Travels with Paddles

Mitty, our resident cat

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:20:00 +0000

It is probably around 2003 that I first became aware of a then young Mitty, the 'resident cat' at Anglesey Outdoors. Nobody knows her exact age, but for cats that is quite some age.

At the Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium in May this year, I realized that there very well could be a next time that I would not bump into her again and I made some pictures. Sitting on the porch of the office waiting for the staff to arrive to be let in and find a warm place to rest and get some attention, of which cat owners know that it is the cat that decides when that is.

Monday I was back at Anglesey Outdoors for a SKUK factory visit, on my way to Isle of Man. I was greeted by Mitty. Happy to see her and still being among us.

Today I heard the sad news that Mitty passed away yesterday. Many, many will miss her.

Hans Mulock Houwer

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 08:11:00 +0000

1948 - 2025

Met groot verdriet heb ik via mijn langjarige vaarmaatje Nico Pennings vernomen dat Hans Mulock Houwer is overleden. Als zeekajak vaarder was (en is) Hans mijn GROTE voorbeeld en inspiratiebron. De minutieuze nauwgezetheid waarmee hij dingen aanpakte en voorbereidde. Al de uitdagende buitenlandse tochten die hij deed in een tijd zonder GPS, zonder mobiele telefoon en zonder (mobiel) internet. Met de BBC Shipping Forecast weerberichten op de lange golf.

Het was in zijn Zeevaardigheid-Extra groep op Vlieland in 1996 waar Nico, Pieter en ik besloten dat we onze eerste schreden naar eigen buitenlandse tochten zouden zetten. Voor onze plannen vroegen we Hans om advies en informatie. Hij was altijd bereid om daar enthousiast (ook thuis) over te vertellen. We zagen ook zijn ordners met verslagen. tekeningen en notities die hij vóór, tijdens en na zijn tochten maakte. Zijn verslagen in de kanobladen en zijn dia-lezingen. Zijn weergaloze scherpe analyses die hij maakte als er weer iemand (ook hijzelf) iets 'doms' had gedaan. Het boek "Sea Kayaker Deep Trouble" dat ik van hem kreeg, met de gortdroge opmerking: "Ik heb het uit, je mag het hebben, allemaal verhalen van vaarders die domme dingen hebben gedaan..."

Tijdens onze tocht in de Faeröer in 2004 werden we benaderd door een ouder echtpaar. Ze hadden ons al een dag eerder zien varen. Ze wisten waar we aan land zouden komen, omdat de landingsplaatsen daar erg schaars zijn. Daar draaiden zij een envelop om en vroegen of we de afzender kenden. Daar prijkte de naam van Hans. Het bleek een bedankbrief met een handgetekend kaartje van Hans' tocht in de Faeröer. Voor mij is Faeröer het meest uitdagende vaarwater dat ik ooit gevaren heb. Ook na al mijn tochten die ik sindsdien in verre buitenlanden mocht maken. Zonder Hans was ik daar nooit geweest en ook niet waar ik nu ben als zeekajak vaarder, instructeur en gids.

Mijn, volledig in de stijl van Hans, geannoteerde topografische kaart van Anglesey, die ik in het jaar 2000 kocht, gaat ook in mei dit jaar weer mee. Veelvuldig en dankbaar overgetekend door vaarders die daar een Advanced Sea Kayak Leader (5*) examen deden. Een generatie die zo indirect van Hans hebben geleerd.

Vorig jaar hebben we het cursusboek "Zeekajak Vaardigheid Extra" herschreven. Ik wilde Hans nog vragen of hij er zijn licht over kon laten schijnen. Mijn grote voorbeeld kan ik nu niet meer vragen. Wat ik wel weet is dat alles wat ik van hem geleerd heb, in enige vorm, ook in de vernieuwde versie terecht is gekomen; en bij mijn cursisten.

Axel
Rijswijk, 7 april 2025

P.S. Hans heeft ondermeer twee keer met een vaarmaatje 'unsupported' de Noordzee overgestoken van Vlissingen naar Harwich. De eerste keer in twee éénpersoons kajaks, de tweede keer in een tweepersoons. Vele tochten aan de westkust van Schotland en de Buiten Hebriden. Een solo oversteek van Schotland via Orkney en Fair Isle naar Shetland. En tochten in Faeröer, IJsland en Groenland.

Baking for 1 hour at 300°

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Four pieces of cake!

On the water is probably the best way to 'escape' the heat wave.

Today I did the following:
1. Tidal Planning
2. Crossing
3. Circumnavigation
4. Bimble along the coast

Paddling out of Church Bay for exactly one hour at 300 degrees. That brought me about 100 metres short of dead-on hitting the south-western tip of the Skerries. My tidal planning had not adjusted for my slow(er) paddling speed. Using the eddies and against the current I completed a circumnavigaton of the Skerries.

I was thinking of continuing to Cemlyn via West Mouse and have my break at Furlough's. I decided however to stick to my conservative plan and headed for the rocks under the lighthouse.

Pulling my kayak out, I was a bit puzzled with how high the water already was. According to my watch local HW should still be more than two hours away...

I hate paddling straight back from the Skerries to Church Bay. My memories of this is that this is a very boring crossing that allways tends to take much longer than expected. And little chance for any excitement along the way. Ferry gliding back to Carmel Head dropped me right over the Platters reef and into the tail end of the race off Carmel Head.

