Canoe Building Workshops '11

Thanks for last week. Pleased to say that the boat survived the return journey to Scotland. Let us know if you get the cedar strip project up and running and we'll be back for more!
Cheers,
Dave Traill & Lucy

Hi steve, no leaks, and did'nt even get feet wet.
Garry


Thanks for all the help in building my canoe. Sorry we did not say goodbye properly as you were busy starting your new class.
We have yet to try out the canoe but intend to as soon as possible - pictures to follow!
Regards
David and Doreen

Steve, as promised here a a few photos of my almost maiden voyage. Just after launching I noticed that there was a few small leaks from the screw holes that joined the planks together. having got this far i had to have a quick paddle then we took it out and fixed the holes over night. The next day we took it for a proper trip and it has performed better than expected. very quiet and quick. it tracks well but is very responsive.
thanks once again for the course and all the help building it.
Cheers,
Stu Douglas

Hi Steve
How are you? Just thought I’d let you know the canoe is great!! I’ve been out on the River Wear in Durham a few times. My friends are so impressed. I’m planning to bring it back over to the Lakes maybe next month if the weather is OK. I’ll download those lovely photos of the canoe in the barn with the sun shining through in stripes and email them to you.
Thanks again for a fantastic course!
June

Canoe Building Workshops '10

Hey all!

It floats!!! I can't believe what i've built!! She is a thing of beauty and i just want to look at her all the time. First paddle by myself was an amazing experience. Thank's for the guidance.. long live my canoe!!
Marta xx
Hi Steve

Boat's been finished for a while but finally got it out for spin on theDee just upstream of Chester. Very pleased with it's performance, the kneeling thwart works well, boat is lovely to handle, sits on edge very nicely, it's a very 'quiet' boat. I,m incredibly pleased and chuffed at completing the project and have already made good use of the skills I picked up (built a rack for the open boats). Thanks for an amazing, mind-opening journey!
Take care Caz

Hello Steve,
Just wanted to give you some feedback re: my canoe....
J.u.s.t. B.r.i.l.l.i.a.n.t!!!
Andy
Hey up Steve

Just a quickie to say what a super time we all had.. Ben and Sam are so taken with their canoe.. it is currently being used as a den in the garage, but we've been out in it every weekend so far.. just ace!!
Mary, Roy, Ben and Sam

River Runner '10

Hi Steve/`Paul,
I really enjoyed the trip and looking forward to doing more next year!!!
Also looking forward to seeing the photos you took.
Gary

Lakelander '10

Steve, just a message to say thank you so much for the time and effort you put in to making our trip absolutely fantastric. Joe Mick Alex and I are all buzzing since coming home and certainly Mick and I are definately considering the Scotland trip in the New Year. On a personal level please pass on my thanks to Paul for all the time spent with Joe. He is quite laid back and is often quiet and deep thinking but you both got the best out in him he really opened up and it was great to see. Thank you both so much.

Best wishes and hope to see you again

Lakelander '10

I had a great weekend and will be seeing you again next year. all the best for now..
Jimmy Lane

Lakelander Sept '10

Thanks for a lovely weekend, learnt loads and the company was splendind.. Even enjoyed the accidental swim!
Julie McKinnen

Lakelander Sept '10

“Steve couldn’t have put on a better weekend. Loads of cool stuff to do that earn great man points from making snares and carving wood to camping out under the stars in the most phenomenal settings. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone”

'Stretch'

Lakelander September '10

“Easy to organise, perfect mix of activities and awesome guidance from Steeeeeeeve!”

“im a firestarter, twisted shelter builder....cracking weekend”

Have you had any others? If not let me know and I will stir them up.

Gwyn Smith

Lakelander Aug '10

Hey Folks,

Can I just say hat was truly the bestest, most original, most amazing weekend I have ever had in my life and i couldnt have happened without you. Thank you so much and quote yourself rotten on that.

All the best,

David Reece

Lakelander June '10

Thank's for a great course guys, we'll be seeing you next year with our new skills.. All the best , Simon, Dave and the lads

Central Highlands Voyageur, Oct '09

Hi Steve,

Thanks for a great trip down the Tay. Really enjoyed it and learnt a lot from both you and Paul. Should be back for more next year.

Thanks again

Neil Dishington

Private guiding, Scotland September 2009

Steve, firstly, a really big thanks for all your efforts on the water and
around the camps. A few days to mull and reminisce over last week,
along with flicking through some top photos still doesn't come
anywhere near doing the trip justice; but you looked after us famously
well through wind and rain and we'll not forget the fun. Top paddling,
top scenery, top morale and top nosh! As suspected, I've put on a
couple of biscuit and brioche pounds, but will hit the salads now and
all will be well.

Tim Bull

Hey Steve,

Just wanted to write to say hi and thanks you so much again for such a tip top holiday up in Scotland. We have been talking about it to friends and family non stop and it wouldn´t have been half the trip without your expertise and sense of fun. You are so at ease in the environment and nothing phased you at all - always maintaining a smile and a chipper outlook - not to be underestimated.

