-
“If you get lost”
My, not so secret, simple but basic advice Firstly – get your head in the right place Face your fears: challenge your fears Do not panic, stay calm S.T.O.P. (Stop- Think – Observe – Plan) Stay put. … Don’t wander!!! Take a good look around, pinpoint your location, identify landmarks Shout, blow your Acme survival whistle Flash your mirror to attract attention Look and listen for signs of people Your 3 immediate Priorities for survival are Shelter, Water and Fire. Find and /or build Shelter (shade or insulated) Find clean water Build a Fire Tips on Shade Shelter …. Protection from Heat • Dig or rake the surface too uncovered cooler ground and build a…
-
My not so secret tips ‘Before’ Coastal Rowing or More!
Train in an open water boat as often as possible. Rowing machine… priority is not speed or distance…its TIME Weight training…Ocean rowing, you use your upper body far more Cross-training machines… Endurance and general fitness Mental Toughness… Brain training and mental strength is the key I strongly suggest enrolling in formal training RYA Courses – (Royal Yachting Assoc.) First Aid at Sea VHF Marine radio, GPS and Sat phone Essential Seamanship and Navigation; including, celestial navigation and meteorology Sea Survival Useful Practical Skills – best learnt on the Water. Use of all marine instruments Navigation skills Service and repair of equipment; including the water maker Personal Hygiene and personal care; sustain…
-
Kayak The English Channel
BBC . South East Today – Evening News 25.6.2021 – I’m on the Telly!!! This is me in the red kayak, sporting my “Chemo Curls’ ‘, paddling from Dungeness to Boulogne! Celebrating six months, to the day, (3rd Feb -3rd August) my last chemotherapy treatment. Having rung the end of treatment bell, I remain cancer free. Approaching Boulonge Harbour. Caught by Gendarmerie. After paddling 22.6 miles from Dungeness, a high-speed motorboat with its blue light flashing; crewed by armed Maritime Gendarmrie intercepted us; we were a mere 200 metres from Boulonge’s Harbour entrance. Gendarmrie – You don’t look like migrants going the wrong way; so what are you doing? Our response – It…
-
Sahara Desert Trek March 2015
The record high temperature of the Sahara was 136°F / 58°C! To me, the Sahara displays an awe-inspiring uniqueness as did the North Pole. They share extremes of contrasts yet alike in so many ways; legend, mystery and raw beauty. Both can and will kill you if you don’t respect them. The Sahara is the largest non-polar desert on our planet; 3,320,000 square miles (8,600,000 square km) If you take the wrong dune and lose your way, you’re in deep do-do, (shit)! A desert is a barren area, defined by averaging less than 10 inches / 25cm of precipitation (rainfall) each year. Clear skies, light wind and dry air helps the…
-
Mt Kilimanjaro 2010 and again in 2012
Mt Kilimanjaro is on the northern border of Tanzania, 200 miles south of the equator. It is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, rising out of the African plains to an impressive 5,895m (19,340ft) above sea level; not to be underestimated. Myself and friends embarked on a huge personal challenge, to climb the highest mountain on the African continent by the Machame Route in 2010. I returned in September 2012 with a total metal knee replacement, this time I selected to summit ‘Kili’ by the quieter Rongai Route.. We reached the summit; Uhuru Peak, at 5,895 metres the highest point in all of Africa. Darkness was gradually replaced by…
-
Rugby on Everest 2019
In April 2019 we trekked in the footsteps of Mallory and Irvine, up the Magic Highway’ to Mt Everest’s Advance Base Camp (ABC3) 6,500m/ 21,000 feet; which is just below the North Col to play two games of Rugby on a glacier. Myself and Lesley, trekked and played alongside, Rugby stars Lee Mears, Ollie Phillips, Shane Williams, Tamara Taylor plus 20 inspirational men and women to help raise more than £250,000 for children with disabilities and facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland. The Rugby Challenge took place across 24 days; our group battled acclimatisation and altitude to play the World Record for highest ever game of mixed seven-a-side ‘Touch Rugby’ at Everest Base…
-
The Toby Wallace Atlantic Row – January/February 2016
It was approaching midnight on the 28th Jan 2016 – I was sitting in my rowing position, on the “Toby Wallace”, a light-weight ocean rowing boat; ‘primed and ready for an attempt’ on a world record. Our challenge was to Row across the North Atlantic, setting off from Marina Puerto De Mogan Gran Canaria, 4815Km. / 2992 miles to Port St Charles Barbados faster than anyone before. I was musing !!!! Rowing the Atlantic seemed a good idea at the time. On reflection !!!! However the reality, as with much of life, it’s not all it seems. Ocean Rowers will row for 12 hour in every 24…
-
Roger Davies first leg on an incredible Atlantic Adventure
Picture of Roger Davies first leg on an incredible Atlantic Adventure whilst on the helm of the Southern Child, a 40ft yacht. The picture was take whilst crossing the infamous Bay of Biscay on a 2000miles passage to Las Palmas; to become acquaint to the sea. My second ‘big’ mistake. Sea sickness is bad enough but I fell awkwardly during a heavy squall and gave my knee a really walloping; causing a swollen lump rise up to the size of an orange, on the inner side of my metal knee. I personally attempted to feed most of the fish between the English Channel and all the way across the Bay of Bisque.
-
The Polar Race 2009 “Probably the world’s toughest race”
There I was, at the ripe old age of 61 yrs, and 28 yrs of sobriety behind me, standing shoulder to shoulder with my teammate, James Trotman 34 yrs; ready and willing to race, our team of two against four determined teams of three, all of them polar adventurers, in the world’s toughest race. We set off from Resolute (on Resolute Bay) Nunavut (74°43’N and 94°53’W), Walk/ski 648 km/ 403 miles (350nm), pulling our food and equipment on sleds / pulks bound for the North Magnetic Pole Insanity? No, I’ve learned that insanity involves doing the same thing twice and expecting a different result. Having never attempted to race across the…
