SimonWillis.net

Kayaking Scotland's Coast

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000Z

Alan Wilson tells me he's setting out to paddle Scotland's coastline for three charities.

He'll start on the Solway coast on 8th April, hopefully ending in Eyemouth around three months later.

Here's his blog, if you care to find out more, and follow his training.

Also, here is Alan's JustGiving page, if you wish to sponsor him.

One of his charities is The Erbs Palsy Group - and I confess I had no idea what this was until I read Alan's page.

He writes;

"My son Cameron was born with an Erbs Palsy to his left arm.

This meant he had to have a series of operations to repair the nerves in his neck.

His first operation was at 4 months of age. He is now 13 and his arm is a lot better thanks to the wonderful work of Professor Simon Kay at Leeds General Hospital.

The Erbs Palsy Group put us in touch with Professor Kay and for that I cannot thank them enough."

SeaKayakPodcasts - Taking a Break

2012-01-17T06:00:00.001Z

A few days ago I wrote this:

"Apple is dropping the system which allowed me to simply make and upload podcasts. So after six years, that seems like a cue to bring them to a close".

This was picked up by David at PaddlingInstructor.com.

Since then I have been utterly overwhelmed by the feedback I've received.

Wow. Thank you all. And thanks for all the offers to host the archive. Brilliant.

Here's the thing. I don't want something I love to become a chore.

While I never tire of chatting to interesting kayakers, the getting-it-on-the-internet bit was hard enough using the simple Apple system. With that being scrapped in June, I figured I was looking at a lot more work for each podcast = a chore.

Now the team at WideBlueYonder.net, who made our early versions of the SeaKayakWithGordonBrown.com websites, reckon they can set me up with a really simple system. Perhaps even more simple than what I used.

So the Podcasts are on hold while I investigate this new system. It might take some time. But they're not gone. Not yet anyway.

Oh the boat. Nothing to do with this at all...

New Year, New Eyes. What?

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000Z

Sorry, I realise that title is a bit weird. Rather Gary Gilmore.

But it came to me during our first paddle of 2012 last Friday.

We covered a very familiar section of Scotland's west coast, but we launched at a different place than we normally do.

"Big deal", I hear you say. Well it was, actually.

For some reason I still can't fully explain, the route felt completely different.

Liz and I explored nooks and crannies of the coast we'd hardly noticed before.

Our new put-in cut out a whole section of (excellent) paddling in Loch Moidart, so while we won't make a habit of it, we travelled further up the coast to a lovely lunch spot before turning back.

A Golden Eagle lifted off from a skerry as we approached - not the easiest shot to take with a compact camera.

I suppose it's a matter of perspective. Shift it ever so slightly, and even familiar ground can look fresh and exciting.

Buy 1 Sea Kayak Coaching DVD - Get 1 Half Price Offer Ends Tomorrow

2012-01-11T12:02:00.002Z

Since just before Christmas we've been running this offer on the two definitive Sea Kayak Instructional DVDs.

Buy one DVD, get the other DVD for less than half price.

This has proved very popular. Many people bought Vol-1 two years ago, mislaid it, but didn't want to spend another £19.95 on a new one.

£9.90 is a much better price, when bought with the new Vol-2.

The offer ends tomorrow evening UK time 12th January.

Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown.com

If You Want To Give God a Laugh, Tell Him Your Plans

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000Z

Not a religious observance on my behalf, just a line I know from a Mike Scott song, probably borrowed from Woody Allen.

While I don't 'do' resolutions, Liz and I have made some plans for 2012.

I thought I'd scribble down a few so, this time next year, we can look back and have a chuckle with the Almighty.

* Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown Volume 3. We hope to research and shoot some more elements this year, focusing on navigation. But there will be no DVD-3 in 2012.

* Other Kayaking Filming. There is another kayak filming project under discussion. While I might shoot some of it, it's not my production so it would be wrong of me to say more. It could take up a slice of the summer.

* Shetland. We've tried and failed to get there for the last two years. Once again it's on the cards for May/June.

* SeaKayakPodcasts.com. Apple is dropping the system which allowed me to simply make and upload podcasts. So after six years, that seems like a cue to bring them to a close.

* Road cycling. I'm taking this more seriously this year, hence the tweak to the masthead - the word 'cycling' has appeared in the blog title. I'm training more seriously, keeping a tight check on my weight and have booked a place on a training camp in Spain in March. I've entered a few Sportives and we have plans to spend a large chunk of time in the Pyrenees in June/July. We may even catch part of the TdF.

So there you go God. Those are our rough plans for 2012. Mess up that lot!

Back In 2012

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000Z

DVD Orders still being fulfilled.

VIDEO - The Adventure Show - BBC2 Tonight

2011-12-20T06:45:00.004Z

A small team of us recently shot the Tiree Wave Classic, a spectacularly challenging windsurf competition. See the clip below.

I stepped in at the last moment to produce the show (despite what it says on the credits!), and after a week on the island I spent another couple of weeks editing it.

I knew nothing about windsurf competitions but I found it hugely compelling. The experts on the shore explain the subtlety of the moves and how these are scored. Then the competition itself proved intense, with the lead switching back and forth.

Oh - and there's also a feature on SUPing, Stand Up Paddling.

It's all in tonight's edition of the BBC2 Scotland programme The Adventure Show at 7pm. You can catch the programme on the iPlayer, on Sky Freesat or Freeview.

Knoydart - Last Paddle of 2011

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000Z

The cold, crisp weather last week offered lovely 'last paddle of 2011' possibilities. In the end we kayaked from Mallaig to Inverie in Knoydart and back out again. The GPS track shows us wavering all over the place as we explored different possibilities, but it was a great day. We're looking forward to the first paddle of 2012 already.

Offer Extended - Buy DVD Vol 2 get Vol1 Under Half Price

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000Z

Our pre-Christmas special offer on the two Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown DVDs is proving exceptionally popular and has therefore been extended until after Christmas.

Buy Volume 2, get Volume 1 for less than half price.

It genuinely surprises me so many people are taking advantage of this offer to complete their collection. Many bought Volume 1 when it was first released two years ago and have since mislaid the disc. This is a great chance to replace it for less than £10.

One of the great things about our coaching DVDs is you can return to them time and again, and learn something fresh with each viewing.

Pay To View Sea Kayak Coaching - Price Cut

2011-12-08T07:00:00.004Z

The limited offer of Buy DVD Volume-2 get Volume-1 Half Price is proving very popular.

Quite a few people bought Volume-1 two years ago. Over time, many mislaid their disc, which is easily done.

So they tell me they're taking advantage of this special pre-Chrismas offer to complete their set. It means Volume-1 is effectively just £9.90.

That's the great thing with our coaching DVDs - you can return to them time and time again and learn something fresh with each viewing.

The two definitive sea kayak handling and rescues DVDs for £29.90 - an offer which ends 17th December.

Meanwhile I've also cut the price of the two Pay-to-View coaching sessions from Volume 2, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown. There's more than 7 minutes of coaching for under £1! You can have unlimited number of viewings in 24 hours. It's an ideal way for people to see how the sessions on the DVD actually look before committing to buy the whole thing.

Superb Repairs to Outdoor Kit Including BAs

2011-12-07T07:00:00.003Z

When a mouse chewed through the zip and surrounding fabric of the pocket on Liz's buoyancy aid, I feared it could not be repaired.

This wasn't just replacing a zip, this was rebuilding part of the pocket.

It now looks like new, so I can highly recommend the repair work of Tundra - Outdoor Ltd.

From tents to sleeping bags, gaiters to Goretex jackets, if these folk can't repair it, no-one can.

I sent the BA, they e-mailed a quote, I sent they money, they returned the BA fixed. The repair including return postage cost just £25.

They're based in Washington near Sunderland, the home of Berghaus. I might be wrong, but I think these folk set up in business after Berghaus moved much of its production overseas.

A website to bookmark for future use.

Video - Sea Kayaking Pioneers

2011-12-05T07:15:00.003Z

There is much more to this film than I put in the first trailer - so I've made another one. You'll find it below.

I've also cut the price of the download to just £3.99.

For those who don't like Downloads, I've run off a few PAL Region 2 DVDs from our edit computer - there's no fancy box though.

When I produced the first trailer for Hamish's Kayaking Films, I really messed up.

I emphasised the St Kilda story because Hamish and Anne Gow were the first to kayak to those islands.

But eight minutes of Hamish's cine footage that crossing features in Volume 2 of Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown.

Anyone who bought the DVD would look at the first trailer and conclude, "I've seen all that".

In reality there's much more of Hamish's excellent archive footage in this 24 minute film. Shot in the 1950's and 1960's, exploring Mingulay, Staffa and other Scottish islands, as well looking at equipment and techniques.

So the new trailer emphasises what's not in the Gordon Brown DVD - I hope you like it.

And at just £3.99, I hope you buy it!

Christmas Special Offer On Coaching DVDs

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000Z

Now

Buy 1 get one half price

Time limited pre-Christmas special offer.

The two definitive sea kayak instructional DVDs sold as a pair for

PAL versions £29.90

NTSC versions $44.90

Only at

Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown .com

Christmas Special Offer On DVDs

2011-12-01T09:00:00.001Z

From tomorrow

Buy 1 get one half price

Time limited pre-Christmas special offer.

