Paddling The Blue Podcast

Todays’s guest is Douglas Wilcox.  You may be familiar with Douglas' work testing boats and equipment. You can find his test results and trip reports online through Facebook, his website, and in magazines like Ocean Paddler over the years. He brings a natural curiosity to kayaking and that shows in today’s interview.  Douglas is a storyteller in every sense of the word, so get ready for us to cover a lot of ground.
Also, thank you to listeners who have taken the time to support the show by visiting our website at www.paddlingthebue.com  and clicking the Buy Me A Coffee link on the bottom right of the page. I really appreciate your support. Thank you!
Enjoy today's episode with Douglas Wilcox!
Connect:
SeaKayakPhoto.blogspot.com
 
Special offer for Paddling the Blue listeners from Online Sea Kayaking
Our friend Simon Osborne (episode 41),and James Stevenson, have created an online coaching resource with 14 different courses and over 30 hours of high-quality video in onlineseakayaking.com.  They’ve agreed to offer a special deal for Paddling the Blue podcast listeners.  If you’re not already a subscriber, here’s your chance.  Visit onlineseakayaking.com and use the coupon code PTBPODCAST at checkout and you’ll get 10% off up to 12 months or the first year of an annual subscription investment. 
 

Today I am talking with Steve Ramsay. Steve was referred to the show by Cyril Derreumaux. They met when Cyril was in the Yukon River Quest. The Yukon River Quest is one of the most iconic paddle races on the North American continent and you’re about to hear about it. 
I know someone out there may be thinking, isn’t this a podcast about kayaking? It is, primarily, but it’s fun to mix it up sometimes. Just like WE become better by exploring different craft, Paddling the Blue gets better too . While Steve may not have done the race in a kayak, they’re all boats, right? I used to do a lot of adventure racing back in the day and this is the kind of thing that really interests me.  There's something special about a good sufferfest and it certainly sounds like a beautiful river.  
Enjoy today’s episode with Steve Ramsay!
Connect:
Email: Steve (at) twelvedegrees.ca
Learn:
Yukon River Quest
Gold Rush Canoe Derby (1967 video)

Today’s episode of Paddling the Blue features Madison Eklund.  At 26 and after three years of planning, Madison set off from Minnesota and paddled 1.600 miles solo through some beautiful territory to York Factory in Hudson Bay.  From farmland to sub-arctic, she experiences an adventure full of learning and the kindness of strangers.
Books:
Wilderness Rivers of Manitoba - Hap Wilson
Canoeing with the Cree-Eric Sevareid
Adventure North-Sean Bloomfield with Colton White
Expedition Alpine (Facebook Blog)
Expedition Alpine (Instagram)
About Expedition Alpine
Big Agnes Bob Swanson Memorial Grant
Abandon Anchor-A Bob Swanson Memorial Grant winner story
About Norway House
About Oxford House
Laurentian Divide
 
 

Today’s episode of Paddling the Blue features Olly Hicks.  His accomplishments include rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean from the USA to England after 124 days at sea, and at the time he did it, he was also the youngest to row any ocean solo. 
Olly also made the first row across the Tasman Sea from Tasmania to New Zealand, through 96 days alone on the notoriously wild southern ocean. 
If you caught episode 68 with Patrick Winterton, you heard Olly’s name there where we discussed the 200 mile crossing from the Shetland Islands to Norway in memory of the World War Two Shetland Bus Operation.
Following the Shetland Bus, Olly and George Bullard pulled off an incredible trip from Greenland to Scotland.  
Enjoy today’s episode with Olly Hicks!
Connect:
Ollyhicks.com
Learn:
In the wake of the Finmen (Kotatat website)
Voyage of the Finmen (Red Bull movie)

Today’s episode features Cyril Derreumaux. Cyril is fresh off his successful quest to be the first person to cross from California to Hawaii by kayak using 100% human power.  In this episode he shares a lot about his preparation and the personal experience of making this trip. Planning, more planning, pain, perseverance, it’s all in this trip.  
I caught up with Cyril as he was driving from San Diego, California, where he had just picked up his boat Valentine and was trailering her back to San Francisco.  He stopped his trip to accommodate the recording, but you may pick up a little background noise.
Enjoy today’s episode with Cyril Derreumaux!
Cyrilderreumaux.com
Cyril Derreumaux Adventure (Facebook)
Solo Kayak to Hawaii (official site)
Inuk kayaks (Rob Feloy)
Coup de tete-Bon Entendeur (the song of the crossing)
Photo credit: Tom Gomes

Joe Leach joins us today to share the story of his circumnavigation of the UK and a bit about his circuit of Ireland as well.  We get in-depth on the trip, the motivation, and the ups and down he experienced along the way.  It’s a great perspective from, at the time, a newer expeditioner taking on a huge challenge. We had some good laughs on this one, so enjoy today’s episode with Joe Leach.
Connect:
Instagram
Email
Learn:
Surfers against Sewage
 

Today I am joined by Kevin O’Sullivan. I was introduced to Kevin by Mick O’Meara.  If you recall, Mick joined me for episode 35 where he shared the story of his record setting 23 day circumnavigation of Ireland.  Kevin’s story is similar, but very different. While both Mick and Kevin are part of the brotherhood of those who have circled the Emerald Isle,  Kevin’s journey spanned 915 days. You heard that right, now you get to hear the whole story. 
Before we get to Kevin’s story, if you’re a long time listener, thank you. If you’re a new listener, thank you for finding us. I want to send a special thank you to all our guests to date and those to come in the future.  We’ve got some exciting episodes lined up. 
If you enjoy the show, I hope you’ll consider supporting the us by visiting www.paddlingtheblue.com and clicking the little coffee cup link in the bottom corner of the page.  Consider dropping a small donation to help offset the costs of running the show.  Thank you to everyone who has shown their support and those who will help in the future.  
Enjoy today’s episode with Kevin O’Sullivan.
Learn:
RNLI
Medicine Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders)
Connect:
Facebook
Email
 
Connect:
 

Today I am joined by Patrick Winterton.
When Doug Cooper said Patrick has done some interesting open water crossings, he was right! Patrick is going to share a few stories, most notably the impressive St. Brendan's route and the Shetland Bus. It’s a fascinating conversation filled with ingenuity to make these trips happen. Enjoy today’s episode with Patrick Winterton.
Connect:
Patrick Winterton

Today I have the pleasure to talk with Doug Cooper.  Doug is a coach, author, guide, and authority on Scottish sea kayaking.  Enjoy today’s episode as Doug takes us on a tour of Scotland with a little diversion to Greenland.
Books by Doug Cooper:
Scottish Sea Kayaking
Skye & Northwest Highlands Sea Kayaking
Nor & East Coast of Scotland Sea Kayaking
Sea Kayak Handling: A Practical Manual, Essential Knowledge for Beginner and Intermediate Paddlers
Rough Water Handling: A Practical Manual, Essential Knowledge for Intermediate and Advanced Paddlers
Website: 
Scottish Sea Kayaking
 
 

Welcome to today’s episode of Paddling the Blue. Thanks for joining me for today’s adventure.
Today I have the pleasure to talk with Ginni Callahan. Ginni runs Sea Kayak Baja Mexico and today she’s going to share some of her experiences from Baja. We’ll also talk about the South Pacific, towing a sailboat, kayak sailing, pyrosomes, and more.  Enjoy today’s episode with Ginni Callahan.
Learn and Connect:
Sea Kayak Baja Mexico
Pyrosomes (Wikipedia)
Flat Earth Kayak Sails
Ginnicallahan.com