Kayaking Falklands 2009
In aid of Help For Heroes

 
 

Diaries

These diaries are made from information received either by SMS (short updates), or email if more detailed. It all depends on when the team gets a chance to transmit something. This is of course opposed to the messages, where the content is from friends to the team. There is also some preliminary trip information on the team's blog pages. 

december 08 Dec 2008 december 08 Jan 2009

FEBRUARY 2009

Date Message
3rd

Relay: Team phoned last night they are all well and making good progress now, they had a slow choppy paddle through Smylie Channel but things have now improved and they are making good head way and now camped at Chaffers Gullet on Wednesday evening 4th Feb. If all goes well they should reach Fox Bay on Thursday evening (5th Feb) where they will pick up the supplies ready for the last leg of the expedition. [Trudi]
5th
Fox Bay - We are here safe and well, being superbly looked after by Gavin and Diedre who whilst looking after hungry kayakers also farm a mere 40,000 acres of sheep. It makes my five seem a bit meagre !! All is well down in the South Atlantic, we have had an amazing time since we left Weddell Island.   Our first mistake was too strip the beds at Weddell, as Martin predicted that all guests who did that did not get away for one reason or another. We got about 7ks out of the settlement to be thwarted by a strong head wind against the Tide race of 'Smylies Channel' . We actually had to spend two nights camped in Garibaldi Bay, my favourite biscuit !! Smylies Channel was an easy paddle in the end and we came out the other side into the Southern Ocean !! Cape Orford was pretty bumpy as we skittered around, then onto Cape Calm which it certainly wasn't !! Then the most Southerly point of West falkland Cape Meredith !!  
 
It seems that most locations that start with 'Cape' mean 'lumpy' in Kayak speak and we have not been disappointed. Still not had to deploy the Pink arm bands yet, though it got pretty close when Chris and I were climbing up the side of a 40 foot Southern roller which though we were in line astern we were still climbing, and I was shouting for a 'top rope' !! Chris is however looking after both Richie and I very well indeed, a bit like a Mother Hen !!! Richie as ever is continuosly on the go ! When the oldies settle down for 'Forty Winks' Richie is always mending / fixing / cleaning etc (Soo you picked a good one there !!)
 
Again incredible wild life throughout, the 'locals' say the the 'West is best' and we know why. We camped on a beach in Ten Shilling bay with elephant seals patrolling along and landing. One pup thought that Chris's tent was an adult, as it tried to snuck up alongside, well that was what Chris thought, Richie and I knew what the seal really thought after the number of sausages that Chris will eat !! The Albatrosses, Cormorants and Dolphins have been so numerous that we are now getting a bit blase! A large number of Graet Southern petrelsor 'Stinkers' as they are known down here with Jonny Rook always about.The cliff scenery has been 'huge' , great caves most of which have been 'off limits' with the size of rollers and the lack of bolt holes. We are bang on schedule having taken 15 days for the first leg and now 14 for the next, we are hoping for a rest day tomorrow before we head off for East Falkland and the leg to Stanley!!
 
All the messages are brilliant THANK YOU ! Dad am pleased you are recovering and look forward to seeing you at home when I get back. Footy sorry you are having to deal with all the visiting in the snow and ice ! But am looking forward to seeing the photos of 'Avalon' in the snow, as well as Phoebe and Hamish's artistic talents !!  Hamish, Good luck with the singing next week, sorry it got cancelled !! Phoebe good luck with the' theory test' though I have great faith in your abilities !! Amy I am very jealous that you are at Twickers though I am happy here !! Old Bean hope your Parallel turns were as good as mine (Do you remember I got christened 'Monsieur Mule' by some French Mountain troops that I knocked over !!!). Wendo and Ma hope the Snow is not too burdensome for you with your travels to Hospital ! Wendo you must be freeezzinn !!! Tony please tell the Choir that following on from my choices of pieces to sing on certain days, I have had a couple of days when 'Deus Salutis' seemed most appropriate but no Sally's Gardens !!!! Graeme and Liesje Thanks for yours, Iceland could be a good Kayaking venue !!! 
 
I am conscious that some good folk have donated on line whilst we have been away, Thanks to them and we will E mail on our return. Richie and Chris will be sending some photos tomorrow which are even more beardy !! Only about 15 days left of paddling before we fly home on the 24th Feb !!!! Much love to all [Tim / Richie /Chris]
6th
Fox Bay (II) - The snow conditions in Devon  were even being talked about on Falklands radio so it must be bad !! We are staying in Fox Bay for the whole of today (Friday) and will leave again tomorrow morning. We have restocked, Cable and Wireless kindly flew our boxes of food out and more importantly for me, another of Footies Christmas cakes (Regrettably the other one only lasted a few days as the other two also like eating cake !!) We have been incredibly well fed by the superb cooking of Diedre and will be struggling to fit on spray decks when we leave !!
 
