Iceland Circumnavigation Expedition 2008, is now
Iceland Circumnavigation Expedition 2010
What was supposed to be one of the longest kayak trips I was ever about to make, turned out to be the shortest expedition I did so far. Only 2 weeks in my attempt to circumnavigate Iceland in the summer of 2008, I called the trip off due to a severely damaged boat and equipment loss in a surf launch accident.
Which may sound like a huge blow to my aspirations - to successfully circumnavigate Iceland - was still a worthwhile trip. I met the most amazing people in Iceland, saw the most amazing landscapes, camped on wonderful beaches with black sand, and made lots of new sea kayaking experiences (mostly experiences how not to do something).
I am determined to go back to Iceland in 2010 (possibly 2009), to try it again. I one way, I am somehow thankful to have this huge athletic goal in front of me. A goal I had no idea how huge it will actually be.
Click here to enter the aroundiceland2008.com expedition website and blog. 
Another Explorer reported sinking. The 2nd this Year!
"Hello from Antarctica ..." started Jon Bowermaster's email from today, writing from Antarctica where he is scouting for his upcoming expedition by sea kayak and sail as a part of his "8 Oceans" odyssee. Jon is doing well, despite witnessing "a few unexpected moments", like the rescue mission and the sinking of the “Explorer”. This time it is not a Nigel Dennis Explorer which got damaged and went under (see Australia link), but a real life, 200 feet cruise ship (see pic above).
Check out Jon's hair raising audio and video footage of the cruise ship sinking and the picking up of the passengers bobbing in lifeboats in the Antarctic Sea at http://www.jonbowermaster.com/antarctica2008/index.html
Circumnavigation of Ireland successfully finished
The circle is closed! On July 17th, 2007 I paddled back into Dun Loaghaire harbor, after paddling 1,088 Miles clockwise around Ireland in 42 days. The circumnavigation was a fundraiser for the Irish chapter of the Royal National Lifeboat Association (rnli.co.uk). Visit the updated Ireland Link above for viewing the pics and for reading me complaining about the weather, the head winds and the gear which broke. There was a nice article in the October issue UK's "Paddler" magazine about this trip, also look out for a quite upbeat trip report of the circumnavigation I wrote for "Grumpy Paddler" magazine.
Surf's Up! Check out this lil' Kayak Surfing Mini-Movie
To view the footage of the 3-piece Explorer riding the waves last weekend at the Jersey shore close to Belmar, NJ crank up your computer speakers to the max and click here. Deck mounted camera & editing was provided by Jeff Folmsbee.
Australia, February 2007 | New Dates added! Ireland Circumnavigation Presentations April 11th, 2008, ConnYak, 7 PM Unitarian Hall in Hamden, CT on April 11, 2008. Thanks to my friend Phil and the crew at ConnYak for hosting this event! Topic: Ireland Circumnavigation Slide Show
April 22nd, 2008, North Atlantic Canoe and Kayak Club, Inc., 8 PM
8 PM at the Connetquot Library, hosted by my friend Ivan from the North Atlantic Canoe and Kayak Club in Oakdale, NY. For more information please visit www.getthenack.org
Topic: Ireland Circumnavigation Slide Show and Expedition Planning
June 29th, 2008, Neskaupstaður, Iceland Topic: Ireland Slide Show
Just added: July 31st, 2008, Reykjavik, Iceland Topic: Ireland Slide Show
Ignoring Boating Safety + the Capsize of your Small Craft in a Gale can be a beautiful thing
Don't agree? Look at it from any music lover's, and especially Mick Jagger's, point of view:
A plot by the Hells Angels to kill Mr. Jagger nearly 40 years ago failed when the band of Hells Angels assassins, traveling by boat from the shores of Connecticut to Mick Jagger's Long Island estate (NY) across Long Island Sound, encountered a storm and were thrown overboard. The Stones distanced themselves from the Angels after the fatal concert Altamont, which supposedly made the Hells Angels angry with Mr. Jagger and decided to assasinate the lead-singing half of the Glimmer Twins. “Their plan involved making entry into his Long Island property, going by boat. As they gathered the weaponry and their forces to go out on Long Island Sound, a storm rolled up, which nearly sunk the watercraft they were in, and they escaped with their own lives.”
Source: FBI archives/BBC/NY Times
B.Y.O.K. : Bring Your Own Kayak
3-Piece Wonders about some of the pros and cons when travelling with a 3-piece kayak
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