Reaching the Anglesey coast, I was a bit puzzled with how low the water already was...

Following the coastline into Church Bay. The hardest part of the day was pulling my kayak trolley up the steep path from the beach back to my car.

As it turned-out, my watch, that 'lives' attached to my buyoancy-aid, was one hour off; not set for daylight savings-time... That explained the water levels. Allways some room for improvement; no 5 stars for me today ;-)

Tweety glides again

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 19:00:00 +0000

It has been well over a year that I last paddled in Anglesey. For various obvious and less obvious reasons I did not travel and paddle as much. Getting back into the habit of paddling but in what paddling shape am I?

Visiting the Sea Kayaking UK factory I was welcomed by 'Tweety'. It has been the nickname of my second Explorer sea kayak, which maiden trip was to the Falls of Lora, back in October 2006. It is still here, waiting, and strong as ever.

Paddling out to Penrhyn Mawr via South Stack and North Stack around the Holyhead breakwater into Holyhead marina. A glorious sunny, almost windless, day. Sea state: "flat as a pancake"; a gently running Penrhyn Mawr.

I notice my kayak still remembers how to do this. Judging the right ferry angle and speed to play the 'Chicken shoot'; that helps. For plain paddling speed I am reminded that that is something I have to do myself and that my kayak is just enjoying hat part of the free ride. Forward paddling with 'locked arms' feels the only natural thing to do this. Rolling at the end is effortless, an ingrained body movement that does not require any thought.

Tweety still there, scenery everywhere, paddling skills still there and I am here.

Concurrency

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Wed, 12 May 2021 04:00:00 +0000

Date 1

People in the Netherlands are starting to accept tulip bulbs as currency. Nobody trusts the national currency anymore and many look for alternative assets to protect their wealth. Tulip fields are currently heavily guarded and fenced-in to prevent tulip bulb theft. Tulip future(s) look promising for the early adopters of tulip bulbs as currency. A high-profile property developer bought large holdings of bulbs over the previous months and is now advertising that he is accepting bulbs as payment for his planned (yet to be build) new housing estates.

Date 2

More and more tulip bulb owners do not actually physically hold the bulbs because of storage (and theft) issues. So there are now tulip ETB's, where the bulbs remain on the field and in cold storage, some even with an option to have the bulbs physically delivered. This has increased bulb trading 10000-fold.

Date 3

Because of (by now) the high price of one single bulb, one can now invest in a 1/1000 fraction of one bulb. The general public is now flooding-in for 0,01 euro a pop and they are more than happy (and can afford) to pay that price. 2 cents worth is still a bargain. The front-page of the newspaper captures the moment with "Bulb prices have doubled within a day!". On page ten of the same newspaper a college teacher is complaining that her freshmen (and women) pupils are failing simple calculus tests, especially with fractions, percentages and divisions. She advises to scrap history lessons in elementary schools in favor of more calculus and maths. Bulb fractions have quickly increased to a mere 0,98 euro a piece with further room "on the upside" as expressed by the vast majority of financial experts, as explained by the popular TV presenter Tina.

Date 4

Bulb investing is becoming more and more mainstream and generally accepted as an asset-class. PayDude™ adds ETB tokens as a payment category.

Date 5

Parents are opening trading accounts for their young children to give them a better financial future and their first steps on their housing ladder. Government childcare benefits are pouring into the bull(b) market. Bulb trading platforms are now checking applications more thouroughly, for some applicants tried to open accounts for their yet unborn and on one occasion even an unconceived child. This had one trader comment in the "Bulb Times" that there may be a market for "child futures" and their derivatives.

Date 6

There is an ever increasing lack of space to plant bulbs or for bulb-storage. More and more nearby farms and sometimes whole towns are bought up by investors and property developers. The Dutch mountains are flattened to make room for more tulip fields and cold-storage.

Date 7

There are many spin-offs that root themselves next to the bulb trade. One of the more promising ones are anti-depressants made from tulip leaves. The Netherlands has a reputation for entrepeneurship regarding medicinal uses of plant leaves, of which the high-profile property developer is generally positive about. SPAC's are outbidding each other on this promising lucrative business, for the anti-depressant is rumoured about to be approved by the FDA and will be available free of charge to any consumer through the National Health Service.

Date 8

The high-profile property developer stopped accepting bulbs as payment for his yet to be built properties. On his public address his signature shorts briefly exposed. The reason he gives for his decision is that he became aware of the envionmental (and social) impact of the whole tulip bulb business. Food prices are soaring because of the supply-side; farms have stopped growing food and are farming for bulbs instead. He stated that he won't sell his current bulb holdings, but instead has transferred them to his subsidiary company with the name "Sky is not a Limit" that will rocket them to Mars where no energy is needed to keep them cool and enough space around. He also explains that the cost of transporting to Mars is offset by the savings on security guard expenses. The stock price of his Mars subsidiary jumped 13% on that announcement. A financial investigative journalist of "Follow the Bulbs" found out that the property developer transferred the holdings to his subsidiary two days before the announcement for the then book value. The high-profile property developer declined to comment on the question "How many properties did you already sell with bulbs as payment ?"