The two definitive sea kayak instructional DVDs sold as a pair for

PAL versions £29.90

NTSC versions $44.90

Only at

Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown .com

Podcast - Great Glen Canoe Trail

2011-12-01T07:00:00.002Z

Last year four thousand people paddled across Scotland through the Great Glen, from Fort William to Inverness via Loch Ness.

Now a 'formal' trail has been created, along with a website, guidebook, videos and more.

Hear all about it from Donald MacPherson, the trail Project Officer in another free podcast at:

SeaKayakPodcasts.com

Buy your copy by clicking the image below

Website Re-build

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000Z

If you're returning to buy a Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown DVD or Download as a Christmas present for a kayaker, you might find things changed a little.

For now, the front page remains much the same, but the buying process is quite different.

Rather than put all the 'Buy' buttons on one cramped page, they're now divided down product lines. This is simply to allow me to make some changes I have planned for next month and for the New Year.

If You Want To Buy Anything Online For Christmas...

2011-11-28T07:00:00.001Z

...then check the Royal Mail last posting dates.

For example, if you want to send something (like a great sea kayaking DVD for instance) to Australia, New Zealand or South America it has to be posted by 5th Dec - one week from today.

For North America and Eastern Europe it's 9th Dec - one week on Friday.

Western Europe it's 12th December.

Last year there were many disatisfied customers (not ours you understand) who bought online and then, when bad weather caused traffic delays, were disappointed their gifts didn't arrive in time for Christmas.

What better stocking filler than the DVD that's "an essential companion for the improving sea kayaker and a pleasure to watch", according to CanoeKayak.co.uk

Newsreader Gives Obama the Finger

2011-11-26T07:00:00.001Z

An award winning journalist and host of Russia's flagship national news programme was reportedly fired after this incident.

It sometimes seems like a different lifetime, but I too used to read the news, albeit only on a regional programme. This newsreader probably thought the director had already cut to the VT, so she was out of vision and her gesture was for the amusement of her colleagues on the studio floor and in the gallery, who'd see her on the preview monitors.

In my first day in training in 1982 I was told, "never say to a microphone anything you wouldn't want broadcast". That goes double when you're infront of a camera.

DVDs and Buses

2011-11-21T11:46:00.003Z

You wait ages, then loads come along together. Expedition Skills this time.

DVD-Into The Wind

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000Z

The brand new DVD of the record breaking Around Ireland expedition starts shipping this week. Buy it here.

For Sale - Ultralight Single Skin Tent by Golite

2011-11-15T06:00:00.004Z

I'm selling a GoLite Trig 1 - a superb ultralight single skin tent / shelter.

It's for sale on ebay at a stupidly low starting price of £9.95.

I used it a few years ago for an ultralght test which appeared in TGO Magazine and on this blog.

It uses trekking poles to form the apex, and condensation is avoied by roll-up sides. These give remarkably good ventilation, and at the same time, complete midge protection due to good mesh netting.

I'm also selling not one but two excellent expedition kit bags (big zip holdalls). It's all part of a recent clear out.

There's also a really useful carry-on bag piece of luggage that has a zip off briefcase and hidden rucksack straps.

Finally (for now) there's a silver Specialized bike helmet and a Red/black/white Specialized bike helmet.

But the "star" item is the Trgi 1 tent / shelter. There's a video of it (not taken by me) below.

Edinburgh Presentation - Scottish Sea Kayak Trail

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000Z

On Wednesday evening I will be giving a presentation about the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail at Teviot - the Edinburgh University Students' Union.

Doors open at 8pm.

I'd like to link to more information but I can't find it on their website. I hope someone turns up...

Murmuration From A Canoe

2011-11-12T06:00:00.002Z

I love the women's faces at the end when they realise what they've just witnessed. Here's the Vimeo page for more info. Here's a story about the film which was shot in Ireland.

This. Is. Very. Good.

2011-11-10T06:00:00.000Z

Poem by Taylor Mali. Animation by Ronnie Bruce.

Ever Had The Feeling You're Being Watched?

2011-11-09T06:00:00.001Z

Monday was one of those amazing Autumn days whose rarity makes them all the more special.

Crystal clear and perfect light, with a chill in the air hinting at the winter to come.

After a busy few weeks we seized the opportunity for three hours of gentle, relaxing sea kayaking on Loch Linnhe, a short drive from our cottage.

The area is close to Ardgour, a gaelic place name. 'Ard' means point. 'Gour' means goat.

We're usually cycling and smell them before we see them. The wild goats of this area (at least I think they're wild) emit an odour that any devotees of French goat's cheese will instantly recognise.

This time we saw them first.

It looked like they were playing 'king of the castle' clambering onto one particular little hill.

They were moving to take advantage of the sun, appreciating as we were the rarity of the day.

For Sale. Cheap Sea Kayaking Kit.

2011-11-07T06:00:00.005Z

As well as selling the mini-camera rig on which we shot some of our first DVD, I'm also selling some old (classic?) sea kayaking kit.

Two Knoydart cags, the first we bought back in 2003, one yellow one blue.

Also a Reed Chilcheater aquatherm top in Medium.

All starting prices just 99p!

Yes, it has been quite a clear out.

Another 2 Reviews of Our DVD

2011-11-04T07:15:00.003Z

On Kayak Yak here.

And on FionaOutdoors here.

For Sale. The Mini-Cam Rig On Which We Shot DVD-1

2011-11-03T06:00:00.005Z

This is the home-assembled waterproof mini-cam rig we used to shoot some of the coaching sequences in Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown, Volume 1.

I'm selling it on e-bay starting price £49.

There's a lot in there. A Sony camcorder which works as a VTR.

A Sony mini-camera which we mounted on the end of the pole to give the big top shot.

And a cable microphone, which I added after the shoot and never actually used. Plus the Pelicase.

If you'd like to see how it was all rigged, then take a look at the video below.

Camino Documentary

2011-11-02T06:00:00.001Z

Twenty years ago last month I completed the Camino de Santiago. I didn't walk it, I rode it on a mountain bike, using the off-road capability to stick as close as possible to the original route. There was no English language guidebook and I met few English speaking pilgrims en route.

Things have changed. A Hollywood movie called 'The Way' is now out, but perhaps more interesting is this documentary. I've only seen the trailer, but I'm rather surprised at how many people now seem to be following the way. There are numerous guidebooks (a publisher rejected my idea for one as too few people walked it) and even baggage transfer services

And you know what? I didn't choose to do it, it found me. Twenty years on, it hasn't yet let go.

New Podcast - Kayaking Scandinavian Coastline

2011-10-31T06:00:00.003Z

This is Eric B Jorgensen, and this podcast is a tale of an epic adventure.

Check it out at SeaKayakPodcasts.com

Eric spent the summer kayaking from the northern tip of Norway, where it meets Russia, all the way down the coast, up and around Sweden and the Gulf of Bothnia, to the point where Finland meets Russia.

And he's only been kayaking a few years.

I wrote about Eric when I first recorded a podcast with him in March, about his trip around Denmark in winter. He was then preparing for the big one.

And guess what helps to keep him going? These podcasts. Nice to know they help in some way...

Chieftan of the Lochaber Games Is No More

2011-10-29T18:58:00.000+01:00

Jimmy Saville dies.

DVD Review in Norwegian

2011-10-28T09:53:00.002+01:00

Harald Rishovd has written a review of Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown Volume 2.

Google Translate does a fair job of turning it into English.

A Good Book as a Christmas Gift for a Cyclist

2011-10-26T07:00:00.005+01:00

I read quite a lot of books this year, particularly during our five-week drive around France. Most were on our Kindle, but that's a different story. Two of them stand out as good gifts for the cyclist in your life (partner / sibling / friend). One is old, one is relatively new. Both are available on the links below.

I've just finished Racing Through the Dark: The Fall and Rise of David Millar. I was always of the opinion that doping cheats like Millar should be banned from competition for life. He doesn't attempt excuses (well, not many) but he reveals, from the inside, a team culture that expected its riders to dope, to "be prepared". It was normal. Not doping was the exception.

Now we have 'clean' teams like Sky and others (among the first were Slipstream that Millar helped to start) I'm even more convinced that doping should lead to a life ban on competing or being involved in pro-cycling in any way. However, this book is about much more than doping. It's a revealing insight into the life of a pro-cyclist, much more reveals than others I've read.

The other cycling book is not new, but boy is it good! It's A Race for Madmen: A History of the Tour de France. It's a fantastic account of the history of the Tour de France, amusingly written with all the cracking little anecdotes which bring history to life.

Thank You!

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000+01:00

My grateful thanks to everyone who turned up for our two screenings of the new DVD at Paddle '11 this weekend in Perth. Two full houses was a lot more than I expected. And I was utterly thrilled by the positive response to the DVD. Seriously, "thank you". I've just ordered more.

Premier in Perth Tomorrow

2011-10-21T06:00:00.004+01:00

Tomorrow is the annual SCA show in Perth - Paddle'11 - where we'll premier the new rescues DVD, Volume 2, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown.

We have screenings both days and special show prices.

The new DVD will be £18 rather than £19.95

Buy DVD1 and 2 together for £28

DVD Premier on Saturday

2011-10-19T07:35:00.001+01:00

As reported in the new Ocean Paddler Magazine, we premier Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown -Volume 2 at Paddle '11 in Perth this coming weekend.

