BBK26 - Getting It Wrong — And Learning Fast!!!

Apr 12, 2026

Spain — The Reality Check

I arrived in Spain in mid-February feeling strong.

The plan was simple: ferry to Bilbao, straight onto the water, and head west along the Cantabrian and Asturian coast.

Reality had other ideas.

Storm-force winds in the Bay of Biscay. 8m swell. Beaches that were completely unlaunchable.

We diverted to our place near Ribadesella and waited.

Two days later, I finally got on the water.

Over the next week I completed:

  • A 4-day solo trip
  • Three additional day paddles

It was exactly what I needed.

A proper test.

Surf, Swims, and Humility

Some launches were clean.

Others… weren’t.

The lessons came quickly:

  • Equipment gets lost if it isn’t secured
  • Systems don’t always work
  • Confidence can take a hit

At times:

  • A fully loaded kayak punched through breaking waves
  • An unladen boat got thrown back onto the beach
  • A breaking wave ripped me out of the boat completely

One swim in particular stood out.

Big surf. Wide break zone. No easy way back.

I regrouped, controlled my breathing, held onto the boat, rode out a couple more waves, then climbed back in via the rear deck.

The boat was still pointing into the waves. I got moving and made it through the rest of the set.

Shaken—but through.

Every time I got properly worked in the surf, I came out bruised, sore, and very aware of the risk.

That’s when it clicked.

This isn’t sustainable.

Reframing Risk

That experience shifted something important.

I’m not doing this expedition to chase excitement—although there will be plenty.

I’m doing it to complete it.

For the journey. For the places. For the people. For my own growth.

The key question became:

Should I leave the beach?

Not:

  • Can I do it?
  • Would it be fun?

But:

  • Is it sensible?
  • Is it sustainable?

That’s a very different mindset.

Equipment Lessons

Lost Gear

  • Sunglasses
  • Yeti flask
  • Helmet

All lost in surf launches.

All avoidable.

Lesson: if it’s not secured properly, it’s gone.

Failed Gear

  • Cheap imitation kayak trolley failed on first use

I’ve since replaced it with the proper version.

Bad Choices

  • Sleeping bag too thin → cold nights
  • Old multi-fuel stove → too fiddly
  • Carried too much food

Other Lessons

  • Water isn’t always easy to find
  • Suction mounts have limits in heavy water
  • Oily hands and paddle shafts don’t mix
  • Social media takes time and energy
  • A lighter, simpler shelter system would help
  • Daily distances will likely be less than planned

What Did Work

Just as important—some things worked really well:

  • Navigation and communication systems
  • Garmin inReach messaging and tracking
  • 10-minute breadcrumb trail via MapShare
  • My ability to cope with big crossings and exposed coast
  • The kindness of strangers

One evening, a man I’d chatted to earlier turned up with groceries and warm milk.

That sort of thing stays with you.

I also proved something to myself:

I can sit in the boat for five hours straight if needed.

And the charging system held up for around four days.

That’s encouraging—but still needs testing over longer periods.

After Spain — Momentum Builds, Then Falters

Coming back from Spain, I felt positive.

I’d handled some difficult situations. Learned a lot. Refined kit and thinking.

I had two months to go.

Then real life stepped in:

  • First aid courses to deliver
  • Jobs at home that needed finishing
  • A Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Scotland

Training went well initially. I built towards longer sessions and more time on the water.

But then my wrist flared up.

That forced rest.

Physically, it wasn’t a big issue.

Mentally, it was.

Doubt crept in.

Had I done enough?

The Mental Shift

D-Day was set: 26 April 2026

For a long time, I thought the goal was:

Be ready for 4000km.

It isn’t.

The real goal is much simpler:

Be ready to get to the start.

Everything beyond that becomes:

  • Stretch
  • Challenge
  • Decision-making
  • Growth

In a real-world environment where the outcome is uncertain.

Final Thought (Part 2)

As I write this, a few weeks out, I don’t know if I’m ready.

There are still gaps.

There probably always will be.

That’s the point.