Solo Sea Kayaking Shetland St Ninian's Isles: August 2023

Solo Sea Kayaking Shetland 1st day back since last August and what a fabulous day it was!
Great to be back in exciting conditions with a touch of everything again; caves, Geo's, arches, gullies, wildlife, beautiful scenery, solitude and fantastic weather!
Shetland never disappoints!!
Music: Courtesy of KZbin Audio Library

[@GoProKMH]

Another great video, it's almost like I paddled it with you. The scenery is stunning. Thank you.

[@geoffburke]

Hi Kurt, welcome back and thanks for your great comments (pleased to have you along 😀) it was a brilliant solo trip incorporating loads of variety of scenery and conditions. Two more Shetland Trip video's uploaded since St Ninian's, both totally different, and I'd love your comments. Best Regards Geoff

[@andrewbradford5028]

Goodness amazing! Done a fair bit of Sibbing and Ribbing but the sea kayaking awesome, such small boats yet can power through those tides and winds, not for me though much too scary, sofa sea kayaker lol!😊

[@geoffburke]

Hi Andrew and thanks for your comments 👍 I used to love being at the back of our diving Rib as we ploughed through tide races off the West of Scotland, 1 hand on the dive bottle rack behind the console and my foot pressed firmly on the top of the transom as we became airborne off the top of the waves....magically exhilarating!! Aye, the sea kayak is an impressive craft that can handle impressive seas, I absolutely love mine and feel like I'm part of the boat when out in it...another magical experience and my love for over 50 + years. I'll keep going out and taking the video footage and you keep enjoying on the sofa and sending your comments 👍👍👍and we've got a deal 😂

[@alexdobie1808]

What a place to go kayaking, thanks Geoff for taking the time out to make it.

[@geoffburke]

Thank you so much for your comments Alex, its greatly appreciated 😊 Good to have you along on my little adventures 👍 Stay tuned for the next one...the Pinnacle of Shetland's Sea Kayaking, coming very soon!! Muckle Flugga and Out Stack!!! An absolute stonking trip. Its the most Northerly Point of the UK

[@PaddleDogC5]

awesome thanks 👍🙏

[@geoffburke]

You're welcome Paddledog and pleased to have you along with me 👍 More to come (and a stonker too) very shortly! 😃👍

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

Another great video. The kayak seat is your happy place too. Weather is warming down here so I'll be off the river and onto the briny too soon.

[@geoffburke]

Yes always a very happy place 😊 👍 Enjoy the boost from your 'salt water injection' 💉 it keeps you invigorated 😂 I love it 😀

[@davidpoots8362]

Fantastic place and what a day to explore it. Known what you mean about the helicopter, it often means someone is in trouble.

[@geoffburke]

Hi David, thanks and yes what a 1st day to be back on Shetland, a real treat and St Ninians is a magical little group!! Yeah you never know who's watching and whether they realise the capabilities of our craft! Pro's and Con's in everything I suppose

[@juleskayak]

Superb spot and video Geoff!

[@geoffburke]

Absolutely Jules, I just love Shetland a sea kayaker's dream. More of Shetland to come very soon inc Muckle Flugga & Outstack !!! Thanks for joining me.

[@minerwilly]

Great conditions and great coastline. When did you record this?

[@geoffburke]

Hi Willy and thanks for your comments. The entire Shetland coastline is superb and St Ninian's is magical, we docked in Lerwick at 7.00am August 20th and I was lucky enough to be on the water for 1.45pm considering I'd promised it was primarily a tourist trip for Shirley and I. She had taken pity on me while having lunch for my forlorn face starring out to St Ninian's and her message of "why don't you just go for a paddle I know you want too" 😂 that was enough...job done!

[@minerwilly]

@@geoffburke Haha, a familiar tale 😂

[@kjflynn3379]

Serious Q... do you ever wonder whether you are safe, whether you should turn around? Do you have a phone tracking link to 'base' so others know where you are? Fantastic video as always .. so envious !!

