Some advice to all -plan it and do it! Don’t keep procrastinating. I’m 75 and sadly all my tripping buddies are dead or handicapped. I’ve got arthritis in both shoulders and other assorted health issues; but I’m still paddling, hiking, birding, and biking. My primary goal is to keep moving. Adventures don’t have to be multi day. As you age the scope of an “adventure” can be as simple as a beautiful day outside staying safe. Another goal is to give up a life time and catch and release fishing. I just don’t want to hurt another living thing any more for my own enjoyment. Watching wildlife is a less invasive and often a more rewarding way to connect with nature.
@@kevinharding2099 I was 70 with all kinds of issues so I went radical and gave up all sugars and starches. I am now approaching 72 with most of my issues gone. You never know when small changes can return big results.
The comment “primary goal is to keep moving” is actually the title of video I am working on. It is SO important as we age to JUST KEEP MOVING. Excellent work.
If all goes well, I hope to aquire my 1st real kayak! Current leader on my list is the Eddyline Sitka XT. I've tried on dozens & dozens of boats, that on has fit the best so far. Really enjoyed your channel this year! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you & yours.
So many projects for next year. Improve my Greenland skills when I'm short on time, lead a few groups on our local coast, flo-coat my kayak, camping and sailing in by Drascombe Scaffie.
Great topic! I would have expected some more details, for example for those new to expeditions, learn self rescue, maybe rolling, do short one day trips etc. building to a longer expedition. This could be a series guiding new comers to the adventure. Respectfully, and happy holidays!!
totally agree with the recommendations you listed, but this isn't directed specifically at paddlers! Im talking big picture for all adventures (There is a hiker on the thumbnail), so I can't be specific to progressions. At least not in this venue. My book GO! does get into specific progressions and I have talked about it in other videos. Thanks for watching and commenting!
This year I have one big trip planned. 10 days on the BC coast visiting Desolation sound, the discovery islands, and Toba inlet. I am also planning to increase the number of lessons I teach. My 2 year plan includes a trip to the Yukon in 2026.
My plan is to recover from surgery and get my fitness back. A small bike tour or two and some camping. A century ride on my bike with an overnighter. Get out on the kayak two or three days a week.Thanks for the video.
@@AdventureOtaku Mine, too. I'm leading two tours in 2025, but that only takes me through Spring. I've still got Winter, Summer, and Autumn full of empty time to fill up.
My wife and I came up with a plan a month ago. Normally i just work seasonly at a campground but this week i start a full-time job. She is a nurse. We will do nothing but work, eat and sleep until our daughters wedding in June. After the wedding we are headed to the Black Hills to hike for the rest of the summer and fall. Work nonstop again over the winter and head for northern MN in the spring. Spend the summer paddling in and around the BWCA. After that we arent sure. We are thinking that after exporing the two areas that we can decide where we want to hang our hat.
As I start eyeballing retirement I want to do some rail trails along with hiking and backpacking. My goal for 2025 is to get myself geared up with the right bike and bike carrier and start exploring some local trails to get me started.
I’ve definitely got goals for kayaking, I’d like to kayak across the bay of Bothnia to Finland, which isn’t that huge a crossing from here but is still something to work towards. To that end I’ve done my first camping trip this fall and would like to do some more multi day trips going longer distances. There’s an Island called Holmön that is directly on that route near where I live so next year I hope to visit there by kayak and maybe navigate around it. I did for kayaking purposes this year but we took the ferry over. Next summer I’m planning to be back in Ontario visiting family and am hoping to do the Georgian Bay myself, probably Killarney. I also plan to get my blue paddle pass, the 3rd of five levels in the spring, I was aiming for it this year but logistically it didn’t work so probably early next year instead. I know a lot of people have issues with those kinds of programs but for me it’s a nice concrete way of seeing my improvement as a paddler. I’d like to complete my first “Harry year” which is a thing specifically in Sweden where kayakers paddle all 12 months of the year. I want to do the WFR course but presently I’m in school and money is tight so that may need to wait another year or two unfortunately. I also need to get a new computer to do video editing. My current machine is a decade old and just not up for the job, so my TH-cam stuff is kinda stagnant as a result, so that’s a goal to upgrade next year.