There will be screenings at 11:30 on Saturday and Sunday. And the DVD will be on sale at a specially reduced one-off price.

Issue 28 of Ocean Paddler Magazine is an Expedition Special, and includes an article by me about shooting video of kayaking.

There's also a review of our new DVD with which I'm very pleased.

While a rescues DVD will inevitably cover some material most kayakers will know, most reviewers have found Gordon adds a lot to their understanding and introduces many new things.

Hamish's Kayaking Films - Out Now as Download

2011-10-18T07:25:00.000+01:00

I've written about this short film in the past, so I won't say much here. It has some classic footage, from the 1950s and 1960s, of early Scottish sea kayaking.

At 24 minutes long, it is an extended version of an 8 minute insert to Volume 2-Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown. The film on the DVD only covers St Kilda, whereas the download has Hamish's films from Mingulay, Staffa and more.

I have no plans to make it available as a DVD. It's a Download only and is priced £4.99.

I Filled 3 Royal Mail Sacks with New DVDs

2011-10-17T12:17:00.002+01:00

If you ordered before 10:30 today, then your DVD is in one of these sacks.

If you were after that time they'll dispatch tomorrow.

Our Post Office chap was a little bemused when Liz and I staggered in with the three boxes of DVDs.

He calmed down when he realised we'd stamped then all and done all the Customs forms for outside the EU.

And was positively delighted when I spent £175 on stamps for the next batch. The postage is free to the buyer but not to me!

So three Royal Mail sacks, sealed and dedicated to the safe carriage of Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown-Volume 2, are on their way to an Inverness sorting office and then to your post box.

I'm going to have to order some more soon...

DVDs Now Shipping

2011-10-17T07:30:00.002+01:00

These three big boxes of DVDs will be heading down to our small village Post Office later this morning.

I spent most of yesterday bagging, labelling and sticking on stamps to more than 150 pre-orders and orders placed yesterday as soon as the store opened. Thank goodness for self-adhesive stamps.

A huge 'thank you' to everyone who pre-ordered. Your DVD is in one of these boxes! And it will soon be on its way to you.

The website is now open for business on both sides of the Atlantic.

Some folk still e-mail to ask "how much is the shipping to where I live?" The answer is - nothing.

1st class mail is included in the price of £19.95 or $29.95.

The ideal Christmas present. Here's the trailer again.

Riding Mont Ventoux

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000+01:00

Mont Ventoux was one big climb I particularly wanted to do during our riding trip to France.

We were not alone!

My abiding memory of that morning is of the hundreds, yes hundreds of cyclists grinding their way to the summit.

At 7am on a September Saturday morning, the carpark in the main street of Bedoin already looked like the start of a sportive. This is the start of what's reckoned to be the hardest route.

Starting at Sault is meant to be the easiest route, and there's also Malaucene on the other side of the mountain.

The gradient is steep-ish and unrelenting. For the first hour or so, dense pine forest provides shade. Neverthless I was drinking copious amounts of water.

At Chalet Reynad, the Bedoin and Sault routes meet the 'lunar' landscape begins.

So do the photographers. Ventouxphoto.fr and photoventoux.com snap ou struggling up the gradient, looking heroic., handing you a card as you pass.

You then look at their shots online, wondering whether you look like a TdF rider or a gasping fish-on-a-bike.

Then you discover it costs more than a tenner to buy an image! We concluded their prices are steeper than the mountain.

I say 'we' because against my expectations Liz not only decided to attempt the climb, she made it to the summit. I went up in 2hr 20 mins. She was just 25 minutes behind me.

I'd actually started to descend. Passing the memorial to Tom Simpson I saw a familiar figure on a bike and realised it was my wife.

We rode to the summit together.

The summit was a very busy place. If the car-park had looked like the start of a sportive, this looked like the finish of a very, very popular event.

But that wasn't the half of it.

Day time temperatures in Provence were still exceptionally high, so we thought the bulk of the riders would have started around the same time as us. Oh no.

All the way down the mountain, and I do mean all the way... right to the bottom, we saw cyclists pedalling up La Ventoux. I wonder how many of them even made it to Chalet Reynard...

Which is why both of the bike shops in Bedoin sell spuvenir jerseys emblazoned with 'Mont Ventoux'.

Yes I know this is their equivalent of the t-shirts I see in Fort William that proudly proclaim 'I climbed Ben Nevis'.

But I had to have one.

Riding the Col du Galibier. The Cheat's Way?

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000+01:00

My attempt to ride Puy de Dome during our road trip around France had been thwarted.

We'd attented a wonderful wedding at Lake Orta in Italy and had planned to drive straight to Provence to tackle the second riding objective, Mont Ventoux.

But we'd had a wonderful time in the Alps, riding spectacular Cols around Annecy and Albertville. So we decided to return there first and extend our trip by a week.

This gave me the chance to add the Col du Galibier to my tick-list.

I had never previously attempted a road climb of such gradient, length or, being brutaly honest, with such an intimidating history. So I cheated. Sort of. I rode the actual climb to the summit, but I started from the village of Valloire.

If you don't know the geography, I'll explain.

Riding from the north, the full starting point feels like it should be Saint Michel de Maurienne, even though the first climb you'd tackle is the Co du Telegraphe.

Start from here, and the Galibier is 34.8km long with 2120m height gain.

Valloire is hammocked between the two Cols.

Start there, as I did, and climb is 18.1km long with 1245m height gain.

It was tough enough, and a superb experience, but next time I'm in the area I'd like to attempt to ride them both. Eithe than or ride the Galibier from the south side, which looks an entirely different proposition.

There are a number of memorials on the mountain. There's one to the creator of the Tour de France, Henri Desgrange.

And there's a new memorial to a legendary rider, Marco Pantani.

I spotted it on the way up and asked another rider (who was snapping shots of his friends) to take my photo next to it on the way down.

Incidentally, that Goretex jacket was very important for the cold, downhill plummet.

If I'd had windproof gloves with fingers I'd have had them on too. High on the descent I was whacking my backside to keep the blood supply in my finger ends.

To any passing motorist it must have looked like I was whipping myself to go faster.

Next, La Ventoux.

Not Riding the Puy de Dome

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000+01:00

As I think you can clearly see - the closed road was something of a disappointment.

The lava dome of Puy de Dome is a classic climb of the Tour de France and we'd driven to the Auvergne to ride it.

Our guidebook said it was open to cyclists Wednesdays and Sundays; they had to start between 07:00 and 09:00 and be down by 11:00.

Fortunately we checked it out the day before and found the road to the summit shut while a railway was being constructed.

In hindsight we might have been able to sneak past and ride it anyway. But if we'd been turned around it would be a wasted day.

So we headed back the way we had come, used the map to work out a route for the morning, and ended up riding a much nicer route. It didn't have the history behind it, but it was our introduction to green pastures, cow bells and cuckoo-clock architecture.

My Garmin seems to have eaten the actual route, so I can't reproduce the map.

We started at Chambon-sur-Lac, we rode up-and-over a Col to the ski town of Le Mont Dore, and then climbed Col de la Croix Morand which offered good views across the Auvergne.

I'd definitely go back to this area, as it was like a scaled-down Alps.

But I'd want to spend time seeking out some more good, quite roads first.

PAL DVDs Will Dispatch on 17th October

2011-10-10T06:00:00.002+01:00

A huge "thank you" to everyone who has pre-ordered a copy of Volume 2-Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown. Yours will be the first dispatched on 17th October, one week from today.

We're attempting a certain amount of international co-ordination this time around based around the dates of our Premier. Much to my amazement, some of it looks like working!

* Web orders for NTSC versions of the DVD have been shipping from TW-Media in Colorado since Thursday (earlier than planned). If you pre-ordered, your copy might even arrive today. Rob, our US distributor, has also shipped to American stores, so they should have them on their shelves soon. Our Canadian distributor Joe will have them in stores there before 1st November.

* Web-orders for PAL versions will ship one week from today, Monday 17th October. Our priority, and first to go, will be the pre-orders. "Thank you" again.

* The Premier, around which much of the release is timed, will be at the SCA Paddle '11 show in Perth on 22 & 23 October, with screenings both days at 11:30am. We might even offer a special show price.

* That same weekend is the National Sea Kayak Symposium in Australia. Mark at Expedition Kayaks will launch our DVD over there. (If Parcelforce get their skates on!)

So the pre-orders will go out first. Of the 1000 PAL DVDs in the first batch, 400 are already spoken for. The rest we'll take to Perth.

Now I reckon that enough chat about DVDs for this week.

Over the next few days I'll write more about our cycling trip to France. Was it only one month ago, to the day, that we rode Mont Ventoux? That seems so long ago...

Hamish's Kayaking Kilms Showing at Edinburgh Mtn Film Fest

2011-10-07T10:00:00.006+01:00

A spin off film from our DVD, called Hamish's Kayaking Films will be screened tomorrow morning at 10:30 at the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival. (Video preview below)

It's in great company, with 50 Years in the M0untains, Chimaera and The Pinnacle also being screened.

I can't be there and nether can the producer/director of The Pinnacle, because we're both going to be on a Hebridean Island making an hour-long programme for BBC-2 Scotland about the Tiree Wave Classic.

