Back from Desolation!
(Warning: what follows is just some pix and brief rundown of a few days in desolate Desolation sound, not brilliant watch commentary. Enjoy reading if the adventure is of interest!)…
Well, 4 days off the grid, in kayak, going hardcore camping. Off grid save for an iridium satellite emergency locator. Wifey made me get that one when I almost got jumped on by a whale last year and mentioned to her when I got home that I almost got disappeared.
(this eagle and I surprised each other when we were suddenly beside each other)
The locator meant I could send nightly checkmark that meant "I'm alive and all is probably well"
(this guy was sleeping on a rock above me and .. snort/honked loudly at me when I passed under him, scaring the crap out of me)
It was the longest 4 days, feeling like 4 months. Always sometime each day I’d be miles off shore paddling like crazy into 15 knots of wind and whitecaps, no option to stop or think, and time slows down.
(millions of herring were under me for a few kilometres keeping me company)
huge a$$ isopod or 'beach cockroach'
(ready to roll one morning, next several hours on the water)
(Seiko glamour shots abound!)
Lots of suffering (heat, sun, bugs, discomfort, wind, waves, hard ground for sleeping, and occasionally fear of mother nature) … and those difficulties that were completely superseded by the breathtaking beauty, which is what I know primarily remember.
(one of my favorite little bays on an unnamed island)
Quick highlights - I surprised lots of animals by creeping up, sometimes by accident. Kayak is almost soundless and and eagle busy teaching her young one to render a salmon doesn’t notice me usually. The odd eagle/sealion/seal and myself all scared each other a few times.
- sunsets and sunrises to die for
- breathtaking views of endless glassy water and snow capped mountain ranges
- pushing through wind waves and currents takes extreme effort and yet you travel at only a snail's pace.
- an incredible feeling of vertigo occasionally when several km offshore and water is glassy, the world is 100% silent. The vast empty space in every direction seems to pull at you. But like a building edge, don’t step out into the void!
(mountain vs reflection - where is the line?)
- one marathon day where I tested if I could successfully paddle a ~30 mile loop of East Redonda Island - was getting a bit dizzy and dangerous the last 4 miles.
(It was a confused and bumpy sea and I’m headed for that island in the middle ~4 more miles, and starting to feel wobbly here)
- daily thankfulness and love for the beauty and vibrant life along the BC coast.
(another trick of reflection with incredibly glassy water in the early morning - open pic to see where water starts and rock ends)
(a small waterfall lunch break halfway along Hoffram Channel - a crazy long and beautiful waterway)
- I brought 2 watches 😂 - yup, I'm that crazy. Despite space being at a premium an extra watch is small, and I needed it for photoshoots! No literal diving for the watches, but several hours a day getting soaked by seawater, and 2 swims (planned, not unintentional)
- For @Edge168n ... I Saw a Rolex DeepSea on one of the ferries I had to take!! So exciting, legit fancy watch on our frumpy BC ferry. Black dial. Side profile, wow, It's a giant chunk of steel! Would've liked to comment on it but he was big and brash and arguing loudly with his wife. Eventually a deckhand came by and asked them to quiet down. That united them and they were now cursing at the deckhand. 😬
Enjoy the pix! Glad to be home again. Difficult trips like this make me full of appreciation, and afterwards, happiness.
Oh lastly - I picked my next grail watch at sea, since I kept seeing it:
😃🤘
@fieldwalker.watch/ on Instagram. 一期一会 Treasure the unrepeatable nature of a moment. Zen Zaratsu state of mind. ~6” wrist. Explore the ocean and the mountains in my free time.
Nothing but props for a man who actually tests the water resistance of his water resistant watches.
I have tried sea kayaking before and couldn't walk straight for 2 days.
I have only one question. How large was that isopod?
That's really cool! What the heck is that horrible bug thing?
That's really cool! What the heck is that horrible bug thing?
Thank you!
