The Touring Award Scheme

The word is out that the Touring Award Scheme recently presented a Gold Medal to an intrepid paddler on Iona. Images of a hairy chested Ionian salty dog striding across golden sands with Gold Medallion sparkling in the bright sunlight come to mind. Intrepid ace reporter, Tony "el hack" Laidler was dispatched to find out more.......

Can't remember those trip details because you don't write them down afterwards? Then you need to join the touring award scheme. Organised by the Association, it aims to recognise the achievements of those paddlers who over the years accumulate large mileage's, along with a wealth of experiences and memories - both good and bad! As a bonus, you will have a complete record of your trips - useful when you want to check details for another visit to an area or write a caption for a photograph.

The documentation and rules are kept to a minimum. The sole basis for making an award will be the achievement of the specified distances on either fresh or salt water. The awards are bronze, silver and gold for passing 600, 2000 and 4000km. respectively. The distances are from the year of registration with the scheme and cannot be backdated. There is no time limit for passing these milestones - the scheme is in no way competitive.

All that is required is to keep a log of your journeys - this can be as basic or comprehensive as you wish. As a minimum it should include details of route, number in party, weather conditions, stopping places and of course, the distance paddled.

Come on tourists - get a logbook from the SCA office and start scribing!

Tony Laidler - Touring Committee