"Gimme Shelter"

The Lap no. 45 - D-Day - 21 Days

With three weeks to go, final preparations are all-consuming. I’m spending every free moment plotting waypoints and bearings, packing ration packs, arranging resupplies, and reaching out to shore contacts.

I have a couple more rapid-fire posts about gear and provisions, I’m going to answer some reader questions, and then it’s time to go quiet and stay offline until go time!

Earlier this week, I wrote about what I wear to stay warm and dry on the water. In this post, I’ll unpack my sleep system and the things I carry to stay cozy on shore.

“Doing time… in a nylon cell”

On a trip of this length, in this corner of the Atlantic, I am guaranteed to spend at least a few days tentbound, “doing time within the walls of a dank nylon cell,” as Jon Krakauer puts it.

Several ‘round Ireland paddlers have recommended taking a 2-person tent to have more living space and room to spread out my gear. It was also important to have a free-standing model I could pitch near a slipway or in a parking lot and move quickly if need be.

The MSR Hubba Hubba is the perfect balance of lightweight, rugged, and spacious. It’s also dark green which, unlike my kayak, keeps a low profile. I was sold on this model talking to fellow paddlers and Ellie & Carl of Tough Soles, who’ve spent four months in their Hubba Hubba, walking thousands of kilometers around Ireland.

Dublin-based Paddle & Pitch provided me with a Hubba Hubba for this trip, which I’ve reinforced with extra guy lines and stakes to cope with the high winds that would cause me to be tentbound in the first place.

Hoping for bivvy weather…

My sleep system consists of a Thermarest sleeping bag and sleeping pad, and the most comfortable camping pillow I could find. The sleeping bag and pad are both made in Ireland, near Cork.

I carry a waterproof, breathable bivvy bag to keep everything dry and for sleeping out in the open when weather permits. Packing the boat, I use the bivvy bag like a liner for the front hatch. I have a tarp as a backup shelter or a quick lean-to on rainy lunch stops.

A sleep mask is a must since the sun doesn’t set this time of year in Ireland until after 10:00 PM, and it’s light again by 04:00.

Comfort helps you make safer choices

Whether laying up overnight or stormbound for days, getting comfortable on shore is about more than self-care, it’s a matter of risk mitigation. The more comfortable you are in camp, the less pressure you’ll feel to get on the water when you shouldn’t.

More Deep Trouble, a book of accident reports published by Sea Kayaker magazine, describes creature comforts as an “insurance policy” against bad decisions:

“Think of good food, an interesting book, and comfortable accommodations as your insurance policy. These ‘luxuries’ will help protect you from being forced into unsafe decisions by a positive incremental value for paddling that is elevated simply by the discomfort and/or boredom of being in camp.”

Some of this is about having the right gear and something to read, but it’s also a matter of mindset. One ‘round Ireland paddler I spoke with said he enjoys weather days and uses the time to do yoga and meditate.

Others take shelter in the nearest pub.

Thank you, Team Fox donors! 🦊

Thank you to everyone who donated to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research this week: Tiffany Abeloe, thank you for your kind note.

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Thanks for reading,

-Charlie

Thank you to Mike Jones for coaching and guidance.

Kokatat is the official gear sponsor of The Lap.

The lap will be fueled by Resilient Nutrition’s Long Range Fuel and bars.

Expedition coffee by 3fe.

CH Marine will be providing a VHF radio and other safety equipment.

Tent and cooking gas provided by Paddle & Pitch. Trolley by KCS.

REAL Field Meals at a discount from Adventure.ie.