Kayakers’ epic journey around coast of Wales
TWO friends who embarked on an epic trip that saw them kayak around Wales have returned home.
Christopher Evans, 45, a tutor from Llantwit Major was approached by 20-year-old Joshua Charles a year ago to plan the 1,000km trip which took them 23 days.
Joshua, from Cardiff, recently graduated in outdoor education from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and the trip saw him become the youngest person to kayak around Wales.
Chris said: “Josh got in touch with me to plan the trip but to be honest he didn’t need any help, he’s 6’8 and handled everything well.
“A lot of planning had to go in to the journey because neither of us had been this far before. I’ve taken part in one and two-day challenges but nothing like this.”
The pair met a few years ago while taking part in a charity bike race and have kept in contact ever since.
They had to plan their meal choices for the trip wisely or face a lonely night in the middle of the sea.
Chris added: “We mainly ate a lot of salami wraps and ensured we had a lot of carbohydrates and protein. Josh managed to get 20 tubs of sweet curry sauce from McDonald’s.
“He used this for his wraps and although the smell was disgusting, the sight of it was great.”
Despite suffering from heat exhaustion on the last day, Josh kept going and paddled every day.
He said: “We were really lucky with the weather; the first two weeks were beautiful.”
In the last week, the weather turned and visibility was seriously impaired. Josh remembers being bounced around Swansea Bay, just half an hour from home.
The Nash Point tide picked up and made the final stretch tough. But the sight of the lighthouse gave them the push to keep going.
Chris said: “I didn’t realise the Welsh coastline is so magically picturesque. Wales is so diverse in the sense that there’s so much to see and the coastlines are beautiful.”
Josh is now planning to visit the Sahara next year while Chris is planning to go to the Arctic.
Upon their return, they were met by family, friends and Chris’ border terrier Layla who tried to swim out to greet them.