My #1 goal is to be able is to get on and out of my new seakayak, without dumping and with confidence. Sadly it’s been a problem. It’s never been a problem before. Prolly just need more time on the water.
this is a super common problem, and what I am going to say is bad on experience not your particular situation. So I may be wrong, but this problem is frequently core strength, after that it is probably technique or a combination of the two. I did a video called getting in/getting out of your kayak. Check it out, it may be helpful.
Signed up for a BLS & WFA course in January. I have several trips in the pipeline for 2025. In the first quarter and part of Q2, I have planned to paddle Matagorda Bay (TX Gulf Coast), Caddo Lake, and the entire Lake Austin (Colorado River) In either the third or fourth quarter, I plan to either be in either Alaska (Icy Bay) or possibly the Yukon. Have a great holiday season and thanks for all the quality content in 2024.
My plans include: Getting the motorcycle skills up and doing some longer rides, getting my youngest daughter riding too. Working on my fitness as it looks like my heart took a hit earlier in the year leaving me breathless at times. Putting the surfski in the water and testing it and myself out. Building a kayak rack and a motorcycle rack for new the trailer. Finally learning to roll a yak. Not short on things to do.
That’s a great list! Take care of that heart. This year I really embraced running (neither long, far, or fast) and I saw the lowest blood pressures I have had in decades. Unfortunately the facial surgery I had slowed me down, and then just as I was getting going again, I injured my foot. January is going to be a slow reintroduction to running. Have a great holiday! Thanks for being a regular viewer/commentor!
@@AdventureOtaku I will give it plenty of work to wake it up. Had a few strokes over the last couple of years; had trouble with diagnosis because there were few symptoms. You have a great Christmas Brett.
I am hoping to Get me Touring Awards done next year. I was expecting to do the this year. except the Coach that normally does that the awards moved over to Paddle Boards. So hopefully next year he will be back to coaching in tourers again. Otherwise it will be another year treading water. Which I don't want to do, as I would like to do the Great Glen Tour next year and then start to look at getting out on Sea Kayaking courses after that. I would also like to get out with the Wife Bikepacking or Cycle Touring as it was when I used to do it in my teens. I will also be building upon my running after Sacking off Couch to 5K after an injury and simple running 5K at a Parkrun two weeks ago and again yesterday. To I will be looking at running 10K next year and then if all goes well Half Marathons, the year after that. As it has been a very long time since my first and Last Half marathon. Have a Great Christmas and New Year Brett. I will be looking forward to next year's content, and where you adventures take you and us your audience in turn.
5k is on my list as well, also after i get over a current injury that is taking it’s own sweet time to heal! Thanks for being a core member of this community Simon, enjoy the holidays.
Next year I'd like to take a course and learn how to roll. Also some more practice of rescuing. And want to join one of the local groups so that I can get on the Columbia with company and do some more ambitious trips. Would also like to spend the winter somewhere warm like Florida or Arizona. Have a lovely Christmas!
To learn to roll, check out the local universities. Frequently they will have a paddling club that does roll instruction in the university pool. Great way to learn. It may be in a WW boat the technique is the same.
I already have a plan for the next 2 years. I switched from a canoe to a kayak this fall. I'm planning on the Water tribe Ultra Marathon 2025 (67 mile race from Tampa to Stumps Pass) Using this race as prep for 2026 Everglades challenge (300 miles from Tampa to Key Largo) I have been paddling and training and getting all the required gear for the race next spring. I also have a list of places I want to paddle next year. Mostly trips that I could never do in my canoe.
I’m hoping to do the inside passage in 2026, I have plenty of expedition experience, but I feel like I need more time in the open ocean dealing with swells and surf landings, so I’m planning a few trips for the west coast of Vancouver Island - one a guided instructional expedition and one later in the summer with friends.
Ive done most of it from Port Hardy to Skagway - I am missing Bella Bella to Prince Rupert - reach out if you have questions. There were a couple places in BC where there are big swells and exposed coasts, I don’t think I ever did an actual surf landing, though. The Alaska section is pretty docile.
This month I started training somewhat seriously in the surfski, I'm hoping to get my endurance up to where I can manage some really long crossings. Hoping I can manage the Watertribe ultramarathon in March, and if I can pull that off my dream-of-all-dreams is to paddle to the Dry Tortugas. Probably cross the state of Florida through the Okeechobee waterway too at some point. I'll have to see how things are looking in a couple months, I want this to be a next-year plan but it might end up being a two year plan
I was looking at the Killarney Provincial Park Area, but right now am leaning towards Apostle Islands.... Ill let you know if I change my mind... I have to make a call in the next week or two.
