November 09, 2009
Just a brief update for next year's plans for the Orkney Islands - Spirit Dancer Canoe is presently being wintered over in Kirkwall and is being managed by the Orkney County Council and the local paddling club thanks to councellor Andrew Dreiver and Douglas Sewell of the local School District.
This year's canoe journey in Orkney was a milestone as it took over three years of planning to get the canoe to UK then onto Orkney. There is a wonderful tie with Orkney and Canada so having the canoe there for the people to paddle in her was truly remarkable. The impact it has left on our Canadians and also the Orkadians will last for many years. It has touched the lives of many so therefore my hope is to visit many more of the islands of Orkney.
Next year (2010) my plans are to bring more Canadians to experience paddling in these magical isles and over the duration of five weeks from June 18th to July 21st to set up an itinerary to visit as many islands as possible.
Our film maker Don Jonasson from Anacortes, Washington State, USA has some remarkable footage from our three months on the Scottish Coast so hopefully when we come back to Orkney this will be shown to the community.
Plans to travel to Shetland will be next for the 2011 season May to July, so it will take quite a bit of time to work this out. We hope to paddle Spirit Dancer to Shetland which will be a remarkable acheivement but, we will need a lot of support on the water and at least two teams to get her across safely.
This year we had to cancel crossing Pentland Firth as we had no support on the water to make the crossing.
There are plans in the near future to make a side trip journey to the Croatian Coast from September to November of 2011. To paddle the Adriatic coastline would be roughly 500 NM, and the possibilities are endless when planning, so although the focus is the UK coastline I thought it would be great to plan another side journey while wating for another season on the UK coast.
Updates will be done when time and information become available.
Wishing all my supporters, sponsors, paddlers and new friends the very best.
Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager
August 31st 2009
This update is to all who have found interest and helped sponsor this great canoe journey. The Scottish coast is the most splendid coastline but more than anything else, and I need to be clear on this, that the hospitality of all the people around the coast has been incredible. I have found that it is not so much the canoe journey and the challenge it represents but it is the spirit of the people and the friendships that it has created and will have far reaching effects on all that get involved.
This year we had over four hundred fifty people ( including many youth and adults ) from Scotland who experienced paddling in Spirit Dancer. Tthe canoe has had a profound effect on all who have stepped into her and has created a great canoe family.
For next year, 2010, although I am planning an Arctic ski journey to Bylot Island in Canada's eastern Arctic in May /June, I do plan on revisiting many of the islands of Orkney from mid June to July 22 for about 40 days so hopefully I will have the chance to meet many more people of Orkney and include them in travelling in Spirit Dancer canoe.
I am hoping to have more support from the corporate level and to include them in team building in a foreign environment. This will be a great way to have more corporate involvement and to have them help with our fundraising efforts that has been one of the most difficult tasks I have ever had.
Lastly, I would like to say so many thanks to so many that have supported this endeavor. It has been everything I had ever dreamed of and that every challenge presented I have faced it all head on. It has been truly a great benefit to so many, experiencing the seas and weather to the teams involved, First Nations from the Okanagan Nation, the Press, Radio and television we thank you all, we look forward to our journey next year in Orkney.
Best wishes to all,
Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager
Spirit Dancer Canoe Journeys
July 27th 2009 Kirkwall, Orkney
This is our final update before returning to British Columbia, Canada after the most amazing canoe journey with Spirit Dancer this season in Scotland and Orkney.
On the island of Westray, pipers join us on Spirit Dancer, absolutely amazing!
Our final canoe day was spent on the Isle of Westray in a most magnificent setting, a wild and remote area of the Northern Isles. This is a place I will return to next year as my plans are to complete over six weeks a visit to all communities in Orkney with Spirit Dancer.
Barbara with the pipers that joined us on Spirit Dancer on the Isle of Westray
The native youth from the Okanagan Nation have had a super time and we must thank so many from this community for the splendid experience you have provided all of us. We will follow up later and list all the people that have sponsored us and to the host families and businesses that have helped us with this program. It has been a tremendous success. We thankyou all.
Ryan and Douglas on our way back from a super visit to the Isle of Westray, Orkney
We will be departing Orkney with wonderful memories for a lifetime. It is an extraordinary landscape with lovely people and gracious hosts. We hope that you will all consider a visit to British Columbia, Canada at sometime so that we can recipricate, and provide a similar experience hopefully on the BC Coast by Canoe!
Our parting image of the graveyard in Stromness overlooking the Isle of Hoy, Orkney
Spirit Dancer will remain in your hands now till I return and hope that many more will experience the magic of Canada's icon 'The Canoe'. I'm sure there will be many in Orkney that will realize the impact it has had on so many of us, the friendships it has created, the life skills for the youth and the great relations it has had for Canada and the United Kingdom.
My best wishes to all of you, Chris and Barbara
July 24th 2009 Kirkwall, Orkney
Native Canadians prepare for Orkney canoe voyage - See the video!
We have only a few days left here in Orkney and we will all be on our way home as of July 29th. This past week has been incredible. Yesterday the Penticton youth were filmed by Scottish television on a canoe journey returning from Lyness, Hoy. The conditions were perfect as today it was very wet and windy! So they were very lucky.
Okangan youth bring plenty of spirit to Stromness in the raft race.
In Stromness there was a shopping week and a raft race that the youth were in and they placed very well considering that most people had a year to prepare! The youth had 20 minutes to build their raft with the help of Richard Croft and captured the attention of all who were present. Well done gang.
The opportunity to photograph here is endless. Another amazing sunset!
We will be on our way to the island of Westray tomorrow which is one of the more remote islands and Spirit Dancer will be transported over by ferry in order to host many of the local people while there for the day.
Sunday and Monday will be an opportunity for the youth to spend time with their host families and to do some needed shopping before returning to Canada.
Overall it has been certainly the most amazing experience here with many different canoe outings for the da.y We have taken more than 200 people out since we arrived here in Orkney.
There is a website of the first story about Spirit Dancer in a new magazine called I'I Orkney here in Kirkwall on www.millgaet.com, The writer and host for the story was provided by David Hartley who is a reporter for many news stories unique to this area.
On route back from Stromness the lighting is most spectacular for photography.
Photography provided by Orkney Photographic.
Most likely I will make one more report on Monday the 27th and that will be it for the 2009 UK canoe season. Next year we will spend six weeks here before paddling to Shetland with the hope we will be very well supported by various craft.
