The print version of May's "Canoe&Kayak" magazine carries an article on Ed Gillet's 1987 solo, 64 day, unassisted kayak trip from California to Hawaii.

Solo trippers will enjoy this. If you've ever spent a night alone offshore in a kayak, you'll really want to read it.

It's a solo trip to top all solo trips.

This guy?

quote canoe212: " This guy? "

That's the guy. Your article is better than the one appearing in Canoe&Kayak.

Wow, ". . . the kayaking equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest." --Goose

Awesome.

Good Stories...wow the guy who went for California to Hawaii and BeaV are both pretty amazing fellas.

SunCatcher

Cool!

Thanks for the heads up - I went and bought a copy today for that story and the one about BeaV's trip - too bad it wasn't longer, but there was a lot packed into a short one. "Alone" was pretty intense.

Very cool story. I would've gladly read a much longer article though. I'd imagine a ton of details were left out.

I read the Canoe & Kayak article and was amazed. Gillette was never eager to talk about the trip until recently. His reasons for not talking alluded to the darker moments of the trip. At times I believe both he and BeaV experienced dark thoughts of hopelessness, doubt, and eminent death. Like with combat veterans, instances painful to talk about.

I can understand the reluctance to talk about it; on the other hand, I'd read a whole book about it.

quote boonie: "I can understand the reluctance to talk about it; on the other hand, I'd read a whole book about it."

Some stories just need to be shared.

ps. can someone tell me who BeaV is, and details about his story. I've seen the name mentioned several times now and am curious.

BeaV is a member here who completed this epic canoe Adventure . Be sure to check out all the links toward the bottom of the page.

quote AndySG: "
I read the Canoe & Kayak article and was amazed. Gillette was never eager to talk about the trip until recently. His reasons for not talking alluded to the darker moments of the trip. At times I believe both he and BeaV experienced dark thoughts of hopelessness, doubt, and eminent death. Like with combat veterans, instances painful to talk about."

Thanks, AndySG for your very insightful response! Yes, it's the dark thoughts that are hard to deal with and impossible to share. I'd sure like to sit across the campfire from Mr. Gillette and talk it through.

I get asked "Would you do it again?" question alot. My standard answer is to smile and say "No way!" If I say it with enough enthusiasm, that seems to suffice for the questioner whom I consider to not have the foggiest idea of what I went through.

Hoping someday to meet up with you and some of the other "insightful" folks from this site, again. Just remember to ask the real question: "How was it?"- that'll get you more than a smile.

BeaV