Kayaker planning to complete 10,000 km trip.
Retirement for most people means relaxation, but for Steve Chard it’s the opportunity for “an adventure of a lifetime.”
The 60-year-old will set out solo on Friday on a 10,000-kilometre kayak expedition around America’s Great Loop for charity. Chard, from Dorset, England, will work his way from Halifax counterclockwise around the eastern portion of the United States and Canada on waterways such as the Rideau Canal, Mississippi River and Chesapeake Bay over the next 15 months for nine charities.
His initial plan three years ago was to do the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon, a 200-kilometre, four-day event.
“Then somebody gave me a book about the Great Loop,” laughed Chard. “And I went from planning to do a four-day event to a 15-month event.”
Chard first came to Halifax from England in 2008 to volunteer for the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and was invited to HMCS Sackville for lunch.
“And it stuck on my mind, so when I thought up the idea of paddling the Great Loop ... Sackville was the first thought that came into my head.”
Chard was already planning to do the 10,000-kilometre trip, so when a friend mentioned doing it for charity, he didn’t hesitate.
“I’m a serial fundraiser ... . I’ve done them all my life.”
As a navy engineering technician and retired emergency care assistant, Chard chose two Canadian — the Kidney Foundation of Canada ($10,000) and the Canadian Naval Memorial: HMCS Sackville ($5,000) — three American and four U.K. charities.
But the trip almost didn’t happen. In April 2016, Chard had a serious health scare that stopped his training.
“I woke up one morning with quite severe abdominal pain . . . and they were thinking I had something like peritonitis.”
Suspicions of bowel cancer, later diagnosed as a gallstone, led to a nine-month setback for medical examinations. Since, Chard has been kayaking about 15-30 kilometres, five days a week.
With his 17-foot expedition sea kayak carrying everything he needs — tent, sleeping bag, cooking stove/pots, 20 days worth of dehydrated food, clothes, cellphone, repair kit, flares — Chard hopes to kayak about 30 kilometres in six to nine hours a day for three days on and one day off.
He only plans to take longer breaks in Toronto, Annapolis, Md., and New York City.
Weather permitting, that is. Chard’s main concern is the weather forecast “being wrong.” He is insured, but doesn’t want to take risks on waters he’s never kayaked before.
“I’ve got to realize when I’ve got to head for shore and take no chances at all.”
Although Chard leaves Halifax solo, he’s inviting people to join him along the way, and has already had people from all over the route express interest.
“By putting out an appeal on Facebook ... about 200 have said they are definitely going to paddle with me.”
Chard will have experienced guides with him for the more difficult passes such as the New England coast and crossing the U.S. border. People have also provided him with hospitality options and dehydrated food package stops.
“Social media is a such a wonderful tool,” says Chard, who “only went on Facebook for the trip.”
After the 15-month trip, Chard plans on taking a break from kayaking to teach English in the Far East.
But for now, Chard is taking things day by day. With Friday fast approaching, he still needs to get a SIM card for his cellphone, have his compass fitted for his kayak and contact the Halifax waterfront to confirm launch times.
“I was told ‘just go with the flow, you’ll never be able to predict what’s going to happen . . . . ’
“People can see I’m not a professional kayaker and that I’m just doing this for fun more than anything.”
Chard will be documenting his kayaking expedition at www.facebook.com/paddlewithsteve.
Donations for his chosen Canadian charities can be made at canadahelps.org.