09/06/2026
https://youtu.be/Vi3dlNP7rAE
What you see in this video are the highlights.
What you don't see are the bits that nearly became the lowlights... 😄
Like the very first wake from a passing ship that instantly filled our kayak before we'd properly got going, leaving us frantically bailing out water and wondering if Budapest might be a bit ambitious.
Or the enormous 4 strong barges that seemed determined to introduce itself far more personally than we would have liked.
You won't see us losing our skeg and spending half an hour paddling in elegant circles, courtesy of the wind. Nor will you hear the groans as shoulders and elbows began sending strongly worded complaints to the rest of our bodies.
The camera somehow missed (due to us trying to survive) the thunderstorm, lightning, fierce winds, swirling currents, speedboat wakes, rocky groynes, and the multiple moments when the Danube appeared to be actively reconsidering our presence on it.
There is no footage of the Twin City Liner blasting past at 30 knots and throwing up waves that made us question every life choice that led to that moment.
Nor will you see one of the inflatable beds we had...uninflate and have us sleeping on hard cold ground for 4 nights.
You also won't see the hour-long march into town for supplies, only to discover Google had apparently confused "open" with "absolutely shut."
And thankfully, the camera spared you the sight of two exhausted paddlers spending hours in near silence, digging deep through aching muscles and tired minds to keep moving forward.
But despite all that, we made it. Vienna to Budapest. A few more aches, a lot more stories, and memories that will last far longer than the pain!
Enjoy the highlights — and be grateful the camera wasn't rolling for everything else! 🚣♂️🚣♀️😂
Thank you to all who have supported us in this crazy venture.
If you would like to give something, here's the link:
"Danube Kayak Expedition for ROC Dawlish - Give as you Live Donate"
https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/campaign/danube-kayak-expedition-for-roc-dawlish
Whistle stop tour of our kayak expedition on the Danube expedition ...
