50 things to do in my 50's - a bucket list, so far!

50 things to do in my 50's

A bucket list is believed to come from the saying 'to kick the bucket', meaning he's about to die.  It is thought to be associated with a hanging someone.  The bucket supported the person, before it was then kicked away. The term became popular after a film called the 'bucket list', with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson did a road trip, with a wish list. 

I'm not about to die but want to make the most of these next ten years.  With purpose and meaning. Our dreams and goals are often closer than they appear. There's nothing that makes us more able than anyone else to accomplish our goals, I've just decided to go after them. 

I was once asked what are you fearful of ...I pondered ... well probably public speaking and freezing in front of loads of people! But I have found, knowing my material, being prepared and as some one said to me, 'Imagine every one is sat in front of you is naked, helps'.   I pondered some more ... and said my biggest fear is doing nothing with my life, being ordinary and letting life pass me by.  One of my favourite Mark Twain quotes is:

This quote helped me, eight years ago when I took the leap and set up my own company Coastal Spirit.   and still does when I come across something new or unfamiliar.   

From working over the years and being highly motivated with development training, goal setting has been a key element of my work and has fascinated me.  Why do New Year's resolutions fail, while goal-setting works?  Research suggests your more likely to achieve your goals by writing them down.  Why is this?

• it helps to clarify what you want.  You now have a destination and the task, now is how to get there.
• its a thought and a dream, until its written down and changed into a project
• with goals being visual I'm reminded of them and I find this motivating
• seeing what I've achieved helps me to celebrate progress and growth

What follows is my list of 50ish things to do in my 50’s.  Some I have completed already.  The opportunity appeared and I just couldn't wait!   Others are part of a 10-year plan like learning Spanish, with the aim of being proficient.  While others may not make the end of the year, like - wing walking a World I plane (very expensive!!)  There not in a particular order or written in stone.  Its really about enjoying and making the most of the next 10 years and ensuring they don't pass me by  Thanks to Sean for the original idea and many who have made suggestions.  You know who you are, thank you.

Travel in a foreign country solo – done.. 11/2014  but want to do more!

Travel on the navimag in Chile - Done

Walk the ‘W’ Torries del Paine park Chile - Done ... and its the start of more trekking ideas ..

Paddle class 3 white water, in a foreign country – more paddling in UK in preparation - 2 rivers done and more this summer.  Chile Nov 2015 planned.

Paddle close to ice bergs – done 11/2014 .. but want some more ... Greenland?

Paddle in Baja - done 2/2015

Scuba dive in Baja – done. 12mt refresher and then an 18mt dive with sea lions!

Whale watch in Baja - done 2/2015

Paddle the pentland firth - Orkney - Done 4/2015, but going back Aug 2015 to experience more!

Spend more time and speak more often with mum and dad

Spend more time with close friends - take time off at Easter and school holidays 

Do a longer trek in a foreign country - need to research - the great Himalayan trail? the Pacific rim?

Big paddle expedition around - Vancouver Island Aug 2016, Coastline area of Greenland and around Iceland? consider southern hemisphere .. Tazmania?

Do a mulit day MTB journey – such as the Atacama desert -happy to do it as part of a group

Learn Spanish - on going and aim in 10 yeas to be solid!

Dog sledging... probably Norway

Ice hotel - Sweden

Drink Vodka + watch the Northern lights in Scandinavia

Volunteer - in a food bank or similar 

Paddle with whales close up - done!  Saw a pod of Orcas close up on the Roof and a Minke whale 4/2015.  Very happy to paddle with more!

See wild penguins close up - punta arenas?

Take private dance lessons

Paddle a surf ski - and then see what I think about anything else, race wise!

Get a tattoo - pondered this one for the last 20 years!
Sail a sea kayak ... flat earth sail ...

Make a table out of wood, with no glue or nails – do a course on green wood working principles …

Visit Colonsay.

Listen to my body more and treat it better.  Have regular sport's massages, maintain current weight (12-12.7st) through good food, gentle drinking and exercise.

Mindfulness living more in the moment - meditation explore concept

Listen to my instinct more and follow my gut

Try riding my mtb clipped in!! ... 

Take my mtb to a new place and explore - doing ...

Rediscover something I loved to do – Trek with tent, started.  Open boat and do a journey again and paddle lower trywern

Do a Winter mountaineering route with S and J

Do a multi-pitch rock climb with S and J

Learn something new ...Do a freediving course and learn the principles ...?

