Thats all folks!
Hi All!
It’s now 24 hours since Dave & I arrived back into Sheffield to what I can only describe as a welcome far beyond anything I could ever have dreamed of! Banners, bagpipes, a kayak armada and a huge crowd ensured it was a moment that brought a lump to my throat and a moment I’ll never forget.
Looking back now it’s still a little hard to believe what we have achieved, 275 miles in kayaks from London to Sheffield in 10 days raising what’s looking like a final figure of around £2500, I know that money will be put to the very best of use. I don’t mind admitting that this has been the single most difficult experience of my life, it seemed at times like everything was against us, from bad weather to all those dreaded locks, we faced it all and came through it. I’m so proud of what we have achieved.
There are a few people I need to thank and so I’m going to do it here. Matt from the Leamington Boat centre (www.leamboatcentre.com) for all his advice at the very start, Deb Mather for highlighting our cause to all of the relevant media, Cath for setting up the website and all your support, Uncle Colin for getting us to London, Fran and Dave for letting us take over your house, the various British Waterways lock keepers for all of your advice and for granting us a safe passage along the way and the many people who stopped us for a chat and to wish us the best of luck. The Hemel Hampstead Canoe Club for letting us spend the night in your gaff even though you didn’t know us from Adam (excuse the pun) and the land lords of the Ferry Boat Inn, Church Laneham for taking us in and keeping us warm at our lowest moment, you’ll never know just how grateful we were. Of course to everyone who sponsored us, without you the whole trip would have been for nothing!
To my family for all of your messages of support both before and during the trip and for being there at the finish line one and all - I love you all and am so proud to call myself one of yours - Rocky won!
To Katie - where do I start! Thanks for all your patience before hand, all your running around during and for being there to sort me out after - coming home to you is what kept me going, I love you all the world Barnpot, thank you!
And finally to the other half of the Blisworth Two and co-founder of ‘Pimp My Kayak’! Dave - you are a living legend. Never in all my life have I met anyone so determined, so committed and so supportive as you. I wouldn’t have got through this without you and I take my hat off to you, the biggest pile of respect I give to you and to quote Superman Christopher Reeve himself, ’A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles’ - that’s you - be proud.
And so that’s it. Would I do it again? Well not today, but maybe tomorrow…..
In the meantime, I have a kayak for sale, one owner from new and used just the once, 275 genuine miles on the clock, very comfortable on long journeys and would suit similar plonker thinking of doing something a little bit mad but very worthwhile!
Thanks for reading and much love
Adam x
This entry was posted
on Sunday 4 May 2008 at 10:14.
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