This just came in to my head,So dont mind me.

Has anyone every thought of just packing up and taking a long trip in a sea kayak i mean 6months or more I was thinking down the east or west coast U.S.A it would be nice.I would love to do this

Let me know what you think

I think like everyone had though of that. A very romantic idea, but it is not feasable for many people. Many people have done things like that. Through chance i met someone who was paddling from the states to northern canada through inland waterways. If you can do it, it would be amazing.

What the mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve. Go for it. Do everything you can while you're still young. A word of advice. The crazier your idea and the more you achieve in life, the more people will criticise you. Don't let it bug you, ever. Remember, no one ever kicks a dead dog.

Sounds like a good idea. Speak to as many people who have done similar things, get advice, get a reason to do it that might not only be for personal reasons. Perhaps to raise money for some or other fund or charity. If you can train your mind right, you could do anything.

This has been done. Don Starkell, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, (Canada), first paddled from Winnipeg to the East coast of Canada, down to the east coast to the mouth of the Amazon, and then continued up the Amazon. This was done in a canoe. He then paddled the Northwest Passage through Canada's Arctic in a sea kayak over the couse of 3 summers (and it only cost him some finger tips).

Don's books are Paddle to the Amazon and Paddle to the Arctic that cover his massive 5000 km trips. They are good, inspiring reads. David Thompson was also an epic explorer and canoeist who's biography is also worth reading. The guy was amazing!

I also found it interesting that the average canoe trip in Canada at one point was a month. It is now 2 or 3 days. Good luck with your epic voyage.

Thanks for the replys,

Might have to go for it or something like it very shortly(hopefully this year as i just left my job).I would need to do a bit of training before:grin:.A bit = A lot

I think I've seen an article on this subject in an old issue of Canoe & Kayak.

I'll dig through the pile and see if I can find it again.

It would be awesome to be able to do such a thing but then again, chances are I would never return once I've taken such a step (leaving my job to paddle for six or more months). Personally I wouldn't mind but my wife & kid would (well, the kid wouldn't, but my wife would do that in her place ). And a decent place to live and being able to afford a new boat or gear every now and then has its merits too

Thanks

I was thinking of a trip from Toronto to Halifax
What do you think,I was thinking the water would be better and that bit easier to paddle,with nice towns and cities along the way that you could that a break in.

I have a couple of questions for people
I hope you can help with

I was thinking i would need to buy a kayak out there as i am from Ireland and the cost to ship over and back,it wouldnt be worth it,BUT when i am finnished how would i sell the kayak as i couldnt wait around for someone to buy it,

Could you paddle 10miles(16km) each day or could you do more?

What price is a good kayak in Toronto?

And finally How much mony do you think I should take?

Some stupid questions I know much if I do ask who will

Hi,

just some thoughts from my distorted brain:

Muiller wrote:

Thanks

I was thinking of a trip from Toronto to Halifax
What do you think,I was thinking the water would be better and that bit easier to paddle,with nice towns and cities along the way that you could that a break in.

I have a couple of questions for people
I hope you can help with

I was thinking i would need to buy a kayak out there as i am from Ireland and the cost to ship over and back,it wouldnt be worth it,BUT when i am finnished how would i sell the kayak as i couldnt wait around for someone to buy it,

The best thing would probably be to have a contact at your finish. Perhaps someone from the local kayakclub who can get you in touch with people who would like to buy it. Be prepared to loose a few pounds (money )

If you announce your likely arrival in time and make sure it is known your boat will be for sale some people might be interested and give you a reasonable offer.

Could you paddle 10miles(16km) each day or could you do more?

I guess you should be able to paddle this quite easily. Then again, don't plan too optimistic as you need time to pack/unpack your boat, cleanup/setup camp etc.

What price is a good kayak in Toronto?

I really can't help you on this one, I'm sorry. Get in touch with a local paddler or kayak club is the only advice you.

And finally How much mony do you think I should take?

as much as you can. Not everything in cash (think: creditcard) but some cash will help in area's without credit cards and banks.

Some stupid questions I know much if I do ask who will

The only stupid question would be: \"why didn't I ask that when I had the chance to do so? \"

Hey Muiller,

I see you are Irish - me too. A few years back two friends of mine circumnaviagated Ireland in sea kayaks. I think with enforced breaks and one bout of malaria it took them six weeks. So on that basis I say 16 km a day wouldn't be difficult at all. I'd imagine that would be fairly slow.

I read a book by some guy who paddled from Canada to the Amazon with his son back in the 80s. Perhaps this is the guys referred to by bigboy? There's a great book by a Scottish guy who went round Ireland also - 'Dances with Waves.'

Sounds like a cool trip. Keep a blog and let us know how it goes.

Beyond that, I have no practical information for you. Useless reply, eh?

Jim.

Any reply is a good reply

Ah Im just at the planning stage,so i dont know if its going a head yet,well this year anyway.
But have to do something like it shortly.
Only thing is that it might be a bit boring doing it on my own.

But i will see

I would not do such a thing on my own, for safety and company reasons.

If you can't find anyone to paddle the entire stretch with you, perhaps you could make this an estafette with a few people? You paddle the entire trip and a few others paddle parts of the trip with you.

It also allows you to paddle with relatively local paddlers that know the area.

Just my 2 cents again,

Michiel

Longest I have done on one river - two weeks on Colorado. Two weeks on Salmon
Most days in a row paddleing - 49 as a raft guide and kayak safety boat.
Farthest in a day - 81, but we were doing it for charity, and had shuttles to keep going back upstream to put back on.
Longest on a extended trip - 9 weeks of paddling and backpacking.

observations: best if you know how to pack and what to pack. Must know what you are willing to do without, vs what you will really need. Take notes on what you use on 100 trips first or ask others a lot of questions in person.

going on self supported trips is a whole \"nother \" story from doing same trip with multiple boats to share items like rescue gear, stoves, tents, etc. Shuttles, gear rafts, food drops, post office hold for packages, or a lot of money or credit cards are ways to make things happen if you are load limited.

Don't leave the rescue, survival, or communications gear at home. It will get used.

Most folks aren't in as good a shape as they think they are. Doesn't matter to mother nature if you lie to yourself or others.

Taken any extended wilderness trips? They will open your eyes and season can make all the difference in world and your survival chances. Extremes of weather can make big difference in do-ability.

Best to think long in advance, train like you are going to do or harder, and always have a back up plan. Let someone reliable know your plans and alternatives.

Been paddleing since 1970 over 2500 days (guided 14 years).
Been there's:
- in up to 47 foot drops
- from 3f to 110f
- up to 50 kt winds
- class 1-6, 1-10
- gradients to 300 feet per Mile,
- river waves to 50'
- ocean waves to 8'
- currents 30mph

lost one boat, destroyed another going beyond my skill; salvaged/rescued a few hundred other people's boats - the latter beats the former.