FEEDING THE MACHINE
Feeding or refuelling the machine is critical for achieving goals and plans . Over the years and many long-distance endurance races ( 125 miles Devizes to Westminster twice and 444 miles Yukon River Quest ) and more significant expeditions , I have learnt what works for me to feed the machine and maintain energy levels . Some of my favourites include malt loaf , bananas , chocolate bars , wraps filled with all manner of things , sweets and more besides . One winning team on the Yukon 1000 race allegedly powered themselves with Haribo sweets for the duration , which , although successful potentially , may have led to early-onset diabetes .
Building on this is the very British art of the picnic . We have become Jedi masters of picnics , preparing all manner of delights and selecting Stanley flasks , MSR stoves and campfires , all of which get a lot of use . As foodies , camp cooking is also part of our paddling ritual , never a chore and something we embrace . For customers joining our expeditions , Best of Scotland , moving water trips and wilderness journeys in the Yukon and Ontario , creating happiness through our food is our passion . From preparing the game to conjuring up hash browns with perfect poached egg , chicken and chorizo stews to baking brownies , we love it . It is part of the bonding experience and is something to look forward to at the end of a long days paddle .
Some trips with more demanding schedules involve a mix of expedition foods like Adventure Nutrition to reduce kit weight . When close to resupply locations , we bulk these lightweight rations with fresh veg to boost vitamin intake . A pillbox with fresh spices , fruit teas , campfire coffee , an excellent single malt and decent cocoa all put the icing on the cake .
WATER , WATER EVERYWHERE
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Colebridge 1834 just about covers this requirement as a paddler . Water , water everywhere , not a drop to drink ! Obviously , a lack of water affects performance and well-being . Simple solutions include a hydration pack , MSR bladder packs and gauging the amount you may need . On bigger trips , we filter water using gravity bags with ceramic filters and generally allocate the roles to different team members . Racing is a different priority , and in that instance , we carry water bottles in holsters with a taped elongated straw to reduce lost time drinking and rehydrating .
HOW SHORT IS YOUR TOOTHBRUSH ?
Kit admin is a skill worth developing in your paddling repertoire . It can be the difference between comfort or tears from packing the right bits to not leaving it behind on a riverbank or drying it after use . We have a robust first aid kit with a wide range of supplies and a DS ( Deep Sh * t ) grab bag with a useful repair kit , torches , fire lighting kit and a leatherman .
As professional adventurers , we are lucky to have a wide range of clothing and kit ; strangely , the more we paddle , the luckier we become . We can choose from shorts , rashies and cags to waterproof tops through to full dry suits . Work out your clothing layers for warmth , comfort , and temperature changes , as being comfortable is vital .
THE FOUR D ’ S OF NAVIGATION
Mapping out your journey or trip in advance , identifying points of interest , hazards , an equally important is the schedule or itinerary . Understanding a plan that includes time to explore , coach , eat lunch and manage the group ' s welfare is essential in the long run . Then , snatching success from the jaws of failure or vice versa comes from navigation , knowing where you are , and adapting plans . The four D ’ s is something we share on our Duke of Edinburgh canoe programmes with young people .
Distance – measure the distance and compare that to estimated times and paddling speeds .
Duration – calculate an average paddling speed allowing for the group , weather conditions , tides , fatigue , lunch and even daylight hours .
Direction – navigation is pretty critical as a skill to remove your route ' s zigs and zags , particularly with crossings , open water , and , of course , in fog .
Description – use natural features , landmarks and points of interest to track your progress . This also allows you to adapt your plans if needs be .
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