The countdown has begun, then finished, and is now in reverse!
The week of our kayak has arrived but currently the weather is making it impossible to kayak, with the safety boat company Full Throttle advising us the conditions are not yet right.
We are in daily contact with them and every day it gets moved back (quite rightly), so we are on tenterhooks constantly with a mix of excitement, anticipation and, of course, a healthy nervousness!
There is a high pressure rolling in over the weekend so we don't see this being strung out too much further, but once we get past Sunday then we become third priority for next week, because Full Throttle has a customer booked in already for next week, as well as someone still waiting who couldn't go last week!
So let's hope we get the paddle done over the course of this weekend, hopefully in nice sunny weather!
In other news, we've also been advised by Full Throttle to leave from Dungeoness rather than from Dover or Folkestone. There are pros and cons to this. The pros are that, given the spring tides at the moment, we are much less likely to get dragged into the ferry lanes between Dover and Calais (which may result in us being turned back or getting arrested), or end up in Belgium or Holland! This is because the tide is less racier at Dungeoness than it is further up the funnel towards Dover. The cons are that it is 3 or 4 miles further and, when you add the affects of the tides, quite possibly more than that, pushing us towards a 30 mile total distance. This is not a distance we have come close to before (21 is our max) and so it is a little daunting, but we laugh in the face of such minor issues, obviously...(!).
More updates as we have them.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Listen to our Radio Solent interview here!
Click below to listen to audio (accompanied by various snaps of us in action) of our Radio Solent interview on 23 August 2012, as part of The Julian Clegg Breakfast Show.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Our challenge features on BBC Radio Solent!
This morning Stu, Jon and I met at the BBC Radio Solent studios in Southampton City Centre where we were due to appear on Julian Clegg's Breakfast Show. We were excited and nervous in equal measure.
As part of the feature Stu had been asked to pick a year, place and a song which would be played at the end of our interview.
We met the producer in the reception of the BBC building, and then waited for about 15 minutes having been warned that, because of an exclusive scoop they had been given, our segment had been squeezed to a shorter length of time. This was a little disappointing but we remained really appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to promote our cause.
As it happened the exclusive was an interview with the chap who had flown Asil Nadir out of the country 20 years ago, and with Nadir due to be sentanced this morning having returned to the UK last year, this was a good scoop indeed.
We headed into the studio at 8.20 and met Julian who immediately put us at ease, sat down with a mic each and got ready to go.
He started by asking Stu about why we were doing the kayak, then spoken to us all in turn. We were delighted when he said that the interview would continue after the 8.30 news, and so we were getting longer than we had been led to believe when we arrived!
In the end I reckon we were on air for a total for 5-6 mintues, which is a long time in television/radio and so we were really pleased. It went really really well too, with none of us disgracing ourselves.
Julian read out our blog address and we had an unusually high number of hits in the hour after the interview.
On a day when the main conversation was around Prince Harry's naked antics in a Las Vegas hotel room, I think we did our cause justice on local radio, a station which regularly attracts over a quarter of a million listeners every week.
Thanks to Julian and his production team for this excellent opportunity. Photos below!
BTW Stu's choices were 2006 (year Ben was born), Legoland (Ben's choice!) and Fix Me by Coldplay.
As part of the feature Stu had been asked to pick a year, place and a song which would be played at the end of our interview.
We met the producer in the reception of the BBC building, and then waited for about 15 minutes having been warned that, because of an exclusive scoop they had been given, our segment had been squeezed to a shorter length of time. This was a little disappointing but we remained really appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to promote our cause.
As it happened the exclusive was an interview with the chap who had flown Asil Nadir out of the country 20 years ago, and with Nadir due to be sentanced this morning having returned to the UK last year, this was a good scoop indeed.
We headed into the studio at 8.20 and met Julian who immediately put us at ease, sat down with a mic each and got ready to go.
He started by asking Stu about why we were doing the kayak, then spoken to us all in turn. We were delighted when he said that the interview would continue after the 8.30 news, and so we were getting longer than we had been led to believe when we arrived!
