By Rich Harpham FRGS and Ashley Kenlock
Bio
Richard Harpham, FRGS, is a human powered adventurer, coach and inspirational speaker who has completed over 11,000 miles of expeditions by kayak, canoe, SUP and bike www.richadventure.com
Richard runs the award winning Canoe Trail watersports and adventure business with his wife Ashley. Thanks to BAM Clothing, Paramo, Valley Sea Kayaks, Palm Equipment and SilverBirch Canoes for sharing the dream. www.canoetrail.co.uk
SUP microadventures
SUP’ing has been part of the paddling revolution we have been witnessing and enjoying for many years now. It has made paddling more accessible and caught the imagination of thousands of new paddlers with iSUPs (inflatable SUPs leading the way). It is a little like when roto-moulded kayaks were introduced for those from my era, accelerating the sport forward from fibreglass and woodcraft. It has made me wonder why we didn’t get this sorted sooner with near-perfect hindsight and as a former windsurfer. The origins of the sport can be traced back thousands of years ago to river men and women paddling standing up with poles and paddles around the planet we call home.
To couple SUP with micro-adventure is about getting out and embracing smaller adventures today, tomorrow, next week, wherever you are. Alastair Humphreys, a seasoned adventurer and all-round top lad, was awarded National Geographic Adventurer of the year in 2012 for his book Micro Adventures #microadventures and enlightened approach, which became a game-changer for many.
Despite having cycled around the world for 4 ½ years, he wanted to share the concept of smaller local and more achievable adventures day today. For me, like many paddlers and outdoor types, I think we had always sought such adventures, but this has at least made it more mainstream. Everywhere you read the word SUP, you can replace it with kayaks, canoes, inflatable craft or even a coracle.
There are many different ways to grab a micro-adventure, including using public transport to simplify an A to B journey, circular routes, a mixed bag of modes, e.g. hike and swim or cycle and packraft. The adventure can be supplemented by conjuring up simple campfire treats by baking on reflector ovens. Even sleeping arrangements can be varied from tree swinging (hammocks) to ground-dwelling (tents and shelters). I have been giddy with excitement to try one of the new Tentsile tree tents, something of a revolution thinking back to my Scouting days of heavy patrol tents made of canvas and wooden poles.
My SUP adventuring coincided with my New York Spare Seat Expedition in 2012 from Niagara Falls to the Statue of Liberty, where I met Cody White, who, like many, came to paddle and shared our journey. He arrived on a stunning hardboard SUP, and I found myself developing immediate curiosity and envy as he glided across the water. The following year we attempted to paddle around Mallorca together in December, self-supported on two Naish boards. It was an ambitious plan given the worst storms in 10 years and waves over 2.5m, and strong winds. Despite this, there was absolute freedom to loading two weeks of kit onto a board and paddling off to explore and embrace adventure. Catch up with the adventure here: https://standuppaddlemag.co.uk/exploring-mallorca-by-sup/
SUP in the UK
Closer to home, our SUP Micro adventures have been a constant source of paddling joy. From short trips at new destinations through to more extensive overnight camping trips, they help to feel alive. As Alastair put it in his book, focus on 5 to 9, not 9 to 5! This concept of finishing work and heading out for some fresh air miles has become incredibly popular. A couple of years ago, we worked closely with the Red Paddle Co team to host a SUP micro-adventure to sew seeds for journalists about smaller adventures. We hosted a range of journalists, including Wanderlust and Red Bull Magazine, which resulted in Canoe Trail being voted top three in the UK for SUP Adventures with our private riverside woodland campsite. (if you want to experience this for yourself, drop us a line @canoetrails quoting ‘Paddler’, and we will give a 15% discount on mid-week micro-adventures).
Relax and unwind
It was a simple opportunity to leave London after work, Red iSUP in hand, hop on the train and less than an hour later be in the leafy green countryside of Bedfordshire ready for an overnight escape. A short walk to the River Great Ouse and with an integral warm-up activity (pumping up the boards), we were ready to depart on the gently flowing river down to the woodland campsite. Seeing customers relax and unwind when they take to the water is like watching a weight get lifted and smiles return. It is a connection to our past and an escape from our digitally overloaded lives. The route involves several portages where you carry your board and kit around locks, a change of pace and ideal for a little tea break. Within a few minutes with some coaching, the newbies looked like regular paddle boarders, one reason why the sport has been so popular.
