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Brit spends 15 years planning trip to spot rare seals – but comes home without seeing ANY
BRITISH adventurer Friar West set out on an epic journey around the Peloponnese - a huge Greek peninsula - in his handmade canoe with just one mission.
To help save the Mediterranean monk seal - one of the most difficult types of seal to spot in Europe.
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After planning the trip for 15 years, the 69 year old embarked on a 600-mile trip this summer to find some of the only 300 Mediterranean monk seals left in the world.
Recreating a massive canoe journey he made in his youth, West focused his attention on tracking the animals - which can only be found in warm waters.
But the Devon man suffered a series of setbacks - at one point almost dying - and came back to the UK without even catching a glimpse of the seal.
During his three-and-a-half months away he faced everything from wild dog attacks to "unusually strong winds" and large waves.
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He managed to paddle from Patras to Kalamata - but only short sections at a time, missing out some of the route where he may have seen some seals.
Friar almost drowned in the sea fighting to get back to the shore as gales whipped up the waves.
And he was twice attacked by packs of wild dogs and forced to fight them off with a rucksack and a bamboo "spear".
He was also prevented from leaving his camper van for any length of time in fear that roving gangs who target motor homes would strip it while he was away.
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He even suffered a series of setbacks before setting off which forced him to postpone his mission for several years.
They included injuries, transport issues and damage to his self-made wooden canoe.
He was due to leave a year ago but suffered a twisted neck in a car crash just four days before he about to go.
Friar said: "I wanted to have one final adventure. I wanted to find the seal, as well as promote my International Conservation Action Network so that we can finally get the land for the conservation project.
"I know it sounds crazy but if I could get the finances I would go back again to try and find the seals."
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The trip was so bad that Friar actually said he felt lucky to survive.
He added: "The wind became so strong it turned my canoe around and I had to give up and go with the wind and ever-growing waves for two hours.
"I was attacked by wild dogs three times. I wasn't injured but I had to fend them off by wielding my rucksack.
"Although I have been alone in the jungles of Nepal where I was attacked by a rhino while tracking a tiger, I felt at least as apprehensive walking in Greece as I did in Nepal."
"I hope I can go out and try again, but it will depend on whether I can get together enough funding."
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