Post RTA

Two things I loved doing before my RTA were rock climbing and wind surfing. I no longer have the upper body strength, balance or sight to take part in these activities, but if you are prepared to put your trust in those about you who offer real friendship, be ready to take some risks and make a fool of yourself, you never know what might happen.
Recently up near Cape Wrath with a group of friends and family, we started on a coastal route with the sounds of waves lapping the shore near by. A dreamy day with clear blue skies and scenery you usually only see on a postcard. At first to me with some boulder climbing involved the route seemed impossibly, but I was hauled, pushed and shoved sometimes with 4 people grasping all 4 corners. I was manhandled over the difficult bits, often out of breath I was able to stand on grassy ledges and with sea cliffs below look out to sea and be awed by where I was and the amazing views .
As near to the exhilaration of rock climbing i would ever have, wonderful
A few days later I was offered the chance to go on a Topper, these are tiny wee sailing dinghies, smaller than Wayfarers ( hold 6) tinier than Lasers ( hold 4). I wet suited up, gave over my glasses, donned a life jacket and since these dinghies are very tip-able was prepared for a dunking in cold Scottish loch water.
As we were going to need to tack or jibe ( ‘turn’ in technical nautical terms me hearties) I had to sit on the edge, but quickly slide my whole body over to balance the vessel while not being hit by the boom, which swung over when we changed direction.
We quickly sped when the wind hit our sails and we glided over the water with our bow cutting trough the waves and I heard that familiar noise I used to hear when I wind surfed of gurgling and whooshing sounds, with the wind in my face ( admittedly not able to see a thing) I enjoyed the sensation so much. I dread to think of what I must have looked like as we tacked. I just grabbed the mast and hooked my feet under webbing and did a crab crawl swing thing and we sped off again..Ungainly methods, but looking graceful from the shore no doubt, but with wonderful results for me. Ahhh