In the end I reckon we were on air for a total for 5-6 mintues, which is a long time in television/radio and so we were really pleased. It went really really well too, with none of us disgracing ourselves.
Julian read out our blog address and we had an unusually high number of hits in the hour after the interview.
On a day when the main conversation was around Prince Harry's naked antics in a Las Vegas hotel room, I think we did our cause justice on local radio, a station which regularly attracts over a quarter of a million listeners every week.
Thanks to Julian and his production team for this excellent opportunity. Photos below!
BTW Stu's choices were 2006 (year Ben was born), Legoland (Ben's choice!) and Fix Me by Coldplay.
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| Charlie, Stu and Jon in reception at BBC South |
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| Jon in the waiting room waiting to go "on air" |
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| Stu and Charlie in the waiting room waiting to go "on air" |
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| Jon, Stu and Charlie chatting to Julian Clegg during a break in his breakfast show |
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| Jon, Julian Clegg, Stu and Charlie in the studio at Radio Solent |
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Amazing Old Harry...and a pretty special bacon sarnie too
We had the most amazing kayak today.
Starting early off Sandbanks beach (not a great start because the most expensive parking ticket EVER - at over £10!!) we set off along in front of the entrance to Poole Harbour on a misty and murky morning. Neither The Needles nor the much-closer Bournemouth were visible in the morning mist which made for a spooky view out to see.
Our plan was to explore Old Harry's Rocks, which we had heard were a fantastic place to kayak, and we also needed to go out into open water so as to get a feel for what we might experience in The Channel, in less than two weeks time.
We paddled first along past Studland along the half-moon bay with the rocks at its outermost point. We did get a little diverted, however. At one point we got a little close to the shore and caught a strong whiff of cooking bacon. It was more than we can bear, and we pulled alongside the shore to investigate. Indeed, there was a small cafe called Middle Beach and we landed the kayaks, pulled them up onto the beach (the tide was coming in) and strolled up to the establishment in question.
And we had probably the best bacon sarnies I think I've ever had. And a cuppa too. Remember before you judge that it was by this time only 7.45am, so it was breakfast time.
As the mist started to clear and Old Harry and the arched rock formations came into view, we set off again. Paddling under the arches and around the rock stacks, was just an incredible and surreal experience. The rock formations were pretty special and there is a video embedded below which Jon took with his new on-board camera, so you can see for yourself.
Old Harry himself was a bit like paddling around a Jenga. A matching stack (Harry's wife) fell done a while back, and at some point Harry will suffer the same fate. But for now, I'm really grateful that we are able to see it at such close quarters, something which the walkers on the top of the cliffs, viewing the National Trust-protected site from above, couldn't possibly get the same appreciation for. One of the great things about kayaking is undoubtedly the alternative view you get of the world, something you cannot get from the shoreline or a footpath.
After we'd finished exploring the caves too, we set off alongside the white cliffs and headed towards and beyong Swanage, before heading out to see. The swell was much more noticable in the open water, large but wide waves moving us up and down, and on occasions rendering us invisible to each other as the swell passed between us.
This was a complete contrast to the earlier calm conditions (as seen in the video) but it wasn't massively hard work. The difficult bit was keeping in a straight line, something I personally seem to struggle with.
We went back past Old Harry and towards the balloon at Bournemouth before heading back directly towards the beach at Sandbanks. The conditions had become slightly choppier and we were washed up onto the busy and crowded beach a little unceremoniously. After just over 20 miles we aches a little and carrying the kayaks back to the cars was a real effort. But we felt a little better after a bottle of water and a KitKat, followed a little later by a pint of cider in the pub.
What a day, what a kayak....and thanks to the early start it was still only 3.30pm. I can imagine we'll be revisiting Harry and his friends again before long. In the meantime it was our second 20 miles trip and probably the last long kayak we'll do before The Channel in less than two weeks time....
Starting early off Sandbanks beach (not a great start because the most expensive parking ticket EVER - at over £10!!) we set off along in front of the entrance to Poole Harbour on a misty and murky morning. Neither The Needles nor the much-closer Bournemouth were visible in the morning mist which made for a spooky view out to see.
