5 weeks to go

I've been out this morning to buy stuff from a boat place. It feels like being a kid in lolly shop except its all a lot more expensive. Here's what I got myself:


1 x Hig vis workman's shirt - so I can be seen on the water
1 x workman's polaroid sunnies - much less expensive at $10 than the Oakley kind - also pretty cool looking
1 x 2m length of nylon rope - I feel like I should have it, without knowing what it's for
1 x roll of sealable rubber tape - for the paddles and minor repairs
1 x roll of all purpose duct tape - for major repairs
1 x fibreglass repair kit - for bolstering the middle of the kayak which has fallen in slightly - I'll do that tomorrow
2 x smoke flares
2 x red light flares
1 x plastic flag thing that can be seen by helicopters, satellites and god
1 x glow stick - for hard house kayaking once the ipod's installed
1 x emergency blanket - in case I get cold
1 x emergency mirror - for annoying people on the beach


I talked to the guys behind the desk and apparently we can hire EPIRBS and VHF radios which is great beacause the cost a bomb.

All that's left is to get an emergency collapsable paddle, marine charts, some lifejackets, funding, water holders, the kayak up to Byron and to start paddling. We're getting there. R

I'm a bi-global home owner

Oh my god, or (OMG) as my girlfriend puts it - I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm a 'bi-global home owner'. In the past it's taken years for people to out themselves, but with modern technology and access to the web, it now takes just seconds. Literally 10 hours ago, me and Ali (my harem queen) signed a contract on a house in Manly...so what with kayak courses and a bloody great 6m fibreglass double kayak sittting in the garden outside...I'm penniless. Scott says that he'll bring me a sandwich and some milk when he comes round.

The auction party we're doing is looking great. We've got all sorts of crazy prizes. The venue and date will be confiormed this week and the invite will go up on the blog, so if you're reading this and can get to Australia in early Dec then you're morally, physically and spiritually obligated to come along. Anyone that can donate some cool prizes please let us know.

So...on media we've had some good news. The Morning show on Channel 7 have said they'd like to interview us. Aquabumps Eugene has given us a post. Outdoors magazine are doing a link and the Manly Daily are doing a shoot. Woop woop. We're going to make prostates famous.

Another massive thanks to Bruce from Pittarak kayaks and his lovely lady. We went up to see them last weekend and got some great advice that has reshaped our whole outlook on the journey. They've done some amazing work for kids' cancer research and there are sites all around the country that have been started by the work they've done together. Check out the site.

Name TBC

So we had our first paddle this morning on our new double Pittarak kayak that we brought on the weekend. I am a little and tired now after being up since 4:30am this morning but no pain no gain I guess... 

We were both happy to know that it floats!

The only thing left for us to do (besides the obvious of training  as much as possible) is to name her. We were hesitant to give her just any name so we are waiting for the name to come to us when training so we will keep you posted.

Only a small one today but thought it was important to let you know about another milestone achieved.

Scott.

Bring on the coverage!

We got our first piece of coverage on the paddle this week - a whole half page at the front of the Wentworth Courier, a well read Sydney weekly. I place stories on big companies for a living so it's weird to be pitching yourself in, but great to be doing it for a charitable cause. If you're interested in reading the article then click on the title above.

Also really exciting news - we now have a logo, thanks to Brad Madge and his design skills. We just need to get T-shirts and caps made up now for all our adoring groupies. Really, if anyone can help us get 20 T-shirts printed in size 8 DD, please let us know.

Training's going good. I've had a couple of pre-work sessions during the week with Guy Leech and his hard core group of gnarly locals. Last weekend I had a couple or more beers in Manly stuffed a tenner in a pokie and won $700 straight up. I couldn't believe it. So I woke up the next morning pegged it down to the wharf and spanked it all on a second hand sit-on-top kayak for morning paddle sessions. It's now sitting padlocked to the side of the house. It's a big ol lump of plastic to be carrying down to the water and I almost fell down the stairs with the think balanced on my head on Tuesday, but so worth it once in. I live on Fairy Bower in Manly so I just paddled down the beach and back up to Shelly. Great thing to do as the sun's coming up.

It's all about the training...

So its a Saturday night and i am at home updating my blog and like the title says it is all about the training! The realisation has just hit home over the past week that we are now commited to travelling down the East Coast in a tiny fibreglas boat in under 3 months as the money and interest has started to rol in.
I have set myself a no alcohol and fairly strict training regime to get myself ready for this (if that is at all possible...). I have even been trying out new things such as pilates as I have been told that this is great for your balance and core muscles which is what you primarily need to row. Now if anyone has ever seen an old Country n Western film where an out of towner enters the saloon and everyone stops what they are doing and stares at the stranger, well that is exactly how i felt walking into my first pilates class with all of the women! I do however have a new found respect for all of the girls that take these classes as it was bloody hard but did feel great afterwards.
As Rob has mentioned we went down to Jervis Bay for some kayak survivak training last week which was gret but ridiculously cold. We learnt how to capsize (I found out that i was more than proficient in this skill) and how to get yourself back once capsized, not as easy as one would think! Met some characters down there and sung soe karaoke 'Twist n Shout' getting a standing ovation and we were asked for encore, not to brag or gloat or anything! Big shout to Fluff and when i am next down i wil have to grab my hoodie that I left at your house.
Will keep you all posted soon on progress and stay tuned...
Scott.

Pics from Jervis Bay Kayaking

Lining up for plunger coffee and carrot cake.   There were dolphins playing in the water as we stood there. 

Scott toweled up trying to keep warm having been the first to get wet

Scott warming up with a little dance back at the house

You're back in the room

Whoohooo it's all kicking off again. We had a bit of a lull but we're back on track with firing out emails and picking up the phone. I'm starting training with Guy Leech on Tuesday, we're meeting the APCF ladies on Thursday, Scotty's done an exercise program which involves far too much protein powder and I've started trying to get us some media hype - plus this blog site now comes up on Google meaning it must have a few followers.

We did a 2 day kayak training course in Jervis Bay last weekend in the rain and the cold. It was good to get a feel for the kayaks and I suppose that getting cold and wet and capsizing and shivering for half the day is all a part of the game we've signed up for. I suppose. I was more imaging hot and calm Christmas days but we'd be lucky if that lasted for all 20 that we're planning to paddle. The carrot cake was good at Jervis.

Big thanks to Fluffy and the Shoalhaven lads and lasses that entertained us for the weekend. We'll be back for some more Yegas and a kareoke encore some time.

I'll put up some pictures soon although a lot of them have had to be deleted. R