Sharing a cottage for a week. With other blokes. That'll be fun then.

Our voyage in Volume 2-Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown takes us around St Kilda, and includes an 8 minute feature with Hamish Gow, a pioneer of Scottish sea kayaking. Hamish and Anne Gow were the first people to kayak to St Kilda, and Hamish allowed me to use his home movies in our production.

There was no room for excellent material from other islands, like Staffa and Mingulay. So I went back to Hamish, did some more filming, and produced a stand-alone 24 minute film about his adventures. It's classic stuff. All I had to do was shuffle it into an order and put Hamish's words with his pictures.

So if you enjoy the 8 minute version in the DVD, then you might be interested in the full 24 minute film, which will be available as a download towards the end of October.

Another Great Review for the DVD

2011-10-07T07:00:00.003+01:00

Wow! What a review.

Bryan Hansel posted a review of Volume 2- Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown, and I'm delighted with his reaction.

One of the comments we received after Volume 1 was, "it's great, but we want more". So that's what we've supplied.

The coaching sessions in Volume 2 run longer than the whole of Volume 1! And it's good, good material, most of which will be new to many kayakers.

Which explains why Bryan says it includes...

"so much information that other instructional DVDs that I own now feel pretty thin. In fact, I wasn't able to absorb it all in one sitting. ...All in all this is a must have video for all sea kayakers."

Here's the rest of Bryan's independent review.

Cycling in France This Summer

2011-10-06T11:15:00.001+01:00

This summer we loaded up the campervan, not with sea kayaks for a change, but with road bikes.

We were away from home for five weeks, and spent most of that time in France.

There are four 'classic' climbs of Tour de France fame, Puy de Dome, Col du Tourmalet, Col du Galibier and Mont Ventoux.

I had no idea if we had the legs for any of them, but I wanted to attempt Puy de Dome and La Ventoux, so our driving route was designed around them.

And a wedding in Italy, but that's a different story.

Things didn't work out quite as planned, but we had some utterly superb rides.

We completely fell in love with the area between Annecy and Albertville.

The tourist office has a fantastic, free map-pack which grades all the climbs to the Cols in the area, over 100 of them.

These photos are after climbing the fairly easy introductory climb of Col de Leschaux, we kept on going up the back side of Le Semnoz, over 1600m.

Liz discovered she's pretty tough on a bike too. More rides in coming days.

Bye. And thanks.

2011-10-06T06:00:00.001+01:00

Pay to View - Assisted Rescues Coaching Session

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago I made one 7 minute Coaching Session from our new sea kayak 'rescues' DVD, Volume 2-Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown, available as a pretty cheap pay-to-view. It seemed to be a good way to allow you to view more than just the trailer before deciding whether or not to buy the DVD.

Priced under £3 ($4.50 - has to be in dollars as it's a US system) this innovation has proved amazingly popular. So here's another coaching session, and at nine minutes, this one is even longer. There's also a free preview.

I've no plans to make any more Coaching Sessions available online after this one.

Applecross Peninsula Circuit Ride

2011-10-04T06:00:00.003+01:00

With mist curling out of the high corrie like smoke from a distant campfire, this was a spectacular start to a bike ride.

The Bealach na Ba is Scotland's classic hill climb, with the greates

t ascent of any road climb in the UK.

Most cyclists tackle the 'Pass of the Cattle' as part of a circuit of the Applecross Peninsula, and indeed it features in a well known sportive.

We rode from Shieldaig, and while I'd like to report our total mileage and ascent, I can't because my Garmin 305 stopped recording twice.

The climb seemed far less tough, and a lot shorter, than I expected. (Bear in mind we've just had a few weeks in France riding some Alpine climbs - more about those soon).

Nevertheless, there was just one really steep section, just before the switchbacks at the head of the corrie.

The descent was absolutely amazing.

At one point a huge stag trotted alongside Liz and, as she slowed, cut across the road infront of her.

Good job she wasn't going flat out.

And we weren't alone. We met two other riders on the summit and again in the village.

It was too early to head to the pub, so we hit the cafe at the campsite. We then rode south down the peninsula to the end of the road at Toscaig.

By the time we returned we decided it was definietly lunchtime, so we could allow ourselves more food - this time an amazing bowl of seafood chowder at the acclaimed Applecross Inn.

As you can see in the photo below, coupled with a massive plate of chips, this was hearty, tasty grub.

On the way out of the village we found yet another excellent place to eat - the Walled Garden Cafe/Restaurant. We had a stroll around the walled garden but couldn't justify stuffing our faces yet more food.

How come Applecross has such superb places to eat? On the way up we'd had an awfully disappointing meal at the Kishorn Seafood Bar, which has a decent reputation but failed to live up to it on the day we visited, with the worst Cullen skink I've ever tasted.

If you ever do this circuit, don't think Applecross is the end of the climbing. There is still a long way to go, and a surprising amount of it is up.

The ride around the 'flat' coast road is anything but, with a series of stings in the tail as you near Sheldaig.

So top up the water bottles. Save some energy. And maybe go easy on the chips...

Finally, here's the GPS track. We didn't sprout wings and fly two of the sections. The program just draws a line between places where the Garmin switches off and back on.

It was supposed to be on auto-start, so I don't know what happened here.

Trailer - Vol 2, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown

2011-09-30T07:00:00.002+01:00

The new-look website www.SeaKayakWithGordonBrown.com has lots more including a free illustrated transcript of the entire DVD- it's more like a book.

Pre-order now to secure your DVD from first batch due mid-October.

We're also on YouTube.

New Podcast - Final Video Diary

2011-09-19T07:39:00.002+01:00

It should have been released at the start of September, but we stayed cycling in France longer than planned. Here's the last of the video diaries, recorded while shooting our rescues DVD, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown, Volume 2.

1st October will see a rebuild of the website, the trailer going live and the shop opening for advance orders.

Early Reviews For Our New Rescues DVD

2011-09-15T07:00:00.001+01:00

We have been delighted with the early feedback from people who've seen preview copies of our Rescues DVD, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown - Volume 2.

Reviews have started to appear online before the DVD is ready to ship. The store will open for orders on 1st October, at which time the trailer for the DVD will also go live.

In the meantime you might want to check out what people who've seen it have written. Or for a couple of quid watch an entire chapter online.

PaddlingInstructor.com

Canoe & Kayak Magazine (the US version)

SeaKayakPhoto.com

KayakQuixotica

Video Pay To View - 7 Minute Coaching Session from New DVD

2011-08-15T06:00:00.005+01:00

A slick trailer can mislead an audience. We've decided to make an entire chapter of our new Rescues DVD available to view online. More than seven minutes of coaching by Gordon Brown on the use of Contact Tows, in exchange for a small, affordable sum - $4.50 that's under £3. (It's a US player and has to be priced in $.)

We think this is the best way to experience the standard of coaching and video production in the DVD. There's also a short free preview, and it's embedded in the website too. It takes a while to load on Blogger, so if there's a big white gap below, go here instead.

Of course we will also have a slick trailer! It will go live on 1st October when a re-designed website will open for orders of the Rescues DVD, Volume 2 - Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown.

I'm now off travelling and riding my bike for a few weeks, so probably no updates until mid-Sept.

Video – Trailer for Historical Sea Kayak Film

2011-08-12T06:45:00.001+01:00

Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s Hamish Gow was at the forefront of Scottish Sea Kayaking.

He and his wife Anne were the first people to sea kayak to St Kilda, the cluster of islands 40 miles into the North Atlantic.

Hamish was a keen photographer and cine film maker. (and anti-nuke protestor!)

Now he has kindly allowed me to use his old home movies, shot on Barra, Mingulay, Staffa, the Treshnish Islands and St Kilda.

I've combined this with professionally shot, modern footage to produce a 24 minute video called Hamish’s Kayaking Films. The trailer is below.

From 1^st October will be available as an HD Download from Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown.com. An 8 minute, cut-down version will appear in our new Rescues DVD which is partly shot on St Kilda.

Download Version of New Rescues DVD Unlikely To Happen

2011-08-11T07:00:00.006+01:00

As of this morning, it is highly unlikely I will be able to make our new Rescues DVD, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown- Volume 2, available as a Download.

I am very disappointed about this.

Many people have contributed their thoughts about downloads and DVDs. I’ve spent a lot of time developing a download system which works well for DVD1. And I’ve been trumpting the fact the new film will be released simultaneously as DVD and Download.

Now it won't. So what’s gone wrong? Put simply, this.

If I sell a download, retail stores probably won’t stock the DVD.

That’s the stark warning from one of our distributors. And I have a good relationship with distributors and retailers. I want to support kayak stores. So I feel it's wise to to right by them.

The argument goes something like this.

One of the advantages retail stores have over online stores is their ability to deliver something instantly.

If you want the DVD today, go to your kayak store and you can get it today, rather than waiting a few days for it to arrive in the mail.

Downloads remove that advantage. When online stores offer that immediate gratification, there’s no reason for the retailer to give the product shelf-space.

There’s also a concern that a new product, released without digital copy protection, will be ripped off instantly. You wouldn't, but others might.

So again, why would a retailer give shelf space to a product you can get free on a pen-drive from your friend?

I’ve loked into copy-protection, thought I had on which might work, but decided it didn’t.

So for the forseable future, Volume 2 will not be available as a download, whereas Volume 1 will.