Date 9

Prices of bulbs have plummeted. The Foxx twin sisters bulb gurus see it as a great buying opportunity. Many bulb investors have just recently filled-in their tax forms. This year they have to pay a lot of asset-gains taxes on the market value of the bulbs as per 1st of January. Most have a hard (or even impossible) call to pay those taxes and even drastically had to save on food expenses. Scrounging for a free lunch. Many had previously sold their house on 'equity release' and invested the proceeds in bulbs to provide them a luxurious pension. As a last resort, some are having their bulb holdings physically delivered. For most these are just bulb peelings for the tiny fraction of a bulb that they actually owned. Others are still waiting for the delivery. Some cold-storage units appear to have never contained any bulbs ever, where the ETB owner certificates state it should have. Dutch World War 2 recipies for bulb soup are currently the number one in Google searches.

Date 10

The FDA does not approve the tulip leaves drug as an anti-depressant. In the initial clinical tests the drug had only been administered to people that had not yet invested in tulip bulbs. In wider A/B placebo tests it has shown that the overall majority of people taking the drug actually get manically depressed from the drug because they get hallicunations of tulip bulbs. A young wannabe journalist writes about this as "Tulip Mania". He was one of the first year of pupils that went through school without taking any history class.

Date 11

The high-profile property developer informs that he is stepping down from the board of his company to pursue other opportunities and to have more time to spend on his black swan farm and organize global events there.

Date 12

The SEC wants to start an investigation into possible securities fraud and market manipulation by the high-profile property developer, only to find out that he has vanished from the face of the earth.

Disclaimer

This story, all names, characters, events and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living, deceased, undead or that do not exist yet), places, buildings, media (digital, paper or otherwise) and products (real or non-fungable) is intended or should be inferred. No person or entity associated with this story received payment or anything of value, or entered into any agreement, in connection with the depiction of tulip products. It is unknown if any animals (including humans) were harmed in this picture that was painted in the Dutch mountains.

Anglesey from a distance

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Thu, 07 May 2020 07:00:00 +0000

This would have been the week of the annual Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium. Starting out as the "Nordkapp Meet" on 30 April - 1 May 1983 it was and is the first international sea kayak symposium.

Allways organized on the May Bank Holiday weekend; the weekend of the first Monday in May. However this year, because of the 75th anniversary of VE-day (the end of WW-2), the Bank Holiday weekend was moved to the Friday 8-10 May to coincide with that. And then "World War C" started... A pandemic uprooting everything, resulting in the first year ever that the symposium does not run.

This year would have been the 20th time that I would have been attending the Anglesey symposium. May 2000 was my first visit; keen on learning all about tidal-races and overfalls to safely plan my own trips in more dynamic and remote areas with my paddling buddies. I returned again and again to become a British Canoeing sea kayak coach. Anglesey has become a regular paddling destination for me for it's accessible scenic, dynamic & learning environments.

So next year May will still be my 20th Anglesey Symposium anniversary. Hope to see you all there again. Paddler's Return, sun shining on the Skerries, Terns and all.

Last year, Hugh brought this classic 1991 Poster to the symposium and I took this picture of it.

Starship Troopers

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 15:54:00 +0000

Well, what to think about that person with the 'bright' idea to go to war with the galaxy? We all know by now what 'intelligence' this man can muster and stands for. If waging war with the rest of our planet is not enough.

But in the process ravishing a logo that stands for the complete opposite (above), gets me angry.

From very early on in my youth we already had cable television (in the Netherlands). And by that we could receive BBC television. I was a very keen viewer and follower of Star Trek (the Original Series). And probably learning to understand English in the process. The series has been re-broadcasted many many times. At my very first viewings it would not not have occured to me how unique this series would have been on it's release in the sixties. A multi cultural/racial crew on a starship that seeks out new life and new civilizations... Not to destroy, but to learn!

I think the United States Space Force should be renamed Starship Troopers. A much more fitting name and has a much more relevant logo than the misuse of the above Star Trek logo. I hope there is legal action against this plagiarism. On my second viewing it all fell into place and I smiled at the masterpiece; hilarious. How Paul Verhoeven was ever allowed to make it that way and it being released still has me puzzled. The best film to advertise enlisting in the United States Space Force (aka Starship Troopers).

Bad, bad, very bad idea! Hilarious if it only was fiction and it isn't 1st of April either.

Spellbound at Penrhyn Mawr

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 19:00:00 +0000

Finding myself (realizing a day later) to be the lead actor in a twisted version of Hitchcock's oscar winning epic film. The award for best actors go to JF and Justine. For me it can be described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that I do not remember...

We planned to go paddling to Penrhyn Mawr from Porth Dafarch. I remember, not vividly though, that I had to set my footrests before pushing off the beach. The whole process of changing into paddling clothes could have been 'automatic'. The same goes for joining and adjusting my paddle. My spare paddle on the deck, must have been a routine action? As for the paddling towards PM I can only remember taking some gullies to paddle through; my favourite thing to do. In PM I remember taking some pictures and paddling back into the big eddy. That's about it.

I am getting some awareness back sitting in a hospital bed. I see JF and Justine enter the ward and I instantly greet them with their names. A doctor does some checks on me and asks me questions. I am moved to a CT scanner, at least I remember a snippet of it. Back on the ward, JF asks me to remember a word. Minutes later he asks me what word I needed to remember. I reply: "Moose!". He asks me to remember "blue shoes". Seeing my yellow Crocs on the foot-end of my bed, I surely will remember that, albeit that it could have been "red shoes" for I imprint "non-yellow shoes". At that moment I did not know yet that JF had asked me many times before to remember "Moose" and only now I had any recollection of him asking.

