Top of Testimonial Page

Wednesday 14^th April.    Day started with great weather but bad later. Usual cereal, tea and cooked breakfast. Decided to go outside abseiling at Castle Head in Keswick. Walked up while James and Andrew were pulled by a 3 man team up a muddy path. Sat in wheelchair at top of abseil for a rest. Spoke to John and he mentioned that he didn’t like heights and would walk back down. All 3 of us persuaded John to abseil as well. He was very nervous.  Walked towards edge with harness and helmet on. Clipped to a safety line then with Paul on safety, Russell took me right to the edge. Hold onto a tree stump whilst Russell in front helping me. Started to see drop! Whoa! Held on with left hand, Simon sang this little piggy whilst helping me release my grip. Finally put all my weight on the rope and hang there.

Amazing feeling trusting rope, safety and God. Took hold of abseiling rope and slowly lowered myself down. A great experience! Walked back after photo shoot and had lunch back at base. After lunch we went into the Sports Hall. Marvellous hall with adjustable angle climbing wall on whole side with safety ropes to roof. Had about 4 climbs from 30 degrees to 10 degrees to the vertical. James and Andrew both did well. All three of us tried and succeeded on the vertical rope climb. Used Andrew's video camera to record hid vertical climb. All felt brilliant. Had to abseil down once we reached the top. Simon really worked hard to help pull James to the top. Fish and chip dinner then up to Games room for Pool Tournament arranged by Peter. I lost my first two games so forgot the third. Too many games in all as they have to finish tomorrow. Watched film and went back to talk to John, a young guy who beat me at pool, and James and Andrew.

Top of Testimonial Page

Thursday 15^th April.    Last day of activities! After cooker breakfast travelled to Windermere at the top of the lake and viewed the catamaran at anchor. Mark rowed out and brought it to the jetty whilst we put on life jackets and collected everyone and everything together ready. Used a long slide board to help us on board. The catamaran consists of two fibreglass hulls each side with soft material floor between. There was a fibreglass well across the back. John went forward left with Laurie opposite. I was left middle with Adrian and Andrew opposite. Mark was at the rear with James on left rudder. Simon and Laurie undid the ropes and we motored off jetty then switched off and hoisted the mainsail and Genoa (foresail). With a southerly wind we went straight down the lake. After about 20 minutes nick hoisted the Spinnaker right at the front with 4 different coloured sheets (ropes). I was on yellow. Easier for Mark to call pull in or let out yellow say. Very impressive whizzing over the water and very fast about 10 knots. Mark explained that due to curvature of Earth knots are farther whereas miles are straight. Beautiful views all around lake of forest, hill tops covered with light snow, not many boats out at all. Spent approximately an hour going down to Bowness. Mark said lake 10 miles long . As we came near the 6 knot speed limit, agreed to sail around a small island with round house on it. Good as down wind as channel only 3 catamaran widths wide here so couldn’t tack against the wind. Getting technical now! Near Bowness jetty dropped sails temporarily, held with a bungee cord, and motored to the jetty. Quite cold but hot soup and coffee helps revive us. Sunny day but chilly. After an hour all back aboard and Mark explained where we were on a map of water with red buoys for shallow water. Motored into open water and sailed East for the first leg. Now tacking about 12 to 15 times up lake. James released on rudder and Andrew, then Adrian and I steered boat. Very responsive rudder, have to fix on point on shore and watch two coloured ribbons on Genoa each side. Once they are both stretched out then optimum lift from sail for fastest speed. Both sails act as vertical wing aerodynamically. Difficult at first steering but great fun when turn about on full rudder and chase back across on another leg! Could see North that weather getting bad NE was snow and NW rain. Really cold for first time at Calvert Trust. Laid low to keep warmer. Some water splashed through a gap in the soft floor. Very fast now at times. Discussed whether to drop sails and motor or continue tacking. Voted for latter. I think everyone glad when we get back to jetty. Seems a long day. Mark and Simon continually talk about sailing and other subjects. When Adrian (sight impaired) was steering the boat Mark had a sound device to set for compass heading and makes 2 different noises if you go off course either way. Very clever and Adrian delighted that he could join in. His guide dog Fred was left in the van at the jetty. Loaded up van, re-moored catamaran at anchor, and off back to base. Dropped John off in Keswick for return bus to Workington. Got about 45 minutes at most before dinner. All tired but had shower to wake up. They had laid on a brilliant buffet of cold meats, salads, kebabs, burgers, chicken, etc. Then trifle to finish, delicious. An American guy came yesterday and he was having difficulty with our sayings like "cheers" every time. Afterwards everyone went up to the games room for a presentation of certificates and a chat about the week. Seems Rotary Club send a lot of people Countrywide to the Calvert Trust. They also have centres at Kielder and Devon. Then the finalists played the last two games of pool and Andrew won. Quickly in the vans and off to a pub at Newlands Valley. All back in the van and off to base. Good spirits from everyone.