Expedition Journal Day 54
The pangs of hunger are calling as I peel back my sleeping bag and expose my body to the brisk morning air, accompanied by a warming rays of a sun that is also emerging from its slumber. My eyes still blurry, I fix my gaze on the sandy coastline extending for miles in both directions, dotted by the numerous fisherman casting their hopes into the water as they wait for the ‘big catch.’
Confident that no-one on this beach will steal any of my things, I decide to venture off into the direction of the convince store I was informed of last night. Only after a short 15 minute walk, Im moving between the well manicured isles of Lawson’s convenience store grabbing my morning energy shot; a liter of milk and a snickers bar. As the digital numbers on my watch disappear and reappear, giving note of the passing day, I quickly chug the milk and take the last bites of the snickers bar while walking back to my kayak. Undressing down to my thermals, I pull over my drysuit and somewhat reluctantly, pull over the hood, sealing the rubber gasket firmly around my neck.
Pulling the kayak to the shore takes a very short yet strong full-body tugs, in no small part sue to the 10 liters of water and Frostpak Cooler brimming with food. Now at the tideline, with the water nipping the front bow, I begin to stretch and notice two fisherman are by my side looking intently at both me and the kayak. I look over once again, with a smile and say “Konichiwa” to which they respond in a smilier fashion. Within seconds I’m once again giving them a very abbreviated expedition run-down starting with why I’m doing this to some details about the journey and finally, the fact that I’m doing this alone, to which they respond with a ‘eeehhhhhhhhhhhhhh’ looking at each other slightly puzzled. I nod, and focus my attention on the waves crashing into the shore, nipping at the front of my kayak. Now its all about timing as I wait to push my kayak past the shore breaks and into he calmer waters. Continue reading