Thank you

Winter came early, mid November, mid Wales. Photo by Pen

Paddling doesn't stop. I'm back on the River Severn, training twice a week to keep up fitness and strength and because I love it. Plus running. Did you know that by the age of 75 your muscles turn to butter as quick a flash? Hoping to pick up some mild white water too because that's good for skills. Because what I thought I knew slides into the unknown as ...quick as another flash. Definitely getting on the sea whenever I can. But camping in the snow? Probably not.

It's a time to catch up with writing up blogs for many of 2024's islands, make plans for 2025, catch up with home friends fix stuff and take stock.

It's time to thank the people that have meant so much to me this year, made things possible, made all the difference. Thank you.

Amy, I love you. Photo by Pen

Thanks to Amy for being with me in spirit on every trip and for being there in person for some memorable islands.

Alan at St Kilda 2019

Thanks to Alan Kimber who has my back. Alan has fully supported 77 Islands. I could have given up without his input. Thanks to Sue as well.

Rare photo of Neil

Thanks to Neil Buckland, tide whisperer and magician photographer.

Brian Morrison getting in his boat - a tricky manoeuvre from a diving platform in a swell

Thanks to Spike, Brian Morrison and Gillian who inspire me with their skills and generous spirit. Thaks to Andy and Keith for their company.

Don't be fooled. Nick has the mind of a juggernaut under all that seaweed.

Thanks to Nick Halls, senior ancient mariner who inspires me by whacking out into the blue yonder going faster than anyone else and has increased my reading list further than I ever could have imagined. To paddle with Nick is to realise that every island has its story, every landscape must be read. With Nick as a mentor I've been reading deep.

Margarita holding up the bridge. Photo by Pen

Thanks to Margarita Felixburgher for her enthusiastic spirit, suggesting Chapel Rock and generously leading us round Bristol Docks. We had such tremendous fun. Congratulations also for her recent Advanced Sea Leader Award.

Thanks to the friendship group Eilean Nan Ron who welcomed me in and shared their memories of this my favourite island of 2024. I have come to feel their "hiraeth" for Nan Ron: a feeling of homesickness and nostalgia for a place that can, perhaps, never be returned to.

Mary taking Burgh Island Hotel in her stride.

Thanks to Mary Martell, not a paddler (yet) but fully up for everything. And thanks to Vlad the Burgh Island Hotel manager for saying yes. A rare thing down South.

Thanks to Oban Youth Hostel: they get what I'm doing. I turn up at their door damp and dirty and exhausted. They just open up and enable me to do everything I need to do. I can wash everything, dry everything and sleep. I can't say how much I apperciate that.

On the hill. Photo thanks to Aban

Thanks to all the lovely people who have generously supported 77 Islands charity Aban during 2024. Aban is continuing to do a great job to enable young people to get outdoors. Johannes Peterson, the founder member of Aban, stresses the warm friendships that form in the outdoors: the mountaineering group that have stayed together all year, the strong mentoring relationships within the D of E groups.

Friendships matter on the hill. Photo thanks to Aban

Johannes says: "by the end friendships have been forged and young people are well on the way to independence and early adulthood." Which, as he says, is what it's all about. I'm pleased I chose Aban as our charity.

A former Aban D of E participant addressing the crowd at Holyrood Palace alongside Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. That must have taken some courage. Photo thanks to Aban.

I don't usually know who donates through the 77 Island site.Your contribution goes straight to Aban through the charity funding platform CAF. I don't know who you are but thank you, your donations really do make a difference.

Not really Neil Davis' parrots. Photo pinched from Facebook

To represent all our donors I thank the few I do know: Alice Kerly who bought the most stuff from the outdoor kit jumble sale at the Salty Women's Festival, my sister Jen who donated all the way from Vancouver Island and, last but not least, Neil Davis's five parrots who saved up their parrot pocket money to donate £50 at the Hatty Regatta in September. This was on top of the £77 they gave for every island earlier in the year. Thanks Polly (x5)!

Aban gear hub. Photo thanks to Aban

One of Aban's principles is "real adventures don't cost the earth." So they "use good quality second hand clothing & equipment, and we teach you how to maintain and repair it. This breaks the cycle of non-stop consumer culture."

This strongly appeals to me and was one of the reasons for choosing the charity. Any family, let alone a low income family, is going to be challenged by the sheer cost of outdoor kit. It's a very real barrier to the outdoors which Aban meet head on.

Having the skills to mend your own kit is empowering, whatever your age. So thanks to Russell and Deb of Bwlchyddar, who have taught me how to mend my boat. That gives me a new kind of independence.

 Thanks to Huw and Martin at The Garage, Meifod. It looks as if I may be trying to coerce Martin to let Gwen jump the queue. As if, but I would if I could. Photo by Col

My van is on the winter fix list. Without "Gwen the van" me and "Ethel the Boat" are landlocked. On the way back from Island 31 my van's clutch went. Gwen got towed to Meifod where she was left in a sea of cars and vans waiting for Huw and Martin to get to them. I don't know how they do it. It means a lot to be able to rely on these two skilled men.

Thanks to Terra Nova tents: they replaced my poles for me and offered me support with anything I need. When I land on any island I know that my little Southern Cross tent will give me shelter and protection every time.

Talking of mending stuff. Col and Igs. Photo by Pen

Finally, last but not least, thanks to Col and Igs for keeping the home fires burning. And mending stuff.

Aban have an excellent ebay shop for outdoor gear.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/abanoutdoorcharityshop