The School of Yak - Kayak Training and Tours

05/08/2024

Congratulations Neomie, what a wonderful achievement.

She's done it!!!! Noemie Fox is the first Olympic champion in the Kayak Cross🥇

| Paddle Australia

31/05/2024

Okay so I have been sitting on this until it was confirmed as a true sighting. Here it is folks, irrefutable proof of Nessy. I was so lucky to get this image just as she appeared on the side of Loch Ness

30/05/2024

Job done... I finished tonight around 6.00pm Scottish time. I had an incredible final day on the water. I have plenty of photos and video from today, but it's midnight here already. Thank you everyone who has supported me through my adventure for the past month. I'm so very grateful to everyone for the encouragement and help. I can't not mention Ashley Bennett and Louise. Ashley carried gear and helped me many times when I really was suffering with terrible back pain, without Ashley those days I would probably still be out there. Then there was Allan and Debbie, fellow kayakers, who stepped in to help me when Ashley and Louise hiked away from my pathway. My friend Paul has driven from London to help me finish, he's been there as my land support the past two days. I was so grateful to see him at the finish with a vehicle to pick me up. Without paul I would have been standing at the finish with no place to go. Scotland has stolen my heart I fear, unimaginably beautiful and filled with the most wonderful and welcoming people. It has been a privilege to meet them and celebrate this incredible country.

29/05/2024

Loch Ness done, 8klms to go

25/05/2024

Made it to Laggan Lochs today. About 70klms to Inverness now. Of course Loch Ness stands between me and the final destination....

24/05/2024

Portage done.... whooohoo

24/05/2024

The big day has arrived.

05/05/2024

My room with a view: breathtakingly beautiful Scotland. I'm surrounded by a stunning landscape and all around me are the sounds of migratory birds. I think I might have upon kayaking nirvana.
Arisaig Skerries
56°54.826'N • 5°54.097'W

05/05/2024

Currently camped 5klm South of Mallaig on the West coast. Leaving here today to move down to the location where we are hoping to do the open crossing to Eigg. Weather depending of course. Everything going well, heavy loads in the kayaks. Cold paddling in the later part of the day. So far all our gear is working well. I can't stay online long, trying to conserve the battery for weather reports and navigation.

03/05/2024

Update: Stargate log Glasgow.
It's 6.00am in Glasgow right now, I'm still struggling to get my sleep working correctly. Yesterday we walked a lot in our quest for final gear. A visit to Lomo Watersports got us everything we needed for the kayaks. A few extra dry bags, a deck bag for each kayak. We had been planning to visit a hardware store for a portable drill battery and usb adaptor. Although they all advertised them, no one actually had anything in stock. A visit to Argos solved the issue with two large power packs. Today we will catch the train to Mallaig, and shop for food. Then we can finally get on the water.

30/04/2024

I'm on the train, Scotland here I come..... whooohoo. School of Yak is officially closed for the season, or at least until June 10th after I get home.

25/04/2024

With less than a week to go, the packing for Scotland has started in earnest. It seems chaotic, but I think I'm in control at this stage. The best news is I'm making my fighting weight for the flights. I have a 52kgs limit including 7kgs carry on. The Trak kayak
and safety gear is coming in at 32kgs right now, and the camp stuff is at 11.5kgs, bit of reshuffling needed to make the kayak fit in at 30 and keep the second bag under 15kgs. Not too sure if Loki can stowaway someplace so he can come. It will be a long time away from him...... ohhhh yeah plus the family.

25/03/2024

With just 36 days left until I leave to kayak the west coast of Scotland and The Great Glen Canoe Trail, I thought it might be time for an update. Neil, my paddling partner is already in Canada, next time we meet will be in Glasgow. These are some of the practice/preparation photos. We have been planning now for almost a year in one form or another. This is my camp setup, I'll be using an Alton Goods tarp and my little bivvy. Everything has to fit in the kayak, and make weight for the flights, so not too many extras. I'm always amazed at my TRAK Kayaks , how can something so big (and so beautiful) fit in a bag that goes on an aircraft. Everyone is forbidden to make comments about cold weather or even worse midges. I'm pretty confident every single midge will stay in hibernation for the entire time we are there!!!

29/01/2024

This week saw the "Wild Women" group of ladies come out in the Hunter Wetlands with the School of Yak. Sixteen kayakers certainly took a lot of planning, resulting in a great day of paddling and fun.

22/01/2024

Our best result yet in the migratory bird count for Newcastle University researcher Louise Williams, this week. We counted over 100 endangered Eastern Curlews and around 300 Bar Tailed Godwits. Every 30 minutes across a 4 hour period Louise counts and records all the bird activity. Generally they are feeding, the restaurant is only open for a short time until the tide returns.

14/01/2024

After a somewhat dodgy start when we found the wind blowing in the almost opposite direction to the forecast, we had a great morning in the Hunter Wetlands National Park. Big tide today also meant a strong current, I was proud my visitors from Sydney all coped really well and had a great time. A huge day coming up tomorrow with the Lake Macquarie council for the annual Explore the Great Outdoors, we are fully booked out with 21 paddlers on the water.