In 2025 for me its going to be smaller and light boats. I want to go down to the bottom France near Spain and pick up a new WAVESKI ONE 165 Pack INI. The surf should be good and it will be a nice break. My old one needs replacing and they sell these off the shelf. If order one here, its about a 4 month waiting list. We may take the cycles and go packrafting in Italy or Germany Apls. I've never been packrafting before. I'm getting a little tried of all the gear I need for the sea too. Sea kayaks are ok where I live but its just transporting them. The UK and EU's taxes on cars and vans are going thru the roof with emissions over 100. You cant really get a 4 meter kayak on a microcar.
@@AdventureOtaku Not yet. My old 2017 citroen c1 goes in Jan 2025 and the replacement is a microlino car. I live in one of the many low emission zones/clean air zones. These zones are becoming increasing common here and in the EU. With petrol at £1.60 pence per liter (£8/ $10 usd per gallon) and road tax at £180 and over now, ( increasing in Apr 2025) even for a Yaris, we're being priced off the roads. And dont even start me on parking charges. Its becoming cheaper to fly than take the car.
Some advice to all -plan it and do it! Don’t keep procrastinating. I’m 75 and sadly all my tripping buddies are dead or handicapped. I’ve got arthritis in both shoulders and other assorted health issues; but I’m still paddling, hiking, birding, and biking. My primary goal is to keep moving. Adventures don’t have to be multi day. As you age the scope of an “adventure” can be as simple as a beautiful day outside staying safe. Another goal is to give up a life time and catch and release fishing. I just don’t want to hurt another living thing any more for my own enjoyment. Watching wildlife is a less invasive and often a more rewarding way to connect with nature.
@@kevinharding2099 I was 70 with all kinds of issues so I went radical and gave up all sugars and starches.
I am now approaching 72 with most of my issues gone.
You never know when small changes can return big results.
The comment “primary goal is to keep moving” is actually the title of video I am working on. It is SO important as we age to JUST KEEP MOVING. Excellent work.
So catch and eat? I like smoking fish, very tasty, and a new skill with various wood types and brines.
If all goes well, I hope to aquire my 1st real kayak! Current leader on my list is the Eddyline Sitka XT. I've tried on dozens & dozens of boats, that on has fit the best so far.
Really enjoyed your channel this year! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you & yours.
That is a great boat. Good luck!
So many projects for next year. Improve my Greenland skills when I'm short on time, lead a few groups on our local coast, flo-coat my kayak, camping and sailing in by Drascombe Scaffie.
I sailed a Drascombe with NOLS. Great boats.
Great topic! I would have expected some more details, for example for those new to expeditions, learn self rescue, maybe rolling, do short one day trips etc. building to a longer expedition. This could be a series guiding new comers to the adventure. Respectfully, and happy holidays!!
totally agree with the recommendations you listed, but this isn't directed specifically at paddlers! Im talking big picture for all adventures (There is a hiker on the thumbnail), so I can't be specific to progressions. At least not in this venue. My book GO! does get into specific progressions and I have talked about it in other videos. Thanks for watching and commenting!
This year I have one big trip planned. 10 days on the BC coast visiting Desolation sound, the discovery islands, and Toba inlet. I am also planning to increase the number of lessons I teach. My 2 year plan includes a trip to the Yukon in 2026.
I havent been to desolation sound, but the BC coast is amazing paddling.
My plan is to recover from surgery and get my fitness back. A small bike tour or two and some camping. A century ride on my bike with an overnighter. Get out on the kayak two or three days a week.Thanks for the video.
Bike touring is in my future. Without a doubt.
@@AdventureOtaku Mine, too. I'm leading two tours in 2025, but that only takes me through Spring. I've still got Winter, Summer, and Autumn full of empty time to fill up.
My wife and I came up with a plan a month ago. Normally i just work seasonly at a campground but this week i start a full-time job. She is a nurse. We will do nothing but work, eat and sleep until our daughters wedding in June. After the wedding we are headed to the Black Hills to hike for the rest of the summer and fall. Work nonstop again over the winter and head for northern MN in the spring. Spend the summer paddling in and around the BWCA. After that we arent sure. We are thinking that after exporing the two areas that we can decide where we want to hang our hat.
