On Celtic Tides: One Man's Journey Around Ireland by Sea Kayak

Paperback - 04 November, 2000 - St. Martin's Griffin
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By: Chris Duff and Chris Duff
ISBN: 0312263686

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About this book

"Every time I thought I had reached the peak, that the passion for the journey must certainly begin to wane, I would stumble on another experience that pulled me onward," writes Chris Duff, recounting his solo circumnavigation of Ireland by sea kayak in the summer of 1996. "Stroke by stroke, four miles an hour, Ireland was filling me with its life blood." Beginning and ending in Dublin, Duff paddled 1,200 miles over the course of three months. Sometimes he piloted his frail craft through waters too tumultuous even for hardy local fisherman; other times he sought refuge in sixth-century monastic ruins on coastal islands or waited out storms for days on end in his tent. In this sense, Duff's journey is a study in contrasting worlds: land and sea; past and present; solitude and society. The story's suspense comes not from a questionable outcome but in the surprise of daily encounters. Who or what relic of the past will the author stumble upon next? Ultimately it is Duff's openness to ancient and elemental forces, expressed in starkly honest prose, that propels his narrative through the churning waters of Irish history and landscape. But this is also the story of a sea kayaker at the top of his game, dealing with nature's harsh blows and quiet caresses. --Kristopher Kaiyala

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Reviews by readers

almost poetry

I really loved this book! While not a kayaker,I had been round Ireland recently and seen from the shore many of the places described by Duff - but he did a far better job of it than I could ever do! I liked this book so much I bought copies of it for people I thought would enjoy it. I had to force myself to slow down when reading this book to get the full benefit of the beauty of his writing!

Not a kayaker

Let me rpeface this review by stating that I am not a kayaker. I received this book more on the subject of the trip (Ireland) than the actual means of the trip.

I found some of the portions of this book to be very interesting. Especially, Duff's encounters with the open ocean and the weather condtions. I did not find all of Duff's thoughts on the people he met to be of much interest.

Duff's detailed descriptions of the trip, the climate, the terrain, and coastline were excellant. However, when Duff tries to wax poetically about his personal thought and opinions he loses me. Perhaps the fact that I am not a kayaker has something to due with my review. Unfortunately, it wasn't the details of being on the water that formed my opinion.

A mind-numbing slog

Chris Duff's journey and skill as a kayaker are not in question here. He's definitely got skills and experience.

What was maddening about this book was the starry-eyed reverence, awe and humility he had for every single damn rock and cliff and farmhouse he ran across. Every stone "spoke" to him, every cliff called out the timeless power of the sea, every ancient monastery still had ghosts running around in it.

His encounters with the people of Ireland at least brought him back to the living, somewhat, but even then, he has this sense of awe for the simple farming and fishing folk that, I'm sorry, just gets old after a while. He talks about visiting a pub on one stop, and being both exhilirated and driven to tears in the same song. Really? Call me a cynic, but Chris might want to adjust his meds.

I came away from this book thinking one of two things: Either Chris' "book" persona is a some ideal that he has in his head of what a serious "writer" and traveler should be... and that there are other bits of his character that for one reason or another he chose not to share. Like a sense of humor, perhaps.

Or this book really is a deep, honest, view into this guy's psyche. In which case, he sounds tedious, pretentious and boring.

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