All the best from Chris and Crew.
Overlooking Stromness and the Island of Hoy.
Spirit Dancer in Birsay Bay- a magic place for the Penticton native youth.
July 18th, 2009 - Kirkwall - Orkney
First Nations youth of the Okanagan Nation admiring the views of the North Atlantic.
The evening of July 16th brought us our group of native youth that had traveled non stop to Orkney from Penticton, British Columbia. It was an amazing journey for them and one that will be treasured for a lifetime.
Barbara and Beverly taking in the views of Birsay and Noup Head.
Most of the youth have not traveled out of B,C never mind out of Canada. They have been well received and taken care of by the community here and will have the most amazing time. We had a formal welcoming last night with local music performed by Hadhirgaan.
A photographers paradise! What else can I say!
The native youth shared songs from many areas of Western Canada including their own Okanagan territory. What a great evening we all had. The main focus of the youth while here of course is to canoe in some very special places that have been recommended to us.
Barbara and her close friends. These cows followed her along the road wherever she went.
There is no question that canoeing here on this coastline is very spectacular and one also has to pay very close attention to the local weather conditions that change very quickly so we are looking for the right window for traveling to some amazing landscapes.
Orkney is a magical place, a natural landscape with very peaceful surroundings.
This journey we are on leaves me breathless and speechless some times. It is certainly the most challenging sea scape and land we have chosen to travel around so we take our time and meet the most interesting people. Indeed we are on a journey of discovery and spirit of adventure!
From this spot, in a straight line the North Pole is some 1800 nautical miles away!
Today we hoped to canoe out of Stromness but weather was very uncooperative but by afternoon we had made the decision to take the group to see the puffins out near Birsay.
It was a great option as the puffins were waiting. The youth from Penticton, along with some of the adults who have lived here in Orkney for 30 years, had never seen a puffin!
A group of Puffins look out to the Atlantic, what a spectacular spot!
After a few hours of photographing we decided that we would return to this place by canoe most likely Monday and film along this coast amongst the surf and cliffs. This will make spectacular filming.
It is getting late and it is time for bed. In closing I want to thank the Stromness Hotel for providing our group a super buffet lunch today. Thanks to all that are following us. Best wishes from all of us.
Chris and Crew.
July 12th, 2009 - Kirkwall, Orkney
We have been here in Orkney for a week and have made a number of short day trips with Spirit Dancer. The last one was yesterday to Holm (St. Mary's) under sail most of the way and was quite a change as most of the days have been very blustery and sometimes we’ve been unable to get out of the harbour.
Surfs Up!! This photo was taken on the Northwest coast of mainland Orkney near Birsay
Our itinerary for the next few weeks after the native youth arrive is: Mainland Orkney, Hoy and Westray. The activities for the youth will be very busy with quite a bit of canoeing being built into their experiences.
On the way to Birsay on Mainland Orkney, a beautiful old stone house. The stories it could tell!
We have had over 100 people out into the canoe to various destinations. Thanks to the newspapers Orkney Today and the Orcadian that have helped promote Spirit Dancer while here.
Barbara admiring the power of the ocean near Birsay.
Radio Orkney and Super Station Orkney have also helped promote our canoe for evening programs set at 7:00 pm each weekday night.
Don and Ora taking a few moments to admire the fine scenery around Birsay.
We will most likely give a more updated report Friday July 16th when the native youth arrive from Penticton, British Columbia, this is most likely the first journey for them out of British Columbia.
Regards for now, Chris and Crew
July 9th 2009 - Kirkwall, Orkney
I must thank a number of people that are helping our Canadian paddlers while here in Kirkwall with accommodation and great hospitality - Douglas and Christine, Andrew and Irene, Johnny and Barbara, Fiona and Kye and many others that have been incredibly helpful during our stay here.
Spirit Dancer preparing to surf the bow wave of the Northlink Ferry.
Photo Credit to Fiona MacNab
Also, Fiona MacNab and Kye Valongo who have taken many images of our canoe Spirit Dancer that are available to be seen on Fiona's website.
At the crowsnest on Oosterschelde. What a great vantage point for photography!
The weather here is settled one minute and very windy the next. As expected, we have had over 300 people out in Spirit Dancer since we left Glasgow May 6. We will be here for the next 18 days and expect many islanders to experience our canoe.
Spirit Dancer alongside the Schooner Oostershelde taken from the crowsnest.
The native youth will be arriving on July 16th from British Columbia and the Education department of the local School District and the Orkney Islands council have put together a program that will be very interesting and educational.
The tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl in Kirkwall harbour
Spirit Dancer is destined for the island of Westray on the 25th of July to host many of the local people. It promises to be an interesting time.
Nesting cormorants on our way to Scaba Bay from Stromness
Barbara and I have been invited to Kirkwall Rotary for lunch to do a talk about our journey in brief and later come in and do a presentation.
Wishing everyone who is following our progress our best regards,
Chris and Crew.
July 5th 2009 - Kirkwall, Orkney
The sea stacks of the Northcoast of Scotland near Thurso. Magic!
On Friday, July 3, our team members departed on the Northlink ferry out of Scrabster for Orkney We had a great evening with the Caithness Kayak Club members before we departed in the evening taking out 36 members in two trips to the sea stacks of the North Coast. What a magic place!
Donald in a relaxed moment at the Pentland Firth Sailing club.
We presented a hand carved paddle of Western Red Cedar to the Pentland Sailing Club in appreciation of the great hospitality and help they provided our team while in Thurso.
Our crossing of Pentland Firth and an invitation to the bridge.
Since our arrival in Orkney we have been kept very busy meeting so many people. Yesterday we paddled Spirit Dancer from Stromness to Scapa Bay, about 13 nautical miles, with a crew of 17. Everyone did very well and we made the distance in about four hours.
The Old Man of Hoy a 450 ft Sea Stack on our way to Orkney.
Today we tried to portage our canoe on a custom made dolly and blew out a wheel on the slight uphill grade into Kirkwall so........brought the trailer in to move her the rest of the way.
Tonight we had another crew including our host families out for an hour long paddle under beautiful sea conditions. As we went out of the harbour a tall ship came around the corner and we came along side her as we paddled photographing this French ship.
It was quite a remarkable site. It is after midnight now and time for some needed rest. We have a very intense program for the month so there will be regular updates throughout our stay.