I try to determine the date/time from the medical equipment on the ward. Thursday, January 10th 2019. I remember 4, 6 and 8 o-clock times. I notice I have infusion terminals dangling from my left arm. Also quite a few heart monitor stickers all over by chest and even on my ankles. I realize that something has happened to me and that I am in a safe place.

I walk to the toilet. I am still in my paddling fLeeces. I have a snippet of memory of being in an ambulance and explaining that it was my first time in an ambulance. Despite hearing some 'strange' language spoken on the ward, I know I am in Wales, for Welch, although I cannot understand it, sounds quite familiar after all those years visiting. That could have been terrifying 'waking-up' in an unfamiliar place and hearing an 'alien' language.

I start digging and cross-checking my long-term memory to randomly recall old memories, names, dates, events. NOTHING of that is missing, I think. What is missing is any recollection of what actually happened ever since I paddled into the big eddy at Penrhyn Mawr. I am in Bangor Hospital on the A&E ward. I am aware that my friends have taken some very important actions for me to be safe (again).

What the heck has happened to me? The scan results are totally clean. No stroke, no TIA (my first guess). No paralysis of any kind during the whole event. An almost complete memory loss for the duration of the event.

JF is the first to tell me that it might be a very rare condition called 'Transient Global Amnesia' (TGA). A (temporary) condition where short-term memory is not consolidated into the long(er)-term memory. Living in the moment, physicaly functioning, but not remember anything longer than a minute or so.

The condition is very rare to occur, even much rarer that it will happen a second (or third) time. Hence (knock on wood) a once-in-my-lifetime experience. Causes not very well known, but the trigger for me could be the 'acute emotional distress, as might be provoked by bad news, conflict or overwork' and/or a combination with one of the other factors like 'intense physical activity'.

My mother died in November after caring for her in her last years together with my brother. Her last year, month, week, day was a very intense time for us. At a subconcious level for sure I have not come to terms with that yet. The memory loss symptoms of TGA are highly directing towards a stroke; especially because TGA is such an extremely rare condition.

So how did Justine and JF find out that something was not quite right with me? I was slow leaving the beach. I was not as chatty as usual. In Penrhyn Mawr I was not catching waves and in Justine's words my skils of catching waves were 'shit'. We played for a bit and the waves got better but I was not really into it. They reckoned it was due to the feeling of loss of my mother. When I was waiting in the eddy and Justine asked me how I was feeling she did not get a clear response. When she asked if we should return I did not give a decisive answer, but Justine and JF decided to return. Just at the time Penrhyn Mawr race was at it's best she was keen to tell me later LOL. Justine told me she had never seen me like this and I looked surprised and replied that "I feel a bit zoned-out today".

I was not able to paddle against the middle race so they decided to paddle throught the 'Chicken Run'. I was shit at that easy task today. While I was physically functioning, Justine and JF realized that something was definitively out of the ordinary with me. When I paddled directly towards rocks JF watched expecting me to take action to avoid them. I hit the rocks, holing my kayak in the cockpit area. I NEVER CAPSIZED.

Justine noticed I was paddling slowly with a lot of bracing. By now my cockpit is probably full of water until we hit the beach again at Porth Dafarch. Once we landed JF did some tests on me for 'CNS' (Central Nervous System). Everything was 'working' except I could not remember the magic word he told me to remember. "What are you talking about? What word?" he told me later. He was mildly irritated that I was constantly repeating myself. I was extremely slow in changing. Everytime my eyes saw my kayak on the car roof I said: "Is that my kayak? Did I do that? I do not remember putting a hole in my kayak"; over and over again...

JF and Justine rushed me to A&E in Holyhead. From there an ambulance took me to Bangor hospital. JF and Justine could only think of I had suffered a stroke. A terrifying thought that must have been. But the totally weird situation that I had paddled to, IN, and from a rough Penrhyn Mawr in a weird mental state... That cannot be a stroke? or can it?

Transient Global Amnesia. A temporary total block on forming long(er) term memory. Even my being aware of something being wrong at the time but not remembering it. "There's definitively a lapse", I kept saying, Justine said. A constant loop of only short-term impressions.

My yellow Crocs got displaced in Bangor Hospital. Remembering my cherished overisized Crocs forever, the good care from the hospital nurses and doctors, the incident and forever thankful to JF and Justine for taking all the important actions. I was discharged from Hospital on Friday morning and Mirco picked me up and brought me back to Holyhead.

But why do I write about this?

During my coaching development I learned a lot about how we learn. It also triggered what I once saw in a documentary about a person (Henry Molaison) that, after surgery was left with ONLY short term memory and the inability to form new (long-term) memories. The person lived an otherwise healthy long life in an institution and was the subject of many scientific researches about how the brain works. They found out that he could learn and retain new motor skills, but not remembering how or when he ever learned them. Motor skills find a seperate way into (long-term) motor memory. For coaching we could explain a thousand times how to do things, but the actual repetition and variations of successful physical performance has the best retention. All we need is a safe experiential learning environment with a lot of variation. Probably how babies learn to stand on their feet and start to walk. Coaching can be that easy.

Today, Monday 14th January, Justine, JF, Geth and me paddled at Rhoscolyn race. I felt a bit anxious in the first fifteen minutes. How would I do? In the very rough water I felt totally in my element. Feeling the movement of the water and using my skills automatically. Consious of my environment (seen, felt or heard) but not thinking much about how to apply my skills. Unconsious competence and remembering every minute of a beautiful day on the water with great paddling friends.