Our plan was to explore Old Harry's Rocks, which we had heard were a fantastic place to kayak, and we also needed to go out into open water so as to get a feel for what we might experience in The Channel, in less than two weeks time.
We paddled first along past Studland along the half-moon bay with the rocks at its outermost point. We did get a little diverted, however. At one point we got a little close to the shore and caught a strong whiff of cooking bacon. It was more than we can bear, and we pulled alongside the shore to investigate. Indeed, there was a small cafe called Middle Beach and we landed the kayaks, pulled them up onto the beach (the tide was coming in) and strolled up to the establishment in question.
And we had probably the best bacon sarnies I think I've ever had. And a cuppa too. Remember before you judge that it was by this time only 7.45am, so it was breakfast time.
As the mist started to clear and Old Harry and the arched rock formations came into view, we set off again. Paddling under the arches and around the rock stacks, was just an incredible and surreal experience. The rock formations were pretty special and there is a video embedded below which Jon took with his new on-board camera, so you can see for yourself.
Old Harry himself was a bit like paddling around a Jenga. A matching stack (Harry's wife) fell done a while back, and at some point Harry will suffer the same fate. But for now, I'm really grateful that we are able to see it at such close quarters, something which the walkers on the top of the cliffs, viewing the National Trust-protected site from above, couldn't possibly get the same appreciation for. One of the great things about kayaking is undoubtedly the alternative view you get of the world, something you cannot get from the shoreline or a footpath.
After we'd finished exploring the caves too, we set off alongside the white cliffs and headed towards and beyong Swanage, before heading out to see. The swell was much more noticable in the open water, large but wide waves moving us up and down, and on occasions rendering us invisible to each other as the swell passed between us.
This was a complete contrast to the earlier calm conditions (as seen in the video) but it wasn't massively hard work. The difficult bit was keeping in a straight line, something I personally seem to struggle with.
We went back past Old Harry and towards the balloon at Bournemouth before heading back directly towards the beach at Sandbanks. The conditions had become slightly choppier and we were washed up onto the busy and crowded beach a little unceremoniously. After just over 20 miles we aches a little and carrying the kayaks back to the cars was a real effort. But we felt a little better after a bottle of water and a KitKat, followed a little later by a pint of cider in the pub.
What a day, what a kayak....and thanks to the early start it was still only 3.30pm. I can imagine we'll be revisiting Harry and his friends again before long. In the meantime it was our second 20 miles trip and probably the last long kayak we'll do before The Channel in less than two weeks time....
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| Ready to go! Sandbanks beach before 7am |
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| Old Harry's Rocks in the distance, safely from a cafe with great bacon sarnies |
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| One of the arches at Old Harry's Rocks |
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| The amazing Old Harry himself |
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| Jon takes a look break two miles off Swanage. Swanage later lost its blue flag as a result |
Monday, August 13, 2012
Our challenge and Duchenne are featured on ITV local news
The English Channel Kayak Challenge featured on Meridian Tonight (local ITV News) this evening - see the video below. Thanks to Kerry from Meridian for doing such a good job of covering our cause.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
20 miles around Poole Harbour
Poole Harbour is the third biggest natural harbour in the world, apparently, after Rio and Sydney (or the second according to The Famous Five books, but what do they know). Going around the edge of it in a kayak is certainly a good way of realising just how big it is.
Jon was away in Wales on holiday, and Stu and I decided on a change of scenery so moved along the coast westwards and, at about 6.30am on Sunday morning we got into the water at Baiter Park, Poole, where there is a slipway and carpark on the north east side of the harbour. Across the water in the morning gloom was Brownsea Island, home of the Scouting movement.
We set off anti-clockwise, paddling across the entrance to the ferry terminal and quay area, and past the Condor catermaran where the industrial area of Poole turned into the more natural low cliff, wetland and beach environment which makes up the vast majority of the length of the coastline of the harbour.
It was a lovely morning but the most unexpected part of the environment we were in was that the conditions were so changeable. As we paddled around the western edges of the harbour, the water was like a mirror, lovely and flat. At other times, for example when we later crossed back from Brownsea to Baiter Park, it was like a washing machine, and the sort of conditions we've paddled through in Southampton Water.