Best wishes to all,
Chris and Crew.
July 2nd 2009 - Thurso
We have abandoned the crossing of Pentland Firth due to a lack of a support vessel. The conditions would have been ideal and we would have had a crew formulated by Bill Bruce and Ken Nickol but the final word is, if there is no support on the water there is no crossing. Safety is everything .
The canoe is booked onto the ferry for Friday, July 3rd, at 8:45 AM leaving from Scrabster and arriving in Stromness at 10:15 AM. We hope to paddle Spirit Dancer from Stromness to Kirkwall on the southside to Scarpa Flow then portage the canoe into Kirkwall on Friday or Saturday depending on the help we get!!
All reports from now on will come from Kirkwall and we are really looking forward to meeting all the local people.
Very best for now,
Chris and Crew.
June 29th 2009 - Thurso
Sunset over Isle of Skye from Raasay looking north out the Sound of Raasay
I would like to first say many thanks to the following individuals for the much appreciated help that has been provided to make this such a successful second year of our canoe journey.
Just recently from Portree to Thurso including the following:
To Victor and Mark who trailered our canoe from Portree to Inverness and to Colin who helped get the trailer to Portree from Mallaig,
To Jas who helped move the canoe to Wick from Inverness.
Bill and Ros from Wick, for looking after our crew in Wick and the great weekend we all had at the Festival Marine show. We took out over 120 children in the Harbour along with many adults in Spirit Dancer canoe. On the Sunday, Bill, Ros, Richard and I took some of the members of his local kayaking club out onto the North Sea for a short and very interesting canoe trip to the Sea Stacks south of Wick in interesting sea conditions.
To Willie who owned the Land Rover and moved us to Thurso from Wick.
Looking towards the north end of Skye from Isle of Raasay
We are now in Thurso and ready to take out many children and young people on Spirit Dancer canoe in the evenings in the harbour at Scrabster.
There are still lots of logistics to sort out for the crossing of Pentland Firth including a support vessel that will be needed in order to cross over. Pentland Firth has the reputation of being one of the most dangerous crossings in the world on a bad day so we are being very careful about which day looks best for us.
What a great visit on Raasay, the youth experiencing Spirit Dancer ashore.
Don, Richard and I await the arrival of 3 Canadians including my wife for a great experience in Orkney so we are now inches away from getting to Orkney where Spirit Dancer will take out many local people. BBC television has expressed interest in coming over for a special program in mid July.
Local prawn fisherman in Portree on the Isle of Skye
Spirit Dancer will be wintered over in preparation for next years program for Orkney and the Shetland Islands, so that’s it for now.
Best wishes to all,
Chris and Crew.
June 27th 2009 - Portree on the Isles of Skye to Wick
Arrived late last night in Wick after several hours of trailering Spirit Dancer so we will do a more informative update in the next few days I hope everyone is enjoying the updates and pictures.
Best regards
Chris and Crew.
June 25th 2009 - Isle of Raasay
Spirit Dancer visiting the Isle of Scalpay on route to Raasay
We have recruited many crew members from many places including Scottish, Irish and university students from China.
Our journey from Glenelg to the Isle of Raasay has been remarkable with almost winter to summer conditions in 24 hours with 20+ knot winds and howling rain to T -shirt and shorts in hours!!
Richard with the primary school students of Broadford
We stopped briefly overnight at Kyle of Lochalsh and Broadford We made a special visit in Broadford to visit school students and parents with special talks to the children from ages 3 to 12.
Had a great visit with Gordon Brown of Skyak Adventures at Camus Cross near Oronsay.
While ashore photographing on Scalpay a beautiful arrangment of polished stones.
We have paddled and sailed each day for what seems to be weeks. Actually, it has been weeks - 50 days in all - so far of which we have been on the water for at least 35 days.
We have captured some amazing film thanks to Don so we should have a super show next year about this year's season.
The Red Cuillin on the Isle of Skye
Today (June 25th) we paddle our last day on the westcoast to Portree then take Spirit Dancer off the water and trailer her to Wick and then to Thurso We have some amazing volunteers helping make this move and will recognize them once we are in Wick.
Our best wishes to all who have followed our progress.
Regards,
Chris and Crew.
June 21st 2009 - Mallaig to Glenelg
Our departure from Mallaig was delayed a day due to very strong winds in the Sound of Sleat. We had a super time in Mallaig and were looked after royally. Many thanks to Pimmy, Harbour Master and Colin, local police constabulary, and Stanley and Carol of the Fisherman’s Mission in Mallaig.
Our crossing yesterday (Saturday) was a four mile crossing which took one and a half hours with some rough seas at the end near Armadale. Our crew of 11 was a strong crew so we made good time overall.
We pushed onto the Isle of Oronsay (about 15 knots in all) so it was a good day. We were all welcomed by the community. Thanks to Guss and Ian for allowing us to stay in the local church overnight. We left another great yellow cedar paddle as part of the legacy.
A super anchorage on Oronsay, Isle of Skye
We had a great evening at the pub and live music to follow. We went to bed at 1:00 am!!
Don and Guss enjoying the great evening we had on Oronsay
Today we left Oronsay with a great sendoff from the locals including one very special young lad Seamus Baoighill (12 years old) who was a genius on the pipes.
This young piper was remarkable 12 year old Seamus Baoighill on Oronsay
Our crew of fifteen set off for Glenelg and made the eight nautical miles in less than two hours.
Here we are ready for the tricky waters of Kylerhea with a very restricted passage for tomorrow. We have another film maker, Justine, and her partner, Barry, who kayaked around Britain in 2005. He was very intrigued by our canoe and was very impressed.
Best wishes,
Chris and Crew
June 18th - 2009 Mallaig
Just a short update of our progress. Tomorrow, June 19th, we hope to depart Mallaig to Skye with 4 Canadian crew and 4 Scottish paddlers. Donald, our film maker, will drive the support vehicle and hopefully the weather will allow us to depart. At present it is force 7/8 on the Sound of Sleat with serious rain squalls. The weather over the past two weeks has generally been very good with wind every day coming either from the southwest or from the northeast.
Yesterday morning was spent speaking to Primary school students in Mallaig about Arctic Travel and travelling the BC Alaska coast by canoe.