Seilgefährten

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 14:00:00 +0000

"Rope Companions" is the caption above the opening picture in the photo album of my mother's alpine years in the early 1950's with the "Deutscher Alpenverein". She was in her early thirties then.

In that album also a raw typed account of her first high-alpine trip. Unsure if she, as a newbe, could cope with the more extreme rock and ice environments. And if she, as the only woman in the team, could keep-up with the three experienced male climbers. She more than managed; thrilled. She loved the high mountains; the views and freedom she experienced. Mom stopped climbing after starting our family in the late 1950's.

It was only in my early thirties that I took to traveling and ventured onto hiking adventures in ever more mountainous terrains in the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Alaska. Views of infinite mountain ranges, glaciers, coastlines and the sea.

On the early morning of November 1st, our beloved mother passed away, 96 years of age.

More Surfing

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:00:00 +0000

After a week of almost continuous rain and strong winds JF, Justine, Matt and I went surfing at Florencia Bay.

I got looped twice, probably because of bad wave selection. The waves in this part of the bay were mostly managable size and I noticed more and more checking for the best shoulder to run with the occasional 'error'.

The walk-in to this beach is kinda steep. I started the day with a head-ache. After surfing and the haul-up I had more energy than at the start of the surf session.

Bad Lure Day

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 19:00:00 +0000

Another nice afternoon fishing off Little Beach. I caught a very nice Lingcod, but not before losing three lures.

Back at the house I learned about filleting. And guess what Justine made us for dinner? Delicious!

Strong Water

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 19:00:00 +0000

Ever since seeing Bryan Smith's epic bongo slide in the Skookumchuck tidal rapid, as featured in This is the Sea 2, I hoped that one day I would paddle at 'Skooks' AND have the skills for it.

For quite a few years Shawna & Leon of Body Boat Blade invited me over for a long weekend end of August at Skooks. Everytime obligations prevented me from going. Not so this year.

So on September 1st I had my first tries to get on the standing wave. Getting my angle and speed right to cross the sharp and super fast eddyline took some failed attempts and subsequent waiting in the queue in the eddy. Being swept off the wave either left or right before actually surfing is very frustrating. I got very good at looping the pocket eddy by sticking either my bow or stern in the opposing current to get lined-up again for my next turn.

Finally I am on it. The rest is just a 'formality' of carving/edging with stern rudders. The kayak I am in is apparently designed for exactly this wave in mind. Justine gives me tips to look more over my shoulder to the direction I want to go. Added benefit is seeing the wave behind me and the speed I am surfing off of it; thrilling.

In the peak hour I could not get onto the wave anymore. I had to roll once, re-enter another time, so that potential anxiety is out of the way. With three more days to go, what a great first day; gorgeously sunny as well.

The second day the tide table said 9.1 knots. More experience led to longer runs with the occasional graceful controlled exit off the wave. And duo surfing the wave when it is green and with now improved directional control.

What is beyond the wave? Justine points out 'Gertruth'. A particular violent patch that you have to deal with when not quick enough to reach the pocket eddy. Leon tells me of violent sucking-down whirpools further downstream. I experienced all of that multiple times today. Also at least six rolls today. The stronger the current, the more boils and the longer it takes to get back into the shore eddy in a 'straight' line. And more tiring...

The third day (9.7 knots) I go for it care-free whatever the wave allows me to do or forces me to do; bracing the foam pile. My muscles start to protest. My left rib cage hurts and my right upper arm loses stern-rudder and brace-holding strength. One more day; recuperating tonight.

Seven sea kayakers stay for another day. Today it peaks at 10.5 knots. It quickly builds strength with only a very short timeframe to 'warm-up'. Well before peak it starts to foam-out. My last run before peak is a forever memorable one.

I get on the green bit of the wave, I surf, I carve, I am hit by the foam pile on the right, I brace, I bongo, I reverse surf the foam pile, holding onto my 'bow brace' in a 'death grip', feeling my balance. I am in unexplored territory.

Finally the wave allows me to pull free off of it. My brace failing, my off-side roll failing. The violent aftermath prevents re-orientation. I swim. For a fraction of a second I lose the grip on my kayak. In a blink of the eye it is 10 metres away from me. Paddle swimming does not get me closer. Matt and Seth are already on the job. My 100% bomb-proof re-entry & roll is reduced to zero percent without my kayak. Along this big tour up Skookumchuck narrows I more than once let go of Matt's kayak who tries to get me to Seth that has my kayak. I feel like a total amateur; an idiot. But have I ever experienced swimming in 10 knot currents, boils and vortexes before? Humbly learning in strong water.

Finally back on shore the wave is now completely white and the realm of playboaters for the next 90 minutes at least.

When the green wave returns with the odd foam surge the sea kayaks go on the water again. After just one good run (after a couple of failed ones) I know it is time to call it a day. My left chest and right arm are not supporting me anymore to the point where I reckon it has become a safety issue. I cannot do effective stern rudders, bracing and power strokes anymore. Getting back to the shore eddy takes ages. Satisfied and grateful with what my body allowed me to do in these four days.

