Route Planning - Assistance from all quarters

The entry into 2014 whizzed past and now it's a mere 3 months until I kayak away from the beach at Gallipoli and turn right.............

"Projects, hopes and resolutions jostled in my brain. I could not wander from day to day; I had to plan" Peter Boardman

In the past few weeks I've been asking myself how do I prepare for 12 months of keeping on keeping on. The simple answer is you can't. I have the knowledge that I've completed remote, human powered journeys for 4 months+ and mediterr année is only 3 times as long! I think the main thing is to have an eye to the schedule that will get me back to Gallipoli in time but also to know that many things will serve to affect that schedule; weather, health, political situations. I'll need to remain flexible and not too distracted or disappointed when the inevitable changes occur.
Of course a powerful driver for me to keep going beyond my own willpower for such things is the fundraising for Save the Children.

I've spent days poring over trekking guides, marine pilots (even Google Earth!) checking route options. But whilst some of the route planning is rather simple (when paddling keep the coast on my right.....) others, such as the full trekking traverse through the European Alps, needs somewhat more detail. That said there is no point trying to plan every stage in detail given it will be over a year before I get to some of them.

An amazing array of people have been in contact offering help along the way. Nowadays the tentacles of the internet and social media is as likely to bring contacts your way as having to chase them down! Only this past week Dorijan was in touch to say that not only was he the spokesman for the UNHCR in Croatia but also the head of the Croatian mountain guides association. He noted I planned to sea kayak the Croatian coast but said it is his duty to ensure I also see the Croatian mountains. Bulent, who runs marine businesses in Turkey, has done everything from contacting Ministers in the Turkish Government regarding the journey to organizing emergency Smoke Flares for my kayak. Matilda, an Englishwoman based in Israel, has put  me in touch with an incredible array of contacts across the Middle East and North Africa, all eager to help. The list goes on as the jigsaw pieces find places to set.

Everyone assumes I must be in serious training now. Whilst I maintain a good base fitness, I've 12 months to get fit and in any case whatever fitness is in the legs when I start out will be lacking somewhat by the time I get to the end of the first two and half months sitting on my butt whilst kayaking through Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia. Those first few weeks trekking from Slovenia into the Alps are going to hurt!

And what of the 'problem' countries? Whilst I am optimistic that the terrible situation in Syria and the difficulties of entering Libya will improve, I'm also realistic enough to know that they could still be off limits when I plan to ride through them. One alternative hit me square in the face yesterday. There are 22 countries that border the Mediterranean Sea and mediterr année plans to pass through 20 of them. The 2 remaining countries are the island nations of Cyprus and (tiny) Malta. Should Syria be a no go option then I can bypass it and include Cyprus en route to Turkey. We'll see what happens

.......As I write this an email has just popped in from a kayaker in Gibraltar with some info on crossing to Morocco.

This Blog is now set up on the mediterr année website and accessed from the Home page there. I plan to post to it throughout the journey.

New Boat!

After some test paddles before Xmas, have selected sea kayak for the trip. Gone for a Tiderace Pace 17 Tour. Thanks to Dave at Tiderace in UK and Mark at Expedition Kayaks here in Oz. I used a Tiderace boat during my Corsica circumnav last year.