The community of Mallaig has been super and very helpful especially Colin and Alison who came to our aid. They allowed us to camp on their front lawn. Colin is the police sergeant here and is extremely helpful He will receive a beautiful Red Cedar Paddle along with Pimmy, the Harbour Master.
I will do a presentation for the community at the Fisherman’s Mission tonight {Thursday) at 6:30pm about our travels in Spirit Dancer on the BC Alaska coast as well as some Arctic journeys.
Spirit Dancer will be taken off the water June 25th and trailered to Wick for a special weekend event while on route to Thurso and Orkney for the month of July.
Oh, by the way, it is now sunny!!
Cheers
Chris and Crew
June 14th - Arisaig and Mallaig
The village of Arisaig just south of Mallaig
Last night was the most impressive live performance I have ever witnessed. This event was staged in Arisaig, not far from Mallaig. We had heard about a Ceilidh (kay-lee) and that there will be a live Folk Band (highland music) with all the local people. Don, Jenn, Carol, Anne and I arrived just before the start of this performance. How impressed we all were!
A Ceilidh (Community Dance) in Arisaig. A most impressive folk band performance.
Don and I stayed until the end (1:00 am) and enjoyed every moment We met the band after the performance and complimented them on their incredible talent and asked if they were professionals and the answer was “Aye.” We asked them if we could put them up on our website and help promote them and the answer again was, “Aye !!”
Their website is here. Gabe the Fiddler asked if I could also provide viewers his MySpace page.
Spirit Dancer awaits its next crew. Most likely it will be local people from Mallaig so it should be again great fun. We can't wait to get back into the canoe.
Best wishes for now,
Chris and Crew
June 13th 2009 - Mallaig to Inverie return
The village of Inverie where we were made to feel so welcome..
On the 11th of June our crew of six departed for Inverie into the Knoydart wilderness a two hour paddle journey to the community. Tommy was there to welcome us to the community. We loaded up the Land Rover and went over to the Bunkhouse which was sponsored by the Knoydart Foundation for our crew.
Our visit here was very special as we were able to take out many from the community in Spirit Dancer canoe. More than 40 people were able to have this experience including many school students and visitors from the surrounding area.
Just a delight to take out all school students with Mum and Dads in Inverie
We had great times here with the community and also had the experience of having dinner twice in the most remote pub in Britain so I'm told. It is a very beautiful area surrounded with mountains and rolling hills, a place of tranquility with a very peaceful atmosphere. Our crew all agreed that the setting and the community made for a most memorable experience.
In the evening, we shared stories to the locals and played a DVD of Arctic expeditions and many other journeys. We also made a special presentation to the community sharing gifts of three Western Red Cedar paddles from British Columbia and 1 Yellow Cedar Paddle for the local pub.
We are now back in Mallaig after 90 minute paddle with 8 new recruits for the day. Spirit Dancer will remain here in Mallaig until the 19th when our new crew from Canada arrives.
Steve's hire car stuffed to the limit!
While in Mallaig for next few days (Monday to Thursday) we hope there will be opportunities for all to enjoy the canoe while she is here. I am away to Oban tomorrow (Sunday) to return a rental car and meet with Steve Parish who will bring us back Monday evening.
With best regards to all who are following our progress.
Chris and Crew
June 11th 2009 - Mallaig
Sunset over the Isle of Mull from Cullipool, our last evening before going North.
On June 8th our crew was ready for the journey around to the inside of Ardnamurchan to Salen and then up the Sound of Mull from Lochaline. Not only did we have a Northwesterly, we were faced with another challenge, our small crew. We are continually short crewed with six so as the winds reached twenty knots we came ashore as our hull speed was down to one knot!
Dr Mike who was with us as additional crew suggested we come to his home for a break and tea. We found that the winds were increasing as the afternoon progressed so we abandoned the route to Salen.
Lochaline school children welcoming the Canadian and British crew members. Fantastic!
By 6:00 pm we made the decision to return to Lochaline by sail and put the canoe, Spirit Dancer, up on shore for the evening. While having dinner at the local Pub (the Lochaline Hotel) with Charlie and Sally, Mike suggested going to get the trailer in Glasgow the next day (June 10th) and move the canoe to Mallaig.
After a return journey of fifteen hours we managed to retrieve the canoe trailer from King George V docks and headed to Lochaline to pickup the canoe and move her the same day to Mallaig where we are now.
We had to move the trailer fairly soon anyway as we are taking the canoe off the water on June 25th and trailering Spirit Dancer to Thurso. It’s unfortunate that we have breaks in our route but the main problem is the short handed crew and I will not jeopardize the safety of any crew member.
Retreating by Sail down the Sound of Mull to Lochaline.
Spirit Dancer will remain here in Mallaig until June 19th until we have sufficient crew members to carry on up the West Coast. We will, however, take any groups out while here and we are hoping to do an overnight to Inverie, so that’s it for now. We are having an outstanding time with all people of the coast.
My best regards,
Chris and Crew
June 8th 2009 Lochaline
Departed Port Appin today and arrived safely in Lochaline. It is midnight and I'm quite tired as we have had a long day dealing with lots of logistics.
We have managed to recruit a few more locals for tomorrow to Tobermory. We will take the canoe out at Salen and portage overland and then relaunch Spirit Dancer. We have too small a crew to get round the Ardamurcan Headland.
This is a short update as I'm going to bed!! The crew have been asleep for two hours so I guess it’s my turn now. We will pull Spirit Dancer off the water by June 25th and trailer to Thurso.
Chris and Crew.
June 5th 2009 - Kentallen to Corran Narrows and to Port Appin
Niall Jordan pipes us through the streets of Oban.
As some of you may now know, we hit the wall at Corran Narrows on route to Fort William. With our crew of seven, it was decided it was not possible to get beyond the narrows due to Force 4 headwinds from the North East.
We humbly retreated to Port Appin. Corran Narrows is a place that one needs to pay close attention to whether it is a flood or ebb tide. Even on the flood, our progress was too slow to make it to Fort William.
Our accommodation in Kentallen was a real treat - thank you so much Paul.
Our decision was easy and we returned to Port Appin and positioned Spirit Dancer for our journey to the Sound of Mull then to Lochaline and beyond to the Isle of Skye.
We have moored Spirit Dancer at the mooring buoy across from the Pierhouse Hotel where we have been very well looked after with some great meals and camping for the crew.
Jenn, Carol and Anne enjoying the surroundings of the Isle of Luing. Spectacular!
