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Welcome to my world record
British student makes world’s longest kayak journey in just 10 days
THINK OF IT AS A VICTORY for the average paddler. The Guinness Book of Records has awarded the title of “longest distance travelled solo in a kayak” to a man who paddled just 526 kilometres (327 miles) through England’s scenic canals. Daniel Bloor, a 24-year-old geology student from Man-
chester, made the journey from Cumbria to London over 10 days last June to raise funds for the charity WaterAid. “The main reason behind the madness of my endurance
kayaking is to ensure money and awareness is raised to help provide a clean sustainable water supply to the Third World,” Bloor wrote on his blog. Bloor’s definition of madness is a consolation to record-
seekers who don’t want to endure the difficult training, com- plex meal planning and solitude of a long expedition. Bloor’s pre-trip training comprised only 27 kilometres of paddling. His meal plan included stopping for pub lunches. And he was accompanied by his father, David Bloor, prov- ing that travelling solo needn’t be lonely. Record-setting is not without hardship. “We’ve taken him
off beer,” David Bloor told ITV news. When lifting his kayak across locks and bridges, Bloor declined offers of assistance that would compromise his record. He also had to defend against skeptics who cited much longer kayak trips, such as numerous circumnavigations of Great Britain or Peter Bray’s crossing of the Atlantic. “I think they are missing the point,” Bloor wrote. “Media
coverage and PR do not always go for everyday fundraising events so in order to maximize the money and awareness that could be raised I attached the world record attempt.” Guinness has confirmed that Bloor’s record is the real thing.
It turns out those other paddlers just didn’t bother to apply. “In order to get recognized by us, people need to sign up
and follow a certain set of guidelines,” such as providing video and photographic evidence and witness statements, said Guinness’ communications officer, Amarilis Espinoza. “If there’s anyone out there who thinks they can beat the record they can apply for it.” Challengers should act fast. For his next journey, Bloor
contemplates “something bigger, more dangerous and challenging to really push the boundaries of endurance kayaking.”—Tim Shuff
20 | | ADVENTURE KAYAK spring 2007
ILLUSTRATION: LORENZO DEL-BIANCO
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