THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2007

Testing the water

Three weeks off the water and very limited active movement with my shoulder. I've had to miss two SW league polo tournaments now! Went to the pool last night and tried swimming which really put too much strain on my arm so I stopped. I tried gently paddling with my arm held tight and low and gently worked on flexibility. Was able to paddle forward normally after five minutes with full extension. Can throw balls backwards in a high elbow style. Did a few cartwheels (keeping my arm low and tight) and it was sore but not evil. I did not try rolling but reckon it should be fine to go paddling gentle rivers again.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2007

Mountains and River Access

River access issues have been kicking off quite a bit lately. The WCA are making a bit of a push in Wales to get an amendment to law under the Welsh Assembly. The EA are threatening paddlers with arrest and charge for damaging fish spawning on Dartmoor, good things are coming of this though as efforts are being made to establish good paddling levels so as to not do any damage to the spawning grounds at all.

Located between the Skirrid, Blorenge and Sugarloaf mountains I have been running with the dogs a fair bit on high trails recently. On top of the hillside overlooking Abergavenny there is a cool forest that wraps in a circluar band around the whole hill. The dogs love running through the trees of Wiggly Wood. Lucy is still very young and learning how to climb, jump and swim but still she makes most humans look slow and clumsy. She is getting braver playing in rivers now and follows Bramble across deeper sections. They seem oblivious to the various rocks, undercuts, trees and other river hazards that I normally take great care to avoid.