I love long kayaking expeditions. On such a trip you fully live each day and live for the moment. However, you can’t spend your entire life on what amounts to a glorified vacation. Eventually you have to return home and pay the piper.

One of my biggest challenges has been finding meaningful work. By that I mean work that pays well, work that stokes passion and leaves you energized instead of drained, and allows ample time for adventures, be that hiking the AT or paddling around some large land mass. Some people search for such a “calling” their entire life. Some lucky people find it or, more likely, stumble upon it — probably since few of us understand what we *really* need.  If you do know, then you are miles ahead of the pack.

If you follow my blog you know that I walked away from a comfortable salary working as a software engineer/project manager, to find the right blend of kayaking, teaching, sales, helping people, and application of my software/managerial skills, that would ignite all of my passions. I also knew that I would always have regrets if I did not pursue long kayaking expeditions.

I would like to report that I have found nirvana, but I’m still in active transition — “a work in progress”.  I went from a position with high pay and low satisfaction to a position with good satisfaction and meager pay.  Unfortunately my ability to take long trips is almost a wash. Whereas before I couldn’t get the time off, now the challenge is affording the trips.  However, even though I have more potential time freedom than ever before, I have been so busy just striving to pay rent and keep the lights burning that I have found little time lately for “giving back”. I made the decision that was right for me, but not everyone should leave their day job.

Linda Bartlett, my dear friend and long-distance partner, has probably heard more of my telephone drivel than she can stand, on this subject of work/life/passion/balance. She recently shared with me a link from Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/09/29/how-to-find-meaningful-work/ that addresses this topic. It strongly resonated with me, I hope you find it useful advice as well.

Following are a few notable excerpts:

 ”1. Take care of yourself-have the basics covered.
The most important thing about making meaningful work is that if you are always worried about paying rent, it’s very hard to add goodness back to the rest of the world. Giving back to the world requires a sense of personal well-being and stability that only people who have a roof over their head can manage.

2. Take care of your work-make sure your job doesn’t suck.
Work doesn’t give your life meaning. The idea that your happiness correlates to your satisfaction with your work is misguided. What you need from work is to make sure it’s not undermining your ability to create sanity in your life. Work is a way to get sanity, to make sure you are growing and you feel secure while you do it. Here’s what you need from a job to get that:

* A short, predictable commute
* Workflow you can manage
* Clear goals that are challenging
* Two co-workers you’re close friends with

So stop using your search for meaning as an excuse for not getting a job. Life is loaded with meaning, if you would just start living it. And, as an adult, that means engaging in ANY kind of work that we can do well”

Excellent advice from Penelope and quite different than either the New Age “follow your bliss” blather, or the old school “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” advice of my youth. I’d love to hear your comments.

La Bufadora Blowhole. One of the most spectacular in the world!

Pals Nigel Foster and Russell Farrow

Our “tent village”. Perched on a cliff overlooking the beautiful Pacific.

Many thanks to Jen Kleck and Jake Stachovak of Aqua Adventures for flying me in to coach in San Diego at the Southwest Kayak Symposium . This was my first time teaching in Southern California and it was good to make acquaintance with a number of people that I have corresponded with, including members of the Greenland-style community such as Duane Strosaker and others. I taught a mix of both Greenland-style skills and “Euro” skills using a narrow Greenland paddle. Kudos to Jen for understanding that these skills are not mutually exclusive. I enjoyed the students in all of my classes!

Symposiums, for those on the “circuit”, is akin to being part of a diverse, entertaining and sometimes, …..well…, gloriously dysfunctional family. It is amazing to travel over the world and share the experience with a collection of special friends. The catch, of course, is that you don’t see these friends very often, but that is partially what makes the experience so special. Fellow Floridian and paddling buddy Russell Farrow, of Sweetwater Kayaks (Clearwater, Florida), was there, along with Nigel Foster, Steve Maynard, (born to be wild) Phil Hadley, Tom Bergh, Sean Morely and a number of other colorful characters.

Following the symposium a number of us assembled a rag-tag convoy of kayaks and gear and headed south. We pushed past the noise and chaos of Tijuana on our way to La Bufadora in Baja, Mexico, a small tourist town located about 17 miles south of Ensenada, at the end of the Punta Banda peninsula. We saw no sign of the recent violence, probably due to the fairly heavy military presence. Along the Transpeninsular highway were a number of checkpoints manned by troops in full battle regalia including Hummers outfitted with machine guns.

The roadside taco and tamale stands were fantastic and extremely inexpensive. We stopped in Ensenada for critical supplies (…meaning Negro Modelo cerveza) and soon afterward rolled into La Bufadora. Our camp, on a high bluff, overlooked a fabulous rock garden close to “the Blowhole”, one of the largest in the world and capable of spewing water 80 ft above sea level. A blowhole, or “marine geyser” is produced when the ocean swell pushes water into a sea cave and is compressed with air drawn down a natural “pipe” from the surface, the result of a pumping action caused by the receding water of the previous swell. The air/water mix has nowhere to go, is compressed and explodes, accompanied by a tremendous roar, “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUSH”, sounding ominously like coming from a gigantic beast trapped inside the cave.