Today (Friday) we have travelled back to Luing ( Cullipool ) to give some of our new Canadian crew members a chance to discover this beautiful place. We will be recruiting a few more volunteers to travel with us on Monday to the Isle of Mull.
So that’s it for now.
Regards to all,
Chris and Crew
June 4th 2009 - Port Appin to Kentallen
Jenn and Roddy enjoying the free ride to Port Appin from Oban
Yesterday was a tough day of five hours paddling, mostly with a head wind. With a crew of six so we are really under crewed but we managed the 11 Nautical Miles. Earlier that day we went to scout out our next move to Kentallen and spoke with the owner of the Holly Tree Hotel, Paul, and asked if we could pitch a tent near the hotel overlooking Spirit Dancer. “No problems, Chris,” Paul said.
Stalker Castle on route to Kentallen on a long day in the canoe.
When we finally reached Kentallen, Donald, our cameraman, was out with Paul, the hotel owner, in his Rib (an inflatable zodiac) filming our final approach to the mooring station for our canoe. Little did we know at the time that after a fantastic dinner that Paul would give our crew five keys to rooms, on the house!
We provided Paul and his hotel, the Holly Tree Hotel, a beautiful Stanley Park Western Red Cedar paddle carved by Squamish Nations Stewart Nahanee.
Breakfast was also provided in the morning which was very kind of him We all had showers and a good night’s sleep, some with sore shoulders and stiff necks the previous night.
Now, we are all ready to go for the final approach to Fort William. At present our crew is getting Spirit Dancer ready and we will be off in fifteen minutes for the eleven mile paddle with another head wind that appears to be light at present.
Approaching the Island of Eilean Bianagowan, a bird nesting area with many species of gulls.
Best wishes to all and so many thanks to so many helping us with such a fine and historical expedition and the meeting with so many kind and helpful people along the way.
Kindest regards
Chris.
June 2nd 2009 - Port Appin
On the move again, from Cullipool to Oban. We were blessed by good weather and an amazing group of people from Cullipool to paddle the 15 miles to Oban. There were 15 in our crew including Canadians Jenn and myself. It was a magic day on the West Coast of Scotland.
We made it to Oban in 3 and a half hours - a very good time. We were welcomed to an amazing event by a police escort and piper ( Niall Jordan ) that marched us through the streets of Oban with Spirit Dancer on her dolly much to the surprise of the shocked onlookers! It was a one kilometer Portage to the Mountain Rescue shelter on Sinclair Street.
Many thanks to Neil McDougan and Lucy for their fine hospitality and for helping us with the storage of Spirit Dancer in the shelter. It was a glorious day on the water. One of our Maccrew members, Jill, who had never been in a Canadian Canoe before, came over to me virtually in tears and said that this was the most amazing experience in her life.
On Tuesday our two Canadian crew members arrived from Vancouver, Carol MacMillan and Anne Leathem. I met them at many of the BCMC ( British Columbia Mountaineering Club ) meetings so we are now a crew of 4 from Canada plus volunteers from Scotland which have been many.
We are now in Port Appin after a great day on the water. Friends Alister Hume from the Isle of Arran came up yesterday and Mike Barlow from the Isle of Luing joined us for another 12 miles from Oban. Hopefully tomorrow we will head for Fort William calling in at Corran before our arrival at Fort William for Thursday, weather permitting.
There will be more photos coming when we have time to post so hopefully everyone is enjoying the updates and pictures provided. It is a great journey with so many stories. These are just a few.
Donald our camera man is getting some great footage. He tells me that he has 5 hours of filming in so far and we are just into the second month.
Regards to everyone, Chris and Crew
May 30th 2009 - Cullipool - Isle of Luing
The locals from Cullipool for the first time in Spirit Dancer - A classic!
Photo by Fiona Cruickshank
While waiting for our next move with Spirit Dancer from Isle of Luing to Oban we decided on a quick road trip to Thurso. We went up the west and north coast of Scotland and then returned three days later to take out the local people for an evening of paddling in the harbour.
A three day road trip brought us to the north coast of Scotland near Thurso
Our road trip went very well as we timed the weather quite well and managed to fit in a visit with the Caithness Kayaking Club to prepare them for the arrival of Spirit Dancer on June 27th.
A pastoral setting in northern Scotland on our three day road trip.
After a lengthy drive from Thurso to Cullipool we managed a short evening in the canoe with many children and adults. We had twenty in the canoe and Fiona Cruickshank took over 200 pictures for this event which was four years in the making as Barbara and I have been preparing the community since 2005 for the arrival of the canoe.
Jenn enjoying the surroundings of the north coast of Scotland.
On Sunday, May 31st we will make the twelve nautical miles journey to Oban with twelve local people from Cullipool. I understand that there will be quite the welcoming in Oban as the mountain rescue unit, along with a police escort, will be there for the special event. They will wheel ( portage ) Spirit Dancer through the streets of Oban lead by a piper to the mountain rescue shelter one kilometer away. It will be an event like no other!!
The classic shot of highland cattle near Fort Augustus.
It may be a few days now before I do another update so best to everyone and let's hope we will get many volunteer paddlers from the local villages we visit. We hope to be in Fort William by June 4th or 5th if the weather allows.
Regards Chris and Crew
May 27th - Cullipool
Our final approach to Cullipool through many reefs
May 27th Cullipool
Just a short update for all - We have now sent home four of our team to Canada after twenty-one days of great paddling and meeting with the people of the Scottish coast. We are now three in the team including Don our film maker. On June 1 st we have two more Canadians coming over for two weeks. We are getting quite a few offers from people to join us from time to time so hopefully we will have at least six to seven paddlers at a minimum.
Jenn, Don and I will make a trip up the westcoast by car and over the top of Scotland returning Friday evening to Luing. A team is being formulated from the Isle of Luing to paddle Spirit Dancer to Oban Sunday. There will be a small reception so I understand from the mountain rescue team in Oban. We hope to stay with mountain rescue early next week while we plan our next move by canoe to Fort William, most likely for June 2nd if all goes well.
Big news - The Penticton Native Youth Group have booked their flights to Scotland and will be heading for Orkney July 16th. I really hope that we will be able to have a reception for them when they arrive. This will be an historical moment for these youth that have fundraised every penny to get here. They are a great example of what can be done. Their moto is "Impossible is Nothing".
They are ages fifteen to eighteen plus three adult chaperones for a total of thirteen in the group.
