Keep Australia on Your Left: A Semi-Circumnavigation of Australia

I loved the book, but let me explain my qualifications. I study, design, build and live decked sailing canoes for cruising, usually solo boats. The Klepper double in the book (we own one, too, & a single) is a close relative to a cruising sailing canoe.Captain James Cook is at the top of my historical heroes list, also, and Eric and Tony went along Cook's path.And I know Eric.So I have three reasons to like the book and it doesn't fail.It will become a fixture of small boat literature. Rate it with others, say Bligh's open boat voyage after the mutiny, or Verlen Kruger's canoe trip with Steve Landick, and later Valerie Fons, of a figure eight around North America. It will join the exalted list of Klepper achievments beginning with Hans Lindemann's Atlantic crossing.But I think it has more. It has the insides of a complex fellow, as unique a communicator as exists.In the genre of small boat cruising stories, one doesn't expect the best technical qualities. Some of the books are self-published. Some are from tiny companies just beginning. Keep Australia On Your Left has some of those problems. The most apparent after a few pages is editing. But after a score of pages, that's forgotten. And I know how Eric speaks, and how difficult he'd be to edit.But the trip is real, the waves threaten, the bugs bite, the people are alive---or half dead with fatigue and trials. It's an astonishing achievment as a book and a journey. Hugh Horton

What does that mean? It means that the book is very, very well written and of enormous appeal - IF YOU ARE white, thirtyish, male and upper middle class (in other word, like the writer). Since I am all of those things, I thought it was exceptional, practically describing me and my friends, who are also fraternity brothers (like the author) and into adventure sports (like the author). Will you enjoy it if you dont meet these criteria? Mabye, but keep in mind that it is not an adventure story like Jon Krakauers "Into thin air", where its not about the people as much as the adventure. Its more like Bill Brysons "In a sunburned Country", where its almost a journal about traveling, with lots of interesting side notes. The only thing I would have wished for, Eric (if you read this, and you're the type of guy who would)is that you had included diagrams of some of your more complex descriptions (kayak parts, etc.) Still, wonderful adjective use and very vivid writing. Hope you take another trip soon.

Modern day team adventuring is perhaps as much about the relationship of the team as the goal and physical challenges at hand. Gone are the days of the desperate explorer conquering the elements because there was no other choice but to push on. In an age of adventure though television and Castaway with a box of buttered popcorn it was most refreshing to read a truthful detailed look at getting the job done in spite of physical and sometimes emotional pain. Pain from salt water sores, bleeding blisters, seasickness, lack of sleep, disgareements and distance from loved ones. In spite of traveling as a team it seemed as though it was a profoundly lonely trip for each paddler, lonely but difficult in dealing with one another. Solo and lonely is another often more manageable situation for the modern day adventurer. We must pick our adventure partners carefully and these two (Tony and Eric) should have never commited to a year in a 17 foot double kayak together. It is irrelevant that the 2 paddlers ended the attempt early. What is relevant is that they tried and accomplished much. Hmmpphh to the couch potato who talks a good adventure. Hats off to a couple of humans in a wood and skin kayak who took the chance. A chance to learn, a chance to succeed, a chance to fail. In this book I could feel the days crawl by as the two paddled and sailed north and west with the coast. The inner dialogue of mind over discomfort coupled with the actual dialogue of the paddlers provided me with a look at just how thrilling, peaceful, fulfilling and ugly life can be in a small boat at sea. If you collect stories of the sea or adventure this title is a must for your collection!

I was interested in this book because I have been thinking about embarking upon an adventure throughout unknown territory. When I saw this book on the shelf, I knew this was just what I needed to read and I was right.A lot of people think about doing daunting trips like this (circumnavigating Australia by kayak), but have no idea what they would be getting into. This book gives an incredibly realistic view on what two people ACTUALLY go through during a long venture. He makes you aware of the reality of what a trip like this entails as far as equipment, safety, mapping, knowledge of the territory, timing, and being physically and emotionally prepared. He also describes in great detail what can happen in a relationship between two very different people on a hard gruelling voyage of this length, (and what could happen to the relationships you have left behind). He does this through humor, emotion, and spirituality. He seems to give an honest view of his adventure, and he doesn't try to "sugar-coat" his feelings at the time.In order to fully appreciate this book, I think it helps if you have an adventuring spirit and have an interest what such a journey would entail. You would also need to be self-aware to understand the effect that long months of silence in a dangerous environment on the water can have from an spiritual and emotional point-of-view.I really enjoyed this book and I would most definitely recommend it to anyone for reading pleasure. In particular, anyone with an adventurer's spirit, or who has ever dreamed about doing such a trip would find it an interesting and provoking read.