Our time in Baja was spent playing in rock gardens, sea caves and pour-overs during the day, relaxing in the sun, and sampling the local spiced tequila at night. One “interesting” incident for me was a result of mistiming the swell. I was in my kayak behind a saddle-shaped rock encrusted with razor-sharp mussel shells, waiting for a suitable surge to carry me over.  Finally I felt the bottom drop beneath me and I sprinted forward, expecting the following surge to carry me clear. The expected surge didn’t materialize and my bow grated against hard rock and shell. I came to rest with my bow hanging well over the rock and perched at a precipitously steep angle. The water receded and with nothing to brace against, I capsized. I was high and dry and fully tucked forward.  I again waited for a suitable surge in this very awkward position, my body only inches away from the mussels.  Very soon a large swell lifted the kayak, I rolled up, and was carried clear — fortunately without my body touching either rock or shells!

One hilarious highlight one evening was Phil Hadley taking over the microphone at the local bar (Phil was once the lead singer for a rock band), and Russell Farrow, on lead guitar, jamming with the house band to a very energetic (not to mention profane) version of “Born to be Wild”. Words just can’t describe it….

If you get the chance to go to Baja, go!  The desert climate is fantastic, the paddling is superb and the tequila — well, I’ll leave that one for you to decide…

I am currently teaching Greenland kayaking skills in Gothenburg, Sweden, care of Johan and Sara Wagner of Escape Kajakcenter.  Classes will run until November 2 — if you are in the area, please stop by to say hello!

To date I have given lectures of my Newfoundland and Iceland circumnavigations and have been working with students to help perfect their forward stroke, bracing, directional strokes and other skills with a Greenland paddle. The weather has been cool and breezy. Today Johan and I crossed to Nidingen Island (a bird sanctuary off the coast with Denmark barely visible in the distance).  During the 25K paddle we experienced F5-6 headwinds, sun, rain, hail and our own private lunch table high atop the lighthouse. The return trip was fast and fun with strong following seas.

In addition to kayaking I will be visiting some of the local museums and look forward to viewing both historical kayaks as well as old Norse and Viking boats.  Tackar så mycket Sara and Johan for your fine hospitality!

Please view my photo gallery from Sweden.

I still haven’t even settled into home since my Newfoundland trip ended and am still dealing with all the re-acclimation issues that follow a long trip. It seemed to hit me harder this time — but that’s a story for another day…

The October 2008 Issue of Sea Kayaker Magazine contains my article, “Lost in Iceland” — about my record-setting circumnavigation of Iceland in 2007 with German kayaker Freya Hoffmeister.

I find most trip articles (travelogues) difficult to read, so this article was meant to be something very different. It is a very personal account of my struggle to bust out of my safe but confining “cubicle” in the corporate world, to seek a life that I am more passionate about. I found it a very difficult article to write.

I have received some very good feedback from readers about the article. Initially I wasn’t quite sure if people would “get it”, or if it was too personal and too honest to be relevant in a kayaking magazine, but the following short review from  Mark Rainsley in the UK Rivers Guidebook forum eased my mind and made me laugh out loud; (thanks Mark!)

“It’s a Totally Scientific fact that all sea kayaking articles are Incredibly Boring, albeit each in their own distinct way.However, I’ve just read Greg Stamer’s account of that trip (in Sea Kayaker Magazine), and it’s great! Riveting stuff, highly recommended.”

I hope that you enjoy the article!

Total distance paddled: 2102K (1306 miles)
Daily average: 60.05K (37.3 miles)
Longest day: 93K (57.8 miles)
Shortest day (aborted crossing of Trinity Bay): 27K (16.7 miles)
Total days: 44
Paddling days: 35
Weather/Rest days: 9

Many hundreds of whales, dolphins and blowspouts! Two sharks and two sunfish. And of course, and most important, too many life-changing memories to list…

Today was borderline for the final crossing — gusty headwinds and choppy seas. The conditions weren’t unsafe but were a difficult slog with the kayak pounding hard and “buckets” of water frequently hitting my face and chest. At 8:00PM, after 12 hours and 63K I approached Quidi Vidi (pronounced “kiddie viddie”) where I started my trip 44 days ago.  Just outside of the rocky, narrow fishing harbor I was met and escorted in by two kayakers from KNL (Kayak Newfoundland Labrador). It brought a smile to my face as did seeing the KNL members who gathered in the harbor and cheered as I took my last paddle strokes. Many thanks to everyone who participated, it really warmed my heart!

It felt strange to unload the kayak and split up my gear. It felt like disbanding a “team”. This gear has been my sole material world for so long that it hasn’t fully sunk in that I won’t be repacking it again early in the morning to push toward another distant destination.  That said, tonight I am looking forward to falling into a real bed!

Tomorrow will be interesting — an interview on National TV.  It’s past midnight and I need rest, however over the next few days I’ll post some of my thoughts and reflections of the trip and start going through my photos.  For everyone who followed me virtually on this adventure, I appreciate your support, comments and well wishes.

Karel and Derrick; many thanks for your weather reports, Google maps and blogging.  You did a great job!  Many thanks to Neil and Isabelle for being such fine hosts. I fly home next Tuesday. Until then I’ll relax, enjoy a long soak in a hot tub,  beer, meet friends, beer, get a massage, and maybe beer ;^)

New: here are a few audio and video clips of my reception at Qidi Vidi:

http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-audio/nl-kayaker-ftr-20080729.rm  (audio)
http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-hi/nl-kayak-arrival-20080729.rm  (video)
http://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/nl-kayak-arrival-20080729.mov (video)

 Greg

N48 39.6 W53 04.02 Spillars Cove. 85K. 14 hour crossing of Bonavista Bay. Calm & sunny. Surrounded by whales & dolphins for most of day.