But the scenery was stunning, at one point there were deer on the shore, although at another point the view was interupted by a number of people lying on the shore who appeared to have been there all night (it was still only 7.30am). There was also the occasional tent back from the beach.
It reminded me that the bloke who sold me my sit-on kayak, whol lived in Poole, had told me that he regularly set out in the early summer evenings into the harbour and camped on the shore on the other side.
This wasn't exactly a testing paddle but, importantly, we cracked the 20 miles barrier which, just a couple of weeks before our Channel crossing could potentially take place, we felt was an important one to get over.
The final stretch between Brownsea and Baiter Park was the choppiest of the day by far, plus there was a little bit of traffic to work our way through. But when we beached back at Baiter we knew we'd broken the 20m barrier for the first time, and then felt pretty good.
Jon was away in Wales on holiday, and Stu and I decided on a change of scenery so moved along the coast westwards and, at about 6.30am on Sunday morning we got into the water at Baiter Park, Poole, where there is a slipway and carpark on the north east side of the harbour. Across the water in the morning gloom was Brownsea Island, home of the Scouting movement.
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| Getting ready to go, 6.30am at Baiter Park, Poole |
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| Baiter Park Slipway. The water in Poole Harbour looked a bit choppy, but perfect for a morning paddle |
We set off anti-clockwise, paddling across the entrance to the ferry terminal and quay area, and past the Condor catermaran where the industrial area of Poole turned into the more natural low cliff, wetland and beach environment which makes up the vast majority of the length of the coastline of the harbour.
It was a lovely morning but the most unexpected part of the environment we were in was that the conditions were so changeable. As we paddled around the western edges of the harbour, the water was like a mirror, lovely and flat. At other times, for example when we later crossed back from Brownsea to Baiter Park, it was like a washing machine, and the sort of conditions we've paddled through in Southampton Water.
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| Elsewhere in the harbour, the water was stunningly flat |
But the scenery was stunning, at one point there were deer on the shore, although at another point the view was interupted by a number of people lying on the shore who appeared to have been there all night (it was still only 7.30am). There was also the occasional tent back from the beach.
It reminded me that the bloke who sold me my sit-on kayak, whol lived in Poole, had told me that he regularly set out in the early summer evenings into the harbour and camped on the shore on the other side.
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| A break at 10.5m. Stu refused to leave his kayak given (quite rightly) he won't be able to do so in the Channel |
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| A quick stop, assessing the traffic between Brownsea Island and Baiter Park as we near the end of the paddle. At this point we'd completed almost 19m |
The final stretch between Brownsea and Baiter Park was the choppiest of the day by far, plus there was a little bit of traffic to work our way through. But when we beached back at Baiter we knew we'd broken the 20m barrier for the first time, and then felt pretty good.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
TV spot promotes Duchenne and the Channel Challenge
Local ITV News (Meridian Tonight) came to film and interview us today about the Channel challenge and to speak to Stu and Becky about Duchenne. Kerry from Meridian spent some time at their house first and then we all went down to Calshot Castle to do some kayaking on camera.
In the pictures below (courtesty of Katie Turner) you can see Ben getting to grips with the camera as Stu and Becky prepare to be interviewed, plus Kerry filming us on Southampton Water.
We ploughed back and forward on a really nice day at Calshot (would have been perfect for a much longer paddle!), as Kerry tried to get the best shot for her story, our rhythm only occasionally broken by the wake from a couple of huge container ships, like the one in the picture.
We expect the story to be on Meridian's evening news programme (6pm) nearer the actual crossing date (i.e. later in August), but it could in reality be on anytime in the next few of weeks. Kerry has assured us we'll get some notice so will try and publish it via our FB site, so you can watch it if you so desire! I'm sure it'll be a quality bit of television so don't miss it...
In the pictures below (courtesty of Katie Turner) you can see Ben getting to grips with the camera as Stu and Becky prepare to be interviewed, plus Kerry filming us on Southampton Water.
We ploughed back and forward on a really nice day at Calshot (would have been perfect for a much longer paddle!), as Kerry tried to get the best shot for her story, our rhythm only occasionally broken by the wake from a couple of huge container ships, like the one in the picture.
