Row Your Boat

Random title, I know, but this blog is about rowing (well, paddling) a boat.

A while back my mum mentioned a Summer Solstice paddle on Lough Talt at 4 a.m. to watch the sunrise. I like to think I'm quite adventurous and I decided to head along. We had to get up at 3 a.m. yesterday morning so I didn't bother going to sleep as I knew I'd just feel worse on a few hours sleep. I did my makeup at 2:30 a.m. in the half-light and thought I'd come out looking like Coco The Clown but I actually got a few compliments on my 'full face of makeup' when I arrived at the lake. I was tempted to do a Beyoncé on it and say 'I woke up like this' but I think she's the only person who could get away with that.

It was still pretty dark when we arrived at the lake. Most people there had wetsuits on which frightened the life out of me (the thought of getting into a wetsuit, not the people in wetsuits) because ain't nobody ready to see me in a wetsuit, they scare me more than the thought of falling into the lake and drowning. Luckily my mother and I got promoted to a dinghy type paddleboat so we were safe in what we were wearing - although I did end up with a wet arse, but I digress.

I got to sit on the front of the boat and clung on like a limpit. I felt a bit like I was on the Titanic and I was tempted to stick my arms out and hope Leonardo DiCaprio was behind me to catch my fall - no such luck. Celine Dion didn't make an appearance either. I could've done my own rendition of My Heart Will Go On but every dog within an 8-mile radius would've started howling along so I saved it.

I was even allowed to paddle the boat for a bit - very badly, I will admit. For the first few minutes we were just spinning around in circles, but I eventually got us moving - very slowly and very off-course! I was so bad at paddling I got demoted to sitting on the front of the boat again. 

It was such a wonderful experience, being up so early and being able to just relax and take in the sights. We even got treated to tea, coffee and croissants afterwards for the earliest breakfast in the world. Unfortunately it was so overcast we didn't get to see the sunrise but it was still beautiful and I'd love to do it again - but next time I'll be brave enough to have a go at kayaking.

Thanks to Wild Wet Adventures for the magical experience.

P.S. of course I took a boat selfie.

I'm on a boat.