Why I... kayak
"I enjoy that element of danger – it keeps you connected with what you're doing"
Following my divorce from my first marriage 12 years ago, I took up kayaking for the first time since childhood. I had more spare time on my hands, wanted to get in shape and just decided to go for it.
During the summer months, I try to get out two to three times a week. But I've done it occasionally on beautiful, crisp winter days. I'm actually quite pleased to get out in any weather. The skill never goes away – and neither does the kayak; it's always there in the garden.
I usually go on my own. It's one of those rare things: an escape from the hectic family life and business life. It's an opportunity to get an hour or two of real peace and quiet disconnected from social media, the phone and the kids.
My thoughts drift everywhere. I plan a lot of my writing from inside the kayak and as soon as I get home, I get those ideas down on paper so I don't lose them.
My usual patch is seven miles from home on the River Wey near Guildford. I've got a regular spot where I park up, get in the water and choose which way to go: downstream towards the Thames or upstream towards Godalming.
I use a touring kayak with a big storage hatch so I can take food and drink. My wife's just bought me a hammock so the plan is to go out for the day, find somewhere to rest up and enjoy the wilderness.
I want to kayak the entire length of the River Wey in one go. It's about 24 miles. It'll come down to timing and having the right build-up and getting a level of fitness in place before I give it a go. I've walked and cycled most of it before so why not kayak it? It will feel nice to complete something in its entirety.
It's definitely a stress-buster, very relaxing. The Japanese talk about forest therapy. I'm particularly drawn to water from a stress-reduction point of view – and time I spend on it or in it I feel calmer.
To kayak, you need balance – it helps you avoid falling in. You also need a sense of adventure. There's an element of danger. I'm often on my own and very rarely wear a life jacket. I enjoy that element of danger. It keeps you connected with what you're doing.
You need to be able to switch off and be in the moment. There's a danger that if you're rushing to get back to something else, you're not going to be able to enjoy it as much.