Eventually, after a couple of hours of paddling, which flew with a wildlife safari of cormorants, kingfishers and kites, as well as the chance of otters and deer, we arrive at the small brook which bisects the woodland. We paddled in as ‘child like’ excitement of making camp takes over. A mix of camping styles is adopted with tentage, hammocks and even some natural shelter building to create the perfect home from home under the stars. By now, stomachs are starting to identify the need for refuelling the machine. So the campfire is prepared with a bed of solid embers ready for a woodland feast. A simple observation that food in the great outdoors and around the fire always tastes better.
We are foodies at heart, so we serve locally sourced free-range BBQ options, as well as a favourite, smoky black bean, which we usually have to fight off the meat-eaters from! Corn on the cobs and baked spuds, done on the fire, coupled with salad bowls, add to the woodland feast. Seemingly most people turn back their clocks to their youth when faced with Smor’s (toasted marshmallow squidged between biscuits), chocolate bananas and hot chocolates topped with whipped cream and more marshmallows.
By now, people are starting to consider snuggling into their sleeping bags for a well earned night’s sleep. The following morning is a well-oiled routine with the campfire crackling as customers emerge from their sleepy cocoons. A Yorkshire tea and cowboy (or girl) coffee are ready and steaming by the fire. Fed and watered, the team were ready for returning to the parallel universe and back to their alternative lives catching the train back to a bigger smoke for work, swapping the SUP board meeting for the board meeting if you will!
Lockdown easing
With lockdown restrictions easing, we have grabbed our short breaks with micro-adventures and paddling trips. The latest escape was to the Lake District paddling on Derwent and Ullswater, sharing the water with many other escapees. We even enjoyed a fly-by from the RAF on a training sortie. We embraced van life, camping on the shores and watching the ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours as dawn and sunsets came and went like a peacock seeking to impress. It did! Whilst finishing this article, we paddled to our woodland on a random Friday in need of urgent re-wilding. A small group of like-minded individuals with a common goal and simple plan, paddle, chat, eat great food and swap stories.
Rain forecasts did not dampen the mood, and with tarps and waterproofs, we enjoyed the perfect micro-adventure. First Nation tribes in Canada would paddle into the wilderness for gift-giving feasts called Potlatch’s, sharing food each band brought. We embraced this philosophy, with different people bringing salads, veg, fish (it was Friday), whisky and a few other treats.
I can recommend micro-adventures and SUP safaris as the perfect way to expand your paddling world. Start small but start, find places close by or venture further afield and invite friends to join the fun. Making memories such as these is a game-changer but be warned, it can be addictive. Please remember to leave no trace and clear up a few bit of plastic and detritus along the way as part of giving back, aka the ‘Trash Can Challenge’.
Make a plan
Through our work in schools, D of E, and generally sharing a love of adventures, we have shared our three-step plan for adventures to remove the ‘hand brake’ effect of never starting. It is summarised as follows, “The best adventure is the one you take…start now.”
We recommend three steps:
- Blue sky thinking, think big, think outside, have a vision.
- Make a plan that is achievable.
- Start now – do it, Carpe Diem (YOLO if you don’t do Latin!).
Do the ‘One Bag’ challenge.
Can you fit all your kit and equipment into one bag? This takes discipline and sorting out what you need versus what you want. Considering your outdoor hierarchy of needs to determine solutions for shelter, sleeping, water, food, clothing and in an emergency is essential, as is packing light!
Practice makes… permanent.
In coaching, this is one of our helpful lines… ‘Practice makes perfect?’ Nope, we say permanent! So we need to practice the right things, well, and in conditions, we are likely to face. As an example, paddle your board fully loaded, so you know what to expect. Develop upwind, downwind and surf skills on your SUP.
Paddle within your limits
Check the weather and conditions and make sure they match your skills. You don’t want to add to the stats for rescue teams and the coastguard. Get some professional tuition or join a club to speed up the learning curve.
Do more than leave no trace
Leave no trace has been the mantra of many outdoor articles and environmental charities for some time. As the population pendulum has swung to vast numbers on a small planet, we have all seen the effects of global warming, plastic pollution and general over consumption of our resources. Leave no trace is not enough as we approach a tipping point, so why not aim to collect a bit of other peoples rubbish, aka the ‘Trash Can Challenge’.
Make it your micro-adventure. Do what you love?
Contrary to reality TV shows, you don’t have to make your adventure an endurance event or bushtucker trial! Visit places you want to explore with your tribe and enjoy your favourite treats. You can simplify your kit if you are doing a shuttle by leaving your kit in your vehicle so you can paddle light.