It’s called an isopod. That beach had millions of them. That one was the ‘Ben’ version who was bigger thsn the rest, bigger than your thumb.
Live on beaches and also down deep.
Less science-y name is ‘beach cockroach’ 😂
Nothing but props for a man who actually tests the water resistance of his water resistant watches.
I have tried sea kayaking before and couldn't walk straight for 2 days.
I have only one question. How large was that isopod?
Godzilla big.
I was scared holding my camera very close to it 😂
man that was awesome 🍻🍻. glad you came back in one piece, also is that an isopod?
Very interesting post. I'm impressed with your adventure, but even more by your physical resilience.
Breathtaking! I would never do something like that, but the pictures (and the memories I'm sure) are probably worth it on their own!
Thanks for the great post and the amazing pictures!
What incredible beauty...I could never do what you've done. So getting an armchair journey is the next best thing.
If only there was a less arduous way to take that kind of trip. Possibly a "Glamping" version...
BC is absolutely gorgeous...will have to get up there someday. My wife's family are all Canadians and she has relatives in Victoria.
Thank you, my friend, for letting us join you in your adventure. Really awesome photos! 💯 Dang! I envy you for being able to go on these quests-- battling the elements, overcoming bodily discomfort and weakness, and coming out of it fulfilled, and in one piece (your wife surely is grateful for this hehe). 💪 I may need a whole year to seriously get back in good shape to even attempt a less challenging trek like yours. But hey, as C.S. Lewis once said, "You are never old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." Keep pushing and sharing, bud! 🤝
Very nice pictures. What camera/lens combo did you bring with you?
Very interesting post. I'm impressed with your adventure, but even more by your physical resilience.
Cheers, kind of you to say!!
It's worth mentioning, I think we all just gravitate to things we seem to be naturally good at. While I've got a good innate skill at suffering physically, I would find learning to play a guitar utter torture. Not my bag, please, let me do a 2 mile swim instead.
Most of my 'fun' pursuits are things that others would describe as bonkers, impossible, or just not fun. Crazy hard bike ride planned for tomorrow! 😉
Thanks for this @Fieldwalker . I find some of the most interesting posts are those which reveal a little more about the individuals behind the watches, what they are up to and how they are using their watches.
Your post reads like a 4-day condensed version of this book, which I read earlier this year:
It is an account of 6 months spent alone on the shores of Lake Baikal in Siberia. Seems like you and Monsieur Tesson would get on like a house on fire. He, too, eschews comfort and safety for the benefits it can bring.
Good luck in going back into work again after such an eventful 4 days!
That looks absolutely amazing 👍 the seikos doing their jobs in style 👌
And yes that GS dial is the one 😍
Those photos are superb
The more a stare at that GS dial and your photo side by side the likeness is amazing.
You have to have it immediately to commemorate your trip 😉
Breathtaking! I would never do something like that, but the pictures (and the memories I'm sure) are probably worth it on their own!
You are absolutely right - the memories are indelible. 😌 And getting a bit of scare and wondering where you may end up at the end of the day adds to the fun, in retrospective.
I do 1 or 2 trips like this annually. So I bring marine charts, marine radio, Leatherman, lighter, freeze dried food and a tiny mountaineering burner to boil water. Space very limited.
My big advantage was growing up 1/2 mile from the ocean and sailing small sailboats on the BC coast as a kid. My dad bought and sold small boats for a living. So while we get routine small craft warnings in our coastal waters, I keep a close eye on the weather and pay attention to the tide tables and charts. Sadly can't I afford a sailboat (small boat moorage in Vancouver BC is more than the price of a fancy rental condo downtown) so a human powered kayak I can store at my townhouse is the best substitute.
Admittedly, I take on some risks. But life has lots of risks and riding my bike to work at all hours might actually be more risky that crossing a several miles of open water in a 22 inch wide by 19 foot long kayak! 🤔 Thinking a bit more, no, but was still worth thinking about it. 😂
I'm starting to think of you as more of a superhero than another actual human being, and it weirds me out. Thanks for the vicarious adventure!
