Moderate Becoming Good Later: Sea Kayaking the Shipping Forecast

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On a journey that took him to stormiest and most tranquil stretches of our seas, he found stories behind the familiar names and imagined environments of the well-loved BBC broadcast.

But the goal of kayaking all areas was unfilled due to his untimely death at the age of 40 from cancer. Toby was lucky enough to see incredible places and even though you can *feel* what it was like to be on the kayak, it also feels like you're kayaking in a void. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours. For those not familiar this is a radio broadcast of weather conditions for those on the sea but has become over time a rather calming British institution that people listen to even if they aren't near the sea. This a great book for anyone who loves the outdoors, the sea and adventure whether in life or from the arm chair as well as a story of personal challenge and heartbreak.Throughout, Katie Carr has imbued Toby’s account with a natural charm, which combined with sublimely evocative descriptions, effortlessly transports the reader deep into the maritime environment. No stranger to weathering a storm after living with a rare life-limiting condition and facing the death of his brother, avid kayaker Toby Carr set out to explore the areas of the Forecast. The perfect book for our times: from tragedy and stormy seas, come hope, connection, and elemental awe.

A mesmerising and poignant story that shares how the sea can bring together people, places and purpose. Lyrical descriptions, engaging reporting of meetings with the people he meets on his travels, scary episodes in rougher seas that ordinarily would give me nightmares, all come together to make this a thoroughly delightful and compulsive read. A manifesto for living, loving and laughing full-heartedly, whatever life's storms and forecasts bring. I did find it hard at times to continue - because it’s clear from the start that Toby doesn’t complete the journey, and I so wanted him to! What an amazing adventurer Toby Carr was and what an incredible achievement that his sister Katie has done by putting together his notes to create this book.She does such a brilliant job of it, using his notes/voice recordings, etc, that you wouldn't know at which point she had taken over the writing. He mentions his late brother and a few friends a few times but I wanted to know more about his life and what he was feeling in certain moments.

Not a book I would have picked, I was gifted this and felt that I should read it - I am so very glad that I did. Exceptionally beautiful and moving, a book that conjures connection to people, places and the ocean with the immediacy, grace and clarity of a kayak cutting through sea spray. Many reviews will speak about this being a moving story, which it is, but firstly this is a book about an amazing adventure and an amazing man.He had a contagious wonder for the world, spotting a dolphin and taking a moment to appreciate it existing with him in that moment. I will also admit to being drawn to the book because it was written following the death of Toby Carr - had it not been for that, I probably wouldn’t have looked at it.

The trip is done in stages over a few years, the longest section was the coast of France and Spain and it is near the end of this section that there is a shift in Toby’s mood, whether it was realising he was having to go back to real life or when he realised he hadn’t thought of his brother for a few days or maybe it wasn’t Toby but this reader sensing the end of the book but it was like some of the colour had drained out of the world. No stranger to weathering a storm after living with a rare life-limiting condition and facing the death of his brother, avid kayaker Toby set out to explore the areas of the Forecast whilst he still could. The expedition also gave him space and time that he desperately needed, to reflect on the death of his brother from the rare genetic condition that they were both born with, and to process the personal challenges that life had set him over the years. Toby's story of seizing life's opportunities despite obstacles should inspire all of us to not let life pass us by.A compelling tale of adventure, coming to terms with life's end, and profound grief, finished magnificently after his death by sister Katie Carr. Toby's outrageously fearless spirit and good humour will not fail to uplift and spur you on to pursue your own adventures. Written by Toby's sister Katie from his extensive notes and recordings after his untimely death, Moderate Becoming Good Later is both an epic adventure - sometimes choppy, constantly moving - and a personal voyage of discovery that includes old friends and new, plenty of wildlife, and the ever-present sea.