At Home in the Lakes - a Life in The Outdoors

Today was an ordinary day. However two things occurred to me:

First was the realization that the outdoors and kayaking have shaped me and my life, and will probably continue to do so well into the future. It hit me that the Lake District, England’s premier location for white water and all things outdoors, is my home and I am very lucky and happy to be here.

My personal Bodhi tree for this awakening was none other than a choppy Windermere late this afternoon.

My boat has been stuck at my parent’s house far longer than I would have liked and as a result I hadn’t been paddling in a good while. However, today Mr. Kirkham (my father) was kind enough to drive north and drop it off at my house in Bowness on Windermere.

I work on the hills above the eastern shores of Lake Windermere and today, although occasionally interrupted by snow or hail, there was a spectacular view of a calm Windermere with a snow topped Old Man of Coniston dominating the skyline. Beautiful!

At quarter past four I popped a couple Pepperamis into my BA, donned my favorite beanie, shouldered my Sniper and took the two minute walk through a blustery and busy Bowness.

The lake was very choppy and I enjoyed myself immensely bobbing around, with the wind and water stinging my face. The Fairfield horseshoe, one of the lakes more popular walks, stood clearly out at the northern end of the Lake. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed paddling my creek boat in freezing conditions on the Lake and couldn’t help thinking about The Water Rat from Wind In The Willows …


`Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'


It brought kayaking back to the basics for me. Today reminded me of my first times on the water at the age of seven on The River behind Castlehead or on Coniston water. I owe my old instructors, if it wasn’t for them and their enthusiasm I would never have been involved in this sport or the outdoors and I would be naïve to its beauty, the experiences it creates and the people who make up its great community.

It isn’t about running the hardest rivers I can, plopping off waterfalls or trying to look gnarly for the camera. It’s hard to pin what so inspiring about kayaking.

The second distinct moment of my day was after beaching up on Bowness just before the sun set. It occurred to me how at home I felt here in the Lake District. As I walked along past my favorite pub and my old place of work I realized that the Lake District was now my home.

I had moved up here two Septembers ago to start at St Martins University - a choice again decided by my love for outdoors. Last month I quit the course, only a few weeks into my second year. I have stayed up here and I plan to next year as well. It’s a queer feeling when you make a conscious decision not to live in the town of your immediate family and childhood.

Over the next year you’ll find me on The Lake District Becks, rivers and Hills making the most of my new home. I hope I will have many more moments like today’s, whether it be on the mighty Windermere, punching through Backbarrow Bridge or camping under Pavey Arc.

Cheers,

Liam Kirkham