Sounds like you have a good plan, enjoy the wedding and those beautiful places.
First on my list is learning to hand roll.
oooh hand roll. The only hand roll I do is Japanese food. Good luck with that.
I'm planning to do my first fastpacking trip this year. Also planning on a few short bikepacking and paddle board camping trips.
That’s awesome. I picked up a new bike today, so bike packing will be in my future.
@AdventureOtaku Sweet! I did my first trip last year and loved it.
As I start eyeballing retirement I want to do some rail trails along with hiking and backpacking. My goal for 2025 is to get myself geared up with the right bike and bike carrier and start exploring some local trails to get me started.
Bike packing is definitely in my future.
I’ve definitely got goals for kayaking, I’d like to kayak across the bay of Bothnia to Finland, which isn’t that huge a crossing from here but is still something to work towards. To that end I’ve done my first camping trip this fall and would like to do some more multi day trips going longer distances. There’s an Island called Holmön that is directly on that route near where I live so next year I hope to visit there by kayak and maybe navigate around it. I did for kayaking purposes this year but we took the ferry over.
Next summer I’m planning to be back in Ontario visiting family and am hoping to do the Georgian Bay myself, probably Killarney.
I also plan to get my blue paddle pass, the 3rd of five levels in the spring, I was aiming for it this year but logistically it didn’t work so probably early next year instead. I know a lot of people have issues with those kinds of programs but for me it’s a nice concrete way of seeing my improvement as a paddler.
I’d like to complete my first “Harry year” which is a thing specifically in Sweden where kayakers paddle all 12 months of the year.
I want to do the WFR course but presently I’m in school and money is tight so that may need to wait another year or two unfortunately.
I also need to get a new computer to do video editing. My current machine is a decade old and just not up for the job, so my TH-cam stuff is kinda stagnant as a result, so that’s a goal to upgrade next year.
Lots of good goals! Let me know when you end up in Georgian Bay. I might be there too!
My #1 goal is to be able is to get on and out of my new seakayak, without dumping and with confidence. Sadly it’s been a problem. It’s never been a problem before. Prolly just need more time on the water.
this is a super common problem, and what I am going to say is bad on experience not your particular situation. So I may be wrong, but this problem is frequently core strength, after that it is probably technique or a combination of the two. I did a video called getting in/getting out of your kayak. Check it out, it may be helpful.
Signed up for a BLS & WFA course in January. I have several trips in the pipeline for 2025. In the first quarter and part of Q2, I have planned to paddle Matagorda Bay (TX Gulf Coast), Caddo Lake, and the entire Lake Austin (Colorado River) In either the third or fourth quarter, I plan to either be in either Alaska (Icy Bay) or possibly the Yukon. Have a great holiday season and thanks for all the quality content in 2024.
Bob, you always have something planned. You are a rockstar. Have a great holiday!
It might be interesting to do a video on how to control your kayak on the ocean with following seas/swells.
I feel like somewhere I talked about following seas….. I’ll try and figure it out. If I did I’ll post a link.
My plans include: Getting the motorcycle skills up and doing some longer rides, getting my youngest daughter riding too. Working on my fitness as it looks like my heart took a hit earlier in the year leaving me breathless at times. Putting the surfski in the water and testing it and myself out. Building a kayak rack and a motorcycle rack for new the trailer. Finally learning to roll a yak. Not short on things to do.
That’s a great list! Take care of that heart. This year I really embraced running (neither long, far, or fast) and I saw the lowest blood pressures I have had in decades. Unfortunately the facial surgery I had slowed me down, and then just as I was getting going again, I injured my foot. January is going to be a slow reintroduction to running. Have a great holiday! Thanks for being a regular viewer/commentor!
@@AdventureOtaku I will give it plenty of work to wake it up. Had a few strokes over the last couple of years; had trouble with diagnosis because there were few symptoms.
You have a great Christmas Brett.
I've been enjoying your videos have safe and enjoyable holiday season...
Thanks for watching and happy holidays to you as well!
I am hoping to Get me Touring Awards done next year. I was expecting to do the this year. except the Coach that normally does that the awards moved over to Paddle Boards. So hopefully next year he will be back to coaching in tourers again. Otherwise it will be another year treading water. Which I don't want to do, as I would like to do the Great Glen Tour next year and then start to look at getting out on Sea Kayaking courses after that. I would also like to get out with the Wife Bikepacking or Cycle Touring as it was when I used to do it in my teens. I will also be building upon my running after Sacking off Couch to 5K after an injury and simple running 5K at a Parkrun two weeks ago and again yesterday. To I will be looking at running 10K next year and then if all goes well Half Marathons, the year after that. As it has been a very long time since my first and Last Half marathon.
