , may have a better chance then 🙂

  4. Ken McGuire Avatar
    Ken McGuire

    Ten years, well there’s some experience to tap in to, cheers for the pointers.

    Here’s what we’re using… the Bic Sport Ouassou

    http://url.ie/6sk

  5. Paul Browne Avatar
    Paul Browne

    10 years and still no good at it 🙂

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