For the benefit of any non Sea Kayakers reading this, the days immediately after resupplying are always a challenge as there are about 18 days food in the boat plus camping kit /clothing/ stoves fuel/ water etc. Most Sea Kayaks have three water tight hatches, a Front one which for me contains Tent / Bed Roll /First Aid kit and Christmas cake. The 'Day' Hatch immediately behind the seat has the majority of the food, then the Rear hatch has Stove/ fuel/ sleeping bag /spare clothing and water. The intention is to maintain the trim of the boat so keeping her level with the stern a little bit heavier when there is a following sea or tail wind. Thus initially one feels that we are trying to put a 'quart into a pint bottle' . You can imagine the weight must be about 100kilos. So when this is being tossed about in some of the seas we are experiencing like a cork (Especially with the weight of my pie eating self !) it can be a little hard to control. Although they are substantially more stable when laden as the majority of the weight is beneath the water line !! I also have a 'grab' bag in the cockpit with me with a warm jacket/ flares Spot messenger and spoon !!
 
The last leg is being examined on the Map we have the large crossing of Falkland Sound then down the coast of East Falkland, followed by a visit out to Sea Lion Island where we hope to see whales (Not too close I hope!) The other two are working on the strategy that they only have to be able to paddle faster than me, which feels a little uncomfortable ! But as we all know 'Fear' does wonders for your paddle strokes ! We then continue Eastward to Bleaker Island then Lively Island then via Mare Harbour to Stanley hoping to arrive about the 20th of Feb. To give us time to arrange Boats to be returned to the UK and time to say good bye to all the lovely people who have helped /encouraged and supported us.We have completed about 540 odd Ks so far and will probably be about the 800 mark by the finish depending on the Islands we get too !!
 
Am being called for lunch now (Oh dear I will have to eat some more !!) will am sure be able to get to another computer along the way and will further regale you with more !! Richie is on the case with the Photos, am starting to see a contrast with some of the early ones with our chins !! Thanks once again for all your help. [Tim /Chris/Richie]
 13th Bleaker Island - A short update from Bleaker Island surprisingly we are eating fresh baked biscuits and being looked after by the lovely Elaine and Robert the managers of the settlement ! We only called in for a water 'replen' military speak to refill all water bags ! When Robert said come upto the house for Tea and freshly baked biscuits !! Would have been rude to refuse ! All is good we have had a couple of big crossings from Fox Bay to Speedwell a mere 4.5 hrs in the boat, then a quiet run to Bull Point our most Southerly point ever for me in the world, We were weatherbound there for a couple of days, then yesterday a good weather window a mere force 4 so we were offf for a 35k crossing to Bleaker, our longets to date and quite challenging on the 'bottom' . However we are off shortly when the wind drops from the current Force 7 to head up the edge of Bleaker and across Lively Sound there is a clue methinks in the name !! Towards Mare Harbour which will be a big move for us as this is the military harbour that our Kayaks were delivered to all those weeks ago, then a couple of days to Stanley . 
 
Thanks for all the lovely messages they were great, All the ski ing stories sound amazing Old Bean was it you in Croydon High Street ? Webbie you remember Monsieur Mule am sure and tell the Nark that 'wowing' is a backward sport !!! Simon stay upright Mate as I need a 'butler' for Alaska ! Phoebe have not had to use 'pink arm bands yet !!! Hamish enjoy your pisting I look forward to hearing of your Grease endeavouirs. Lots of love to you all, Life is good we will be home in less than 2 weeks thats soooooony !! Footy I am looking forward to new house mate AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggg. Its now official I am the heaviest on the trip, we have discovered a set of scales in the 'shearing shed'. I was secretly hoping not to be, I am now called Porky is that just  ??? Ho Ho [Tim / Richie / Chris]
 14th Relay: Did not make Lively Island today due to poor weather. Camped by Motley Island. All is well. Currently drinking tea and feeling like kings. Richie Tim Chris. [Trudi/Marvin]
 15th Relay: Guys rang Sunday afternoon to say that they where on Lively Island  (and would you believe it but they where having tea and cakes again!).  Had a good run up the coast today as the weather has been really nice sunny, warm with very light wind from the west. Hope to reach Elephant Point or Island tonight, want to get the last big stretch of water cross while the weather is good as the forecast for next day or so is not looking great.  If the weather continue to hold they hope to make Stanley Wednesday or Thursday. [Trudi/Marvin]
 16th

