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Posts Tagged ‘Ireland’

What a send off!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on May 5, 2024| 2 Comments »

Well that was emotional. Thought I would try and beat Geoff down to Porthcurnick on day 1 and get my kit loaded before he arrives. He is always so much quicker than me at getting sorted each morning on expedition. It has become something of a competition each day when we are away on kayak trips. We agreed to meet at 7am so I thought I’d get down there at 6.45 and get one over him. Bloomin typical he was already there! Along with Sue and their beautiful family.

Anyway, what a glorious morning to start an expedition. Sunshine always makes you feel better.

And to see so many friends turn out to see us off was quite something. Think we both must have had some salt in our eyes as we both teared up.

By the time we had said goodbye to friends and family it was time to go. At 8.05am we launched, turned the boats to face the shore and gave one last wave to say thank you and take care while we are gone.

Tanya, with her new found passion for swimming was already in the icy water and swam over for one last kiss, forgetting kayaks are a little wobbly at the best of times. So we settled for a hand squeeze. Blimey I love that woman so much.

Anyhow Day 1 Friday 3rd May – 26.2 Miles in a ‘oner’ and we landed at Mullion Cove. Beautiful day but headwinds all day. We had planned to get to Lamorna but that would have meant another 14 miles open crossing of Mounts Bay into a Force 4 at the end of an already great day. Why spoil it we thought.

We sat in the evening sunshine in Mullion chatting to Johnny a fisherman and also the harbour master. After heating up a curry I made the night before we got our heads down, memories from the first day spinning through our heads.

Thank you all for your messages and support it means so much to us.

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Looks like we are off on Friday 3rd May

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on April 30, 2024| 2 Comments »

The forecast for the start of May is improving. No more excuses, we are off 8am on 3rd May.

With just a handful of days before Geoff and I set off, for the first time we both feel we are almost ready. Whilst we have spoken about this trip for a few years now, preparations and training didn’t start in earnest until January this year. We have covered more miles in training both on the water and on ergometers than we have for previous expeditions and, as perhaps a sign of our aging bodies, more time with physios and chiropractors too!

There have been, and still are, mixed emotions. We are looking forward to the adventures ahead, the wildlife, the scenery, meeting people along the way and hearing their stories. But we are also under no illusion how tough a challenge this will be for us both. Four months is a long time to sit in a kayak and live in a tent. It’s an even longer time to be away from home and family. As I lie here in bed writing this post, I genuinely don’t know whether we will complete it. But then it wouldn’t be the challenge it is if we did. As news of our trip starts to spread, it has all become very real. No turning back now!

Andy taking a break from paddling and smiling for the camera on the west coast of Ireland in 2015

We are using the same boats we had round Ireland in 2015, Kirton C-Trek 18s, but we have spent a lot of time and effort making sure they are in the best shape before we set off. Geoff’s living room floor, and my bedroom floor, have become expedition kit rooms as we assemble what we might need over the next four months. We are now starting to pack everything in dry bags ready to load the boats on Friday morning before we set off. Tanya is horrified at how little we take in the way of clothes for 4 months – although Geoff assures me that he has double the pairs of pants he is taking this time, to 4.

Our boats weigh around 26kgs empty and between 65-70kgs when full of kit food and water. Although, if I can sneak some of my kit into Geoff’s boat while he isn’t looking I’m hoping the carry a lot less!

Thank you to those who have very generously donated to our three charities already! Every £ donated gives Geoff and I another reason why we have to complete this challenge. So far you have given us 700 reasons. Thank you!

Drying kit out west coast of Ireland…..

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