Best wishes to all, Chris and Crew
May 24th, 2009 Crinan to Cullipool on the Isle of Luing
Donald, our cameraman on the island of Luing
Spirit Dancer was released from the Crinan Canal system today to make this the highlight of our journey and to finally get out onto the westcoast. It was one of those dream days of force 3/4 and perfect sailing downwind through Shuna Sound, the dreaded Dorus Mor was fairly easy to negotiate although one needs to paying close attention to the tides. The famous Corryvreckan whirlpool was to the west of us 7km away on the south end of Scarba Island.
Overlooking the Isle of Mull , a very peaceful place on the Isle of Luing
We left Glasgow on May 6th and arrived officially at Cullipool on the 24th. We were hounded by very unpleasant conditions throughout with difficult sea conditions most days, but when we were held up the spirit of the people helped us through the difficult times. When people asked if we had an itinerary we could only say "no" as it is impossible to predict beyond 12hrs, never mind a day!!
Overlooking the village of Cullipool and out to the Atlantic
The sail and paddle from Crinan Canal to Luing was very rewarding for all as Spirit Dancer sailed beautifully at 6 to 8 knots, a perfect day with six new crew members that came on very short notice,
Again, thanks to Gordon and Maureen and Peter and Dorothy for being such great hosts and for putting up with those Canadians again. I'm sure there will be fond memories of this special occasion.
Sailling Spirit Dancer towards Shuna Sound and the Isle of Luing
We arrived at the ferry slip on Seil and Island adjacent to Luing and had a quick stop and waited to catch up with our support people. We had a very nice welcoming here and lots of enthusiam from the crowd that gathered.
We paddled on with our crew including our host from Luing David Ritchie who is a great adventurer and climber who has climbed in British Columbia.
Our crew after the paddle from the Crinan Canal to Cullipool on the Isle of Luing
My understanding is that there is going to be a Ceilidh ( pronounced Kaylee ) Monday night for our Canadian paddlers. Gifts will be exchanged on our behalf to the community.
A message to all who are following us: We will be down to three crew members as of Wednesday May 27th and will not be able to continue until we have more volunteers to help paddle Spirit Dancer. So there we are. It has been great so far with lots of hard work and meetings with many fantastic people of this very spectacular coastline. BBC Radio Outdoor program have been very helpful in announcing our progress so thanks to them and Helen Needham.
Thats all for now, best regards Chris and Crew.
May 21st 2009
Portavadie to Crinan
Yesterday Spirit Dancer was paddled through the Crinan Canal lock system ( British Waterways ). Thanks to a number of people including Peter and Dorothy Hogbin, Gordon and Maureen Cunningham, and Alec Howie (Harbour Master) and staff with the Crinan Canal Association who sponsored our canoe to pass through to the westcoast at Crinan.
There has been so much support since we left Glasgow. We have stayed in skate parks as well as private homes. People just come out and recognize the Canadian canoeists and ask if we have a place to stay and instantly adopt us on the spot and put a roof over our heads. What great hospitality and care for our crew. RNLI have also been very helpful along with the MCA Marine Coastguard Association.
Spirit Dancer approaching lock eight, which was an amazing experience for the day.
There are fifteen locks in all to Crinan.
Although we are somewhat behind schedule it really doesn't matter as we travel when it is possible to do so and we are now in a position to make our next move to Cullipool on the Isle of Luing. Luing is a place of natural beauty and calm, a place for our crew to have a visit with the local people and have a short rest. We will drive there today and establish the next base. BBC Radio Scotland will do a live interview on Saturday as an update of our progress.
Best wishes to all who are following us. Chris and Crew
Skipper Eric Grummisch and crew peering over the wall a the canoe is raised in lock eight.
 Crew at lock eight on Crinan
May 17, 20009
Kames to Portavadie
Another interesting day. Can you imagine asking a group of twenty rough looking bikers to come down to Kames and lift the canoe onto the trailer? Well, did we get a great response and they all roared on their Harleys and suped up street bikes and helped us make that move!!
The canoe is now in Portavadie.
Regards - Chris and Crew
Spirit Dancer and crew in lock two on Crinan
News and Updates May 16th 2009
Toward Castle to Kames
We have battled the dreaded winds every day but one which was memorable!! The crew departed from Toward Castle to Tighnabruaich and up through the Kyles of Bute ( East Side ) then through Burnt Islands and then south through West Kyle to the lifeboat station ( RNLI ). The crew arrived in winds of over 30 knots but very fortunately they were behind us!
Ronnie from the lifeboat station welcomed us with hot showers and cups of tea. We stored Spirit Dancer above the high tide mark for the night. The locals have been super and have been so helpful and interested in what we are doing. Quite inspirational for all I must say.
We tried today for Ardlamont Point and soon after we started we were driven ashore with force 5 seas which were building to 6 or 7 this afternoon, so from 8:30 this am we went on a scouting trip to Ardlamont point. The winds went from basically calm to 30+. What a great time we are having. I am in touch with coastguard ( MCA ) everyday and they are really great and very happy with our safety decisions.
I sit here in the pub in Kames looking out to Spirit Dancer where she is very happy to be placed on a great beach above the high tide mark. Tonight we are expecting force 8!
We'll keep the updates coming. regards for now, Chris and Crew
Spirit Dancer being moved by Peter and Dorothy
May 13th Toward Castle
Yesterday again we were challenged out of the Holy Loch Marina in 20+ knot winds but once around Hunters Key we made good progress, all the way to just North of Toward Lighthouse where we struggled a bit to get ashore as winds increased to 30+.
Before we knew it there were many local people helping to bring Spirit Dancer ashore above the high tide mark. One of the helpers, Benita who runs an outdoor recreation program at Toward Castle, stopped a bus and asked the passengers to get out and help lift our canoe ashore. They were most impressive and made a very good story in the local paper. (Dunoon Observer )
We are staying on the grounds of a very impressive castle and have been made very welcome. Benita and her husband have asked us to come for dinner this evening. Hopefully we will try for another move tomorrow around 4:00 pm hightide and make a dash around the Toward Lighthouse and into the Kyle of Bute.
Crew in good spirits, although some are down with a cold but are doing very well all round. It is a great journey so far with, of course, many challenges.
We are being very hopefull for many more Scots to get involved in paddling Spirit Dancer.