However, I have some really positive developments to share, including a new sea kayaking film with superb archive footage which will be available as a download.

More about this tomorrow – and then I’m taking a month off blogging to travel and ride my bike.

Video - Ferry Tunes. Busking on the Skye CalMac

2011-08-08T06:00:00.001+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I was returning by ferry from filming the very last piece to camera for the Preview vesion of our new DVD. I tweeted that some traditional musicians were busking on the CalMac ferry. I volunteered ti shoot some video which they could use wherever they liked.

With bright sunlight streaming in the windows behind their heads, and no opportunity to ask for tunes to be repeated, this wasn't the easiest shoot. I thought I'd share the results.

Cover Artwork - our new Rescues DVD

2011-08-04T07:00:00.000+01:00

I'm rather delighted with this. Rowland Woollven took the top photo, using my camera, during one of our filming sessions off Tarskavaig on Skye. The swimmer is Janice, who features quite a lot in the DVD and could now seek employment as a stuntwoman.

The bottom image was taken by Douglas Wilcox, using Gordon's camera, in a massive cave on Boreray in the St Kilda group of islands. The boat in the picture gives a sense of scale - twelve of us lived on that for a week. And the kayaker in silhouette in the hat is Liz.

I think Gregor has done an excellent job with the artwork, considering the style was already set by the first DVD and I asked him to come up with "the same, only different". The rest of the cover and the artwork which will be printed on the DVD itself is equally as good.

The Guardian - Professional Shots from St Kilda

2011-08-04T06:00:00.000+01:00

Everyone is heading to St Kilda this year. Or so it seems.

These stunning images are the work of photographer Murdo MacLeod working for The Guardian newspaper. They appeared on its website on Tuesday this week.

Add to this the team recording the islands in 3D and our own video shoot, it sounds like it was a busy summer on the islands.

How To Deal With Bike Lane Blockers - Video

2011-08-03T10:47:00.001+01:00

When I lived in Glasgow it annoyed me that the council would spend a lot of money creating bike lanes, but they were impossible to ride in because they'd always be full of parked cars. The Mayor of Lithuanian Capital of Vilnius has a solution.

Traditional Kayak Meeting 2011 in September

2011-08-03T09:44:00.001+01:00

This from Bill Samson. The TKM will return to Ullswater, and will take place on the weekend of 17th/18th September 2011. It will be based at the Waterside Farm campsite and as usual everybody should make their own arrangements direct with the campsite.

In case you've not been to one of these before, it is thoroughly informal - no registration, no fee - just getting together to try each others' kayaks, go for paddles on the lake, and most of all to chat and eat. There's a laundry room that works nicely as a place to show off photos and DVDs, - I plan to bring a laptop.

Some of us may arrive a day or two early, and some may choose to stay on after the weekend - The 17th and 18th just represent the 'core' time of the meeting. I look forward to meeting old friends as well as seeing new faces this year.

DVD Sales Falling, Download Sales Rising

2011-08-03T08:00:00.003+01:00

Figures from the BVA I spotted in Monday's Media Guardian highlight an interesting trend.

"Spending on digital viewing via download and streaming services to mobile devices such as tablets rose 18% year on year, according to figures from the British Video Association (BVA)...

But they are yet to offset the slump in DVD and Blu-ray sales, which fell 8.1% in the first half of the year. Physical discs accounted for 96.5% of all sales in 2010."

And according to the BVA director general, Lavinia Carey, "Digital is growing and has huge potential with the growth of internet-connected devices such as smartphones and tablets now an accepted norm for video viewing."

Which is why our new Rescues DVD, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown, Volume 2 will be released as a DVD and as an HD digital download at the same time, mid- October.

Video - Trailer for Body Boat Blade's Rescues DVD

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

Having spent much of the last ten months planning and then shooting our sea kayak 'rescues' DVD, it's fascinating to see how Bryan Smith and the good folks of Body Boat Blade have tackled the same (or similar) challenge.

As I'd expect, their trailer looks really good, and they're launching the DVD at Outdoor Retailer in the USA. It will be very interesting to watch the whole thing when I can get hold of it.

One of these days I might even get the chance to chat to Bryan about their approach and swap notes. Two film-makers talking shop - now that certainly would not be an interesting podcast!

Video Diary 4 - Shooting DVD2

2011-08-01T06:30:00.002+01:00

What can I tell you - some filming days are just... odd.

Make That Four Instructional DVDs This Year

2011-07-30T16:48:00.004+01:00

On Monday I wrote that three instructional DVDs would be released in the coming months, including ours. Now I see that Jusine Curgenven will also release her instructional DVD before Christmas.

Kayakers might need bigger stockings this year!

While the first three are 'rescues' based DVDs, Justine's is complimentary and is called 'This Is The Roll'.

We were in e-mail contact last week and she's just completing the filming in Canada now. Ours meanwhile is finished and the DVD menus will start being authored early next week.

Three 'Rescues' DVDs Released August to October

2011-07-25T06:30:00.003+01:00

Excellent! More choice can only be a good thing for sea kayakers. It shows how fast this sport is growing.

And I do like a bit of competition.

Two years ago, when we made our first Coaching DVD there were very few decent ones out there.

Now three will be released within weeks of each other. And at this rate there may be more by the time you read this! The three I know about are:

* Reel Water Productions: Bryan Smith has shot a 'rescues' based DVD with Shawna and Leon on Body Boat Blade. I wrote about it with a clip last September. That DVD is coming out early August, launching at the US Outdoor Retailer show. The trailer will appear this week.

* Sea Kayak Essentials: Nick Cunliffe is presenting a 'rescues' DVD which is currently being shot, due for release in October.

* Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown: Our offering in the increasingly crowded 'rescues' DVD market will also be out in October.

Spoiled for choice, eh?

Do You Ride A Bike?

2011-07-22T07:00:00.000+01:00

VisitScotland Promoting Scottish Sea Kayak Trail

2011-07-21T07:00:00.006+01:00

I've mixed feelings about this recent report on the Adventure Travel Trade Association's website.

It's great that the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail, which I invented with the Pesda Guidebook, is the only UK entry on National Geographic's 'Top 50 Tours of a lifetime' bucket list.

I've already said how please I am that Wilderness Scotland offer a non-camping holiday along part of the trail. And it is their organised tour that earned the place on the National Geographic list.

But I'm a little surprised to see Wilderness Scotland apparently giving quotes about "Our trail". Indeed, the first few lines of the story describes it as "Wilderness Scotland's sea kayaking trail...". Plus there is no mention in this article, on the National Georgaphic website, or on Wilderness Scotland's website of the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail website. Hmmm.

I'm sure that's an accidental oversight. Isn't it?

[Edit 11:30am - a flurry of e-mail this morning produced apologies all round. We're all best friends again and Wilderness Scotland clients, who book the trail holiday, will receive a copy of the guidebook. There's a link to the trail on their links page and a credit on their trip itinerary page. So that's nice]

New Podcast - Northern England Guidebook

2011-07-18T08:32:00.005+01:00

This is Jim Krawiecki and he's the guest in the latest podcast at

SeaKayakPodcasts.com

Jim has just written the new Pesda Press Guidebook: Northern England and the Isle of Man, Fifty Great Sea Kayak Voyages.

Not only does Jim guide us though this highly diverse region, he talks about his background and how he got into kayaking and writing.

Unusually, this Podcast is released mid-month. That's because, at the start of each month, I release a video diary podcast about the making of our new DVD.

Subscribe free and you won't miss a thing. Buy the book by clicking below.

Simplified Downloads

2011-07-15T10:32:00.004+01:00

I have simplified the new digital download versions we're selling of Volume 1, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown.

I hugely appreciate all the feedback I've received from people who bought (and didn't buy) Coaching Sessions and Journey downloads.

Initially, I was offering these as three separate downloads.

However, the film was designed to have the coaching sessions mixed with the journey. It was this which, in part, won it awards and made this coaching product different.

From the feedback, it quickly became clear that separating them into three different download files destroyed this unique quality.

It also meant people had to go through three buying steps to purchase one product. That is clunky.

So I've repackaged it.

The coaching is, once again, mixed with the journey in the way we believe works best.

It's all in one large 960x540 MPEG-4 .m4v file.

And there's just one button to click to buy.

It's priced £16.99, that's £3 cheaper than the DVD.

The only downside is that the resulting 2.1GB file is quite a chunky download.

Goodness knows how big the file will be when I make Volume 2 available for download in HD in November. There's more than two hours of material in that and we're looking at around 9GB of file size.

Some Scotland Coastguard Changes Dropped

2011-07-14T08:07:00.002+01:00

Shetland and Stornoway Coastguard Stations to remain open 24 hrs. No word of Clyde. So it looks like Clyde Coastguard will still be among the stations affected by the changes.

Video Downloads - Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown

2011-07-13T10:44:00.007+01:00

Volume 1 of Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown is now available to buy as a digital download.

It has been called "instant gratification". Because the files are quite large, then unless you have an amazingly fast internet connection, it's not exactly instant.

But it should be quicker than waiting for the postman to deliver a DVD.

If you're unsure how the system will work for you, or whether files will play on your computer / TV, then there's a 1p download so you can go through the entire process without risking much of your money.

I hope to release Volume 2 as a digital download at the same time as the DVD on 1st November.