Take it easy and once again thank you so much for a brilliant adventure...chuffed we got to share it with you.

Gemma Bull

Lakelanders '09

Hi Steve and Paul,Tremendous weekend; learnt a lot and ate a lot. Now looking forward to Sept.

Regards, Rolf.

Thanks for a fab weekend, learnt loads. Great company great food, good choice of campsites,......just great..

Polly

I think the thanks goes to you guys, I had a great weekend and will undoubtly seeing you again.

Emma

Hey you guys,
thank you so much for such a fab few days. learnt so much and in such a chilled and relaxed way. such a pleasure to have been with you all. We went back to Emmas for supper and had a lovely evening together. all being well see you both in May for caledonian canal trip. Emma plans to be there too.

lots love Mary x


Voyageur '08

Hi Steve,
What an amazing trip Caz and I had. I cannot thank you, Paul and Dan enough for the excellent week.
Yes, some of it was hard going but that was to be expected. Hey, we did it!
June

Voyageur 08,

Steve,
I have been meaning to write for a while now to say how much I enjoyed the recent trip to Moidart on the 2008 Voyager course. I found the positive attitude that all instructors had to be most refreshing. Despite changing weather conditions and a few arduous days paddling I feel our group bonded well as the days went by. My overriding memory is one of freedom from stress, work and the daily grind. I can honestly say that these memories will remain with me for the rest of my life. I am certain that I will be on another trip next year and will not have a single hesitation in recommending any ORCA course to anybody interested in the outdoors in any way.
Kind Regards,

Leigh

Lakelander '07

I was a bit ambivalent about the weekend before hand, but really got fired into it within 2 minutes of being on the water,,,, it was a very good group ,and it all flowed due to the quality of your guidance, and relaxed participation, thanks again.
Pete

Lakelander '07
I wasn't at all sure what to expect from the weekend and although I had been in a Canadian Canoe, on the sea on flat calm days, I wouldn't have described myself as experienced or skilled.
The weekend far surpassed any expectations I had in every way, the location was perfect, the campsites lovely and from the moment we met up with the group the whole experience was friendly and welcoming. We were paddling wooden canoes which had been handbuilt by Steve and they were beautiful.
Steve & Paul were patient instructors and they made the weekend varied, fun, and as challenging as each individual wanted it to be.
Lucy did a wonderful job holding the camp space and cooking for all the hungry mouths, there was always plenty of great food and a fire to welcome us when we came back to camp, and a pan of hot water constantly bubbling away for cups of tea. Everyone got on really well and I have taken loads of good memories away with me from the weekend as well as an inabilty to look at a stretch of water without wanting to be on it in a canoe!

Thanks... Ian.

Dear Steve,

Just a quick mail to thank you and Paul for a brilliant weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a huge amount whilst having a great time. I think I may have persuaded the family to look into purchasing a canoe! Progress there. Thank you again and I hope that I will be able to join you on one of your "trip" courses.

Yours, Martin

Voyageur '07

The Orca team were amazing, they could make camp, have a cheery warming fire going, produce fabulous food in no time at all and do it all seemingly effortlessly after a full day of canoeing in varied conditions while ensuring we were all happy and safe!
I learned so much that week about canoeing, about how to handle the boat (or not)! in different conditions and situations; about paddling with different partners, what the boats were capable of and what I was capable of. We travelled on lochs, river and the sea through stunningly beautiful scenery, seeing virtually no other people, no cars, getting a feel for just being outside 24 hours a day and accepting whatever happened as part of the journey. Everyone enjoyed it and although our skill levels were very different Steve & Paul made sure we were all ok, all the time.
Our trip was wild, beautiful and very elemental and in the canoe I felt so much a part of it all. We fished for mackerel for our tea before carrying on up the loch to where we would camp that night and we had a feast of fish with the chanterelles we had collected earlier in the day - cordon bleu cookery was an integral part of the experience. I would definitely do this trip again... Arnie

Hi Guys,,

Just wanted to say thanks for an amazing trip - was a beautiful way to spend a week and had some really special moments - and a real inspiration to do some more exploring - and paddling

Trev

The biggest inspiration was Steve's story about how you once woke up laughing every morning for three weeks - if thats not something to strive for i don't know what is (full moon, whisky, trees, ocean and garlic chanterelles has surely got to help you on your way!)
x Emily


We spent time on the first day, re-learning our rusty strokes. But the wooden paddles, splashing at the start of the day, started to find their rhythm and were soon clipping easily through the smooth, dark waters of the loch. On and on we went, getting further and further away from the warmth and comfort of home until we finally camped, as the sun set on an exquisite beach. Supper was freshly-caught trout, smoked over the campfire, followed by single malt, nothing could upset the moment.
Paul

Lakelander '06

Hi guys,
Just wanted to say thanks for a really great weekend in every way. I feel inspired and excited about the canoe now in a way I didn't imagine at all before and look at rivers in a different way!
Thanks to you and Paul for putting so much into the weekend and making sure we all had such a rewarding time.
All the best
Sue