09/11/2023

Having fun out in the wetlands with two scientists from Newcastle University. Core sampling the mudflats as part of a migratory shorebird study. I'm saying I am the lifeguard, so I shouldn't walk in the mud, the best excuse I could think of.

28/10/2023

Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported me for the Hawkesbury Classic. We are here waiting now. The kayak passed scrutineering no problem, not sure about the paddler though.
My number is 212 if you want track me.

Boat satellite tracking devices
A generous benefactor has enabled this year’s Classic to include boat tracking devices for the first time.
The devices are supplied by TrackMeLive – Australia’s leading live GPS tracking for sports events and
challenges.

The device will transmit the paddler’s location every minute.
Landcrew can monitor paddler’s progress via this web link:
https://live.trackmelive.com.au/hawkesbury23/
Using this link, landcrew can locate a specific boat number. Keep in mind the elapsed time shown for
each paddler is the elapsed time since 4pm, even though some paddlers start at 4.15

Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2023 - Live Event Tracking

18/10/2023

So, I have sat on this for quite some time, knowing I didn't have a land crew for this years Hawkesbury Classic. Today that has changed, Rodney Flannery has put his hand up to land crew for me. Starting to regret all the lamingtons and snacks on those kayak tours already. This will be my fifth classic, the others I didn't wait until the last minute to do my fundraise....oops

Supporting Hawkesbury Canoe Classic

02/10/2023

20 paddlers from Western Sydney region this afternoon, kept us on our toes. Trailer reconfigured now all ready for a half day tomorrow in the wetlands. Gotta love summer 🌞

02/10/2023

Big family fun day on Lake Macquarie this afternoon.

04/09/2023

If you have never heard about or watched the Paddling Film Festival, you are missing out on some of the best paddling documentaries you could ever hope to see. The 2023 program is up and running, and costs only a few dollars to watch. You will also be supporting these great film makers along the way.

The Paddling FIlm Festival presents the world's best canoeing, kayaking, whitewater, paddleboarding and kayak fishing films. Touring to over 130 cities worldwide and now available online to stream right to your smart TV, game console, PC, Mac, mobile, tablet and more.

28/08/2023

We had a wonderful day yesterday in the Hunter Wetlands National Park. It was a pleasure to introduce these young men to kayaking, and to a part of Australia they didn't expect. Here on a short visit from South Korea, Kim and Heo chose to catch the train up from Sydney to spend time with me. I had a brainstorm at 3 am, as I was thinking what do you give two people from Korea. I just couldn't go past lamingtons. They loved them so much, even took them back to Sydney for later, and were trying to figure out if they could take them back to South Korea.

07/07/2023

I've been dumb enough to sign up for the 5th time to do the Hawkesbury Classic. It's always an adventure.....

ENTER NOW TO WIN!

Ever found yourself up the proverbial without a paddle??
Well, we've got you covered!
‼ You can WIN A BRAND NEW CUSTOM PADDLE valued at $790 FROM Bennett Surfboards ‼

HOW?? All you have to do to go in the draw to WIN A PADDLE is register for the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic during the early bird window.

AND you save $$ on your registration fee, too!

How good is that??

Register by 31st July save $30 on your entry fee AND you're in the running to win the paddle.
Here's where you can enter: https://www.webscorer.com/register?pid=1&raceid=314028

Details:
💠1 x Bennett / Braca full Custom Adjustable Paddle RRP $790.00
💠Your choice of Braca-Sport Blades – Braca IV or Braca XI in various sizes
💠Your choice of Bennett coloured shaft – 40% carbon/epoxy.
💠5cm or 10cm length Adjustment
💠The paddle will be custom made for you with your name and at the length you require.
💠Included is a full in-house consultation if you are unsure which paddle is right for you.

Thank you to the team at Bennett Surf in Brookvale for donating this great prize to the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic.

What are you waiting for? Register now!
https://www.webscorer.com/register?pid=1&raceid=314028

31/01/2023

Fancy a movie night? We’ve partnered with the Paddling Film Festival to bring you the best paddling films of the year.
The Paddling Film Festival Virtual Tour inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle.
Steps to take:
1. Click the link below
2. Rent a program from the virtual tour
3. Keep your rental for ten days, watch on your phone, desktop or cast to your TV
Rent and watch via the link below:
For an extra 10% off enter the code: Schoolofyak10 at checkout

https://paddlingfilmfestival.com/?ref=GLENNMACFADYEN

13/01/2023

Early start this morning - we are fully loaded to provide part of the Explore Our Great Outdoors program for Lake Macquarie City Council. Always a great day in January when we head out on the lake with a group of people from the area (for some serious water fighting)

24/07/2022

https://paddlingfilmfestival.com/products/voices-2022-virtual-program?ref=GLENNMACFADYEN

The Voice's program of films is an intimate look at the lives of people that hold paddling at the core of their identity. From canoe building in Ukraine, pack rafting in Alaska, and dory boating on the Grand Canyon. Rent for 10 days and stream films from home. Presented by the Paddling Film Festival