My thanks to everyone who suggested idea for making this work. Your contributions have been most helpful.

Personally, I'd still want to buy a DVD. But I know that for many people, this will be the way to buy video in future.

3D Recording of St Kilda - Video by Historic Scotland

2011-07-07T06:00:00.001+01:00

A team from Historic Scotland have been mapping St Kilda in 3D detail with the aim of encouraging virtual tourism. This is their first video and the team are still out there working - here's their Twitter feed.

No sea kayaking it this one, but it captures some of the feel of the place. Nice dolly moves too.

Shetland Bus Kayakers, And A Race

2011-07-06T06:00:00.000+01:00

Here's an expedition I'm sure you will want to follow when it starts on 16th July.

Patrick Winterton and Mick Berwick, who I followed as they kayaked to the Faeroe islands, have been joined by Olly Hicks.

The three of them will attempt to kayak 388 km across the North Sea to Norway. Initially, they'll work together. But if it's safe to do so, the last stretch will be a race.

The 'race' will either be the last 44km or 44nm, they're not sure which! "Mick works in nautical miles, I work in kilometres", Patrick told me when he rang yesterday. "I bloody hope it's kilometres.

The 'Shetland Bus' refers to the operation run between Shetland and Norway during the Second World War, and the reason the number '44' was chosen is that represents the number of men lost during its operation.

They hope kayakers will each donate the price of a pint £3.88, to their Money Giving page for the two charities they're supporting, the RNLI and Make A Wish Foundation UK.

A Mucky Weekend

2011-07-05T07:00:00.001+01:00

Please forgive my pathetic and rather obvious attempted play on words.

On Saturday afternoon we kayaked from Ardnamurchan to Muck, the smallest of the Small Isles.

We arrived just before our friends stepped off the CalMac ferry. It had taken almost as long to travel from Mallaig.

They'd booked two weeks in their usual cottage, a break from their croft and self catering business.

Sunday morning was spent kayak fishing. I was contact towing Liz backwards, while Bill and Sukie were in their double plastic canoe. They must have some sort of fish-magnet strapped underneath, because in no time at all they hauled a bucket load out of the sea.

These provided an excellent lunch, were distributed to people on the island, and still there were enough for us to bring some home for dinner last night.

Sunday night we started the two-hour crossing back around 7pm.

The light was wonderful and the sea almost glassy smooth.

I'd told the CG we'd left our car at Fascadale, because I hadn't wanted any of the visitors to the holiday cottages there to report us "missing" when we'd failed to return Saturday night.

With the DVD edited, I can't do much more until I hear from our Executive Producer and from Gordon and Morag.

So we might just find our way back to this lovely small island.

Video Diary 3, Sea Kayaking St Kilda

2011-07-01T07:00:00.001+01:00

Rather rough-and-ready, compared to the polished edit I'm doing for the DVD, but you get the flavour of the place and of our fun trip.

Humiliating U-Turn. By Me.

2011-06-29T07:00:00.001+01:00

Our new DVD will not be released only in NTSC format as I wrote in May.

There will be a PAL version for most of the world and an NTSC copy, made in the US, for North America.

We journalists tend to describe such changes of decision as "a humiliating U-turn", especially if they're made by a politician.

I shall simply use the politicians' defence.

I asked you what you thought of NTSC only and, in comments and e-mails, you politely said "no thanks". So I have listened and learned.

Fingers crossed, it will be out 1st November.

Incidentally, I've just ordered some more PAL copies of DVD-1 as we're almost out of stock.

As you'll see, there has been an addition to the artwork.

'Volume 1' added in the top right corner of the front of the box. (The Copyright is now 2011 too).

Volume 1 was previously written on the rear of the box, but to be honest, it was toned down, almost hidden.

We weren't entirely sure any more volumes were going to happen. Now I'm delighted to say, the rough-cut of Volume 2 is almost complete and I ought to be able to take it to Gordon and Morag to review very soon.

Want to see some? Look out for the Video Diary of our St Kilda voyage, on this site on Friday.

Premiere Dates Announced, Vol 2, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown

2011-06-27T07:00:00.001+01:00

First public viewing of the highlights from our new sea kayaking DVD will be at Paddle '11, Scotland's Canoe and Kayak Show.

The event is spread over two days, Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd October 2011.

Because many people will take part in the Tay Descent on the Saturday we've agreed to one screening each day at 11:30am.

Two years ago our first film drew the largest audience for any single talk or workshop the organisers had seen.

We're hoping lots of folk will turn up on both days, and we'll also be selling the full DVD.

In addition, the SCA is running a film competition, which I'll have a hand in. Details tbc.

Now all I have to do is finish the film...

3 Ways to Follow Our St Kilda Sea Kayaking Story

2011-06-24T10:27:00.005+01:00

I spend most days just now re-living our superb sea-kayaking trip to St Kilda.

I'm editing the hours of footage into the 'Journey' part of our next coaching DVD.

If you'd like to know more about the coaching sessions Volume 2 will contain, check the website. The DVD is released 1st November 2011.

However, if you want to see and hear and see more about kayaking around thie remote cluster of dramatically shaped island, may I suggest three ways.

Firstly, there are the blogs I mentioned in passing, but which deserve special attention. With each new posting, the story of our trip gradually unfolds, supported by superb photos.

Douglas' excellent SeaKayakPhoto.com daily teases the reader with progressively developing story. Ian's Mountain and Sea Scotland does much the same. Worth checking regularly.

The third way is video.

On 1st July I'll publish the next Video Diary of our shoot and it will feature the St Kilda shoot.

It's cut.

The team have seen it.

They like it.

So please check back here on 1st July or subscribe free to the Podcast download at SeaKayakPodcasts.com

Sea Kayaking St Kilda - Photos

2011-06-16T20:23:00.014+01:00

DVD2 in the series Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown will feature a fantastic journey around St Kilda.

The remote cluster of islands and sea stacks sits fifty miles out in the North Atlantic.

There's a slideshow with some of my images below.

Much better shots by Douglas Wilcox of SeaKayakPhoto.com are here along with his gradually developing story of t he trip.

And on Ian's Blog.

What an amazing place to kayak! A double UNESCO World Heritage site.

The blizzard of gannets overhead create a deafening whir of wings. The sheer scale of the cliffs and sea stacks assault and overwhelm the senses.

Both the cliffs and the stacks are the highest in the UK according to the National Trust who own the islands.

To minimise our impact, and because we couldn't wait weeks for perfect weather, we travelled and lived on board a 'mothership' to help us film and make the most of the weather.

I'm capturing the rushes now, and I'm confident we have some great footage for Volume 2, released a the end of October.

The DVD will also feature archive cine footage of the first kayak crossing to St Kilda made in the 1960s by Hamish Gow.

Among the twelve kayakers in our group was Donald Thomson who in 1991 led the first there-and-back crossing to and from the islands and has made something of a study of them, the ideal tour guide.

We all are hugely grateful to the crew of the MV Cuma, Murdani, Gary and Louise.

And of course to the star of our show, the Saint who never was; the glorious, gorgeous St Kilda.

Gone Kayaking. And filming.

2011-06-07T07:00:00.001+01:00

We're heading to Skye to do some filming with Gordon and Morag for DVD2, then we're off to the Outer Hebrides. So forgive me if there are only a few updates and/or Tweets.

We have a supply of DVDs with us so we can fulfil orders.

At the end of this week we're joining a team of ten kayakers on Lewis. Between us, we've hired a boat on which we'll live ofr a week and travel to where the weather looks best.

As well as all our paddling kit, which is bulky enough, we also have three big boxes of filming kit. That consists of 4 conventional HD cameras and 4 waterproof HD mini cams.

I hope to shoot extra material for DVD2, so who knows where we'll get to.

Video Diary 2, DVD2 Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown

2011-06-01T07:00:00.003+01:00

Balance exercises are integral to the way Gordon teaches self rescues, and they will earn an entire coaching session in the new DVD. But he also likes to muck about. On my Five Start training last year, he told our group, "Launch your kayak in a way you've never done before".

So I suggested he try the same idea with one of the groups we're filming. None of this resulting material is likely to end up in the coaching session on the DVD, but it's good fun.

Please share this with as many folk as possible.

And you'll notice that, unlike DVD1, in DVD2 we see Gordon coaching with groups rather than talking alone to camera. This is also going out as a Podcast on SeaKayakPodcasts.com

Defying Gravity on the Skye Mor

2011-05-30T08:00:00.001+01:00

Cyclists make a pact with gravity. We battle against it on the up-hills, then on the other side, it helps to speed us downhill. It didn't work that way on Saturday's Skye Mor.

At one stage, I was in bottom chain-ring and a small cog, pedallng hard, to go downhill. Eh?

Wind.

As a kayaker you'll apprecate this. Gordon later told me it had been blowing a steady Force 6, gusting Force 8.

Swinging into a head-wind was like colliding with a massive, invisible cushion. It completely stopped me in my tracks.

However, side gusts were worse. There was a constant danger of being blown into traffic, squeezing past on Skye's narrow roads.

Downhills (not into the wind) should have been a delight. Instead they were terrifying, as I never knew when a side gust would lurch my front wheel two foot to the side. I understand some lighter women riders quit because of this.

