Survival thoughts

I've just been watching sea kayaking and white water kayaking videos on Youtube. Last night I continued reading Sea Room by Adam Nicholson, the family who own the Shiant Isles just of the east cost of Harris.

I'm mixed with feelings with extreme excitement about paddling up the western isles, and in particular the west coast of Harris/Lewis. And also feeling anxiety and fear about what might happen. What if I'm paddling along the west coast of Lewis with no landing zones and a gale picks up, sure I'm happy paddling in big swell with strong winds, but what if I have to make a surf landing?

You know when you haven't done something in a while and you start to wonder whether you're still capable of it? I feel that way about sea kayak surfing just now. Admittedly I've done a fair bit of draining and been battered around, but up there I'll be on my own. What will the weather be like? I'm just about to buy a helmet, and want to get at least 2 more days surf training before expedition. Also, 1 day of self rescues out at sea, on my own.


In Sea Room, he talks about a lot of deaths at sea around the Shiant Isles, from fisherman in sailing boats in the 19th Century. And yet all Google Earth thinks of the Shiants and the sea around them is shown above. The main cause he talks of is the wind and sea picking up unexpectedly, causing wind against tide (the tide flows fast over the shallowing waters between Shiant and Harris/Lewis) and waves emerging from the depths. The Blue Men he calls them. But these are sailing boats that couldn't right themselves, and would sink. My boat won't sink, and I can right myself, so can we as competent kayakers take on the elements more so than others? I'm also a lot better prepared than them: I can get the weather forecast anytime by listening to the radio, or speaking to the Coastguard on VHF or mobile phone - I just hope it isn't as cold as it has been in the last week (see forecast light N winds below).


My main concern is safety/survival. As much as I'd like to be, I'll have to face up to the harsh reality that I'm not invincible. The sea is the boss. It's in charge, and if it lets me on my journey safely, great, and if it's looking like it's not going to let me, I won't take the risk. But where's the line? Is that what makes life exciting - using your skills and knowledge to control the risk, and avoid the hazard? Maybe. one thing's for sure - big river kayaking really scares me, and so does the sea.

I'm not sure what will happen - I guess that what makes it an adventure. I'm really looking forward to getting immersed in the elements and seeing how it feels. It's been a whole winter without guiding, so it'll be my first long camping experience of the year. I'm looking forward to putting myself up against the elements and seeing how I cope.

So what can you eat in the Western Isles? Pigs, cattle, sheep, oats, sea weed, nettles, cockles, muscles, potatoes, carrots, fish. What else?? How am I going to survive? I guess I'll see. Whatever happens, I'm sure it'll be fun.