Why do it?
I could say why not? But that would be far from the truth. I have an addiction, that addiction is sea kayaking. As I have progressed in this pastime I have had an eye on the possibility of undertaking a challenge, something a little more than a day paddle or a weekend camping trip from my craft. Pretty hard for a bloke with a wife and three kids under the age of 6.
Over the last couple of years I have read about circumnavigations, hefty undertakings like around the UK, Ireland and some further afield like Freya Hoffmeister’s circumnavigation of Australia.
It was chatting away with a great coach Kate Duffus at the 2013 Orkney Sea Kayak Symposium about such challenges that this trip provided that eureka moment. A challenge, but one that can be done in a reasonable time frame, where I am not apart from my family for too long, and one my employers probably wouldn’t mind me taking that length of time off for.
I probably still needed a reason. My 40th birthday? No, not a mid-life crisis! While undertaking this personal journey, I could also raise money for charity.
The seed is sown, now I need a partner, someone to do the trip with and share this adventure. Welcome Duncan, a good friend and paddling buddy. We are now a team and the date is set.
Over the last couple of years I have read about circumnavigations, hefty undertakings like around the UK, Ireland and some further afield like Freya Hoffmeister’s circumnavigation of Australia.
It was chatting away with a great coach Kate Duffus at the 2013 Orkney Sea Kayak Symposium about such challenges that this trip provided that eureka moment. A challenge, but one that can be done in a reasonable time frame, where I am not apart from my family for too long, and one my employers probably wouldn’t mind me taking that length of time off for.
I probably still needed a reason. My 40th birthday? No, not a mid-life crisis! While undertaking this personal journey, I could also raise money for charity.
The seed is sown, now I need a partner, someone to do the trip with and share this adventure. Welcome Duncan, a good friend and paddling buddy. We are now a team and the date is set.