About us - Phil Eccles

Phil - Outer Hebrides 2007

We've been asked if we can add to this Blog some information about ourselves - just in case anyone out there wants to know what kind of person puts themselves forward for the trials and tribulations, the pleasures and the pains, the agony and the ecstasy that this challenge will bring. So I've started the ball rolling withsome personal details. Here goes ...

I'm Phil Eccles and I live and work in North Wales in the United kingdom. I live in a very pretty seaside village called Borth y Gest with some 200 other residents. It's on the Glaslyn estuary and that's the river that flows off Wales' highest mountain - Snowdon. It's a beautiful area and I feel very fortunate to live here. I share a small house some 80 yards from the water with my wife Jo and tabby cat Alison. It's a very quiet village and I have some wonderful neighbours so I think I'll be here for a long time to come. If you are in the area please look us up - we're not that hard to find. I have a couple of NDK Romany kayaks and North Wales has more than its fair share of beautiful and exciting paddling locations.

The village of Borth y Gest

For work - well, technically I am a Deputy Head Teacher at an Outdoor Education Centre called Plas Dol y Moch. (Googling that will give you much more info.) So for much of my time at work I teach young people kayaking, canoeing, mountaincraft, orienteering, underground exploration, campcraft and environmental awareness. Sometimes I work with kids who have Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties so I'm hoping I can keep the boys in line in the Arctic!! I have worked at Plas Dol y Moch for over 23 years so you could say I've settled into the job! Before that I was doing short term contract jobs teaching climbing and kayaking in this country. In between I travelled extensively all over the world for over 2 years.

For pleasure I enjoy all sorts of activities. In the last year, for example, I have been backpacking in Spain's Picos de Europa, cycling in France, mountain biking in Mid Wales, winter mountaineering in Scotland, kayaking in the English Channel Isles, the Outer Hebrides (with Russell), Ireland, Georgia (USA) and Baja California . I love to travel and love to be at home too. A special treat is having good friends around to share a meal (Jo is an excellent chef) some beer or malt whiskey and perhaps a fire in the back yard. Background music would probably have a Celtic bias - perhaps Runrig, Enya and Rory Gallagher depending on the mood.

           Scotland - Easter 2008

I know Team Sweetwater through working on various kayak symposia in the USA and was lucky enough to be with Russell and Alain in Florida in 2003. I can't wait to meet up to begin this adventure. Russell and I meet up regularly at the Sea Kayak Georgia symposium most Octobers.

The atmosphere among Team Sweetwater is positive, mutually supportive and very respectful of each other. Every member brings personal strengths, skills and qualities to our team. It's going to be an amazing journey and perhaps one of life changing imensity. We're working hard getting it all together and we're almost ready.   

Thank you to everyone helping with this venture - Phil