Then there was the condition of the road surface. Does the RAF practice bombing Lybia on the roads around the Trotternish peninsula? We were not dodging potholes, we were avoiding craters! These were deep enough to take a front wheel down almost to the axle, resulting in what my friend Alastair calls, a "Captain Starfish impression" over the handlebars. Still, once behind me the wind was good.

Here are a few numbers.

* Two weeks ago, on the Etape Caledonia, I rode 82 miles in less time than I rode 62 miles on Skye, a function of the wind and the hilly course.

* The 95 mile course was 94.2 mile on my GPS.

* The fastest rider did it in 5hrs something, while I was 7 hours 16 mins.

* There were around 120 riders and, when I finished, 28 had still to arrive, but they could have started after me.

And I did smile at the "route" card given at registration. Sensibly, it had emergency contact numbers of the back and space to fill personal details like next of kin. If someone was found lying in a crater organisers would know who to call.

This is the reverse. As well as the intimidating gradient profile, it offers 'Useful Gaelic Terms'.

Visitors might think the people of Skye wouldn't understand English. Actually it was probably a neat way to access additional funding.

Forgive the lack of accents, but particularly appropriate were:

Carson a tha a'ghaoth an-comhnaidh nar a-aghaidh? (Why is there always a headwind?) and Tha mo thoin goirt (My arse hurts!).

Yet the one which fit the day best was this: Bha siud miorbhaileach! (That was fantastic!)

Around Ireland DVD - Coming Soon

2011-05-30T06:00:00.000+01:00

Crikey, Vaughan Roberts doesn't hang about! On 16th May Harry and Jeff set a new record of kayaking around Ireland. Now the DVD of their trip is promised to be 'coming soon'. There's a promo below. You'll be able to order through Romany Productions.

Scotland's Wettest May on Record?

2011-05-28T07:00:00.002+01:00

A couple of days ago I had a whinge about the weather. I predicted official figures, at the end of the month, would show record rainfall.

Now the BBC is reporting Scotland is "on course" for the wettest May since records began in 1910.

What's more, we've already had double the average rainfall for May.

And I'm about to head off on the Skye Mor course! (I'm in Portree on the map alongside).

In fairness, it looks like the front came through overnight.

So rather than the type of rain that feels like someone is pouring a giant bath-tub of water over your head, I'm expecting patchy showers. That's not the main issue.

Because each time I look at the surface pressure chat, the isobars have narrowed. The westerly wind now looks like being be the main challenge of the day. I feel that short-cut coming on...

Mor Hills, Mor Wind, Mor Skye

2011-05-27T06:00:00.001+01:00

I was slightly concerned by a comment, on one of the road cycling forums, concerning the hills of the Skye Mor Cyclosportive route.

"Have you seen the gradient profile? It looks like Jaws' dental records".

Take a look - he's right!

There are two courses to tomorrows event. I've entered the Skye Mor, which at 95 miles is the longer course and will be the furthest I've ridden in a day.

However, if you look at the map alongside, you'll see the route comes close to the start after the first loop around the Trotternish Peninsula.

Cutting across that gap make the course just 45 miles long.

This is the Skye Beag route.

If the weather tomorrow proves as wet and windy as forecast, I might switch at that half-way (ish) point and follow the shorter course.

If it's not fun, there's no point in doing it.

The day after, Gordon and I have tentitvely arranged to do the last bits of filming for the coaching session of DVD-2, but again a lot depends upon the weather.

Which is not good.

Storms

2011-05-24T09:18:00.001+01:00

For the last few days Liz and I have been saying to each other things like, "it can't go on like this". The correct response seems to be, "yes it can".

In a few weeks time, I'm certain the official weather records will confirm Scotland has had the wettest May for decades. We had some lovely days at the start, but ever since we've been jet washed.

Yesterday's storms were the cherry ontop.

We don't get tornados or cyclones on the genuine extremes of weather experienced elsewhere in the world, but when trees come down and roofs fly off, that's extreme enough for us.

The swallows nesting under on neighbour's house are homeless, their nest washed off the wall. We haven't seen our baby robins in days. Our electricity went off. Planes, trains, and most other travel was disrupted, especially the ferries.

Our local Corran Ferry was off for three hours, remarkably little. "We took a battering right enough", I was told by one of the ferrymen today.

Because Tuesday is our shopping day in Fort William. Liz drove in early to swim before our yoga class. I rode in and I'm not sure which of us ended up wetter.

Oh and our home Internet is off. Which is why this is coming from Fort William.

Surely, it can't go on like this?

National Geographic - Scottish Sea Kayak Trail in Top 50 Lifetime Tours

2011-05-19T07:00:00.004+01:00

National Geographic has listed The Scottish Sea Kayak Trail among the 'Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime" (3rd on list).

Apparently, it's also in Outside Magazine's coveted 'Travel Hot List for 2011', although I couldn't find it.

Which is nice. Sort of...

I wrote the guidebook partly because I knew that if I didn't, someone else would, and there was a trend for guidebooks to recommend campsite locations. Directing kayakers to certain campsites, along the length of Scotland's west coast, would concentrate environmental impact in those places and potentially damage them.

So as well as making a great fuss about campcraft and minimum impact techniques, in my book I pointedly recommend no places to camp. I hope to spread the impact along the whole coast as well as leaving kayakers free to find their own adventure.

Perhaps it's big-headed of me, but I also hoped similar guidebooks would adopt this policy in future.

I have been in touch with Wilderness Scotland, the outfitter offering holidays along the route of the trail, and it seems what they're offering is quite different to the self-guided route I suggest.

I also discussed ith with Franco, publisher of Pesda Press, who said, "Shame they didn't mention your book".

Invasion of the Model T Fords

2011-05-18T12:59:00.008+01:00

It's not every day a convoy of more than sixty, Model T Fords chug past your house.

But then, it's not every day one reaches the summit of Ben Nevis.

One hundred years ago, Henry Alexander famously drove his vehicle to the summit of Britain's highest mountain.

Today his grandson is trying to repeat the expedition. (The Scotsman story)

From chatting to a driver, I understand they manhandeled the vehicle 1000 feet on the first day, but had less success on the second day.

So, I'm told, they have dismantled the vehicle and today, a team of volunteers is carrying all the components to the summit of the Ben, where the Model T Ford will be re-built and photographed.

The driver who told me this is taking part in the Model T Centenery Challenge Tour.

He added they have to be off the summit by early afternoon, as thunder storms are forecast.

It's not considered a good idea to be walkng down a mountain, lightning bouncing off rocks, with large pieces of metal sticking out of your rucksack.

Those not involved in the recreation of this enterprise are on tour. They showed me today's route. Frankly, I wouldn't drive my wee Polo along that course.

The Foresty Commission has opened the road alongside Loch Shiel, so they could drive from Glenfinnan to Strontian, where we are, before heading around the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and back to Fort Bill.

That's a rough road, more of a land-rover track. We sometimes mountain bike it, and certainly wouldn't dream of taking a 'normal' car along.

But of course, these aren't like normal, modern mass produced cars.

That they'd negotiated Polloch Hill along the way only added to the challenge.

So all morning they've been cruising past our windows, on their way to their lunch-stop at Cozy Knits, the cafe in the Ariundle National Nature Reserve.

There will be a parade of all the vehicles on Saturday in Fort William. And presumably, if they make it, the new photo of the old Model T on the summit of Ben Nevis, will be in tomorrow's newspapers. Now you know the story too.

Mini Helicopter Video Cam - Surf Footage

2011-05-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

I've seen better surf footage, but nothing from this angle and height.

This is a 'quadrocopter', a toy helicopter, albeit one which costs several thousand dollars.

It has been outfitted with a camera by Extreme Aerials.

I spotted the story in Outside Online.

It would be great to get one of these machines to shoot some sea-kayaking. For DVD-3 perhaps?

Kayaked Around Ireland In 25 Days!!

2011-05-16T22:22:00.007+01:00

Hearty congratulations to Jeff Allen and Harry Whelan who have circumnavigated Ireland in record time.

They aimed to comlete the 1000 mile trip in 33 days. 25 days is an astonishingly fast time and this record might stand for quite some time.

As you'll read on their blog, the trip has taken quite a toll on their bodies. I'm sure they'll post more soon (perhaps they have already!) so check their website and visit their Just Giving site too.

Pedalling Perthshire - Etape Caledonia 2011

2011-05-16T06:00:00.015+01:00

Welcome if you've come direct to this page - click to see what I'm currently writing about, and please visit an advert or two! Thanks.

It was the silence which came as the biggest surprise.

Looking at that photo, of the starting lanes for the 2011 Etape Caledonia, you'd be forgiven for wondering what I'm talking about!

Please stay with me. These are my thoughts after my first Sportive event.

Spinning down towards the head of Loch Rannoch, I was mesmerised by the beauty of the river, tumbling over a series of waterfalls.

Which I could hear. Perfectly.

For three hours on a Sunday morning, two glens in highland Perthshire were free of motor traffic. The rumble and roar of internal combustion engines, replaced by the swoosh of chains and the panting of the human engines attempting to power these much flimsier vehicles as fast as possible.

Just how flimsy would be made all too apparent soon.

This is the only closed-road event in the UK open to all comers, and what a difference a closed road makes.

In my first Sportive, I felt so much safer, knowing a 4x4 wasn't going to come careering around a bend.

