The Why

The Why for “SUP It & Sea… Us Hike” came out of our first expedition to become the first pair to paddleboard form Land’s End to John o’Groats – which you can find out about here.

Halfway through our trip, we joked about hiking or paddling back from the tip of Scotland, and therefore the idea of the hike grew, taking form but not decided upon till we had finished out paddle and succeeded.

Dave’s why remains largely the same. “SUP IT & Sea” proved to him that he could still take on gigantic expeditions despite the limitations of his injuries. However, walking has a much quicker and direct repercussion to his need for a Total Hip Replacement. In 2020 Dave took on the Pennine Way and failed on the 3^rd day of walking due to leg pains. However, now the stakes are higher. Hiking JOGLE will involve carry a heavy backpack with all his daily needs on for 3 months, and carrying that weight mainly on the hips. It will involve sleeping in tents with little luxury and, despite sleeping mats, will be uncomfortable. The winter and cold also exacerbate arthritic problems.

The paddle proved that success was possible. The hike, however, will be the pinnacle of success. It will reverse the feelings of failure from the Pennine Way hike and truly prove that mind can conquer over matter.

Moreover, the hike will continue to prove that expeditions aren’t just the product of the elite and they are accessible to the “Everyman” if you put your mind and heart to it. Anything is possible and you could do it too.

Furthermore the hike will continue to raise £24,000 that we initially set out to raise for 3 inspiring charities. The paddle started off the fundraising with £3,000 in the “bag” – the hike will continue it.

Since finishing the paddle, life has been a little more mundane – a little less richer. Continuing the expedition would be – as cliched as it sounds – the continuation of an adventure of a lifetime. The scale and logistics of doing LEJOG and then walking back on JOGLE outmanoeuvre anything Dave has done to date.

Completing the double length of Britain would make an amazing dream reality.

Well if I am honest, the reason we are hiking back or maybe this is the How we ended up walking back was all from a joke I made on one of our first days on the canals. What started as a joke took hold of my imagination quite quickly and as I paddled along the canals I would occasionally glance down at the map on my board and imagine what route we would hike if we did it. I actually felt guilty that I was on an expedition, an adventure of a lifetime and I was spending time thinking and daydreaming about another but I called on a friend who said it was perfectly natural. As the SUP went on my determination to hike grew, I felt that the SUP it and Sea journey isn’t over yet and mine definitely wasn’t I wanted to continue to learn about myself, to challenge myself and to see through something that I had unknowingly started when agreeing to paddle the length of the country. 

When paddling I learnt more about myself, how I want to live and also what it is like to change your life and still live with Depression and Anxiety. I want to explore all of these and continue the work I have started. To do this and to continue to support our three charities is an opportunity that is quite simply irresistible. To find out more about me and how we started on this journey head to my original Why the one all of the others stem from on our SUP page.