Month: February 2022
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All about my boat: Epic V8 GT surfski
When there are no footsteps to follow in, everything becomes a bit of an experiment, and that was certainly the case on my adventure. A surfski isn’t normally the kayak of choice for expeditions. In fact, before I set off I don’t think anyone had completed a self-supported expedition longer than a few days in…
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Read this first! Type 1 diabetes in 8 questions.
What is diabetes? There are many different types of diabetes, but what these diseases all have in common is high blood sugar levels. This aside, they are all very different diseases, and many people think they shouldn’t share a name – it only confuses things. Aretaeus of Cappadocia, an Ancient Greek physician, used the term…
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Daily management of T1D
A few too many drops of insulin and you can go unconscious. It seems crazy then, that once diagnosed with type 1 diabetes you are bombarded with information and sent home, expected to self-administer insulin and manage your new medical condition. This is all the doctors can do though – although they’re always happy to…
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What do I carry in my PFD?
Anyone thinking about what they should carry in their PFD or how much you can fit in a vaikobi PFD? Read on… I use the vaikobi … While it’s not designed especially for expeditions, I like its lightweight build and the freedom of movement it gives you. It’s not too bulky but it still managed…
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Safety at sea: planning
While I don’t make long term plans for my trip, I don’t want it to seem like I have no regard for safety. Planning is obviously a crucial part of staying safe and I thought I’d share my process. Safety starts before you get on the water – preparation and planning are key. Each evening…
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How much kit can you fit in a surfski? (full kit list)
How does a surfski compare to a sea kayak in its ability to carry kit? Here is my full kit list from the first part of my expedition, which I carried in or on the epic V8 GT surfski that I used. I’ve included the make/model of kit for all the gear geeks out there!…
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Lyme Bay – a model marine protected area.
It’s difficult to be optimistic when faced with endless reports of overfishing, pollution and rising sea temperatures. For a change, here is a success story: the Lyme Bay marine protected area. The problem Back in 1988 scientists identified that the marine life in Lyme Bay was of international importance – the reefs providing a habitat…
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Malaysia
After our adventures in Indonesia, my friend Charles and I decided to travel around the Malaysian peninsular, starting in Kula Lumpur. Arriving in KL, we stayed with Christine, who we met through workaway. Christine was a math teacher in her thirties who lived alone in an apartment on the 10th floor of a ditch-water-grey 14-story…
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Malaysia part 2
After our time at Positive Living Community, Charles and I decided to go for a cycling adventure around Malaysia. We bought a couple of bikes from Rawang for £60 each and set off with not much of a plan. Taken from the diary I wrote at the time, here are some anecdotes and highlights from…