We expect the story to be on Meridian's evening news programme (6pm) nearer the actual crossing date (i.e. later in August), but it could in reality be on anytime in the next few of weeks. Kerry has assured us we'll get some notice so will try and publish it via our FB site, so you can watch it if you so desire! I'm sure it'll be a quality bit of television so don't miss it...
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| Kerry from Meridian filming us in "action" |
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| Ben tries his hand at being a cameraman |
Thursday, August 2, 2012
If only we had sails...part 2
So Tuesday night arrived. I'd been watching the weather and the forecast looked ominous. We'd arranged to meet at Lepe to try going across to the Isle of Wight, but that was a non-starter. The tide was at 3 knots through the middle of the Solent, and the wind (going in the same direction) predicted at 14 knots, which is a lot!!
We pulled up at Lepe and, as it was indeed very gusty, all agreed that we'd try somewhere else, plus two out of three of us had forgotten to bring any change for parking. We headed off on a bit of a wild goose chase, trying to find a slipway that was visible on Google Earth along the Beaulieu River, and looked like it was fairly well built up and accessible from a track off one of the roads through Exbury.
After a bit of driving around and no help whatsoever from a Tom-Tom free RAC man, we tried up a gravel track that looked like it was fairly private. The sign on the road ("private") gave it away, really. But it was worth a try and, after about half a mile, we came to a gate. A bemused chap was stood there loading something into his car, and informed Jon that this was a private road (you don't say) and also that the slipway was private.
A bit crestfallen we headed back to Lepe and opted to head out and up the Beaulieu River, only needing to endure a short stretch of open water before getting to the more sheltered rivermouth.
It wasn't actually that windy anymore. We easily got across to the spit that separates the river from the Solent, and decided instead to paddle along the coast towards Lymington. By now the sun had come out and it was beginning to look and feel like a pleasent evening. Occasionally we'd hit a patch of choppy water, but it would pass or we'd simply move further out into the water where it was deeper and the effects of the waves were less pronounded.
We ploughed on. Stu was enjoying it less than usual, having pulled up straight from work and a couple of sleep-deprived nights, but kept a close eye on his water-protected iPhone to measure the distance. We admired some of the rather expensive-looking properties along the shore as we passed them, wishing we had sponsor forms with us.
As soon as we got to 5 miles, we did a 180 and headed back.
The light was starting to dim now, and with the tide and wind behind us, we made steady but difficult progress, the waves constantly trying to move the direction of the kayaks parallel to themselves. This became hard work but we've learned to rear-rudder using the paddles, so aren't completely helpless. It is, however, a difficult slog doing this for five miles.
But it was a pleasent evening and, through the murky dusk we spotted Jon's VW Transporter like a shining beacon of hope. Cowes was lit up like a Christmas tree and there were no other boats on the water, so no immediate danger.
No pub this time.....too knackered even for that. But a good paddle of a decent distance, which went some way to making up for Sunday.
We pulled up at Lepe and, as it was indeed very gusty, all agreed that we'd try somewhere else, plus two out of three of us had forgotten to bring any change for parking. We headed off on a bit of a wild goose chase, trying to find a slipway that was visible on Google Earth along the Beaulieu River, and looked like it was fairly well built up and accessible from a track off one of the roads through Exbury.
After a bit of driving around and no help whatsoever from a Tom-Tom free RAC man, we tried up a gravel track that looked like it was fairly private. The sign on the road ("private") gave it away, really. But it was worth a try and, after about half a mile, we came to a gate. A bemused chap was stood there loading something into his car, and informed Jon that this was a private road (you don't say) and also that the slipway was private.
A bit crestfallen we headed back to Lepe and opted to head out and up the Beaulieu River, only needing to endure a short stretch of open water before getting to the more sheltered rivermouth.
It wasn't actually that windy anymore. We easily got across to the spit that separates the river from the Solent, and decided instead to paddle along the coast towards Lymington. By now the sun had come out and it was beginning to look and feel like a pleasent evening. Occasionally we'd hit a patch of choppy water, but it would pass or we'd simply move further out into the water where it was deeper and the effects of the waves were less pronounded.
