SimonWillis.net

2 Year Kayak Expedition to Photograph Wildlife

This astonishing image is taken by Daniel Belanger.

He's embarking on a two-year expedition to snap shots of rarely photographed wildlife. Much of the trip will be done by kayak.

The first phase will include paddling from Argentina to the Falkland Islands.

The second phase takes in the Bonin Islands, Japan, Kuril islands and the Aleutian Islands.

The third phase ambitiously plans to visit South Georgia, Tristin Da Cuna, Prince Edward Island, Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard, Macquarie and Aukland. (He may well have made up some of those place names. I've never heard of most.

Read more about the expedition and take a look at his photos. And if you'd like to hear him speak, there's a rather clever video here. Click the left hand "ball".

Andy Jackson - The Book of the Life

Now here's a book not to miss. (Why am I writing so much about books just now?)

The biography of Scottish kayaker Andy Jackson. Click on the image to buy. Here's what the publisher says about the book.

Andy Jackson’s death in December 2004 robbed the Scottish outdoor scene of an extraordinary personality. In this celebration of a truly inspirational life we follow Andy on kayaking adventures in Norway, Nepal, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Iceland, Turkey, Chile and of course his native Scotland.

Stories and articles from Andy himself, his friends and family recount his adventures with all the joie de vivre he showed; as a campaigner, kayaker, skier and paraglider. From his scrapes with the ‘Polis’ and authorities to his worldwide catalogue of first descents. Above all Andy will be remembered for his ability to befriend and inspire everyone he met.

The royalties from this book are to be divided equally between the Andy Jackson Fund for Access and the IcFEM (providing education, healthcare, agriculture and social support in Kenya).

Specialist Kayak Bookstore

Kayaking and sea kayaking titles, all in one place.

Seems like a good idea.You'll find it at

www.paddlersbookstore.co. uk

Of course there are other books stores, such as my own humble offering and the store run through the UK Sea Kayak Guidebook website.

Savage Shores

Mark and Heather Rainsley are at it again.

Having produced an excellent sea kayaking guide to the south west coast, they're working on a new book called Savage Shores also for Pesda Press.

Follow their progress here.

The book aims to explain the climate, geology, landforms, natural history and human history of the coastal environment. It's aimed at walkers, sea kayakers and others.

Mark told me about the project at the weekend, and my first thought was to compare it to Hostile Habitats, a very popular book but one I found somewhat impenetrable.

Mark reassured me, while their book will be based on sound research it is not going to be a dusty academic tome. "The intended focus is to assist the 'layman' visitor to the coast - especially walkers and users of watercraft - to achieve greater understanding of and appreciation for the places they visit, and of the complex links existing between geology, natural history and human impact."

I'd buy it.

Instead it has struggled to make money. Rather than let it go bust, it was taken into public ownership. Estimates are it'll cost taxpayers £50m and perhaps another £50m to remove from the hill.

Read the full story on Rob's site. The photo is courtesy of Rob's site.