Mark Agnew
What's next? Photo: Andrea Piacquadio
My stayventure bucket list
It has been just over three weeks since I departed the Arctic. My four teammates and I had completed a world first that has long been sought by adventurers. It took us 103 days to become the first people to complete the Northwest Passage under human power.
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And yet, after asking 'are you adjusting back to normal life' and 'can you feel your feel', the next question is 'what's next?'.
I'm not annoyed by the question in the slightest. But I am surprised that it is an interesting question for people - I experienced a hell of a lot in the Arctic, would that not make a more interesting conversation than a hypothetical adventure I haven't done yet?
None-the-less, people seem interested, so this is what has caught my imagination for my next adventure:
Stayventures.
I am really interested in exploring the UK. I spent so long trying to get to the most remote and distant corners of the world, I forgot what was under my nose. The UK is wonderful and wild, and full of a lifetime of exploring.
In Covid-19, we all were forced to travel domestically. It opened my eyes to the opportunities.
Hiking the Cape Wrath Trail - I'd love to go back and do the whole thing.
There seems to be a misconception that the choice is domestic and micro, or big and abroad. Why not big and domestic? The scale is not limited just because it is local - a stayventure could be a day or several months long.
After all, kayaking the entire way around the British Mainland is in fact further than the Northwest Passage. Though I may break from kayaking for a while - walking, hiking, cycling and sailing are all on the cards.
Kayaking around the British Mainland is longer than kayaking the Northwest Passage. Though it should take less time as I wouldn't have to navigate sea ice and other obstacles.
My Stayventure Bucket List:
- The Cape Wrath Trail - I walked the second half of the CWT 11 years ago and would love to go back and do it all
- The Welsh 3000ers - what a great weekend it would be to try and do all of Wales' 3000 foot peaks in a few days. Some runners can do it in one, but I'd like to camp and do it in two or three
- Kayaking in Shetland - I sailed to the Shetland Islands a couple of years ago and the coastline was so magnificent I've been dreaming of going back with a kayak since
- The North Down Way - This underrated 100 mile trail just south of London would make for a great trip. I either want to do it over two days by bike with my Dad, or do each section over the course of a few years so I can enjoy it without the time pressure of training. This way, I can fit the stayventure around my life, rather than my life around the stayventure.
- The Small Isles - something about Rhum has completely captured my imagination. Whenever I'm on the West Coast of Scotland, I look out towards the Small Isles and long to travel there. I'd love to kayak there from Arisaig and spend a chunk of time camping, staying in a Bothy, hiking and then kayaking back.
- Kayak the entire way around Britain - I'd aim to take three months or less and travel the whole way round with friends. This is a big one, and may be years and years away.
- Now I've started this list, there is too much for me to write down. There is a lifetime of adventures in the UK.
I don't have a specific plan yet, and with a child on the way it may be a while before I spend months in the wilderness again, but the fire is burning to get to the lesser explored corners of my own home. In fact, come to think of it, doing it with my children in years to come will be the most rewarding adventure of all.