The Sea-paddler’s Tale
£2.80
Despite high level boat-handling skills, his early plans exposed a naivety concerning the numerous difficulties that required him to treat every day as an exercise in practical problem solving. Life-threatening battles with the sea were sometimes dwarfed by those on land in finding somewhere to sleep and eat on a minimalist budget.
There were moments of humour bordering the absurd, but more memorably, of extreme adventure and high drama, not least being robbed; spending a night astride a buoy and watching his kayak drift off on the tide. Time and again, when all seemed hopeless, he found people that were prepared to help him so that he was able to continue.
Anyone who has a taste for adventure, laced with grit, determination and resilience will find this a compulsive read.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Pegasus Publishers (25 May 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 8201 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 297 pages |
by Skeathy
The Sea Paddlers Tale documents one of the most ground breaking and audacious kayak journeys ever undertaken. The unsupported circumnavigation of England, Wales and part of Scotland in 1970 by a young Geoff Hunter in his hand-built kayak is one of the most notable feats of its kind. What makes his journey so impressive, apart from paddling where no one had paddled before, is Geoff’s indomitable spirit in the face of numerous and dangerous mishaps.
Yet without Bill Taylors skillful writing, bringing Geoff’s original notes to life, this is a story that would have been lost to time. Reading it, you are left speechless at Geoff’s naivety in his planning and equipment, and gripped as at times he fights for survival. Captivating from start to finish; detailed yet easy to read, this book is for anyone, not just people with an interest in paddle sport. The Sea Paddlers Tale deserves its place alongside the very best adventure stories.
by Larissa
amazing story
by Ray Goodwin
It is a long time since I have devoured a book in a single day but I could not put this down. Geoff Hunter’s epic and groundbreaking attempt at sea kayaking around Britain in 1970 was a story that needed telling. I had heard a few things over the years but not the full details. It took another renowned adventurer, Bill Taylor, to take Geoff’s journals and make a coherent and riveting story from them. Bill could add an insight to the skills and mental ups and downs of this epic undertaking plus adding a perspective to its place in the history of British sea kayaking.
The story of Geoff losing his kayak and then clinging to a buoy in the Solway Firth throughout a night, then realising that rescue was not coming. His swim to eventual rescue was monumental in both the decision making and the will to live. Bill’s retelling had me on the edge of my seat.
The story of the folk that got caught up in Geoff’s adventure both supportive and brutally negative all add to the richness. Often penniless he begged and scrounged his way around the coast. This all adds to the human side of the story.
Read it and wonder at the audacity.
by Jon Evans
I read this book from the viewpoint of a sea kayaker who started paddling only a few years after the events described. This means I fully appreciate how basic the equipment and clothing was that Geoff was using in 1970, and that just emphasizes to me what an amazing achievement his circumnavigation was. I can’t imagine ever having a fraction of his motivation, determination and resilience.
The story is well told, and I think would be entertaining, educating and inspiring for anyone, regardless of whether or not they have any experience of the sea or kayaking.