Best wishes to all, Chris and Crew.
 Our biker friends from Edinburgh helped us move Spirit Dancer. - A group shot of the team. ( in Kames )
May 12 2009 Holy Loch
Departed from Rhu Marina for Holy Loch Marina under superb conditions which is generally a rarity. We were welcomed by a few war ships including a Nuclear Submarine which passed within 500 meters of us!! Got some great photos of the event and will post them when we have time and the right connections.
Today we depart for Toward Lighthouse and should be in more protected waters for a few days.
There has been a lot of interest about our journey and we do encourage the more adventurous to join us when they are available. We are short of paddlers every day as we are seven now and hope we can drum up more local interest. Half our crew are sick but are in good spirits.
Will report more when I can,
Regards Chris and Crew.
The classic biker shot. They were great helping us out.
May 11th 2009
Rhu Marina
Our crew have been released from Dumbarton and a great stay with Chick at the Unit 23 Skate Park after three days of very poor weather. We arrived yesterday (Sunday, the 10th of May) under very good conditions and managed eleven NMiles to Rhu Marina where we moored Spirit Dancer.
We are heading now for Holy Loch, a short paddle of 8 NMiles. If the weather holds we are very hopefull to make it to Luing by next weekend or early next week.
We have been taken care of by the Rhu Marina and the RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institute. Absolutely fantastic hospitality! Don is doing a great job of filmimg. We will send images to our site when we have the opportunity.
Wishing everyone the best and thanks for following us along the way.
Regards Chris and Crew.
Toward Castle
May 09 2009
Cancelled our next move due to miserable wet, cold conditions so we are still in Dumbarton. Will try for Rhu tommorrow (Sunday). We are all eager to depart but it must be right for departure as the past three days have been gale to storm force and is about to settle Sunday. I can see larger mileages per day based on being ashore.
Darren Hardwick drove six hours from the south just to be part of the crew. He joined me last year on the south coast. Will try to update tomorrow as to our progress.
Regards Chris.
Eric sterning Spirit Dancer on a calm day. An Italian naval vessel behind.
May 08 Dumbarton
Today, which is Friday, we are studying WINDGURU and one other weather site which is proving vital in our planning process. The forecast is very favorable for the next four days with much lower wind speed and good weather so hopefully Saturday we will depart on the ebb tide to RHU, then onto Dunoon Sunday.
On Monday we hope to depart to Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute. If we are lucky enough with weather conditions we should manage to get to the Crinan Canel via Kyles of Bute then around Ardlamont Point and into the Loch Fyne by Wednesday.
Yesterday we did a scouting mission and stopped at the Royal Navy Base to recruit navy personnel.
Talk soon, best wishes to all, Chris and Crew.
Jenn enjoying the calmest day out of 12.
A nuclear submarine pops up minutes before our crossing to Rhu Marina
May 6th Launch Day
A small group formed outside the Crown Plaza Hotel to give farewell to our crew of seven. The newspaper the Herald was there for our send off and there will be an article today the 7th of May. BBC Radio was there too and did an interview with our crew in the canoe for Saturdays live talk show.
The Lord Provost was there as well and we presented a red cedar paddle to him for the occasion. The harbour master was also present and received a cedar paddle also. David Lathem from Adventure Scotland trailered two canoes from Aviemore, Scotland a 300 mile drive for the send off and paddled with us with eleven Scottish paddlers to Dumbarton where we are at present.
John Johnston arranged on our behalf a place for our team to stay at the Unit 23 Skate Park, Dumbarton. What a relief that we had a place to stay as the weather yesterday was very windy at times and there were showers throughout the day. Spirit Dancer remains at the Sandy Point Marina waiting for its next departure hopefully Friday if the winds subside.
Will update again soon I'm sure, Regards Chris.
Crew with one New Zealander on the way to Rhu Marina under the best conditions so far.
May 05 2009
Our departure date is set for 11:00 am May 06 at the Crown Plaza Hotel across from the BBC Scotland on the Clyde. The forecast is not good as weather on Wind Guru indicated strong winds up to 24 knots and mild to medium rain in forecast. Our destination for the first day is Sandy Point at Dumbarton 20 kilometers out the Clyde. The harbour master has indicated we will have a support vessel along side.
Weather for May 7 2009 Thursday is not good so most likely will not travel based high winds (28 to 30 Knots on WINDGURU).
We hope to get the message to the people of Dunbarton that we plan on staying with the community but no location has been established yet at 18:00hrs. The Scottish hospitality has been super and many people are helping us get established and on our way.
We most likely will choose the route that provides us with safe passage to Crinan Canal via East Kyle, West Kyle to the Lower Fyne. We hope weather permitting to visit four or five communities and will try to get the message to them via BBC Radio. I am still waiting for exact locations to visit so please bare with us till we can post this with potential dates. We anticipate 4 to 5 days to Crinan and try for Luing ( Cullipool ) by the 13th May or thereabouts.
PLEASE NOTE
In case you are trying to get hold of us via email it may take a few days minimum to respond to you based on connections for internet, best sometimes is by mobile phone at 07503 997 433
Our best regards and see you on the water, regards Chris.
May 4th 2009
Have successfully trailered Spirit Dancer to Glasgow from Falmouth, Cornwall and stored at the KingGeorge V Docks.
Will try and update more when we can I have time. Best to all Chris.
One Mile North of Toward Lighthouse the community came out to help move Spirit Dancer
off the water as winds were over 30 Knots. - photo by Robert McchLery
May 1, 2009 - To contact Chris while he is in the UK - mobile numbers (1) 07503 997 433 and (2) 07503 997 434
April 27, 2009
Just a brief update for all that are following the beginning of the second season of paddling the UK coastline.
Most importantly we are in the final stages of getting the Spirit Dancer canoe moved from Falmouth by trailer. It has been a great challenge as there have been many modifications to the trailer to make it legal to transport it to Scotland.
A policeman from the Devon constabulary has taken time off to help move the trailer as apparently I am not allowed to tow a trailer around the country. We have hired a van to move all equipment and trailer with Spirit Dancer in tow.
We hope to make Glasgow by Sunday, May 3 with the hope that there will not be any complications along route!
I have just recently become stricken with a kidney stone last week and I have now been cleared to go by my doctor, so for the ones that think I am in the UK, to the contrary. I depart April 29th on Air Canada to London and onto Falmouth for the delivery of the trailer and canoe.
