Throughout this year of the new decade, 2020, I will undertake a number of personal challenges which have been on my mind for some time. Last year, 2019, was a disastrous year for me in terms of realising my plans and hopes for sea kayaking journeys and other outdoor projects. I was in hospital on a psychiatric ward for the summer, recovering from an episode of deep depression. It was during my recovery I realised it is important for me to stay connected to my sense of adventure and my desire for outdoor solitude. It is during these moments when I truly discover my joy for life and the reason why I must keep this the case. This means I will live more fully in all aspects of my life.

So this year, I intend to provide focus to my plans to maintain my wild outdoor connections. I have decided upon a few achievable challenges for me to complete through the year. In addition, I have other ideas which do not make it to the list but I hope will be completed if the stars and tides align. That is, if I have the time and the weather is in my favour.

I’m not getting any younger and after effectively an unenergetic year last year, regaining fitness, strength and tenacity will be a considerable challenge for me. For example, I have to lose 5.5 kilograms to regain my healthy weight. I can’t rely on my previous ability to simply get out there and push the boat out. I accept those days are behind me. Instead my approach to the challenges will methodical and realistic. If I expect too much of myself too early, this will dent my confidence and my desire to succeed.

This year of challenge is mainly about me regaining and maintaining sound mental health. However, to legitimise this even more, I’ve decided to make Odyssey my fundraising beneficiary for the year. This year celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Charity’s inception. I have created a JustGiving page which is open for donations until 31st December. The idea being, if my adventures and the stories resulting from these resonate with people, or folks are inspired, I hope you will make a donation to Odyssey. You see, the courses Odyssey provides for people living with or recovering from cancer are truly inspirational in themselves. It’s through the majesty of the wild outdoors and challenging activities which provide the course participants with stronger self-awareness and a greater determination to live with what lies before them. The parallels run deep for me.

Please Donate to Odyssey - An Extremely Worthy Cause

I am serious in my intentions to maintain a written blog here on my website sharing tales of my experiences of the various adventures. I will post photos. I’ve decided too, I will become a You Tube ‘vlogger’. It is my serious intention to create short films of my adventures within which I share the experiences, my thoughts and responses, the highs and lows, and much more besides. In fact I had filmed throughout my first challenge in January and tragically within sight of my home goal, I lost the camera with all the footage I had created. Even now, I can’t help feeling terrible about this. There my be a hiatus to my vlogging plans until I replace the camera.

So onto the challenges themselves.

  1. Sea kayaking the distance of 2020 kilometres before the end of the year. This is an eminently achievable goal which ensures I take myself out onto the water in my kayak as often as I can. Sadly January has seen my cover only 60km when the monthly goal is 168km. However, the long daylight days during the summer will enable me to enjoy many long day trips which will help me make up shortfalls to achieve this.

  2. An island bivouac a month. I am inspired by Donnie Nicolson, a friend of mine who lives in Portree, who for the last couple of years has completed a bivouac in a wild places every month. My adaptation of his approach is to sleep in a bivouac on an island every month. The criteria for this challenge are; I have to kayak to the island, the island can be no longer than 1000 metres and no wider than 500 metres; the island is not a drying island in that during low tide, it connected to the shore. The islands are close to the coastline of the Isle of Mull.

  3. Keeping to the coastline, kayak around the Isle of Mull, every loch and indentation. I made an attempt to do this last year but because of literally leaving hospital, I was hopelessly unfit and gave up after two days. This time, once I have regained my strength, I’m looking forward to attempting this challenge again.

  4. Kayaking from Tobermory to Castlebay on the Isle of Barra and Back. This a challenge I have wanted to undertake for a couple of years now. The route; Tobermory - Tiree, Tiree - Mingulay, Mingulay to Barra, Barra to Hyskeir, Hyskeir to Muck, Muck to Tobermory, It is clear I will require a period of settled weather for this and the ability to take this opportunity as it arises.

  5. Cape Wrath Trail. In the first two weeks of July, my wife and I will complete the first half of the arduous Cape Wrath Trail, a demanding route which runs from Fort William to Cape Wrath. We intend to reach as far as Ullapool where we will use public transport to return to our start point. We will complete the walk the year after.

  6. Bivouac on Hyskeir with Donnie Nicolson, volunteer coxswain for the RNLI Portree Lifeboat. It was Donnie’s “Bivouac a Month” which inspired me. He is no stranger to challenge having rowed with others from St Kilda to Portree in a small wooden skiff in 2014.

  7. OS Landranger Map #49. There are 14 medieval castles marked on this map, each accessible by sea. I have worked out a 7 day kayaking route to visit each of these castles. Another challenge of old which I have aspired to completing in times gone by.

There are other challenges I have within my sights. I have decided to detail these when it seems possible I have the opportunity to have a go at them. If I list them now, I will find myself compelled to undertake them and if not, give myself a hard time for not doing so.

I shall maintain regular updates throughout the weeks, months and year. 2020 then, is my year of adventure and my hope to raise funds for Odyssey. The benefit for me will be a rejuvenated sense of myself and a sound basis for my continued recovery from my difficult depression.

Thank you.