Relay: Currently at Elephant Island south west of Fitzroy. Land bound today but hopefully in Stanley in two days. Forecast says we are in for a blow. Richy Tim Chris [Trudy/Marvin]
 PS. Not true as it happens, the team made some headway on the 17th and are now only around 33km paddling from Stanley. Nearly home! [Ed - Colin]
 17th Relay: The guys had an eventful day but made good progress.  They set of from Elephant Point at 6am, weather was good not a lot of wind, but as it is well known here in the Falklands things change rather quickly. The wind got up which caused a little bit of a problem causing them to get split up for a while. Anyway, they will tell you more when they see you all next week. They are camped on Port Harriet Farm tonight ready for the big push into Stanley tomorrow weather permitting. Photos here. Hoping to arrive mid afternoon. [Trudi/Marvin]
 18th THE TEAM HAS ARRIVED BACK IN STANLEY. MORE NEWS LATER.
 19th Stanley: We are well and truly here !! It is always sad to finish a really good trip, but equally its good to be here. The last few days from 'Lively' were eventful and we have now acquired some scars to the hulls to prove it. We left Lively after spending time with Alec and Eller who looked after us they offered us to stay the night but the forecast was poor and we still had to get back across to the mainland. We completed the most ideal of crossings in absolute calm and stayed near Elephant Island. We were camped in an ideal site with the strong NE wind which went upto Gale force , then swung around to the North west so some frantic wall building took place. We were 'stormbound' for the next day in horrendous wind and just had to sit tight. Feeling pressured to make progress though realising we had two hopes of making headway or being swept to South Georgia !
 
On the Tuesday we set out with a fresh westerly which was perfect and we were talking about a 60k day to Stanley, however at about mid morning a force 7 built up and we were a little too far off shore. We worked hard to make landfall, which Richie and Chris managed but 'Timmy small arms' could not get across and I was taken a few ks further down the coast to the next landfall. A bit of a challenge with communication but the 'Spot' proved invalauable (Thanks  Spirit). Marvin and Trudi were superb and managed to provide the comms link and we all got back together for Tea. Much mirth and merriment on the part of the boys as they had the Kettle and stove. Whilst I had only cold food  Ho Ho. The next day we left on our last day, had a great stretch to 'Surf Bay' a lunch stop which was enhanced by a local man Derek Howard kindly brought us a picnic down with fresh veg and fruit and cakes. 'Luxury'
 
Then the final leg into Stanley was completed with style we rounded Cape Pembroke in amazing weather, though Chris collided with a rock and holed his hull !! However we managed to continue with him taking on water for the last 9ks into Stanley and a lovely welcome. We  were forced to drink Cold beer with Marvin and Trudi with a burger and chip shop visit or two for the boys. Ho Ho. We are now rinsing Kit, packing up boats to ship them out and a little bit of socialising ! Life is tough.
 
A MASSIVE THANK YOU to all of you. Marvin and Trudi and family for some great help, Colin for administering this fine web site, For Family and friends for support and for your messages. 
We Fly back on Tuesday and should be in the UK on Wednesday morning !! [Tim  Richie and Chris]
 22nd

Thank you all, and a lovely response from all family and friends ! Its lovely to be back in Stanley but its sad that's its all over ! So where next is the current thought !!!

I know it will surprise you but its Sunday night and Trudi and Marvin have kindly invited us for a Sunday dinner !! Obviously we will not be eating vast quantities and drinking a beer or two !! Having arrived in Stanley I just thought we would send an update before we fly back into the UK on Wednesday morning to 'Brize'. Over the last few days we have eaten a 'little', been interviewed by local radio and press, have had an amazing helicopter flight arranged by Marvin which took in about two thirds of the route (It only took 3 hours !!!!!) The boats are being packed off tomorrow to Mare Harbour to be shipped home and we then fly off on Tues Morning ! We have done a small list of statistics for those who might be interested !!!

  • It took 43 days in total
  • 35 days of those we managed to paddle something
  • We averaged just under 24 km a day
  • Our shortest day was 2.6 km !!
  • Our longest day was about 45 km
  • We had 5 days when the winds were too strong to get on the water, the rest of the non paddling days were rest days
  • We had 8 nights under a roof the rest were camps or Bivis
  • We reckon we paddled about 843 ks although its approximate given the times we have zag zigged around kelp patches and bays etc (The kelp on the south coast has extended for almost three ks off shore !!) Kelp is long strands of seaweed that are attached to submerged rocks but float on the surface, its a pig to paddle through and whilst it 'calms' the breaking waves it would be impossible to 'roll' a kayak in as it entangles one and to swim in it would be equally difficult.
  • I dread to think how many Baked beans Richie has endured (He dislikes them and 'Compo' breakfasts have a lot !!)

Most importantly we have had an amazing time and been thoroughly spoilt by the great folk of the Falklands. Also we have remained firm friends throughout which some of you will know does not always happen on long trips with such an agenda. 

So THANK YOU to Chris, the brains of the department and having such a great plan to do this and Richie for being the youngest, strongest and the most willing to look after the 'old men' !! [Tim / Richie / Chris]


 

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Latest news:


It's all over. The team members will be flying back into "Brize" in the UK on Wednesday 25th Feb. You can see their final diary report, sent on the 22nd Feb.

Take a look the photos if you haven't already. There may well be quite a few more here once the team are back in the UK, so another visit might be worth it, maybe from early March onwards.

That's it! In the main that's "Over" from me. I hope you enjoyed the show.

WELL DONE TEAM


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