To the people of the UK and Canada, we thank you for all your help and input and generous hospitality in order to make this the most exciting canoe journey I have ever taken on. The impact will be far reaching to all that get involved in stepping into Spirit Dancer, whether it be for an hour or for a month.
Updates will be done as soon as we can get to the computer and have our website designer upload the information coming in.
Please keep an eye on our contact details as we will have a mobile telephone number available so you can reach us. Of course email is best.
Best wishes, Chris.
Royal Navy ship on the Firth of Clyde on very windy day
Photo by Eric Grummisch
Travelling out the Clyde near the Erskine Bridge
Photo by Eric Grummisch
March 31st 2009
Dear sponsors, friends and supporters of the 2009 Canoe journey. These past few weeks have been very busy with planning for the launch for May 6th 2009 out of Glasgow, many phone calls to UK and emails are just part of the planning process for another sucessful year on the UK coastline.
I have purposely not set a day by day itinerary until we are close to being under way, last year was difficult to plan day by day as weather held us back many times, this year will be alittle easier as we have a more protected coastline. Please check under Maps and Legs.
We will have 5 groups of Canadians coming over including a youth group from the Penticton Indian Band, that have fundraised all funds for their journey, they need to be commended for the great effort. This youth group will be traveling to Orkney the last two weeks of July and will meet the community in Kirkwall, it will be a very exciting time for all, this group of youth have not traveled out of British Columbia.
I will be departing April 22nd for UK and all updates will be provided from there, our website will be updated from Canada and this will be on a weekly basis or when I have time to put up our progress report as we visit the Scottish Communities.
The media will hopefully do a good job of keeping people informed and expected arrival times again based on the local weather conditions.
I have just returned from the Northcoast of British Columbia yesterday on a photo assignment for the book I am doing about Spirit Dancers travels on the BC Coast for the past number of years, so I have been tucked away in a very isolated place on Grenville Channel ( Hartley Bay ) and Metlakatla.
Lastly, we have seats available for the Scottish people every day we are on the coast so the invitiation is there from May to end July 2009.
Spirit Dancer canoe will remain in Orkney for the remainder of the year and the start of next years journey around Orkney and the Northcoast of Scotland.
Another Note: We have 1 film maker for the entire season and 2 film makers for the month of July for Orkney.
Next update will be from UK
Very best regards to all, Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager
The UBC team in safe waters in Looe, Cornwall. We received the most amazing reception by the community. We were looked after incredibly well and put up in the town hall. It is a beautiful village with so much going on. I wish we could have spent more time there. So many thanks, Chris Cooper.
News article from the "Coast Reporter - Voice of the Sunshine Coast" - in pdf format - reproduced with permission of the Coast Reporter.
The Vancouver Police team paddles the Jurassic Coast from Swanage to Weymouth
February 26th 2009
Dear Sponsors, friends and supporters, we are now 67 days from launching our canoe out of Glasgow for May 6th, we expect from what I'm hearing a good send off, Dave Lathem from Adventure Scotland are helping recruit paddlers and also extra canoes to see us out the Clyde our Canadian crews are very excited for this season and I'm sure our visits to the communities will be very interesting.
Our hope is establish interest with the Scottish people and we encourage them to experience traveling with us in our canoe and when the canoe is available we plan on hosting many interested paddlers and community members.
It has been a very difficult challenge in regards to fundraising and hope our Provincial Government will continue to help us financially, there are many private individuals helping in this process, we are still being hopefull for support with a lifeboat to escort us from time to time.
There will be many more paddles being carved for gifts for the communties we visit, the wood is Western red cedar and carved by Stewart Nahanee of the Squamish Nation, the yellow cedar paddles of the Aboriginal program are made by the students of School Disitrict #42 in Maple Ridge.
We will have two film makers along this year one who is traveling from the USA for the entire journey from May 6th to July 29th to capture and document this years journey. For the month of July we have a British Columbia film maker with us in Orkney.
Although this has been a short report there will be much more to come at the end of March. so best wishes to all who are following our progress.
Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager.
Spirit Dancer in Folkstone harbour.
January 31st 2009
Dear sponsors, friends and supporters for 2009, we are only 95 days from launching Spirit Dancer canoe out of Glasgow on the Scottish coast May 06 2009 with the hope we will be well received when departing on another most incredible journey. Our hope is to have many Scottish paddlers involved and also non -paddlers and paddlers from the south coast of England that joined me last year.
We had the most amazing time and touched the lives of many as it did for us.
The most recent news is that I had a very sucessful turnout in our community of Pitt Meadows for the main show about last years 2008 Canoe Journey our audience were thrilled and many great comments afterwords. The purpose of these multi media presentations is to raise funds for this years support on the water with a de-commissioned lifeboat that will take care of safety and filming.
Last week I met with the BC Cancer Foundation in Vancouver to see how we can help fundraise for them through our Canoe Journey, there is a lot of interest here and hopefully we can bring attention to their needs for fundraising through our event in UK.
That same week we met with Pitt Meadows Foundation to see where we can work together and increase and grow Spirit Dancer Canoe Journeys through a Legacy for youth an initiative to bring attention to helping youth and young adults to be part of this Historic Journey.
It is a huge effort that I have given this project and it is now time to bring others into helping and being apart of this great project, the work has been immense to get it started and my only hope that we will stir others now to formulate a committed team to represent Pitt Meadows and Mapleridge and our beautiful Province British Columbia and Canada. This journey has had and will continue to have far reaching effects for all involved.
I would like to add that fundraising is a constant challenge and I hope that there will always be continued help in this area to cover the expenses of this program, we officially have over 52 sponsors so far. I am still looking at help in the fundraising department for shipping paddles and equipment, more funds for youth to come over this year, charter for Lifeboat are the major areas.
We have new video up on the website under Articles and Video which highlights just some of last years journey.
I am also in the process of producing our first book on the British Columbia coast, it is a book that will inspire many as it brings dozens of journeys on the BC Coast and my visits to the people of the coast, in particular the First Nations people, it will include many stories including the Vision Quest canoe journey in 1997, The Pulling Together canoe journeys since the year 2000. It will have at least 200 pages with spectacular photographs of many journeys I undertook and will also highlight many other professional photographers and artists. There will be many limited addition books available.
In closing, again I thank all who have helped me with this very exciting journey.
Very best regards, Chris G. Cooper
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