West Coast Kayak Challenge

A few conversations over the past months have highlighted a concern people have towards charitable adventures. This morning I had a conversation where it was implied that I was using charitable funding to make my expedition happen. Contrary to this I’d like to say that this expedition is solely happening to provide charitable funding.

So I made a mission statement;

The West Coast Kayak Challenge is a non-profit venture that’s sole purpose is to raise funds for three charities in the memory of my very good friend Andy.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, The Beatson Oncology Fund and the RNLI.

The West Coast Kayak Challenge is being organised by Bruce Jolliffe at his own expense. There are various companies and organisations that are offering forms of support from equipment for the expedition through to logistics and planning resources.

All financial donations are handled through and announced on a charity giving website for transparency, see http://charitygiving.co.uk/westcoastpaddle.

The expedition will be cold and hard, just like the shoulders of the odd detractor but I don’t need the public to fund my adventure, just to donate to the charities if they like it.

I fund the Expedition that you get to follow online.

You fund that the Charities that are close to my heart if you choose to do so.

That’s quite clear isn’t it?

Thanks again to all those kind souls that understand what it is that I am doing, be you friends of Andy’s, friends of mine or members of supporting organisations. Its all very much appreciated.

Bruce

Big thanks to all my supporters so far. We are 1/3 of the way to the target! I am really really stoked again!

I feel like the guys on blue peter, only they’re far snappier dressers than me.

49 days till official start date…..but I might go in 42 if the weather looks good.

These guys make awesome paddlesport clothing. I’ve used some of it for a while. Its a rare thing, made in a factory in California which is partially powered by PV solar panels, not in a chinese factory powered by coal. Its all individually checked to ensure its quality and I’m proud to say that these guys want me to wear their dry-suit on the West Coast Kayak Challenge.

There is only one thing I can say about it; I’m absolutely sure it won’t let me down.

There were many many lessons today. In fact I am learning more stuff than I could’ve imagined. You can’t just contact organisations, like the press for example, through contact forms. You have to keep trying and get phone numbers and speak to people. people matter (to quote the late and great Pete Postlethwaite as Danny in ‘Brassed Off’).

The other thing is to treat these matters as business. Conduct yourself professionally think of what you need to do to get a result. The project is a personal thing, but the manner in which the tasks need done require an absence of emotion and attachment. For example today I was close to letting frustration take over and become some form of judgmental dismissal. One more phone call, I spoke to the person that mattered and all that frustration had turned into a positive conversation.

I suppose a fair analogy is coaching. You can’t teach all people by following the exact same approach. You can’t contact all organisations the same way either, variety is the key. So if something doesn’t work, be persistent, try another way. Keep stepping outside the project’s sphere and be rational. You will get results.

Onto more developments, Paul Hyman of Think360 & H20 Sports has kindly arranged for me to spend time promoting the West Coast Kayak Challenge at the London International Boat Show. So I’ve been running around trying to put things in place. Jill sorted out printing of flyers and got a very good deal thanks to the projects charitable nature and her charm.

The flyer was based on a simple design developed for me by Harvey Anderson of Fresh Fish Clothing. The results I am very happy with.

I’m very happy with these. Harvey gave me two t-shirts, a hoody, decals for the side of the boat and all I had to do was give him all my white water kit if I don’t make it!

Amurnae geein that up lightly.

Today has been a great day. First things first though; Donations hit £2000 today! I am totally stoked. Special thanks to everyone who has donated, some pals I haven’t seen in a long time and some people I don’t even know personally – though I hope to rectify that at some point.

Also I received two books through the post today that contain handy information for the kayaker, both published by Pesda Press. The Outer Hebrides guide by Mike Sullivan Robert Emmott and Tim Pickering, kindly sent to me for nowt by Franco Ferrero. I only asked him for a couple of pages on the Minch crossings. I also received a copy of the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail by Simon Willis. Following Franco’s generosity, I had a pang of guilt and ordered one direct from Simon, who wrote a nice wee dedication wishing me luck. Simon’s been very supportive so far, pointing me in the direction of helpful people and things. If you’re a paddler you should listen to his stuff, he gets around the kayaking scene like chicken pox at a kids party.

I’ve also received contact back from some friends in some of the London Kayak Clubs. We’ll hopefully have stuff going on down there the weekend of February 12/13. More information to follow soon!

Also a mention today should go to Jamie Richards. He was put in my direction way back in 2010 by Ed Wardle (‘Hello Bears’ ring a bell anyone?). Now to be honest I have been sceptical of the title nutritionist ever since the crazy Scottish poo lady hit our screens years ago. I can’t go into that though, it wouldn’t be appropriate. What is appropriate though is that Jamie’s suggestions are sensible and adaptable to the real world.

For example; For years I have baulked at the concept of buying isotonic drinks. At home I mix pure fruit juice with water and wee splashes of salt and suger…works a treat.

So when Jamie suggested instead of expensive off the (online) shelf athletic recovery foods I could eat Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches to do the same job I went all Jerry Maguire and said, “stop Jamie, you had me at peanut butter!”

The rest of his advice could be put in summary as, lay off the sweeties, eat healthy fibrous stuff and there is a reason Italians get fat – pasta. Maybe that’s a bit too succinct, but some of the stuff he said is working. I can paddle to Arran on next to no food, I don’t have any stiff muscles the following day and I’m feeling good.

I also went paddling today, not a big paddle, just a couple of hours out to Cumbrae then north into the water past a couple of buoys and east to the shore and south back down to Largs. I stuck plenty of wee sprints into it to tire myself and hopefully build a bit of strength into the old body.

Then once I was feeling pooped I stopped, called the Clyde Coastguard on the VHF and told them not to worry, I was deliberately going for swim. this is advice I took from a well known and respected Scottish sea kayak coach. Tire yourself and then swim, to show you can, after all who falls in when they are fresh? Have a look at the videos below of today’s session.

Some people have been asking will I have a Safety Boat. No. I don’t intend to fall in. If I do I’ll roll.

But what if you come out of your boat;

Well then I’ll get back in and have a play….

Hope you’ve enjoyed today’s ravings, thanks again to all of you wonderful sponsors no matter what you have given. Be it help, money or resources. You all count. Big Time!

A closer inspection of the mothership has revealed that the water in the rear hatch that has been slowly ingressing during the last few outings is indeed coming through the poorly laid up skeg cable port in the skeg box.

My boat is four years old so its no real problem, I’ll slap on some more silicone, just like I did four years ago, when it was brand new and the leak was far worse!