Believing this is really going to happen hasn't really sunken in to some the guys. There seems to be doubt appearing and uncertainty in some of Mark Hickey's commitment. Mark is not sure if he can commit to the adventure as I think he is struggling with the thought of getting the 30 days needed for the expedition away from his work, never mind all the time needed for planning, fitness training and sea rescue courses ahead of us, he is startng to showing signs of pulling out. It's no real surprise to us as Mark is under a lot of pressure from his work being a partner in a legal firm, it can be very difficult for him at times.
Although we would love to have him join us I don't think this is going to be a huge setback as the direction and the feeling was very strong that we are going to be paddling single man kayaks, not double man kayaks as first planned which now meant we could have odd numbers in the group.
Initially at the beginning of the decision-making, we had looked very seriously at the way John Jacoby and his mates did the crossing in double kayaks. And I think this really appealed to Mark Heanly as he has not had the experience of being out in the ocean and surf that Paul and myself have had and he was quite warming up to the added security of sharing an sea kayak with somebody else who perhaps had more experience and confidence.
Marks position was not empty the long, one freezing cold a good mate of our's, Michael Earp joined us for a morning paddle up and back along Throsby Creek. There was talk amongst some of the boys about the adventure and looking across at Michael I noticed the confused look on his face wondering what we were talking about. I explained to Michael that we were doing the adventure Paul had always dreamt of, and it was happening, I said to him "why don't you join us, it's going to be an awesome adventure" knowing in the back of my mind how Michael loves his toys and loves an adventure.
But I also knew Michael's life was very full, between running Earp Bross Tiles with his brother and being a helicopter pilot on-call with Heli Services Newcastle, I new he may struggle finding the time needed for such an expedition. During that paddle I could see the look on his face, his mind was thinking over and condensing a weeks worth of decision-making into one paddle session, I could tell by the end of the paddle, the look on his face there was an 80% chance he was going to be a participant in this adventure. And to Michael's is true nature he jumped in boots and all and never looked back.
One early-morning paddle, Paul was sharing with me about his weekend in Port Stephens and how he had climbed Mount Tomaree, Paul was recovering from knee reconstruction surgery so this was quite an effort for him at the time. And after his dissent he saw a group of sea kayakers coming into Shoal Bay they had paddled from Boat Harbour and they were paddling the kayaks we had been researching, "The Nadgee and the Mirage 580". Loving a chinwag Paul was down there in a flash talking to them in pumping them for information about their sea kayaks. They loved both kayaks and discuss the pros and cons of each kayak, but they highly suggested before we purchase any kayak that we talk to Rob Mercer and Mark Sudin from Expedition Kayaks.That one single bit of advice was a huge game changer for us.
That morning as Paul and I sat down for a coffee after our paddle I phoned Mark Sudin's on speakerphone where Paul and myself share our plans of crossing the Torres Strait. Rob and Mark are amazing guys their wealth of knowledge of paddling vessels and sea kayak on expedition is massive. Once again these guys shared their knowledge and experience with us in the blink of an eyelid.
Mark discussed with us and explained that although the kayaks we were looking at were fantastic sea kayaks, touring sea kayaks over the last years have been evolving and morphing with similar characteristics of an ocean ski. I never forget the way Mark explained the difference "it is like driving an old Holden and then jumping in to the latest European motor vehicle, there's just no comparison" Paul and I looked at each other with excitement after listening to Marks wealth of knowledge and passion, we could not wait to meet these two fella's and have a test paddle in these touring kayaks Mark was talking about.
But I also knew Michael's life was very full, between running Earp Bross Tiles with his brother and being a helicopter pilot on-call with Heli Services Newcastle, I new he may struggle finding the time needed for such an expedition. During that paddle I could see the look on his face, his mind was thinking over and condensing a weeks worth of decision-making into one paddle session, I could tell by the end of the paddle, the look on his face there was an 80% chance he was going to be a participant in this adventure. And to Michael's is true nature he jumped in boots and all and never looked back.
That morning as Paul and I sat down for a coffee after our paddle I phoned Mark Sudin's on speakerphone where Paul and myself share our plans of crossing the Torres Strait. Rob and Mark are amazing guys their wealth of knowledge of paddling vessels and sea kayak on expedition is massive. Once again these guys shared their knowledge and experience with us in the blink of an eyelid.
Mark discussed with us and explained that although the kayaks we were looking at were fantastic sea kayaks, touring sea kayaks over the last years have been evolving and morphing with similar characteristics of an ocean ski. I never forget the way Mark explained the difference "it is like driving an old Holden and then jumping in to the latest European motor vehicle, there's just no comparison" Paul and I looked at each other with excitement after listening to Marks wealth of knowledge and passion, we could not wait to meet these two fella's and have a test paddle in these touring kayaks Mark was talking about.