Celebrating Leon's birthday with friends and awesome skilled paddlers. Showing what is possible with experience and practice. Jayme getting a double sea kayak on the wave, Leon, Shawna and Matt on a SUP, Seth crossing the eddyline and surfing the wave all in reverse. Justine getting me out there. Fearless or ignorance, or both? Or just daring and forever learning; getting out there. A big thank you to all my 'teachers'.

Photos:
- 1 September
- 2 September
- 3 September
- 4 September

Surfing

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 19:00:00 +0000

Justine took us to Wickaninnish beach for surfing. A good day to get used to the Sterling Reflection sea kayak that I get to use for the next days. A very maneouverable and playful kayak in the waves; I will need that.

In the afternoon foraging for Chantarels and almost getting lost 100 meters away from the car. Ready for the road and ferry trip ahead.

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/Gh7vsgvrqZfSfJZ29

Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 19:00:00 +0000

Justine and JF gave me options what to do today. Low water in the morning for viewing black bears and/or fishing for Salmon at high water in the afternoon.

Fishing would be new for me, so that was an easy choice. All set with a fishing day permit for me we set out. We did not catch any Salmon in the inlet but we did see about eight black bears.

Justine and I then went out to the ocean to get a guaranteed catch of the day for our evening meal. While fishing and catching some rock fish two fishermen called out to us if we wanted the Salmon that they still had on their line. This turned out to be a massive Spring Salmon that did not quite fit in the bag.

I actually did catch one rock fish but it was kinda small and I released it. My fishing needs some getting used to because most of the time I spent untangling the hook from deck lines, bungees, net mesh, kelp, the lure itself or my finger and at one time even from Justines' kayak.

PS. My computer or it's adapter died so I am now experimenting doing all from my mobile phone.

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZefSZd6Pht9ohprz5

Another Time, Another Place

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 19:00:00 +0000

I arrived in Ucluelet. I am visiting Justine and JF at SKILS.

I was surprised how logistically easy it was to reach this kinda remote town on the west coast of Vancouver Island; affectionally called Ukee by the locals; probably to prevent variations on the pronunciation of Ucluelet.

My first time traveling to Canada by air. Flying via Toronto and Vancouver it was just a straightforward bus/ferry ride to get there. The young female bus driver (from Nanaimo to Tofino) handling the long bus as if it was a mini car; reversing and tight-turns and all; with explanations in English and French. First time also any airline put me on the exit row seats; lots of legroom on an economy ticket where I could not even select seats in advance. Totally surprised.

Not much after arrival Justine already took me on a short hike around Amphritrite Point. It was kinda foggy, but between the sheets of fog some spectacular scenery showed through. A wonderful paddling area with lots of rock-hopping to do; gullies (and wave action) everywhere.

Now trying to get the jet-lag (my foggy mind) out of the way to be fit to do some paddling later this week. And kayak fishing!

Holy Island

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Sat, 12 May 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, this years' Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium week drew to a close. With a georgeous weather forecast I joined Eila, Ashley, Lianne and Thom for a circumnavigation of Holy Island. I only paddled this trip two times before but never clockwise.

GPS Track 12-05

Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Fri, 11 May 2018 17:00:00 +0000

This years' Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium all again could share experiences and knowledge with other paddlers and coaches from all over Europe, Britain and North America. Anglesey is a great (the best?) training and testing 'ground' for paddling, judgement and leadership skills in moderate and advanced tidal waters. One does not need too much wind or sea state to find great challenges and fun learning opportunities here.

For Nigel Dennis and Eila Wilkinson this years' symposium got overshadowed by the Holyhead Marina Disaster in March. I could witness the last remnants of the clean-up and salvaging with my own eyes and it was much, much worse than I even imagined I would see it.

I finally had time to get around sorting-out my symposium pictures and writing some blog entries. I am very much looking forward to next year and be again part of this great knowledge and experience sharing sea kayaking community.

05-05 | GPS Track | Photos |

05-06 | GPS Track | Photos |

05-07 | GPS Track | Photos |

05-08 | GPS Track | Photos |

05-10 | GPS Track | Photos |

A Song of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Sun, 06 May 2018 15:00:00 +0000

I first met Sien on an epic sea kayaking trip with Peddelpraat around Texel in 1995. Sort of, because the sea state did not enable me to chat while paddling and we returned a few hours into the trip in two seperate pods; against the tide.

The name on her boat was SIENSWIJS. I thought that was an intriguing name, because it can be read in different ways. My first thoughts were of "Siens’ View". But also as "Siens' Song" and "Sien is Wise". Over the years I came to learn that all three intepretations did justice to her.

In 1997 Sien asked me if I would like to join her on an expedition in southeast Alaska. Little did she know that Alaska was the reason why I started paddling in the first place. So in June 1999 our team of four set out on a five week paddling trip around the outer coast between Sitka and Hoonah. She was also adventurous on foods. Salmon and Kelp allright, but Hermit crabs were a bit too adventurous for me.

In 2003 Sien, Jan and I paddled in the outer Hebrides. Cooked limpets are quite edible I learned then. A bit chewy, but I memorized that next time I would take them only when there is no sandy beach around.

Sien was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012 with a very short life expectancy. She did not capitulate to this. With amazing energy she built 3 skin-on-frame kayaks since, went on numerous hikes with her brother and continued paddling/camping with friends and did solo sea kayaking trips in-between chemo treatments. We even planned another Alaska trip in 2015, but the uncertainty of her fitness prevented planning a paddling season ahead.