We ploughed on. Stu was enjoying it less than usual, having pulled up straight from work and a couple of sleep-deprived nights, but kept a close eye on his water-protected iPhone to measure the distance. We admired some of the rather expensive-looking properties along the shore as we passed them, wishing we had sponsor forms with us.
As soon as we got to 5 miles, we did a 180 and headed back.
The light was starting to dim now, and with the tide and wind behind us, we made steady but difficult progress, the waves constantly trying to move the direction of the kayaks parallel to themselves. This became hard work but we've learned to rear-rudder using the paddles, so aren't completely helpless. It is, however, a difficult slog doing this for five miles.
But it was a pleasent evening and, through the murky dusk we spotted Jon's VW Transporter like a shining beacon of hope. Cowes was lit up like a Christmas tree and there were no other boats on the water, so no immediate danger.
No pub this time.....too knackered even for that. But a good paddle of a decent distance, which went some way to making up for Sunday.
If only we had sails...part 1
It's been a windy week, and I'm not talking about the effects of our post-race night hangovers (sorry to be gross).
We had grand plans to paddle 20 miles for the first time on Sunday. We set off from Calshot and headed over towards the eastent shore of the Solent, intending to travel up towards Portsmouth. Within about 5 minutes I was in trouble, bouncing around all over the place in what were, I think, the strongest winds I've been out in....but never before on the sea kayaks. Jon and Stu didn't seem phased, but I was pretty uncomfortable in heavy chop and not seeming able to keep the boat straight.
I came as close as ever to capsizing, although in reality simply learned yet again how stable these kayaks are. I zig-zaged across to the other side where, because it was low tide, the situation deteriorated. Not only is the eastern shore very shallow (meaning rolling breaking waves), but it's also on the side of the Solent which the wind is blowing towards. It wasn't long before I called Jon and Stu back, who were quickly progressing up the coast ahead of me. This wasn't my idea of a pleasant but challenging day on the water...
I guess I stuck it out for about 20 minutes, but I didn't fancy 20 miles of it. We headed back along the coast and then, amazingly, saw our boats come into their own. We paddled back into the wind and waves head on, aiming back to Calshot, and the kayaks performed fantastically well. I remember Sam from Liquid Logistics telling me that this was what they were designed for, and he was spot on. It was actually very enjoyable.
After an hour or so paddling in the general direction of Lepe, we stopped at a cafe for a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea and then headed back. The day was a bit of a write-off with only 8 miles on the odometer, but we resolved to try again on Tuesday with a minimum of 10 miles after work.
We had grand plans to paddle 20 miles for the first time on Sunday. We set off from Calshot and headed over towards the eastent shore of the Solent, intending to travel up towards Portsmouth. Within about 5 minutes I was in trouble, bouncing around all over the place in what were, I think, the strongest winds I've been out in....but never before on the sea kayaks. Jon and Stu didn't seem phased, but I was pretty uncomfortable in heavy chop and not seeming able to keep the boat straight.
I came as close as ever to capsizing, although in reality simply learned yet again how stable these kayaks are. I zig-zaged across to the other side where, because it was low tide, the situation deteriorated. Not only is the eastern shore very shallow (meaning rolling breaking waves), but it's also on the side of the Solent which the wind is blowing towards. It wasn't long before I called Jon and Stu back, who were quickly progressing up the coast ahead of me. This wasn't my idea of a pleasant but challenging day on the water...
I guess I stuck it out for about 20 minutes, but I didn't fancy 20 miles of it. We headed back along the coast and then, amazingly, saw our boats come into their own. We paddled back into the wind and waves head on, aiming back to Calshot, and the kayaks performed fantastically well. I remember Sam from Liquid Logistics telling me that this was what they were designed for, and he was spot on. It was actually very enjoyable.
After an hour or so paddling in the general direction of Lepe, we stopped at a cafe for a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea and then headed back. The day was a bit of a write-off with only 8 miles on the odometer, but we resolved to try again on Tuesday with a minimum of 10 miles after work.
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