www.adrianshanahan.com

Hey,

So there it is the year of 2010 all done and dusted apart from a few remaining hours. I had thought about and soon after reconsidered writing one of those how awesome things have been kinda end of year posts including how brilliant business has been for me here at www.adrianshanahan.com. At this stage everyone apart from those whom have their heads buried very deep in the sand know that Ireland’s economy is a state of free fall and our government is in such a state of disarray that politicians are jumping ship at a rate of knots.

In addition to that when I see so many of my former colleagues from the construction industry that are now unemployed and looking to leave or have left the country. You could easily forgive anyone who lives here for going around in a permanent state of disillusion / totally depressed with how things seem to be panning out.

I’m sure most of the kayaking community will be in agreement when I say that 2010 has also been one of the worse years for White Water Kayaking in Ireland in memory with no real constant water of any sort over the space of twelve months.

All that aside anyone who know me well will testify that I’m not one to sit around too long feeling sorry for myself and am for the most part the kinda person that sees in the good in things, it’s with that in mind why I decided to share some photos and thoughts from my year. Some stuff kayaking related, other stuff not, but all of it things I’m grateful to have experienced.

In semi chronological order….

In Jan of 2010 Ireland had what was the first epic snow fall in many years so to make the most of it myself and some friends hiked up to what is Ireland’s highest road in the middle of the Wicklow Mountains and set up camp in –25 .

I have to mention the river Nore as with this years poor water levels the Nore seemed to be like that girl friend you always wish you had back in school… as in the one who always put out. A poor joke I know but hey!  There were high days, low days, trips with both clients and friends old and new.

And even a tiny clip of Chris nailing his first clean spin:

As the year went on and the water dried up I with the help of my mate Paul started to dip my toes back into the world of climbing again. I used to climb (very badly I might add) some years ago but took a fall and decked out from 12m which I never quiet got over. I’ve not conquered “the fear” but I now remember why I used to really enjoy it.

Not at all kayaking or outdoor related but 2010 is the year when my sister gave birth and I became an uncle for the first time along with being honored with being asked to be God father. My nephew Tommy Long on his Christening.

As I have said 2010 was mega dry with very few quality days on the water so to spare me from climbing the walls and going nuts I decided to follow what every Kayaker seems to do at some stage in their career and try my hand at mountain biking. This without doubt is one of the best things I’ve ever done, biking is the only outdoor sport out of the many I have tried over the years that gives me the same enjoyment as kayaking.

I am very lucky to have some friends who are pretty hands on two wheels so started of with some great advice and guidance, I honestly love MTB so much I could write many more posts on it alone as there have been so many good times in such a short period.

If you haven’t it yet your missing out, get out there and get Mountain Biking.

I didn’t get to do this near enough this year but I did realize how much I like spending time with my Dad just having the chats end enjoying Pints in local not far from where my Dad grew up.

As always there were one or two days where pasta solo was the best way to enjoy a day on the river, not for everyone but I enjoy it at times.

Another exciting thing that I was excited about was the birth of Track and Trail, its a new venture by a friend that sets out ” to bringing outdoor adventure sports to people all over Ireland, we aim to encourage an appreciation of the outdoors, through various activities in a safe, enjoyable environment, whilst educationally fostering a positive attitude toward an active lifestyle in the outdoors as a lifelong endeavor.”

Honestly they are savage so check them out on www.trackandtrail.ie

This year I have done more than average amount of freelance of contract work in the outdoor education much like years ago when I was just starting out at all this carry on. On one hand it was a pain with all the travel but it really reminded me of how excited people get when trying stuff out for the first time that some of us take for granted.

During the year I also got to spend a bit more time with the Kayak Club based where I am from in Kilkenny which was formed a bit after I had started boating myself. Along with getting out freestyle paddling with some of the younger guys I was also luck enough to organize and run A River Safety & Rescue course for the member of Kilkenny Aqua Canoe club which I hope to see continue into the world of White Water and freestyle.

Most people reading this will not know that I am a proud Irish man and despite being utterly useless at it I do love the Irish language and all that comes with it. So Some time around October following a Twitter conversation with a friend Sharon Ní Icí ( @sherqui ) out of no where we founded an Irish Language website called Cailín Deas, things have been quiet on it as of late but there are great things planned.

This is a day I’ll not forget in a long while but the story is some else to tell or a at least to be told in person where it can be sound far more dramatic than it is.

As 2010 started to come to a close the cold weather struck our small Island again and we got hit with mega snow again in a twelve month period, not being one to stay trapped indoors I hit up my wee gear store and brought the toys out to play.

I even was foolish enough to brave some of the worse driving conditions I have ever seen to make it back to Dublin and took some video of it.

That more or less brings us up to Christmas were for me was pretty sedate with time spent with family and friends oh and not to forget the Kilkenny Santa Charity run.

So there we have it that was a snap shot of my 2010, what strange for me is the more I typed the more I remembered that I have forgotten to include, but I suppose it’s good to keep some stuff unshared. I was trying to think of some sort of really deep and meaningful way of wrapping up the the above and the year in general but failed miserably! What I will say on my own experience of the year gone is that life is what you make of it, get up and do something or like wise sit there and do nothing… Its your life and up to you make what you want of it.

I’m optimistic of what 2011 will bring for not only my self but for those around me and Ireland as a country, we are a resilient lot and things will get better.

If TV has thought us anything its that this time of year is a time for numbers/ countdowns and lists, so here is a few that come to mind and are relevant to me.

1507 – The number of words in this blog posts, well done for getting this far

~96 – The amount of days Kayaking I got this year

0 – The number of swims I had this year , unlike the shit show of 2009

1 – Number of dislocate shoulder incidents sorted

37,665 – Pages views adrianshanahan.com has gotten from Jan first to Dec 31 ( page clicks into 6+ figures)

3 – Number of days cheeky solo river boating I’ve had

0 – Is the amount of new rivers I have paddled in 2010, not great I know but not every year can be classic

Infinite is the number of time I have high fived people this year and also how much I am looking forward to 2011

I hope whomever has read this far had a good year ad that the following one is even better, thanks for reading my ramblings and if even a fraction of the stuff I have ideas for in 2011 there will be some exciting times ahead for both me and my wee website here.

Bliain nua,

Adrian