It was nice to see her at the Peddelpraat Winter meeting this January. A month later I got an invitation to celebrate her 65th birthday with paddling friends on May 6th. I would not be able to physically attend as I would still be in Anglesey at that time.

Last week I got the sad news that she was taken into hospital quite unexpectedly and that her physical condition was rapidly deteriorating. We spoke on the phone and her voice was energetic as ever, both knowing that we would not speak or meet each other again. Sien passed away on May 2nd with all family present.

Siens’ Song; A Song of Life.

Anas Returning Home

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 13:26:00 +0000

When I started to take interest in sea kayaking in 1994, Fred, a collegue at work, happened to be a trip leader for Peddelpraat. Whenever I met Rick Carrick-Smith at the Anglesey Symposium, Rick asked me about Fred's Anas Acuta. Whenever Fred would sell it to sure get into contact with Rick first.

This year driving to Anglesey with a very original Anas Acuta on my roof-rack and a wooden-bladed Lendal paddle in the boot. I made sure to stop-by Porth Dafarch to make some pictures. The number on the back deck of the kayak is Rick's BCU membership number. This Anas Acuta is now re-united with one of the original Nordkapps and the Lindisfarne.

Below is the history of this original Anas Acuta, written by Rick.

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The Anas Acuta Sea Kayak

This kayak was based and measured on a historic Greenland boat by Geoff Blackford with accurate drawings rescaled for present day body shape by Duncan Winning. Translated to glass fibre by Valley Canoe products as their first seagoing kayak, it is described as 'A real joy to paddle.'

This example was built for Rick in 1976. Totally influenced by the line drawing of an Angmassalik kayak in Alan Byde's definitive book of that time, Rick asked Frank Goodman of V.C.P. to build it.

Frank had recently introduced the 'Nordkapp' and was reluctant to seemingly regress. However, as it left the mould, he remarked, 'It glows like a jewel', in his typically owlish way. (Translucent Amber was the 'in' colour of that time).

This IS the 'one-off' that returned the Anas Acuta to production.

Very progressive for its time, hatches, a pump, deck fittings and lines were innovations.

The hatches of the three boats here are prime prototypes of this idea.

Notably used by Rick for an Outer Hebrides expedition in 1979, wet or dry suits were yet to come. Cord jeans with woolly sweaters were topped by a harsh nylon cagoule. A large flare pack on the back deck contained sleeping and bivvy bags. Food (mostly tinned) clattered in the back and also stuffed alongside the front buoyancy pillar. Thus fully laden and tilting, with only the pin tail appearing from the water, the rear deck emerged as we ate our way forward.

An interesting comment on the characteristics of these early boats arising from this expedition was the exhausting weather cocking of the Nordkapp, the skittery dance of the Anas Acute - so readily corrected - and the rock-solid forward stability of the accompanying pair of 'Baidarkas'. Skegs were yet to come.

Suspiciously allied in design with the accompanying Lindisfarne, here, it was in these two boats that Rick and Di Fenn were 'subjected' to their Senior Instructor (Sea) training by Derek Hutchinson in 1978 on the north-east coast. Observed by the rest of the group, Derek 'set up' an impossible towing scenario over off-shore shoals, gleefully announcing, ‘Gentlemen, we are about to witness a little drama of the sea', whilst completely unaware of Di’s husband alongside. Our own next awareness was of rocketing skywards in an intimate embrace. Witnesses told of a vertically parallel pair of boats clearing the water by some two feet and Hutchinson facing a tightly clenched fist.

Rick worked with others over many years in development of the Dutch coaching scheme and in 1986, this cherished kayak passed into private ownership in Holland until its return in 2018.

L.Carrick-Smith (aka Rick)
May 2018
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Rise from the Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 09:12:00 +0000

On the night of the 1st March superstorm Emma hit Anglesey and with winds of 70 knots totally wiping out the entire marina and sinking and destroying over 80 boats along with Playmate and Nigel Dennis' yacht on which he lived with his partner Eila all year around.

Nigel Dennis who is a well-known expedition sea kayaker and sea kayak designer has used the last four years of his spare time working on his dream boat Playmate.

The idea of Playmate was to create super cool expedition support boat which would take sea kayakers to remote places of Scotland and Outer hebrides and show them sea kayaking from completely different perspective. When not on the sea the all carbon kevlar fleet of sea kayaks would be stored on the fly deck of Playmate. If the weather would not be favourable for kayaking all members could enjoy the scenery from the comfort of this expedition super boat with a wee dram of whisky in their hand while cruising along the islands.

After almost four passionate years of spending most of his free time on his dream boat Playmate she was nearly ready for her first season. The moment was was just around the corner with a few bits and bobs to do including finalising her insurance.

Then disaster struck.

What a devastation to lose your home and hobby. All the energy and time spend on Playmate lays at the bottom of the sea.

Through the years Nigel has helped so many kayakers to follow their dreams doing expeditions and motivating people to do their best.

There are stories of paddlers coming to him with very little experience asking for sponsored sea kayaks to go around the UK and he would reply "I will lend you a boat and if you do not make it you will bring it back and if you make it you can keep the kayak." as Eila said "Nigel just wants people to do well."

Now it is up to us the sea kayaking community; to support for once Nigel who has helped and influenced so many people. And see his dream coming through and get Playmate off the bottom of the sea and get Nigels spirit to fly high again. We believe he more than deserves it.

With so many people around the world if we contribute even little we can get the boat afloat for Nigel.