Swim a mile/length of a Welsh, English and Scottish llyn, lake and tarn!

Do a boxing day swim .. !!

Make a sponge cake  ... was given a cake making book and cake tins!  Made aple crumbles and bread and butter pudding ... time to make cake!

Read the Hobbit - its on the shelf!

Do a length ways table traverse - done chile 2014
Spend more time camping - ongoing

Learn to cross country ski

Watch a ballet performance – the royal ballet?

Experience an opera in Rome

Coasteering - parliament h/cave to w/zawn – rough day!

Wing walking – copy of ww1 plane -very expensive for such a short time!

Visit Anglesey sea zoo - done 2/2015

Attend a yoga retreat

Make a bramble style wine - have a word with Pat

Month long van road trip - around Ireland and if I love it, then Norway …

Walk the Chinese plank tea room track or something similar ...

Do a head stand

If you had two days to live what would you want to do?  Were would you go? who would you see? and how would you like to be remembered?

Why wait to your 50's, why not consider your 30's, 40's or your 60's and create your own specific list of dreams and goals. Go on write them down.  Just make sure you make the most of your journey.  Its yours after all.  

What's your story going to be like?

Roger

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

InterMediate Sea Kayaking Anglesey, North Wales

It was a weekend of two seasons with Saturday feeling, grey damp and colder.  While Sunday was bright, with blue skies, sunny and hot!

Mandy, Glynis and Steve were on an InterMediate sea kayaking weekend and after coffee, looking at forecast and discussing what individuals wanted to focus on, we headed across the island to Porth Dafarch.  The intention was to paddle towards an ebbing South Stack, rock hoping as we went and with a f3/4 N/NE the corner of Abra hams Bosom would be the deciding factor whether to push on or stay put ...

We stayed in the area of Penrhyn Mawr as the sea provided what we needed, with a few good rocky channels, working on low braced leaned turns and moving through swell ... Lunch and then into the first hour of the flood, with wind across time we started to get some good conditions ....

I set Mandy and Steve a circuit in the main race, of moving up through the current, which provided a gentle following sea state - something they both had asked to work on (while working in buddies) ... Glynis and my self worked in the inner channel which was more protected.

Sunny Sunday ... and after meeting and comparing both Mandy and Steve's tidal planning, we set off to Soldiers Point to paddle The Stacks on an ebbing tide.    We were just off a neap tide, but due to the previous days N/NE winds North Stack race was a little confused, but all managed very well.  We were soon into the big cliffs, caves and arches ...

The Stacks had been what anyone would have wanted. Steve had rock climbed a number of routes here in the past, so it was well up on his paddling list and with Glynis having been initially inspired to go sea kayaking, after looking down from the cafe area, at South Stack and seeing paddlers below and deciding she wanted some of that.   It was great to see the progressions and the smiling faces of all ...

Roger
roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

rough water handling anglesey
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intermediate sea kayaking wales

The Stacks and The Skerries ...

This weekends sea kayaking course was an Intermediate course and with another super forecast, The Stacks was game on!

Ann was back over and excited to here we were of to paddle The Stacks and Keith was up for it and loving the sunshine.  Zoe was in support and observing from a 4 star leader perspective ... although The Stacks would come under 5 star many elements are applicable ...

Pen Rhyn Mawr with two hours before slack water ... we did some work on eddy turns and paddling through grabby and boily eddy lines  .... using shorter sharp strokes body forward  and flexing with conditions ...

And then on to some exploring and mellow moments ...

Bizarrely ... I guess it was part of the cold front .. fog rolled in.  South Stack lighthouse disappeared ...

More exploring ....

After lunch in parliament house cave, we headed back ... and this time in more sunshine

Sunday saw us off to the Skerries and we had a great welcome form 3,800 nesting pairs of Arctic Terns, which gave a top display .. it was a social place as another 3 teams arrived ...

We headed back during the last hour of the flood, towards Carmel Head .. with the aim of exploring a couple of the caves and tunnels ... saw a young porpoise as we crossed and closer in one of the bays the screeching call of the peregrine falcon could be heard ...

It really was that narrow ...

A couple of stunning locations, with great conditions ... I really could get used to this!

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking anglesey
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sea kayak courses