Kayak Roots: the Aleut Ikyak
When thinking about traditional kayaks, the greenland qajaq is the first thing that usually comes to mind. These low volume high-ended skin on frame boats were ideal for hunting and…
Avoca Beach Sunsets and Dusk
Dawn and dusk are two magical times of the day, and there’s nothing better than witnessing either from the water. In this case I’d gone on a family holiday to…
Fathers’ Day: First time paddles for my little girls
Bless my wife, she organised a weekend away for Fathers’ Day at Avoca Beach, a sensational spot on the NSW Central Coast. Apart from an amazing beach, it also has…
Alaska Backcountry Part 3: Blue Icebergs
Glacial ice is super-old, compressed, and gives off a brilliant blue hue. My kayak trek to Alaska involved hunting for the bluest ice I could find, and on this particular…
Alaska Backcountry Part 2: Bear Glacier
One of the highlights of the Alaskan paddling experience was getting my kayak up close to enormous icebergs, just to feel the grandeur of these magnificent natural structures. All whilst…
Video Blog: Kayaking Bear Glacier Alaska
Video of my kayak adventures: Bear Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. Enjoy! – FP
Glorious Sydney Sunshine Paddling
Nothing can contrast paddling Alaska more than a paddle on Sydney Harbour in balmy conditions under an almost Spring sun. To go from icebergs to harbour rocks and aqua waters…
Alaska Backcountry Part 1: Bear Glacier
My Alaskan adventure was always about one thing – paddling amongst icebergs. It had taken a six hour flight from Chicago, a 4 hour train ride from Anchorage, and a…
Help get my Alaska photos exhibited
I received a random note via Twitter that perhaps I should submit some of my paddling photos to the Panasonic Lumix Life photography competition (I use a Panasonic Lumix FT1…
First Alaskan Paddle in my Folbot Cooper
It is very hard to describe Alaska in words. It is a place of extremes, both harsh and beautiful. Green forests that simply stop part way up mountains, to be…
Kayaking Chicago River at night
When I arrived in Chicago I was greeted by hot, humid, muggy weather. And in the space of the cab ride from the airport, it rained, heavily, on four different…
Paddling Santa Cruz, California
My paddle in Santa Cruz was going to be the maiden voyage of my new Folbot Cooper kayak. And had I not smashed about 300 shots of Cabo Wabo tequila…
First impressions of California
It’s pretty weird to fly for 14 hours to the other side of the world, only to find it is the same as where you’ve come from. I mean there…
Tour USA 2009
Leaving the sunny shores of Sydney, the Fat Paddler is about to embark on a quick tour of the USA, taking in Santa Cruz (California) and Chicago (Illinois) before heading…