Above was written by Ashley Williams. She has started a Rise from the Storm fundraiser to recover Playmate.

Nigel has been of enormous help throughout all of my sea kayak and coaching development. From the first day I met him at the Anglesey Sea Kayak symposium in 2000 and ever since. I recognize myself in all that Ashley could put into words about the support and opportunities Nigel has given.

Penguins ?

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 12:14:00 +0000

When I asked around for pictures of yesterday I would never ever have thought Ray would be 'tricked' into this one. A select few Dutch sea kayakers know about Ray's Penguin warm-up one time at the annual Dutch Sea Kayak week; for many years organized by Elko (left) and Onno (right). And where do Penguins live?

Peddelpraat Ray Union

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 07:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was the annual Peddelpraat winter meeting.

For the past 20 (!) years Ray Goodwin guided the Scotland sea kayaking trips for Peddelpraat. Sea Kayaking? Isn't Ray that world renowned open canoe coach and guide? Yes he sure is. Ray, Lina and Maya were invited over to celebrate 20 years of Peddelpraat sea kayaking trips in Scotland.

What was his lecture about? Open Canoeing for sure. Anecdotes of his sea kayaking trips would fill the rest of the day with all the paddlers that so much enjoyed his guiding. I was impressed with his film about his Algonquin open canoe trip with two families with children. So Open Canoeing abroad with Ray is next? We have a signed copy of Ray Goodwin Open Canoeing so we better start practicing with one blade. Cunning plans... Another one of Ray's specialties.

Exactly a year ago I headed out to Ushuaia for my month long sea kayaking trip to Antarctica with a group guided by Justine Curgenven. Family health issues and other priorities had literally shelved the 7.000+ pictures and still unknown many hours of film footage of this expedition.

Yesterday was also the premiere of my Antarctica lecture. Condensing a 'life-time' experience into 45 minutes. Where I could probably talk an hour on every one of the 30 days there! Or just share one picture that says it all. Even all the trips with Ray. It is all in there (apart from the camp fires).

A little personal emotional moment at the start of my lecture when I realised that ALL of the paddlers that I learned sea kayaking from, my mentors, my coaches were present. Even the retired ones and paddling buddies that I have not seen for 10 years or more!

While Peddelpraat is 'just' one of the national kayak clubs, they invited every other national sea kayaking organisation. And ALL were there; the busiest winter meeting ever. The clubs' motto, since it's founding in 1975, has been [paddling] with each other not against each other. A national (sea) kayaking gathering it was.

P.S. I do not have pictures of yesterday, so hoping to share some of those later.

Weather Bound

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Because of a high wind warning and flash floods in New York my flight to JFK got canceled. The flight already had an hour delayed arrival. After boarding the plane and waiting in it for more than an hour we had to leave the aircraft; deplane.

Lots of flights got canceled and lots of people are stranded. I am now booked on an extra flight early tomorrow morning. At least my connecting flight to Amsterdam is still valid. The only thing is that I now cannot spend a day in New York city, something that I was looking forward to.

I never before had the luxury to be offered a 'bed' right at the airport. Logistically probably the most conveniant solution. That and the rocking chair and the power outlet.

Earlier today...
I am not sure if I understand Starbucks anymore, if ever I understood them. The only coffee joint that was open. Apart from a 'Latte' there is no recognizable other coffees on the menu. I asked for a Cappucino and got the question: "What flavor?". Huhhh? I replied: "Regular". Not really sure if the cashier understood me I added: "Medium size". A minute later I got a 'Frappucino', not what I ordered. But they still do Cappucino, but I probably have to 'SPELL IT OUT: A HOT CAPPUCINO". I got my Cappucino instead and it actually tasted like Cappucino. A regular hot coffee might be even harder to get.

Happy Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 20:00:00 +0000

Today I saw a remarkable example and result of using a metaphore. Dubside is running rolling classes at the Ocean Gathering Symposium.

I first met Dubside in 2004 at the Delmarva Retreat, a Greenland symposium where I first got truly immersed in Greenland kayaking skills. That was a humbling experience then. I met Dubside again on a few other occasions but never had the opportunity since then to see him coach.

One of the students wanted some tips to improve her off-side roll. After some observation Dubside asked her if she knew about Micky Mouses' Happy Hands. She came-up on her off-side with the same open hand position as she went over; with the paddle between her thumbs and index fingers; perfect. Even better than on her 'on-side'. Impressive observation and use of metaphores; Happy Hands!

Just before lunch, Dubside had the group race to the beach. I think I could keep up with him with my euro paddle: faster, faster, faster; for a short while... And only with most extreme exertion. Humbling experience again... I consolidated on all my Greenland rolls I ever could do before.

Rocky Landing at Little Tybee

noreply@blogger.com (Axel) — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:00:00 +0000

Tybee Island has lots of sandy beaches, offshore sandbars, current, tide-rips, waves and surf. The Savannah River has a big shipping lane, buoyage and a very long stone breakwater (at low tide). However rocky landings and rescues near rocks, that is in the British Canoeing Moderate Water Sea Kayak Leader syllabus, requires sometimes some improvising.

The same probably goes for dealing with 10+ second ocean swells in some other parts of the world. Or areas with lots of rocks but no tides. Or areas in the UK that have only sandy beaches? What is the definition of 'Moderate Water' ?

GPS Track 25-10

GPS Track 26-10