Dundee U3A Wee Adventure Group

For our first Wee Adventure post-Covid we were with Wild Shore at Dundee City Harbour trying our hand at stand up paddle boarding.  Our session began with some great instruction and we were soon confident doing 'kneel-up' paddling.  Most people did manage an attempt to stand up before falling head first into, luckily warm, water.  Aren't buoyancy aids a wonderful thing!  However, there were one or two who were clearly natural paddle-boarders and managed to stay upright for quite some time.  Pity we don't have the photographic evidence to show off their talent!

This activity took place at ScotKart for their Grand Prix Experience - WAG exclusive use of the indoor track. There was no need to bother about teen boy racers spoiling our fun. We had quite a few practice circuits to get the feel of the karts - what no power steering!! This was followed by a wee break to check our lap timings and to offer each other a bit of advice before the real race. Arranged in proper starting grid formation, the lights changed from red to green, a roar of engines and we were off. A man with an engine remains a boy racer at heart and so they left us girls in their dust. We felt we were tearing up the track, pushing the pedal to metal, yet they lapped us and we tried not to hold them up too much as they roared past. Credit to the boys who did try to avoid making us the meat in their sandwich as three or more cars tried to take the same corner. There were a few bumps and tangled wheels but it was no dodgem race. All too soon the chequered flag came down and we...

This wee adventure to Escape Rooms Scotland was a more cerebral than physical activity. Split into groups across two rooms, we had to s olve puzzles, clues and riddles  in order to f ind the key and escape. All in 60 minutes! Group 1 was in  C.A.R.A ,  a game  set in a lab  about  the world’s most intelligent artificial life, who  we had to save  from from those  who  consider ed  her a threat.   Sorry world, but  CARA is gone as we, unfortunately, failed to save her from destruction in time! Group 2 was aboard the Black Pearl, trapped  below  the  deck  of a simulated pirate ship.  Unfortunately, the group failed to  find the heart of Davy Jones in time, were captured and  thrown  (metaphorically)  overboard. As you can tell from our failures, we found the games quite challenging as no one had any previous experience. The games masters were quite helpful in giving ...

With a few late cancellations it was a small but select group who donned their gripper socks for a bit of a bounce at Ryze Trampoline Park.  After finding our wobble legs with some leaps on the trampolines, we were off to test out the rest of the varied equipment at the Park; including climbing wall, balance beams, dive boards and more.  There a two extra bouncy trampolines, just right for attempting a bum drop then bouncing back to one's feet!   We felt really safe with sooo much padding and foam blocks all around us.  We even tried a 'swim' race through a sea of foam but, after much laughter, accepted the swaddling around us was the only winner.  As the sole occupants of the Park we were allowed to run our own relay, steeple-chase across all the lanes of trampolines.  Never have so many styles of run/bounce been seen and caused so much tear-inducing giggles.   Despite any initial nerves, this bunch of over 60s proved it's still pos...

One of our largest groups, so far, took hesitant steps into curling at Dundee Ice Arena Curling Academy.  One foot atop a teflon "shoe" meant we were supposed to glide effortlessly across the ice holding two curling stones for balance.  Most of us were more like Bambi; arms and legs akimbo, with a slow, inelegant slide face down to the ice!  There were various styles of glide attempted, but most still ended in a comical, floundering face plant. Eventually we decided to give up on the teflon shoe and accept a simpler, shorter stone release. Whilst there were a few good shots played, unfortunately, insufficient poles to provide both teams with an easier release method did rather spoil the enjoyment a little.  Although it was fun to try, I don't think we had many converts to the sport of curling.  However, we have so much more admiration and respect for those who do, and our experience will certainly add to the pleasure of watching the next Winter Olympics. ...