Have a Great Christmas and New Year Brett. I will be looking forward to next year's content, and where you adventures take you and us your audience in turn.
5k is on my list as well, also after i get over a current injury that is taking it’s own sweet time to heal! Thanks for being a core member of this community Simon, enjoy the holidays.
Next year I'd like to take a course and learn how to roll. Also some more practice of rescuing. And want to join one of the local groups so that I can get on the Columbia with company and do some more ambitious trips. Would also like to spend the winter somewhere warm like Florida or Arizona. Have a lovely Christmas!
To learn to roll, check out the local universities. Frequently they will have a paddling club that does roll instruction in the university pool. Great way to learn. It may be in a WW boat the technique is the same.
I already have a plan for the next 2 years. I switched from a canoe to a kayak this fall. I'm planning on the Water tribe Ultra Marathon 2025 (67 mile race from Tampa to Stumps Pass) Using this race as prep for 2026 Everglades challenge (300 miles from Tampa to Key Largo) I have been paddling and training and getting all the required gear for the race next spring. I also have a list of places I want to paddle next year. Mostly trips that I could never do in my canoe.
Nice! Excited to see how it goes.
I’m hoping to do the inside passage in 2026, I have plenty of expedition experience, but I feel like I need more time in the open ocean dealing with swells and surf landings, so I’m planning a few trips for the west coast of Vancouver Island - one a guided instructional expedition and one later in the summer with friends.
Ive done most of it from Port Hardy to Skagway - I am missing Bella Bella to Prince Rupert - reach out if you have questions. There were a couple places in BC where there are big swells and exposed coasts, I don’t think I ever did an actual surf landing, though. The Alaska section is pretty docile.
@@AdventureOtaku I will definitely be reaching out in the future, thank you!
This month I started training somewhat seriously in the surfski, I'm hoping to get my endurance up to where I can manage some really long crossings. Hoping I can manage the Watertribe ultramarathon in March, and if I can pull that off my dream-of-all-dreams is to paddle to the Dry Tortugas. Probably cross the state of Florida through the Okeechobee waterway too at some point. I'll have to see how things are looking in a couple months, I want this to be a next-year plan but it might end up being a two year plan
My goal for this video was to make 2 year plans a thing. Excellent, make it happen.
I was wondering where on Georgian Bay you were thinking, I live in Meaford, which is on the bay. I could help with logistics and would love to paddle!
I was looking at the Killarney Provincial Park Area, but right now am leaning towards Apostle Islands.... Ill let you know if I change my mind... I have to make a call in the next week or two.
Ok no worries, have fun planning, keep me posted!
In 2025 for me its going to be smaller and light boats. I want to go down to the bottom France near Spain and pick up a new WAVESKI ONE 165 Pack INI. The surf should be good and it will be a nice break. My old one needs replacing and they sell these off the shelf. If order one here, its about a 4 month waiting list. We may take the cycles and go packrafting in Italy or Germany Apls. I've never been packrafting before. I'm getting a little tried of all the gear I need for the sea too. Sea kayaks are ok where I live but its just transporting them. The UK and EU's taxes on cars and vans are going thru the roof with emissions over 100. You cant really get a 4 meter kayak on a microcar.
Have you seen my photos of 3 17 foot kayaks on my Toyota Yaris?
@@AdventureOtaku Not yet. My old 2017 citroen c1 goes in Jan 2025 and the replacement is a microlino car. I live in one of the many low emission zones/clean air zones. These zones are becoming increasing common here and in the EU. With petrol at £1.60 pence per liter (£8/ $10 usd per gallon) and road tax at £180 and over now, ( increasing in Apr 2025) even for a Yaris, we're being priced off the roads. And dont even start me on parking charges. Its becoming cheaper to fly than take the car.
How about a paddle trip in Europe (as a 4th trip for you) ;-)
There are definitely places I would like to paddle over there. For sure. At some point.
@@AdventureOtaku What about Ireland, you'd be very welcome
It’s on my list!
#4: British Columbia
BC is amazing. Have fun.