[@geoffburke]

Hi KJ, 🤔🤔🤔 I'd say its like most sports you can turn things up a notch to make them more "action/adrenaline" sports or just leisurely. But either way when your dealing with nature there's always an element on "calculated risk" involved. Time in the boat (experience) observation and increased skill set is definitely a must but at the end of the day enjoyment and safety are paramount. At 73 and 50plus years sea kayaking, I've done my apprenticeship but age and injuries are weighing heavily on decision making to ensure overall safety. I don't use tracking, I carry all necessary safety equipment and my wife has a rough guide to return times and phone is in the boat and VHF Radio with Bluetooth link to phone on me, but always try to be self sufficient even on multi day exped trips. I hope this clarifies your questions/concerns 😃 and thanks for your welcome comments and joining along with me. Please Shere any content with friends/interested parties. Cheers Geoff

[@kjflynn3379]

@@geoffburke many thanks .. for sure experience counts for a lot; same in work, but as you say failings with age gradually build. Take care - am looking forward to future installments; dont want you going AWOL !!

[@geoffburke]

@@kjflynn3379 😂😂👍Thanks KJ, I'll certainly try and hope there's lots more life in the old dog yet 😂 certainly no intention of going AWOL as I enjoy life too much....but still with a little 'spice' 😂 Had a cracking day out yesterday at St Abbs just over the Scottish Border, here are a couple of sample clips I posted on Facebook from the trip (hopefully I'll get around to making a video in due course) m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0359V96CTBQrAifR5idsUbQFFUEgM8o19v1iFypB6uwsXj2ZYtQBiWw5Lj6qTnNYxCl&id=1632104645

[@blackfishexpeditions6954]

Hi Geoff, What type of software created the map and route at the strat of the video? Cheers Great trip by the way.... Dave

[@geoffburke]

Hi Blackfish, thanks for your comments. Sorry for not replying sooner, just returned from 8 fantastic days kayaking most of the North Coast of Scotland from Scourie on the West Coast to Melvich over halfway along the North Coast, including Handa Island and the infamous Cape Wrath !! The animated map was created in an the 'Relive' App where your GPS map data (gpx file) is uploaded to 'Relive' where a video is produced using track data. www.relive.cc/?hl=en Please stay tuned for more of my video's coming as soon as I return from another kayaking expedition in Shetland in a few weeks ... in the meantime loads more video's are available to view on my Channel Thanks for watching Regards Geoff

[@blackfishexpeditions6954]

@@geoffburke hi Geoff sounds amazing... What software in your video shows the map and route you took thanks in advance Dave

[@geoffburke]

@@blackfishexpeditions6954 3

[@geoffburke]

@@blackfishexpeditions6954 Hi Dave, thanks for your comments. As mentioned previously I use a Garmin GPSMAP 65s mounted on my deck as seen in my video's. I download the 'gpx file' from the unit then upload it to online Internet software 'Relive', this software creates the animated map showing the actual route. The animated video can then be downloaded to my computer and then inserted into my editing software (Davinci Resolve) as a standard video cIip. I use the free RELIVE version but you can subscribe and pay for enhancements where the map can be manipulated and pictures can be added as well as music. I hope this clarifies things you may not have understood in my last reply. Best Regards Geoff

[@rogersimmons8788]

Sir, Is the feather on your paddle set at 90°?

[@geoffburke]

Old school Roger and well spotted! I've tried and tried to dial it back but throughout my 50 plus years of sea kayaking, many of them with a fully laminated wooden (inc shaft, see my intro pic of a pirouette) paddle, I just can't get used to anything other than a few degrees less or I slice the blade 😂😂 Thanks for watching and hope you join me on more adventures. More from Shetland coming soon.

[@rogersimmons8788]

@geoffburke I noticed many videos back but never got round to asking. 90° is a rarety these days. Old habits die hard, though. Excellent video. Thank you.

[@geoffburke]

@@rogersimmons8788 Thanks Roger, yea I've only managed to reduce it by a few degrees which it's comfortable for me, the heavily cranked shaft probably shows it up more. 👍👍

[@davidpoots8362]

I have the opposite problem, I am so used to a straight greenland paddle that I struggle with anything else. @@geoffburke

[@drom5999]

Hallo! What kayak do you paddle? Just looking into getting a sea kayak myself. Thanks a lot. Pablo

[@geoffburke]

Hi Pablo and thanks for your comments 😊 My kayak is a North Shore Sea Kayaks "Atlantic" I believe there is a derivative now made by Valley Sea Kayaks Nottingham England. Lots more great adventure video's on my Channel so please feel free to browse, enjoy, like and share with friends. Any comments are greatly appreciated Thanks Geoff

[@geoffburke]

Best of luck with your introduction to our wonderful sport, my suggestion is paddle/try as many kayaks as possible to ensure you feel comfortable and stable, talk to as many people as possible for advise but beware of them being very biased towards their own kit. Best of luck!