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Preparation

Equipment

Paddling Gear:The many counties of Ireland

  • NDK Explorer with foot pump and compass
  • Lendal Nordkapp paddle
  • Lendal Kinetic spare paddle
  • Seals sprayskirt
  • Kokatat PFD with hydration pack
  • Rapidstyle Fuzzy Rubber wetsuit
  • Paddling jacket
  • Handheld bilge pump
  • Paddlefloat
  • Tow belt
  • Signal kit
  • Repair kit

Camp gear:

  • Mountain Hardware Spire 2 tent
  • Mountain Hardware Lamina 20 sleeping bag
  • Trangia alcohol stove
  • MSR Alpine cookset
  • MSR Dromedary bags
  • First aid kit

 

Nutrition:

    Heart rate and other data will be collected in the spring to set a baseline for Donna Marlor of Endurance Sports Nutrition on caloric needs. As far as possible ahead of time, menus will be developed so it can be analyzed.

    Food drops and the associated packages will be setup to supplement food bought along the way. Approximately half the food for the trip will be in the food drops. The food drops also include dried food such as beef jerky, dried fruits & vegetables as well as sports drinks & bars.

Maps, charts & tides:

    Using CD chart kits, over 50 chart sections have been printed out. 40 topo (called Ordinance Survey) maps have been purchased. Charts have been marked with navigation and tidal information. Maps have been marked with campsites, landing sites and other information.

    Navigation will be by map/chart and compass.

Photos:

    Two Pentax waterproof cameras will be brought along. Having two provides redundancy in the case of failure. Numerous batteries and memory cards are being brought as well. Have not figured out photo storage outside of memory cards.

References found useful:

    Books written of paddling trips on the Irish coast:
    • On Celtic Tides by Chris Duff
    • Dances With Waves by Brian Wilson
    • Commitments and Open Crossings by Bill Taylor
    Guidebooks for kayaking:
    • Oileain by David Walsh
    Guidebooks
    • Frommer’s Ireland From $60 a Day
    • McCarthy’s Bar by Pete McCarthy
    Books written of the west coast:
    • Islands of Storm by James Roy
    • Skelligs Calling by Michael Kirby
    • The Islandman by Tomas O’Crohan
    • The Skellig Story by Des Lavelle
    Miscellaneous:
    • Back of Beyond by James Roy
    • The Road Wet, The Wind Close by James Roy
    • Black ‘47 and Beyond by Cormac O Grada
    • The Irish Mystique by Max Caulfield
    • The Quest of the Three Abbots by Brendan Lehane
    • Historical Atlas of the Vikings by John Haywood
    • Ireland, Graveyard of the Spanish Armada by T.P. Kilfeather
    Irish National Meteorological websites:

Additional References used:

  • In Search of Ancient Ireland by McCaffrey and Eaton
  • Ireland From the Sea by Andrew Phelan
  • The Celtic Empire by Peter Ellis
  • Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks

 

 

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