I'm starting to think of you as more of a superhero than another actual human being, and it weirds me out. Thanks for the vicarious adventure!
🤣😂🤣.
I’m a nut with a penchant for discomfort, challenges, and doing things ‘the hard way’ when it could possibly be more interesting and memorable.
As I mentioned above, remember that most of the time our journey is actually the destination -
I'm starting to think of you as more of a superhero than another actual human being, and it weirds me out. Thanks for the vicarious adventure!
I’m screen shot- ing this to show wifey that her huzzy is still cool 😂😜
I’m screen shot- ing this to show wifey that her huzzy is still cool 😂😜
I'm sure she'll have a good laugh! Having family around is a great safeguard against letting compliments swell one's head, I've found.
Great post Alan with amazing shots. Glad it was pointed out. Like you, I was away and I love the different, but similar approaches. I need to spend more time kayaking and you chose an ideal watch. I am also convinced to perhaps grab two next time.
When I was in Alaska a fisherman I was fortunate enough to charter a boat from taught me the trick to great eagle shots....chum. He would throw parts of salmon in the water and they would just flock. Here is a shot from that series.
Great post Alan with amazing shots. Glad it was pointed out. Like you, I was away and I love the different, but similar approaches. I need to spend more time kayaking and you chose an ideal watch. I am also convinced to perhaps grab two next time.
When I was in Alaska a fisherman I was fortunate enough to charter a boat from taught me the trick to great eagle shots....chum. He would throw parts of salmon in the water and they would just flock. Here is a shot from that series.
That's brilliant, if a little contrived. But definitely gets a stunning pic. My system is keeping an eye out for herring balls and drifting nearby. Not too close, as the swarm of predators sometimes includes whales and sea lions. The kayak being soundless and calm, seems to keep the peace among all the animals. Sadly I missed a shot of the eagle that swooped in seconds after this pic 🙄 (pic from a trip last summer I took wifey and daughter on)
That's brilliant, if a little contrived. But definitely gets a stunning pic. My system is keeping an eye out for herring balls and drifting nearby. Not too close, as the swarm of predators sometimes includes whales and sea lions. The kayak being soundless and calm, seems to keep the peace among all the animals. Sadly I missed a shot of the eagle that swooped in seconds after this pic 🙄 (pic from a trip last summer I took wifey and daughter on)
Absolutely agree. I was disappointed when I saw him do it, but it did make for good photos. Then I learned how prevalent it is in wildlife photography. I personally don’t like the idea of carrying around or handling chum.
Wow dude, this is incredible. I get anxiety just reading about your trip haha. But I agree sometimes taking on a bit of risk gives us insight into our own humanity and what life means to us. Great pics!
Beautiful photos! That really is my favorite type of vacation. Thanks for taking the time to share the photos and writing that up. I know that’s a lot of work. It makes me regret not getting my butt in gear this past January to make arrangements for this summer.
Congrats on the Kuroshio/Ushio! I think @HotWatchChick69 is the only other one I’ve spotted around here so far. I’ve been tracking performance daily for the past three weeks, and seeing that 9RA5 is exceeding it’s published specs by an order of magnitude. I measure a very consistent +0.03 s/d.
Also fwiw, iphone 14 pro last year launched with a satellite emergency text messaging (maybe iridium). There are already stories in media about real usages.
Beautiful photos! That really is my favorite type of vacation. Thanks for taking the time to share the photos and writing that up. I know that’s a lot of work. It makes me regret not getting my butt in gear this past January to make arrangements for this summer.
Congrats on the Kuroshio/Ushio! I think @HotWatchChick69 is the only other one I’ve spotted around here so far. I’ve been tracking performance daily for the past three weeks, and seeing that 9RA5 is exceeding it’s published specs by an order of magnitude. I measure a very consistent +0.03 s/d.