This is the one and only time when cyclists (and we all drive cars too) don't have to ride defensively, curtailing the riding joy in case of cars.

My other surprise was how many people had turned out to clap and cheer us on. It gave us all a real boost.

But here I had a wee problem. Should I wave back and say "Thank you very much", in an attempt to show my appreciation? If I did that, would they think, that I think, they've all turned out for me? Brushing such thoughts aside I grinned like an idiot, waved and said "Thank you" as I shot past. It was great to see them.

Incidentally, if you wonder what five thousand riders looks like, here's a wide shot of that first photograph.

If you look carefully, you can just see the first riders, way, way at the top of the snap.

What you can't see are the hundreds more behind the camera. Most stay in the local area for several days, spending lots of money.

On balance, I think Pitlochry gains.

Obviously there are some people who don't like this event taking place.

Thanks to the organisers, marshalls and police who spotted a sabotage attempt and sorted it out. It looked like an attempted repeat of what happened in 2009. This time, instead of causing hundreds of punctures, not one event rider was delayed. The first I knew about it was while listening to the van radio on my way home. (Stories in The Scotsman, Daily Record, Press & Journal, and Herald.)

Carlton Reid has written a piece, on the Bike Biz website, about one of the guys opposing the event.

And then there's drafting.

All my training has been done alone, so although I'd read about how tucking into another rider's slipstream reduces the effort needed to turn the pedals, I'd rarely tried it.

Wow does it work! One moment I was struggling against a headwind, an enveloping cushion of air, that was trying to force me backwards. The next moment, I was being sucked along like a piece of dirt in a lycra-clad hoover.

It was exhilarating and, at the same time, scary as hell. The trick, I quickly discovered, was to hop onto a train that was going the correct speed. Too fast and you get dropped off the back; too slow and you're squeezing the breaks all the time.

And believe me, you do not want to break. Oh no. Bad idea.

The wheel you're sucking is just inches from your own and, if they touch, there'll be a lot of bent bike bits scattered over the road, and a lot of road embedded in your arms and legs.

Speed seemed to be best controlled by body position; sit up (into the wind) to slow down, tuck to speed up. The carriages would separate for descents, and then the train would reform, in a different configuration, to whizz on into the wind. I shot past stronger riders, who had already overtaken me. Yet I could not relax, not even for a moment.

Because the rider one in front, or two in front, or three, might not know he or she is being drafted. A couple of times I glanced over my shoulder to check whether anyone was overtaking me, only to find a posse of riders tucked in behind me. I felt like the head-end of one of those Chinese dragons.

There is one big climb, up across the flanks of Schiehallion, the mountain where the weight of the world was first calculated. On the long, swooping descent I clocked 37mph, just before slamming on the brakes.

Moments earlier there had been a nasty, nasty accident involving two riders, who lay in the road clearly in need of emergency care. I stopped to see if I could help. But someone was already calling the emergency services, while others slowed riders, and fearing an even bigger pile-up, I pressed on. I learnt on Facebook one sustained serious injuries and was stable in hospital while the other suffered minor injuries and was discharged. There's also a BBC News story.

Opponents of the event are trying to prevent the 2012 Etape from taking place. They object to the road being closed for half a day, people urinating by the side of the road, alleged unsafe riding practices and litter. I feel there's a sound response to each of these arguments, but people are entitled to their opinion.

I was delighted to finish in 4:49, position 2135, even though the winner did it in 3:37! I'd trained with a heart rate monitor, doing threshold speed sessions at 141-147. These helped, as my average heart rate throughout was 141.

That was my first Sportive and my first 'competitive event' since a sprint triathlon, exactly two years ago. I've another sportive in two weeks, the Skye Mor. Much hillier, much longer and much harder. Then it's the end of the cycling stuff for a while.

Etape Caledonia - 5000 Cyclists On One Route This Weekend

2011-05-14T06:00:00.002+01:00

If you're not involved in the Etape Caledonia, then it's probably a good idea to avoid the Pitlochry area this weekend.

Or at least, time your visit carefully.

The small map alongside shows which roads will be closed and at what times. It's an 81 mile course, so that's a quite lot of road closure. See detailed map.

A couple of years ago some irate local(s) sprinkled tacks on the road to stop cyclists in their tracks. More. Obviously I'm hoping there's no repeat of that! But just in case, I have two inner tubes wiht me.

The event raises a huge amount of money for Macmillan Cancer Support, and now a festival of cycling has been built around the Etape, providing an even bigger boost to the local economy. I'm heading there this morning (Saturday) to register.

Below are two videos (with rather good music) which give an idea what I'll be up to on Sunday. Except I'll be at the back...

Warning Live Insects - Open Immediately

2011-05-13T07:00:00.002+01:00

It's not often our postie delivers a parcel with that written all over it.

"Live Insects"!? It took me by surprise.

It turns out Liz had ordered some meal-worms as food for the nesting robins, although the blackbirds seem particularly fond of them.

As recommended, the meal worms are kept in a tub with newspaper and fed carrots, which they hungrily devour.

I can't quite get my head around feeding creatures to feed to other creatures.

Robins' Nest

2011-05-12T08:00:00.002+01:00

The robins who made our garden their home since last winter have had chicks.

They're in the home-made nest box Liz fastened on the side of the shed, well hidden from the sparrow hawk by a large acer tree and now protected by an electronic cat scarer.

When the female is off the next, we managed to take a peek at the chicks.

The photo won't win any awards, but you can just make out the yellow gape and tufty head.

We're now so tuned into the bird calls, we recognise the blackbird's alarm call. It woke us at 4am, and Liz dashed outside to scare off any invading cat. It's the closest we'll get to looking after kids!

Video - Why People Join RNLI

2011-05-12T06:00:00.001+01:00

Featuring six of the people at Poole Lifeboat station and shot on DSLR as part of a final year in Digital Media Production at Arts University College Bournmouth, you'll find more information on the Vimeo page. Worth a watch.

Time with the Crew from The Orchid on Vimeo.

DVD or Download - Which Do You Prefer?

2011-05-11T06:00:00.003+01:00

In what I think is a 'first' for kayak media, Justine Curgenven is now selling her films as digital downloads through her website Cackle TV.

Is this the future? Check out the comments below and please contribute your thoughts.

Justine helped me enormously when I was struggling to understand how to make a DVD. Now she has taken the next step and I really, really hope it works for her.

Two films, shot some time ago in SD but not included on DVDs, are for sale at 99p each.

Her new, 32 minute, HD award winning Islands Of Fire is priced at £5.99.

Is this the future of media distribution? It would certainly be easier for me than stuffing DVDs into padded envelopes!

My friend Paul, who makes superb climbing films with his business HotAches, offers each film at three prices depending on the distribution route - Streaming, Download or DVD.

Yet I'm struggling to assess the scale of this market, based on my own experience (or prejudice). While I might download an individual track or two on iTunes, if there's an album I want, I buy the CD online. I like to have something physical for my cash. Am I alone in this?

Why not buy Justine's latest film online and then see if the download route works for you. And if you can take the time to let me know what you think, I'd be hugely grateful.

Video Podcasts Now In High Definition

2011-05-10T06:00:00.000+01:00

I'm scratching my head wondering why I uploaded the first Video Diary in Standard Definition! The entire shoot for DVD-2 Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown is in HD, so the Video Diaries should be. They will be in future. The main website is also updated.

RNLI Video - Kayakers Rescued

2011-05-09T17:59:00.001+01:00

8th May 2011. Howth ILB Rescue 2 Canoeists in difficulty in gale force conditions off Howth. From RNLI website.

Etape Caledonia Next Weekend

2011-05-09T06:00:00.000+01:00

With less than six days to the Etape Caledonia it's no wonder my usual 'long ride' was busy this weekend.

The Etape, a closed-road event for non-professional cyclists, is 81 miles with 1,949ft of ascent, while my local loop, around the lochs, is 81 miles with 3,665 feet of ascent.

I'm hoping it's an ideal training loop for anyone riding the Etape. If I can set a good timeon my own on hilly, home ground, I hope I'll be all right on the big day.

Heavy rain Sunday morning persuaded me that a, short afternoon hill session would be better than a full-day ride. As I was battling up Glen Tarbert, into a fierce headwind, a pack of riders cruised alongside.

"Hop on the back", I was told. It's so much easier drafting in a group slipstream. Still, these lads from Stirling were going fast.

At the cattlegrid, which marks to top of the climb, I usually slacken off to recover on the downhill. Not this time. To (try to) keep with them I was pedalling downhill at my tempo pace. Too much for today. I was dropped.

Sticking to my plan, I turned around at the bottom, and climbed the hill again from the other side, only to meet yet another peleton at the cattlegrid. This lot didn't seem quite so grimly determined.

For both Liz and me, cycling comes third place behind sea kayaking and running a business. I have been training and trying to loose weight, but I've not been particularly successful on either count. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to the Etape.

New Video Podcast - Shooting DVD,2 Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown

2011-05-02T06:00:00.001+01:00

Some people found it already on the rebuilt Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown website, and thank you for the kind comments. These video diaries will come at the start of each month, released as Podcasts at SeaKayakPodcasts.com and also on this blog. Hopefully you'll enjoy seeing what we're up to. This one was shot on a weird weather day!