Thank you for coming back to read about the rest of my story, and how Och Aye Canoe came to be...
Canoeing background...
So, having decided that canoeing was the way forward for me to get back into the outdoors after my leg operation (see blog Part 1), I started to get out on the water as much as I could. I bought my first Open Canoe, an old Coleman Ram-X 13, good size of boat to get me started but it was old! Along with my friends I managed to canoe the whole of the River Tay (not in one go though), also parts of the River Spey and other rivers and lochs in Scotland. I also got into kayaking, bought myself Perception Coral sit-on kayak and also a Pyranha H3 river kayak. (It was at this point it became difficult explaining to my parents why I needed so many different types of boat!).
After building up some experience I decided I wanted to try and get qualified as an instructor. Initially I qualified as a bank based instructor and I helped out with Adventure Training at a local Army Cadet centre.
I then spent more time getting as much experience I could and then got my boat based instructor qualification. At that point I started as a volunteer instructor with Lochore Meadows outdoor centre, in Fife. It was great to shadow more experienced instructors and to work with different groups and people of all ages.
One last mountaineering trip...
I realised I would not be able to continue with my rock-climbing or hill walking. Although my leg bypass has given me a new lease of life I still have restricted leg movement and get a fair bit of pain in it walking up hills at any normal speed.
I still had one goal left though... and after discussing it with surgeons, and going myself with my own guide and porter so I could go at my own very slow pace... I successfully trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, in Nepal, in 2010. I also raised money for Ninewells hospital from this expedition.
Resting, but not resting...
After Everest I needed to rest, but although I was resting physically, I took this time to do more studying. By distance learning I completed a second degree, this time a BSc Degree in Policing from the University of the West of Scotland.
I also set myself personal goals to achieve more with my canoeing.
New boat...
I sold my old Coleman Open Canoe and bought myself a second-hand Mad River Explorer 14 instead. A better boat, and I just kept going out on the water as much as I could to get more experience.
Oops...
I then had another set back - I broke my back! (my L1 vertebrae). Let's just say children's play parks are for children!
Keep going...
I have a motto to myself to "keep going", not always easy, however I am a determined person! I went on to get my next canoeing / kayaking instructor qualification. I continued to work as a volunteer instructor whenever I could and I realised I just loved teaching other people and that this was my calling!
And Och Aye Canoe was born!
A friend suggested I looked at starting my own business, that was a daunting thought at the start, but then I thought "why not give it a go?" and that's when Och Aye Canoe was born!
More later about how Och Aye Canoe has developed....