Also fwiw, iphone 14 pro last year launched with a satellite emergency text messaging (maybe iridium). There are already stories in media about real usages.
Very kind words, thanks for that!
I didn’t get the new Ushio - “tide”. Just attached a pic. It’s not released until July, and affordability will be my issue when it’s out. So unsure if I’ll be getting one
But I saw that ushio dial all around me, everyday , around noon or 1pm when the wind kicked up the ocean. Virtually identical, and always fighting me and increasing the challenge
So it Made me start justifying why I need to get it 😂. Brian has the Kuro Shiro and the OG Lake Suwa, the GS monster he is. 👹
Yup - my spring drives are atomic level accurate. The other feature I like: I brought my spring drive Prospex with me on this trip since I knew SD had better reliability for getting banged or knocked than any balance wheel pallet fork based watch. More accurate, more reliable 🫶
I did consider the iPhone 14 , but it will ONLY contact emergency services. For this trip my wifey’s demand was I send her a nightly re assuring text saying ‘all good, not dead’ or something like that.
So I got a ‘Zoleo device that connects to my phone with an app. So I could send short non emergency messages to wife, and it has an Emerg button to hit if I’m in serious trouble and want coast guard or similar.
I would like to up my camera game, so maybe a new iphone with a better camera at some point! 💸🤪
Packing for my 7 day kayak trip in the San Juans,,Looks like the weather going the wrong direction🙄 oh well, take what you get.
Packing for my 7 day kayak trip in the San Juans,,Looks like the weather going the wrong direction🙄 oh well, take what you get.
I know, right? It's been a bit unstable, cloudy and windy the last few days. I had a tough windy climb up Cypress mountain. Haven't looked at forecast but know what you're talking about.
I'm thinking to explore new area in Desolation around the first week of July - if weather cooperates. It's a huge area and still so much to explore. Maybe more whales in July as well.
Yes, packing is nuts and difficult to cull as much as you need to. Be cutthroat - 1 change of clothes only!
Are you tent camping on some desolate beaches a few nights then? I think you said there's a few nights in an abandoned cabin with 2 or 3 day long trips from there.
7 days is a LONG time on the water. Can't imagine. I top out at 5. I guess if I travelled with a few other good kayakers we maybe could divide some bigger luxury items among us to have more comfort.
Nevertheless, I try to pack for a week in case I'm trapped by weather, but it sure wouldn't be fun to have to test things and start rationing 🙂
have an awesome trip my friend! Looking forward to hearing about it when you're back!
I know, right? It's been a bit unstable, cloudy and windy the last few days. I had a tough windy climb up Cypress mountain. Haven't looked at forecast but know what you're talking about.
I'm thinking to explore new area in Desolation around the first week of July - if weather cooperates. It's a huge area and still so much to explore. Maybe more whales in July as well.
Yes, packing is nuts and difficult to cull as much as you need to. Be cutthroat - 1 change of clothes only!
Are you tent camping on some desolate beaches a few nights then? I think you said there's a few nights in an abandoned cabin with 2 or 3 day long trips from there.
7 days is a LONG time on the water. Can't imagine. I top out at 5. I guess if I travelled with a few other good kayakers we maybe could divide some bigger luxury items among us to have more comfort.
Nevertheless, I try to pack for a week in case I'm trapped by weather, but it sure wouldn't be fun to have to test things and start rationing 🙂
have an awesome trip my friend! Looking forward to hearing about it when you're back!
will do, the minute I get back my daughters weddings is on the 2nd.. Crazy times! This trip is more of an organized shit show/potlatch than a true paddle trip. So lot's of gear!
will do, the minute I get back my daughters weddings is on the 2nd.. Crazy times! This trip is more of an organized shit show/potlatch than a true paddle trip. So lot's of gear!
Keep up the good fight! Remember - this is fun! 😉
I really liked this type of post , watches and surroundings.
Last September I skied and sup on the same day with this watch.