Adapting Your Plans: Youth Kayak Expedition
For nearly a year I’d had been planning and working on a youth kayak expedition to the Ladakh area in Northern India, with a small group of dedicated and talented young people, with the objective of paddling the Zanskar River.
A few days before our departure, in the dead of night, rains brought havoc to the small town of Leh and the surrounding area, affecting 25000 people all over Ladakh. This was the same weather system that devastated Pakistan, displacing 14 million people. There was no way we could continue with our original plans to go to Leh, the town and area was devastated.
I sat at home looking for options for the group, not wanting to disappoint anyone, even though they were incredibly understanding, given the circumstances. I wanted to make something happen for the group and get them on the water paddling somewhere. The major problem that we had was that we had no money, all of our money was in India, and so any option of a quick trip to the Alps was impossible. I sat at home and checked the tides for the Bitches tidal race and the weather, the conditions were perfect. We quickly rescheduled and headed to Pembroke, where we had a stunning week and great conditions.
During that week, we were told that none of the participants would be covered for cancellation as it was regarded as a natural disaster. After two months with letters from lawyers, we finally managed to get paid out by the insurance company.
I am quite aware, that cancelling our trip and all of our own small logistical problems, are nothing of significance compared to what the people of Ladakh have had to deal with. But there were some key learning points, from this situation. Things don’t always go to plan and providing you are patient, persistent and have the ability to adapt, things can turn out well in the end, if you hang on in there!
Hope you like the pictures form the Bitches; they were taken with a Mamiya 7 film camera.
If you would like to find out more about supporting the people of the Ladakh area, you can contact Aquaterra Charity Trust (ACT)
All the best, Deb
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was still awesome fun though and hopefully we will still paddle the river next year,
lets not give up hope!